PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - FORMER EAST Portland Member of Parliament (MP) Sam Lawrence was yesterday remembered by the House of Representatives for his contribution to Jamaica's legislative process. Opposition MP Karl Samuda, who served with Lawrence as MP between 1989 and 1997, and Government member Fitz Jackson, who entered the House in 1994, recalled that Lawrence was instrumental in getting the Cabinet to consider the wishes of the House. Jackson, MP for South St Catherine, said by moving a resolution which was passed by the House, issues from Parliament found their way to Cabinet.
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ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) says agriculture minister Michael Denis Lett, who died from prostate cancer on Monday will be remembered for “his selfless dedication to service, his wisdom and patience as a leader (and) his ability to work across the political divide”. It said Grenada would also remember Lett, 74, for his “heroic stand in defense of the people’s right of access to the La Sagesse beach in 1973 and his willingness to sacrifice his freedom in defense of his principles.
BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC - The Belize government Tuesday urged education officials to ensure that schools remained opened and the safety of students assured as the National Trade Union Congress (NTU) announced it would be supporting teachers in the protest action for increased wages. The teachers, led by the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU), are staging a demonstration in the streets of the capital in support of their demands for a 30 per cent salary adjustment to deal with the high cost of living, which the Dean Barrow government says it is not in a position to meet.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC - Vice President of the Trade Union Federation (TUF) Cyprian Montroupe says the grouping is disappointment with the progress of the negotiations for a salary increases for public servants given the February 15 deadline. Montroupe said the TUF has written to Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony urging that the government ensure that negotiations progresses smoothly.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Caribbean countries are being urged to not only update their list of deportees, but also to share that vital information with regional counterparts.
The call came from National Security Minister Dr Errol Cort, who said deportees who are not Antigua & Barbuda citizens are able to gain entry into the twin-island nation – a major concern for law enforcers here.
He said local authorities do not have adequate mechanisms to monitor such individuals, due to a lack of detail on their previous history and the offences they’ve committed.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC –The Trinidad and Tobago government says it is pleased with the performance of the local economy and welcomed recent ratings by the US based rating agencies regarding the economic outlook for the oil-rich twin island republic.
Finance Minister Larry Howai, wrapping up debate on the Finance Bill on Monday night, Howai said that the government’s economic policies are working in spite of criticism from the opposition.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) will hold a meeting in Trinidad and Tobago in March to examine energy issues in the region, according to Energy and Energy Affairs Minister Kevin Ramnarine
Ramnarine addressing the 2013 Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference said that the March 1 COTED meeting would “bring together ministers with responsibility for energy for one day to discuss a way forward for the Caribbean with respect to energy”.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Tuesday revised downwards the estimate of economic growth for 2012 in St. Kitts and Nevis.
An IMF delegation, which has ended a one week visit to the island, downgraded the growth from minus 0.7 to minus 0.9 percent, reflecting a decline in tourism in the third quarter.
ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Tuesday urged the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) to accept the latest wage offer for public servants as the government concluded agreements with teachers and police officers.
Skerrit has also warned that his administration would most likely trigger legislation that would allow for the establishment of a tribunal to deal with the impasse.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - RBC Capital Markets, in conjunction with RBC Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Limited, has successfully placed a US$300-million amortising bond issue for the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to bolster regional development and stimulate economic growth.
The 15-year fixed-rate bond bears interest of 4.375 per cent annually until maturity in 2027, and represents a significant investment inflow into the region, RBC said in a statement out of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad yesterday.