News

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Ministry of Foreign affairs and Foreign Trade is reporting that 271 Jamaicans were deported from CARICOM states in 2012.
Another 254 Jamaicans were deported from Curaçao.
This was revealed by AJ Nicholson, foreign affairs minister. He was responding to questions posed by Opposition senator Robert Montague in the Senate on Friday.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Today is to be the second and final day of a special session of the Cabinet to deal with what the Government has dubbed its growth agenda. It will have been the fourth such extraordinary meeting of ministers in the nearly 14 months since the People's National Party (PNP) regained the Government.
We previously advised the minister that they should stay wherever they are now holed up, and not emerge, until they not only have a fully defined economic strategy, but clearly defined tactics for its implementation as well as articulation to the Jamaican people.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Chairman of the Digicel Group Denis O'Brien says recent uncertainties around taxation have impacted the level of foreign direct investment in Jamaica and will drive away investors from the island. At the same time, he said, notwithstanding its foray into the hospitality industry in Haiti, the telecommunications outfit will not be entering the local tourism sector.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is unlikely to approve an extended fund facility for Jamaica by the end of March based on the schedule of the executive board.
Golding said it is "a matter of concern" that the IMF updated its executive board calendar archive on its website on February 6 and replaced Jamaica with the Philippines for the board meeting scheduled for March 29.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it has agreed on the upcoming national budget in keeping with a programme being worked out with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
A statement issued at the end of the first day of the Cabinet retreat, said that the Portia Simpson Miller administration completed all prior actions required to successfully sign an agreement with the IMF and was now awaiting a report from the fund regarding its discussions with other multilateral financial institutions.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Claiming to be bemused by the 2013 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, economist Ryan Straughn says the Government is not willing to take advice and has failed to take the necessary measures to take Barbados on a growth path.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC - In a bid to strengthen bilateral relations with Suriname the Government of Haiti will be opening a consulate here.
Haitian President Michel Martelly who arrived in Suriname on Friday for a two day official visit made the announcement at a meeting in Jarikaba.
“Before the end of April we will open a consulate in Paramaribo. Suriname will also establish a diplomatic post in Port-au-Prince," he said.

WASHINGTON, United States—The United States says despite recent improvements as a “significant” offshore centre, Antigua and Barbuda “remains susceptible” to money laundering. In its 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report on money laundering and financial crimes, the US Department of State said that Antigua and Barbuda’s status stems from its offshore financial sector and Internet gaming industry.

Caribbean trade bloc governments have been so worried about the stark increase in chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension among citizens that they have twice organized special summits to address the issue and even pushed the United Nations into holding a high-level meeting to find ways of reducing these numbers.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The fight against dengue, which is spread by the Aedes Egypti mosquito, costs the Caribbean a whopping US$321 million per annum. Prof Christine Carrington revealed this figure in her professorial inaugural lecture at Noor Hassanali auditorium, Faculty of Law, St Augustine Campus, on Thursday. Among those present were Prof Dean Ramsewak, Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, and PhD student (Molecular Genetics) Orchid Allicock.