KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government has named the Principal of the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Gordon Shirley, to head a National Task Force (NTF) that will coordinate the critical infrastructural and labour factors regarding the logistics hub initiative. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s government has said that the initiative, which is intended to have Jamaica take advantage of the increase in the movement of goods when the expanded Panama Canal opens in 2015, is a major plank of its overall growth strategy.
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KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Jamaica’s Public Defender, Earl Witter has recommended that a Commission of Enquiry be established to look into the incursion that took place in the Corporate Area community of Tivoli Gardens nearly three years ago as security officials went on the hunt for the then fugitive Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Leader of the main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Andrew Holness has praised Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller for what he says is a level of maturity in promising to consider suggestions from the opposition concerning the 2013/2014 budget. During her contribution to the debate on the J$531 billion (One Jamaica dollar = US$0.01 cents) budget on Tuesday, Prime Minister Simpson Miller said in the interest of democracy, her administration has welcomed all suggestions placed on the table by Holness, the former prime minister.
WASHINGTON, CMC – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday said it had approved US$932.3 million loan under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Jamaica. The four-year EFF will support the Jamaica government’s comprehensive economic reform agenda and forms a critical part of a total funding package of two billion US dollars from Jamaica’s multilateral partners including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), with each having preliminarily agreed to allocate US$510 million over the next four years.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Several Caribbean countries were on Wednesday observing May Day, the international day set aside to recognise workers, with the traditional rallies and speeches against exploitation and the need for better working conditions despite the ongoing global financial and economic crisis.
While many workers, some armed with placards, urged unity in dealing with the crisis, labour leaders in several Caribbean countries, like Dominica, remained divided on the need for a trade union congress (TUC).
ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – As several Caribbean countries prepare to celebrate MAYDAY, the traditional day of workers on Wednesday, a Dominican trade unionist is lamenting the failure to establish a Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the country.
Head of the Public Service Association (PSA), Thomas Letang, speaking on the state-owned DBS radio Tuesday, said while “a lot of work” had been done on a draft constitution several years ago, a TUC has not materialised.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – A senior member of the St. Kitts-Nevis government has brushed aside opposition calls for a government of national unity.
"We don't want any unity government in St Kits and Nevis. We want to remain a stable country. I don’t' have to tell you what is happening in Trinidad and Tobago where unity is crumbling fast,” said Health Community and Social Development, Culture and Gender Affairs Minister Marcella Liburd.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, , CMC – Norway is reported to have expressed “serious concerns” about the status of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), following the decision by the National Assembly to approve a drastic reduction in the national budget as proposed by opposition legislators.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony will deliver the national budget on Tuesday, May 14.
The budget presentation follows the completion of the debate on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure over the last weekend. The debate on the budget presentation will be May16-17.
The government is expected to table an EC$1.3 billion (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) fiscal package and has already indicated that the recently introduced value added tax (VAT) would not be increased.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Any legal measure implemented by local and foreign law enforcement agencies to combat the drug trade is welcomed by this newspaper.
For we are resolute in our belief that the trafficking of narcotics is a most abominable crime for which those found guilty must feel the full weight of the law.