OECS member states achieve historic milestone
CASTRIES, St Lucia — Member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on Friday marked yet another milestone in their integration process, with the entry into force of the revised treaty establishing the Economic Union.
Mara Thompson whips opposition candidate in Barbados by-election
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Mara Thompson, the widow of the late Barbados prime minister, David Thompson, trounced her opponent in Thursday’s by-election to retain the St John’s constituency that has been a stronghold…
Tender for sand mining in Turks and Caicos goes unexplained
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — The interim government in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has issued a tender document asking for proposals for the mining of sand. In the meantime, a lengthy related report…
Belize launches Aid for Trade Strategy – first country to do so
BELIZE CITY, Belize — Belize was buzzing with activities on Friday, with dozens of diplomats, foreign trade and commercial officials from overseas, who convened for the launching of Belize’s Aid for Trade Strategy.
St Vincent Parliament passes EC$786m Estimates
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — Legislators in St Vincent and the Grenadines late Thursday night adopted an EC$786.48 million (US$291.29 million) Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, paving the way for the budget debates next week.
Chinese official denies Grenada opposition stadium claims
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada — Claims that China has promised to rebuild the athletics and football stadium at Queen’s Park in Grenada have been denied by a top Chinese official on the island. Former sports minister Roland Bhola told Parliament…
Hundreds turn out as ‘Danny Buck’ makes final journey
Jamaica
Jamaican parliamentarians continue to fail to make annual statutory declarations |
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| Published on January 22, 2011 | |||||||
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http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/headline-Jamaican-parliamentarians-continue-to-fail-to-make-annual-statutory-declarations-4618.html KINGSTON, Jamaica — Parliament’s Integrity Commission has highlighted in its 2009 annual report that Jamaican parliamentarians continue to fail to meet the deadline for making their annual statutory declarations to the Commission. The Jamaica Gleaner reported that highlights of the report were disclosed by Minister with Responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz at a post Cabinet briefing. Under the Integrity of Members Act, all present and former parliamentarians are required to declare their assets, income and liabilities and that of their spouses and children to the Commission annually. Vaz said the Integrity Commission in its 2009 report indicated that parliamentarians failed to make the declarations in time under the law, despite writing to the Leaders of both Houses of Parliament.
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BBC Caribbean News in Brief
Suriname devalues currency
Suriname has devalued its local currency by 16.4% as part of new measures being implemented by the government.
The exchange rate is now $3.35 to US $1 compared to the previous rate of $2.80 to US $1.
The government has also announced tax increases on alcohol, tobacco, gasoline and basic services.
The move is intended to offset the impact of payments of overdue salaries for public workers.
Politics lecturer at the University of Suriname, Dr Hans Breeveld, said the changes will have an impact on the local economy.
Osborne remembered
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| Mr Osborne died earlier this month in the United Sates |
Montserratians on Friday paid tribute to the late former chief minister John Osborne.
Dr Osborne who died on 2 January in the United States, will be buried on Saturday.
The funeral service held Friday afternoon in Montserrat was attended by a number of regional leaders.
Among them were the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, the St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzel Douglas, the Anguillan Chief Minister Hubert Hughes and the Acting Caricom Secretary General Dr Lolita Applewaite.
The Chief Minister of Montserrat Reuben Meade said John Osborne left an example for his people to follow.
John Osborne was Montserrat’s longest serving parliamentarian – 38 years, 18 of them as chief minister.
Guyana passport probe
Guyana wants Indonesia to send information about the purported Guyanese passports that were issued to a now convicted tax cheat in Jakarta.
The request was filed on Wednesday when news surfaced that American, John Grice had provided passports for tax-cheat, Gayus Tambunan.
Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett says her government is awaiting a response from the Indonesian embassy in Suriname.
The passports were in the names of people bearing photographs resembling Mr Tambunan and his wife.
Cuba suspends US mail service
Cuba has suspended all postal deliveries to the United States until further notice.
The suspension follows stricter security measures imposed by the US last year after the attempted mailing of explosives from Yemen.
The Cuban postal service says large amounts of mail were refused entry and returned.
Correspondents say the cost of so many returns may have led to the decision to stop the service.
The postal service between the United States and Cuba had been suspended for more than four decades after the communist revolution on the island and only resumed in 2009 via third countries.
Committed to probe
Human rights group Amnesty International says Haitian authorities have committed to investigating former president Jean Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier’s alleged rights violations.
The organisation says the government in Port-au-Prince has confirmed that they are launching an investigation into crimes against humanity Mr Duvalier’s said to have committed during his rule in the 1970s and ’80s.
An Amnesty International official met on Thursday with Haitian prosecutor Harycidas Auguste and Justice Minister Paul Denis.
They discussed the need for an official probe, according to a statement from the rights group.
source: caribbeannewsnow.com. bbccaribbean.com
