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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Lawyers for former deputy prime minister Sam Condor and the leader of the main opposition People’s Action Movement (PAM), Shawn Richards, are expected to outline their case on Monday preventing Jason Hamilton from performing his duties as Attorney General and also to prevent the appointment of Senators approved by Parliament earlier this month. The matter came up for hearing on Thursday but was adjourned after the High Court approved an application filed by the claimants to amend their original motion.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government says a constitutional referendum planned for the 40th anniversary of independence has been re-scheduled to November. Bahamas gained its political independence from Britain on July 10, 1973. Prime Minister Perry Christie told parliament a request from Constitutional Commission for an extension of its report which must be debated by all nationals before the referendum, has been granted.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Gleaner - This newspaper endorses the suggestion by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) that Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states introduce a visa regime similar to the Schengen visa of some European Union members. The system would allow seamless travel by visitors across the Community after clearing immigration/customs at their initial port of entry. Such a system was in place for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, but lapsed thereafter.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Nation News - TOP CARIBBEAN TOURISM OFFICIALS are supporting calls for Great Britain’s air passenger duty (APD) to be scrapped after an economic impact study by audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) showed abolishing the tax would help the region’s tourism sector. The study shows that getting rid of the APD could bring a lasting boost to Britain’s economy, generating a net tax gain for the Treasury and creating almost 60 000 new jobs by 2020.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders meet in Haiti next week for their annual Inter-sessional summit where they will discuss a wide range of issues including crime and security, the CARICOM Regional Aid for Trade Strategy, and a report on the Regional Architecture for Financial Stability. A CARICOM Secretariat statement said that the “historic” meeting will be addressed by the host head of state, President Michel Martelly, St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony and the CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC - Caribbean Community (CARICOM) parliamentarians have been told they must adopt a strong position at the 9th Regional meeting of the African Caribbean and Pacific –European Union (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) against the EU’s approach to differentiation.

KINGSTON Jamaica, Observer - COFFEE and tea products maker Salada Foods is eyeing Africa. "We are looking at the African market as another area of potential growth for us," said Julian Rodney, Salada's general manager. "Salada has no presence there." With a particular focus on West Africa, Rodney reckons that the similarity in taste profile to Jamaicans makes the market attractive.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC –Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony says Eastern Caribbean countries are being punished because of their socio-economic development. He was making reference to the decision by lending institutions and other organisations to label St. Lucia and other Caribbean countries as middle income nations thereby denying them access to grants and concessionary financing. Speaking at the launch of the post- 2015 St Lucia Consultations organized in collaboration with the United Nations System in the Eastern Caribbean, Prime Minister Anthony said St.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - A 42 per cent cut in the quota from the Pine Hill Dairy (PHD) would be disastrous for the local dairy industry. This is the harsh reality painted by President of the Barbados Dairy and Beef Producers’ Association, Brian Allan, who explained that to date, farmers have been moving around their quota among themselves to avoid dumping, since the announcement of a 25 per cent cut back in September by Pine Hill Dairy. The Farmers’ Committee is due to meet with the PHD to negotiate the cuts for March, April and May, where the suggestion is a 42 per cent cut.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - The CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, has announced that they will be sponsoring the Junior Achievement (JA) Programme, so that more students throughout the island will be able to further develop and practise their entrepreneurial skills.

With this investment the CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank has become a ‘champion’ as the proceeds will allow the JA the flexibility to make a substantial impact in a variety of areas, over the next 3 years at the Grantley Adams Secondary School, which both the Bank and the JA have adopted.