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KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – One of the Caribbean’s longest serving head of government says he is ready to work with whichever leader the electorates in Grenada and Barbados select in general elections on Tuesday and Thursday respectively. “First of all, I make no comment about any of the elections. So, I am not agreeing with your thesis because I don’t want anybody to say that I am supporting,” Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, the second longest serving government leader within the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping, told reporters.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Jamaica has received US$2.4 billion in funding support from Venezuela under the PetroCaribe agreement, since the facility was established in 2005.
Chief Executive Officer of the PetroCaribe Development Fund (PDF), Dr. Wesley Hughes, says the funds, allocated between July 2005 and January 2013, have financed projects, spearheaded at the community and national levels.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Civil servants stayed away from their jobs on Monday disrupting several government services and ignoring appeals from Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony and the main private sector organisation to end their industrial dispute over increased salaries.

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Dominica authorities say they intend to take a harder line, including legal action, against people who fail to pay taxes.
Comptroller of Income Tax Irwin Williams, speaking at the launch of the 12th annual Tax Awareness Week, said that the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) would be moving aggressively against tax evaders and defaulters.
“I think it is a fitting time to inform non compliant people that action will be taken against those who do not comply. All are encouraged to voluntarily pay their taxes when they are due.”

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Canadian government says it is assisting Grenada overcome the challenges facing the nutmeg industry.
It said together with the St. George University, it has adopted a two phase approach to the improving the production of nutmeg, a process that has seen virtually no technological change over time.
It said the first phase, which lessened land degradation in nutmeg plantations, introduced solar dehydrator technology, assessed worker health in the Gouyave processing plant, and delivered occupational health and safety training.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - THE OPPOSITION PROMISED an economic stimulus package but it is the re-elected Freundel Stuart administration that is about to deliver one. Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler revealed yesterday in the House of Assembly during the first day of debate on the 2013-2014 Estimates of Income and Expenditure that a $600 million stimulus package was on to generate more economic activity in the country

The island Haiti’s tourism leaders describe as the Caribbean’s ‘last true treasure island’ will be put under the development knife, as it undergoes an eco-makeover to become the region’s next biggest tourism hot spot. The region’s Ministry of Tourism has proposed a laid back development for the 52-square-kilometre island, Ile a Vache, that will highlight its cultural heritage areas, agro-tourism and history as well as 20 deserted beaches, Caribbean Journal reported. “Ile a Vache is one of the last true treasure islands of the Caribbean,” the Ministry of Tourism said in its proposal.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Barbados’ food import bill has reached unsustainable levels for a small island developing state.
This was pointed out by the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Shelley Carrington, while addressing the opening of the Ministries of Tourism and Agriculture sponsored workshop, “Mainstreaming Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in the Restaurant Sub-sector,” held at the Dinning Club conference centre, Newton Industrial Estate Christ Church yesterday.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Prospects for expanding economic partnerships between T&T and India will be the focus of the 2013 India Business Seminar which takes place tomorrow at the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) Building, Westmoorings, from 8 am. The half-day seminar, which has been held annually in March since 2009, is being organised jointly by the TTCIC, InvesTT and the High Commission of India in Port-of-Spain. This year the focus areas are agro-processing, IT/business processing outsourcing (BPO) and clean technology.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - On March 13, Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy Thomas Smitham and Junior Achievement of T&T’s Chief Executive Officer, J Errol Lewis, signed a US$55,000 grant to pave the way for a project to provide business development training; mentorship and access to loans for young women. The grant was made available under the Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Americas (WEAmericas) Small Grants Initiative.