01 April 2000
Jamaica's ambassador
to Belgium and the European Union, Douglas Saunders, will also become Jamaica's first
diplomatic appointment to South Africa. The foreign ministry disclosed that Saunders would
be a non-resident High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The
State visit of South African President, Thabo Mbeki, to Grenada was been postponed,
according to a statement by the Grenada Prime Minister's Office, March 31. No new dates
have been set for the arrival of Mbeki, who was scheduled to visit Grenada on April 17 or
18.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
02 April 2000
The
CARICOM Secretariat will publish a new monograph series designed to educate the regional
public on capital markets. The first, in a series of volumes on Capital Markets in the
Region, is titled "Towards a Regional Stock Exchange". The series is
meant to provide information on the role of investment in economic growth and development,
the benefits of a diversified investment portfolio and the rationale of regional policy
makers in encouraging the development of a regional capital market.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The
Organisation of American States (OAS) Electoral Observation Mission in Haiti, March 31,
condemned the murder of the co-ordinator of the electoral campaign of the Patriotic
Movement for National Rescue (MPSN), Legitime Athis and his wife. An OAS statement
asserted the murder, as well as the other violent incidents, which have occurred, are a
threat to peaceful elections as well as to democracy in Haiti.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Parliamentarians
from the Organisation of American States (OAS) 34 member countries concluded a meeting in
Washington March 31, after discussion on a range of issues on how to build confidence and
security for a more peaceful hemisphere. OAS Secretary General, Cesar Gaviria, inaugurated
the meeting recalling the important work on new concepts of hemispheric security to meet
the sweeping changes of the last 15 years.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
At the
opening of the 25th meeting of the Caribbean Development and Co-operation Committee (CDCC)
March 31, Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Dr Norman
Girvan, declared that regionalism is made more relevant with the world's countries moving
towards globalisation. Dr Girvan specified that even the mantra for Caribbean nations,
many of which are small and vulnerable, is "compete globally or die".
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
03 April 2000
The
inaugural United Nations Offshore Plenary Forum on Money Laundering, held in the Cayman
Islands, ended recently with delegates from the 36 mostly Caribbean and Pacific offshore
jurisdictions represented heading home with a regulatory framework to combat this
financial crime. Organiser of the forum, Pino Arlacchi, of the United Nations Office of
Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODCCP) indicated that the meeting came at a time when
the USA Treasury Department is considering new legislation to target offshore financial
jurisdictions or banks that pose a threat to the USA in fighting criminals and laundering
money, said
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The Newsday
newspaper, April 3, reported that Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas have joined the
government of Jamaica in an appeal to be heard before the Privy Council in London this
week for the resumption of hangings. The outcome of this appeal will determine whether the
barriers caused by the Inter-American system in preventing the death penalty to be carried
out will be removed. In the face of rising crime, many Caribbean governments are under
popular pressure to resume hangings.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Key
players in the Windward Islands banana industry met in St Lucia, April 3, for discussions
on a proposed summer launch for fair trade Windward Islands bananas on the United Kingdom
market. Renwick Rose, co-ordinator of the Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA),
specified that the meeting would involve representatives from the regional banana
marketing company WIBDECO. Other attendees include personnel from a leading UK supermarket
chain that would stock the supplies and the UK Fair Trade Foundation, Geest banana
officials, chief officers from the banana associations and companies in the Windwards and
WINFA.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
04 April 2000
Guyana
police discovered 200 pounds of cocaine yesterday, on board the cargo vessel, M V Charm.
The vessel, on route from Suriname to the Netherlands was detained when authorities in
Suriname tipped off Guyana police. Press reports today are that the search will continue
as it is suspected that more drugs may be in false compartments of the vessel's ballast.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The
Organisation of American States Electoral Observation Mission in Haiti expressed outraged
at yesterday's assassination of the Director of Radio Haiti-Inter and the station's
janitor. The Mission asserted it considers this murder, during the electoral campaign, a
strike against freedom of the press and democracy in Haiti.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
06 April 2000
Proposals
to ensure that progress is made in getting debt relief to the world's poorest countries
have been outlined by Britain's International Development Secretary, Clare Short, and
Chancellor, Gordon Brown. At a London seminar, April 4, UK ministers told representatives
of NGOs and religious faiths that they had written to the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank suggesting that a Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Review and
Implementation Group be established. In a press release from the British High Commission
in Barbados, "It is proposed that the Group be a joint World Bank/IMF body that
provides co-ordinated focus to the initiative, ensures HIPC is implemented consistently,
identifies and deals with any reasons for delay and provides a single point of contact for
shareholders, aid donors and NGOs."
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The
USA warned that the Haitian government risks international isolation if repeatedly
postponed parliamentary elections are delayed again. USA officials and congressmen called
for Haitian President, René Préval, to promptly set a date for a vote so the new
parliament can take office by June 12 as mandated by the constitution. Préval closed the
National Assembly 15 months ago and has ruled the country by decree since.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
07 April 2000
Caribbean
agencies involved in programmes to reduce poverty and social deprivation will receiving
assistance from the British government in preparing and implementing their projects. The
Caribbean Civil Society Development Programme (CCSDP), costing £922,000 pounds sterling
(EC$3.7 million), financed by the Department for International Development, and managed by
OXFAM, is aimed at strengthening the skills of some twelve civil society organisations to
better organise, manage, advocate and execute their programmes.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The
Jamaican government signed a loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
to provide US$8.4 million to finance its Land Administration Management Programme (LAMP).
At a concessionary interest rate, of about two per cent over 20 years, the loan will help
offset the US$12 million cost of implementing the first phase of the project. The
government of Jamaica will foot the rest of the bill.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
08 April 2000
Scientists
at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), April 7, reported a significant improvement
in air quality in volcano-battered Montserrat, despite intermittent ash-falls, over the
past 6 months of monitoring.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
USA
Vice General Attorney, Eric Holder, disclosed that the USA government wants to
"reunite as soon as possible" Juan Miguel Gonzalez, father of Elian Gonzalez,
with his son. In press conference, Holder expressed that the authorities are "looking
for the co-operation" of the distant relatives, who have the six-year-old child
retained in Miami. Officials noted that the presence of Elian's father in the USA, since
April 6, is as a "great step forwards" in the solution of the conflict.
(Press Release, Cuban Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago)
09 April 2000
The
Jamaican government signed a US$14 million loan agreement with the Caribbean Development
Bank (CDB) to help fund Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) projects, over a three-year
period. The increased funding, announced by Finance Minister, Omar Davies, during the
2000/01 Budget Debate in Parliament, April 6, is to become available in July this year.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
10 April 2000
USA
Attorney General, Janet Reno, maintained yesterday that she was determined to reunite
Elian Gonzalez with his father this week. Juan Miguel Gonzalez arrived in the United
States, April 6, to reclaim his son, who was rescued off the Florida coast last November
after a boat carrying a group of Cubans, including his mother, sank.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
11 April 2000
Jamaica
plans seeking large loans from the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank to
phase out its Financial Sector Adjustment Company (FINSAC) within the next two years.
Finance Minister, Omar Davies, noted that FINSAC's debt now totalled JA$108 (US$2.57)
billion dollars in principal and interest. Government formed the FINSAC in 1997 to protect
depositors and to salvage and restructure failed banks and insurance companies after a
liquidity crisis.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
12 April 2000
Antigua
and Barbuda Prime Minister, Lester Bird, threatened to dismiss Cable and Wireless'
monopoly of Internet service charging that rates are too high. Bird's concerns come as
this country increasingly takes advantage of the lucrative Internet gaming industry. The
Prime Minister contended, "We cannot be operating on the basis that our rates are way
out of 'whack' with the rest of the competitive world."
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Caribbean
countries will oppose a move by Australia for international regulation of fishing, due to
concern that if Australia gets its way at the 11th meeting of member states of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Kenya, unnecessary
restrictions would be placed on Caribbean fishermen. "Australia wants any harvesting
of fish from the waters of one country to another to be classified as trade and therefore
ought to be accompanied by the appropriate markings and identifications as CITES so
determines," declared St Vincent's Chief Fisheries Officer, Kerwyn Morris.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Grenada
Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, announced that Grenada is headed for a return to the
Value Added Tax (VAT) system. However, the Prime Minister dismissed speculation that the
tax will be brought back anytime soon. "If and when VAT comes it cannot come as an
additional tax. It has to be a tax that replaces many of the taxes we now have," Dr
Mitchell specified.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Officials
of EC Express and Air Jamaica Executives, headed by Chairman Gordon "Butch"
Stewart, will arrive in St Lucia later this week for activities linked to the launching of
the sub-region's newest carrier. The delegation will also travel to Barbados and Grenada
for separate launching ceremonies. EC Express, which has a commercial alliance with Air
Jamaica, will take to the skies from April 17, with services to Grenada, Dominica, St.
Lucia and Barbados, from where it will operate a hub service.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
13 April 2000
An
international conference on sharing of best prices in the reform of the criminal system,
law enforcement, the Multi Agency concept, criminal justice protection, anti-corruption
efforts and in handling violence was cancelled. The conference scheduled for April 14 in
Trinidad and Tobago, was called off following an announcement that USA Attorney General
Janet Reno is unable to attend. Reno is currently involved in the custody battle over
Cuban Elian Gonzalez in the USA, between Gonzalez Cuban father and his distant relatives
in Miami.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Montserrat
Chief Minister, David Brandt, alleged that the UK is sabotaging the tourism industry by
issuing a travel advisory for the territory. The advisory, in part, states that there is
limited accommodation for visitors in the north of the island, a British dependency.
"This advisory is so dangerous to us because tourism touches everyone in
Montserrat," Brandt argued.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Eastern
Caribbean countries are firmly supporting Japan and Norway, which want the ban lifted on
commercial whaling, in a current debate. Antigua, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,
St Kitts-Nevis and Grenada are expected to vote for four proposals designed to allow
strictly managed commercial harvesting of certain species of whales to resume. "We
continue to support sustainable use of marine resources and we believe that the proposals
by Japan and Norway are fair and are based on science," maintained Davon Joseph, the
chief representative of Antigua to the 11th Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES) taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
USA
Professor of Atmospheric Science, Dr William Gray, has forecast that the year 2000 will
see hurricane formation earlier than in the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Not expecting this
year's season to be as active as those in 1995, 1996, 1998 or 1999, Gray estimated the
landfall probability of one or more major storms striking the Caribbean at 10 percent
above the long-term mean.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Nigerian
President and Group of 77 (G-77) top representative, Olosegun Obasanjo arrived in Havana
yesterday to attend the first G-77 Heads of State and Government Summit. Obasanjo will
carry out a 48 hour official visit to Cuba prior to the multinational meeting, taking
place on April 12-14. Cuba President, Fidel Castro, and Nigeria President Obasanjo headed
official talks of both countries' delegations at the Palacio de la Revolucion (Revolution
Palace).
(Press Release, Cuban Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago)
South
African president, Thabo Mbeki, will attend the Group-77 (G-77) South Summit in Havana,
Cuba. The statesman is accompanied by numerous government delegates, including Foreign
Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin.
(Press Release, Cuban Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago)
The
design of a new international economic order in accordance with the interests of all
nations is one of the goals of a new North-South relationship proposed in Havana during
the Group of 77 Summit. The document, to be approved by the Heads of State and Government
present at the Havana event, states that this step is indispensable to "develop a
general consensus on key matters of international economic links and development." In
this regard, the 133 G-77 member countries advocate avoiding more reductions in official
development assistance programs, and for achieving a Gross National Product (GNP) annual
growth of 0.7%, similar to industrialised nations, by the end of the first decade of the
21st century.
(Press Release, Cuban Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago)
The
southern nations' calls to face the considerable foreign debt find little support among
the most developed northern countries. The issue of developing nations' debt, valued at
US$ 2.5 trillion, is one of the most important matters to be discussed in the Group of 77
South Summit, with the attendance of representatives from 133 countries. A project for the
summit's final resolution under discussion in Havana states that the G-77 Heads of State
and Government firmly reject the imposition of extraterritorial laws and regulations, or
any other type of restrictive economic measures against developing nations. The event ends
on April 14.
(Press Release, Cuban Embassy in Trinidad & Tobago)
14 April 2000
Caribbean
Hotel Association (CHA) President, Ed Malone, wants more support for the region's small
hotels, arguing that they are vulnerable to the pressure of change. Malone also stressed
that there is a need to create a climate conducive to foreign investment that would see
the private and public sectors working together to develop the hotel and tourism industry.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
15 April 2000
The
Barbados government has removed surtax on non-CARICOM imports. Goods affected include
wheat flour, pastries, biscuits, cakes, Portland cement, baby napkins, manufactured
stationery items, and garments. Others are sugar, confectioneries, plastic bags, towels,
curtains, paper bags, motor gasoline and household insecticides.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Dominica
Minister of Trade, Industry and Marketing, Osborne Riviere, welcomed the launching of two
funding programmes, the Caribbean Export Development Agency Competitiveness Fund, and the
ACP-EU (African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Union) Export Business Assistance Scheme
(EBAS). The programmes are expected to boost the competitiveness of the business sector,
as critical for addressing the needs of business enterprises in the country, by placing
local goods and services side by side with those from the region and on the international
market. EBAS is one of the tools of the European Commission for Development, for private
sector development in ACP countries, which provides grants to private sector enterprises,
suppliers of special business support services and professional associations.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The Organisation of
American States (OAS) and Cable and Wireless formalised a co-operation programme, April
14, to bring together Computer and internet assistance for small hotels around the
Caribbean. The collaboration will deliver Cable and Wireless voice and data services to
some 1,800 small tourism facilities in regional countries where the telecommunications
provider operates. Documents setting the partnership in motion were signed before small
hotel co-ordinators gathered at the Grand Barbados Hotel for a series of OAS meetings and
briefing sessions.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Amnesty
International, in a statement, April 15, charged that Trinidad and Tobago was quietly
hiding its human rights record by removing an important human rights protection mechanism.
Amnesty referred to the fact that on March 27 Trinidad and Tobago lodged its withdrawal
from the first Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights. This measure will take effect on 27 June 2000. "As a consequence of the
withdrawal, international human rights experts will no longer be able to examine the
claims of those aggrieved citizens who may have suffered violation of their most
fundamental rights," professed the Organisation.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
At the
11th meeting of the Convention on International trade in endangered species, CITES in
Kenya, head of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation, . Daven Joseph, an official of
Antigua's Ministry of Planning, April 16, chastised rich countries for their efforts to
impose their will on small island developing states in and out of the Caribbean. Her
complained about the "big stick" policies of some rich nations, "As a small
island developing state, Antigua and Barbuda has in the past and in the present has been
faced with and been subjected to the neo-colonialist and imperialistic posturing of
developed countries."
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Although
the United Nations Drug Control and Crime Prevention Programme (UNDCCP) indicated its
satisfaction with Antigua and Barbuda's drug control policies, it identified a number of
areas, which needed to be urgently addressed. UNDCCP regional Representative, Dr Michael
Platzer, attested that the Organisation and CARICOM recently marked Antigua and Barbuda's
drug control programmes and policies, giving it a "B average". The UNDCCP,
however, recommended that the government put in place a co-ordinated approach through a
national drug council of representatives from the health and education ministries, law
enforcement authorities, schools, churches, workplaces and non-governmental organisations.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The
USA-based ratings and economic research firm, Moody's Investors Service, recently upgraded
Trinidad and Tobago's international credit rating. Moody's, this week, moved Trinidad and
Tobago long-term foreign currency country ceiling for bonds and notes to Baa3 from Ba1.
Moody certified that the upgrade signals to international financial markets that Trinidad
and Tobago "continues to be stable economy for investment and opportunities are
attractive to international investors".
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
17 April 2000
Belize
became the second member of CARICOM to ratify the Rome Statute. In doing so it has
fulfilled its part of a commitment given by all CARICOM members in a meeting of Law
Minister in April 1999 "to pursue the process of ratification of the Rome Statute by
their respective states within the shortest possible time." The International
Criminal Court (ICC) will be established after 60 states have ratified the Rome Statute.
The Court will have the power to prosecute those accused of genocide, crimes against
humanity and war crimes committed both in international conflicts. To date, 88 other
countries have indicated their intention to ratify the Rome Statute by signing it.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
18 April 2000
Some
Eastern Caribbean nations expressed disappointment at a decision at the 11th meeting of
nations on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The
proposals by Japan and Norway to lift the ban on trade in minke and gray whales April 16,
was narrowly defeated. "We are a whaling nation and we regret that emotion as
distinct from science heavily influenced the decision," Kerwyn Morris, St Vincent and
the Grenadines Chief Fisheries Officer, stated.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The
School of Business Administration of Jamaica's University of Technology (UTech), will
offer five of its courses on-line in the next academic year. Theresa Easy, Acting Head of
the School of Business Administration, indicated that by the year 2005, approximately 50
percent of courses would be offered on-line.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Barbados'
Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, is underscoring a need for more time and more developmental
aid in an effort to secure a better deal for the world's small nations, as these countries
move to reform economies against the backdrop of global changes. "The attempt to
compress necessary change into too short a time period can compromise the effectiveness of
the reform itself and reverse economic and social successes already achieved," Arthur
asserted while in Washington recently. The Prime Minister declared that while small states
wish to seize the opportunities which globalisation presents they face grave problems in
integrating successfully into the global economy.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
A
delegation from the French Republic, headed by Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS) Ambassador to France, Henri Vidal, arrived in Dominica, April 17, for the opening
of the Sixth Parliament. While in Dominica the delegation will discuss prospects for
developing further areas of co-operation between France and Dominica. The discussions will
serve as a follow-up to meetings held in Paris last week with Dominica Prime Minister,
Rosie Douglas.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Trinidad
and Tobago's Attorney General, Ramesh Maharaj, denied that he government's withdrawal from
an important international human rights protocol would affect the rights of its citizens.
Further, he stated that allegations by Amnesty International about the country's human
rights record is not supported by the 1999 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices by
the USA State Department. Amnesty International, last week, charged that Trinidad and
Tobago was quietly removing itself from international scrutiny with the scrapping of a
major international human rights protection mechanism.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
19 April 2000
Montserrat
Chief Minister, David Brandt, maintained that the conversion of the island into a single
constituency will be completed in time for the next General Elections due November 2001.
Under the new system, Monsterratians will cast nine votes in one constituency but can only
vote once for one candidate. Legislation has already been passed paving the way for
introduction of the new system.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Dominica
banana production and exports fell last year to the lowest levels for the decade. Finance
Minister, Ambrose George, affirmed April 17, that banana exports declined by 4.6 percent,
from the 28,602 tonnes recorded in 1998 to 27,264 tonnes. George attested that a major
contributory factor to the decline in exports was the passage of Hurricane Lenny, which
resulted in the non-shipment of 520 tonnes in November 1999.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
USA
Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright will follow up on a series of issues raised at the
recently held 2nd Annual Meeting with Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Caribbean held
last month in New Orleans. Albright informed Trinidad and Tobago Foreign Minister, Ralph
Maraj, that the USA was already seeking action on a number of issues raised at the March
29 meeting. On the issue of criminal deportations from the USA, Albright contended that it
was beyond her office to modify the law.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
24 April 2000
Progress
towards more sustainable agriculture has been slow in the eight years since the UN
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, and most of the
challenges identified then have still to be met. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO) made the assessment in a report prepared for the Eight Session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development (CSD) in Paris. The report specified that although there are
pockets of progress in several areas, "most issues and challenges of sustainable
agriculture are still outstanding."
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Cuba
President, Fidel Castro, yesterday dismissed hopes that the reunion of Elian Gonzalez with
his father might improve troubled USA-Cuban ties. Asked by reporters in Havana what impact
he expected on USA-Cuban relations from the Elian case, Castro replied: "The normal
life of 41 years ... of them attacking us."
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
25 April 2000
The
Council of the University of the West Indies (UWI) announced increases in tuition fees for
the next academic year at the university's three campuses. At its annual business meeting
held at the Mona campus in Jamaica last week, the Council approved increases ranging from
1.7 percent to 2.5 percent (depending on the faculty) at the Cave Hill Campus (Barbados).
In the case of the St. Augustine Campus (Trinidad), "where tuition fees have already
reached the targeted 20 percent of actual cost," 0 percent to 5.3 percent increase,
whilst an across-the-board increase of 8.2 per cent was set for students at the Mona
campus. The UWI noted that "even with this increase, fees at Mona still represent
only 17.4 percent of the actual cost of the degree programmes".
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
26 April 2000
A code
share agreement between Air Jamaica and Cubana Airlines will allow the Jamaican carrier to
increase its flights between the two countries. Effective April 24, Air Jamaica will add a
flight between Kingston/Montego Bay and Havana, Cuba, making a total of five flights
weekly to that destination. The code share flights will operate Monday, Thursday, Saturday
and Sunday, Air Jamaica announced.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Jamaica's
Finance Minister, Dr Omar Davies, currently in will meet officials of the Inter-American
Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the USA Treasury.
Discussions will focus on government's moves to access loan resources from the IDB and the
World Bank for the financial sector.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
27 April 2000
According
to Reginald Farley, Minister of Industry, Barbados will soon have new legislation to
govern the transaction of business on the Internet. The Minister indicated that
consultants were preparing electronic commerce legislation for Barbados, and the laws
would address legal requirements relating to electronic records, and validity of contracts
and deeds.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
The
Secretariats of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) are to strengthen co-operation in trade, tourism, transport, the environment,
the Caribbean Sea, language training and cultural co-operation. ACS Secretary General,
Professor Norman Girvan, and CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington, recently pledged
their commitment to continuous discussions, during discussions in Trinidad. Specific
programmes on which the two Secretariats are to co-operate include, consultations on the
Caribbean Preferential Tariff (CPT), the implementation of the Immediate Plan of Action of
the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean and the ACS Common Air Policy.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
28 April 2000
Jamaica's
Operation Intrepid, a joint police/military campaign launched in mid-1999 to combat
an upsurge in violent crime is to be restored. The decision taken at a meeting of the
Government's Security Council, April 26, follows a sharp rise in criminal activity in
April with 66 murders recorded for the first 23 days of the month. Chaired by Prime
Minister Percival Patterson, the Security Council includes senior representatives from the
police and the army.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
29 April 2000
The
quality of the region's foreign service, as well as the current operations of CARICOM,
have been strongly criticised Jamaica's ambassador to the USA, Richard Bernal. Bernal
concluded that it is time "to close down" what he considers a mid-twentieth
century foreign service to avoid replicating problems in the 21st century. Further, he
contended that the region's governments should pursue "a rigorous, critical
re-evaluation" of the operations of CARICOM, now in its 26th year, and planning to be
transformed into a single market and economy in 2001.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Cuba
has withdrawn its application to join a multilateral trade and aid pact with the European
Union. Officials disclosed, yesterday, the withdrawal came after some EU governments
censured Havana's human rights record, a decision that sets back chances for improved
relations between Cuba and Western Europe. Cuba applied last month to join a new trade and
aid agreement between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of 71 developing
nations.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
Assailants
murdered a Haitian political party official, Ducertain Armand, less than a month before
the long-delayed national election in the Caribbean nation. "This was a political
assassination," Marie-France Claude, the Port-au-Prince mayoral candidate for the
Haitian Christian Democratic Party charged yesterday
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
USA
Coast Guard and Bahamian crews rescued 290 migrants stranded on an uninhabited island in
the remote southern Bahamas when their sailboat ran aground. As many as 14 of the migrants
aboard the boat -- most of whom were believed to be Haitians -- died during the voyage
from Haiti, authorities communicated yesterday. Hundreds of Haitians have landed in the
Bahamas, a chain of more than 700 islands between Haiti and Florida, in recent days.
(Caribbean News Agency (CANA), Web Site)
