Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Dr Herminio Blanco has been chosen to contend in the next round of the selection process for Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The selection committee, based in Geneva, Switzerland, and headed by the president of the WTO's General Council, presented the results of the first stage of consultations which involved the 159 member countries of the organisation.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) says it is providing US$100,000 to Jamaica to support the island’s post-disaster recovery and restoration initiatives following the effects of Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. In a statement, the CCRIF, which is a not-for-profit risk pooling facility, owned, operated by Caribbean governments, said Jamaica’s hurricane policy with CCRIF did not trigger after Hurricane Sandy because losses were below the policy’s attachment point or “deductible”.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government is to outline a solution that it hopes will facilitate the re-opening of the Russian owned ALPART and Kirkvine bauxite plants here. Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell will outline the solution when he make his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate. The government has been engaged in months of intense negotiations with the Russian-based aluminium company, UC Rusal, for the resumption of operations at the facilities, which closed in 2009.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - There were heightened discussions in government circles yesterday that a Cabinet reshuffle could coincide with the upcoming Budget Debate. Dr Peter Phillips, the finance minister who succeeded in eking out a long-awaited deal to be signed later this month with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), appears to be the big winner in the impending Cabinet shake-up. Well-placed government sources told The Gleaner that A.J. Nicholson, the foreign affairs minister, appears to be left out of the Cabinet.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - gainst the backdrop of less than favourable reports coming out of the Central Bank of Barbados last week on the performance of Barbados’ economy and with the ensuing comments from the business leaders, some are questioning whether our approach to riding out the recession has been right all along. Traditional industries are crying out for more stimulus and non-traditional sectors claim they are being starved of the necessary attention needed to take them forward. The consensus seems to be, “no more talk, we need action...

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Government is correctly preoccupied with what it calls "the growth agenda", and has been telling the country that there will be growth in the immediate future. This is not likely, and there is no gain in talking optimistically about the imminence of economic growth. That kind of talk must be reserved for assuaging speculation, as would be necessary to maintain stability and confidence in financial markets, but does nothing to promote economic growth.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Jamaica Government is threatening to withdraw the Air Jamaica brand from the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines (CAL) following reports that the carrier would be reducing the number of daily flights to Jamaica. Last week, CAL Communications Manager Clint Williams confirmed media reports that the airline would be cutting back on the number of flights to Jamaica, effective today, April 16. Transport Minister Dr. Omar Davies said the decision by the cash-strapped airline would contradict the agreement signed when CAL acquired Air Jamaica two years ago.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Several stakeholder groups agreed yesterday that National Security Minister Peter Bunting sent the wrong signal about his commitment to tackling Jamaica's crime problem in statements he made on the weekend. While there was support for Bunting from several quarters, including one of his predecessors, he drew strong criticisms for statements some argued "he had no business making". "It does send a wrong signal to the criminals.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it is alarmed at a statement by National Security Minister, Peter Bunting acknowledging that the fight against crime seems to be a futile endeavour in Jamaica. “It is not only alarming; it is the tone and the manner in which he expressed himself, though I empathise with him, it seems to me that this is not the right or appropriate approach to dealing with this crime situation,” said the JLP’s spokesman on Crime, Delroy Chuck. He said Bunting is sending a wrong signal to the country.

legacy KINGSTON, Jamaica - In death, as in life, Margaret Thatcher remains a hugely divisive political figure_ The tributes from admirers read more like hagiography writings on the lives of saints, rather than biography.