PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – A growing number of people in Haiti are at risk of malnutrition after heavy rains damaged food crops last year, according to the United Nations.
In its monthly bulletin, the UN mission here said that as much as 90 per cent of the food crops had been destroyed during the rainy season last year and as a result there has been an increase in the number of people not getting enough food to eat.
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UNITED NATIONS, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries were on Wednesday expressing satisfaction with the roles they played in a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
CARICOM countries voted in favour of the treaty on Tuesday to regulate the US$70 billion global trade in small arms, light weapons and some ammunition.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados government will soon discuss legislation allowing for the seizure of the ill-gotten gains from criminal activity through civil procedures, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Adriel Brathwaite, has said. Brathwaite said over the last two years, Bridgetown has been working with the United States embassy here to champion the effectiveness of a civil asset recovery regime. “It is my hope that within the next week we can take the proposal to Cabinet.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government has warned nationals travelling to the United States to be careful about their possession as they embark upon shopping expeditions in the North American country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this “is the traditional season for Bahamians to shop before back to school and while shopping may not be paying particular attention to their documents and possessions.
BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – Belize has issued a dengue alert after a outbreaks of the virus in neighbouring countries like Costa Rica, Nicaraqua, El Salvador and Honduras.
The Ministry of Health said that a state of emergency had been declared in Honduras where 16 people had died from the virulent fever. It said that at least 40,000 people had been infected in Central America with 26 deaths reported.
Chief Executive Officer of the Vector Control Unit, Kim Bautista said that while the virus has not hit Belize as yet, “it’s a very active season throughout the region.
Zimbabwe GEORGETOWN, Guyana - When –as appears likely, at least at this juncture – general elections are held in Zimbabwe later this year under a new constitution Robert Mugabe will, in all likelihood, be running for office as President of the Southern African country again. The one-time freedom fighter turned 89 in February, a juncture in most political leaders’ lives when the trappings of office and the addiction to power tend to evaporate in thick mist of physical and mental deterioration. That, it seems, is not the case with Mr. Mugabe; at least not yet.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - With looming uncertainty over the PetroCaribe Energy Cooperation Agreement, following the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, there is concern that the future of the projects under the cash-rich PetroCaribe Development Fund (PDF) is also unsure.
With an asset base of $241.2 billion up to January 2013, the PDF was set up in 2006 to undertake a number of national projects.
BOGOTA -- Drugs, lies and murder plots. Venezuela’s compressed presidential campaign officially begins Tuesday in a race that will determine the future of the Andean nation after the death of President Hugo Chávez, who led the country for 14 years. But the accusations and innuendos being hurled between the two main candidates are threatening to turn this into one of the uglier races in recent memory.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – An accountant has been appointed to look into the business affairs of companies of former financier R Allen Stanford.
Hordley Forbes of Forbes & Associates, Chartered Accountants, will conduct investigations into Stanford Development Company (SDC) Ltd and three other affiliated companies who are registered owners of property in Antigua.
Attorney General Justin Simon QC on March 5 obtained a court order for the investigation.
Giving’ ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A “pioneer”, “passionate” and “giving” is how colleagues, friends and family described Vere Cornwall Bird Jr, who died on Easter Sunday at the age of 76.
The eldest son of deceased father of the nation, Sir Vere Bird Sr, and elder brother of former prime minister, Lester Bird, died of heart failure, just days after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
Remembering his brother, and admitted sometime rival, Lester Bird said it had been “a very good ride” for the siblings who were just two years apart, with Bird Jr being born in 1936.