Caribbean RoundUp

Antigua

Opposition legislator Kevin “Shugy” Simon submitted his letter of resignation to the Speaker of Parliament recently and will contest a by-election in a bid to thwart efforts by the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to challenge his victory at the general election earlier this year.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne had led the ABLP to a nail-biting victory in the Jan. 18 general election, winning nine of the 17 seats for a third consecutive term in office.

Simon was among the seven members of the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) that won seats in the election, but his victory over the incumbent Samantha Marshall by 199 votes for the St. Mary’s South seat has been challenged on the grounds that he was a public servant when he was nominated.

He said the matter is due to be heard by the court during the first week in July.

He recalled that while in opposition, the ABLP had challenged the election of four UPP members of Parliament and that appeal process took over 12 months, crippling the UPP government’s ability to govern during the appeal process.

CARICOM

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) recently noted “with deep concern reports of death, injuries and displacement in our sister member state, Haiti,” as a result of heavy rains and flooding and most recent the earthquake.

“Our sincerest condolences go out to those who now grieve the lost of loved ones, homes and livelihoods,” the 15-member grouping said in a brief statement.

“We extend our arm of friendship to the government and people of Haiti at this very challenging time and assure them of the continued support and solidarity of member states of the region as they seek to recover from these disasters,” the statement added.

The latest provisional assessment by the Haitian authorities noted that 51 people had died as a result of rains, 140 were injured and 18 others missing.

The Departmental Emergency Operation Centres (COUD) said nearly 40,000 families have been affected.

The report warned of landslides and rockfalls across the country and that several rivers have overflowed their banks. Several hospitals have also been flooded where patients were forced to be evacuated.

Grenada

Grenada is consistently striving to develop as a premier tropical geo-tourism destination, strategically promoting its niche offerings and uniqueness.

This was one of many takeaways from the Grenada Tourism Authority and other key stakeholders who sought to strengthen ties between other countries and the spice isle at an event at the Brix Hotel recently.

In promoting Grenada, the island’s tourism authorities also pushed travel to Carriacou and Petite Martinique, focusing not only on the country’s carnival in August this year, but also on its unique offerings of rum, cocoa and spices.

Guyana

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) says while the Canadian government remains receptive to allowing visa-free access to North American countries, it is disappointed that Guyana was not among the countries whose citizens will now enjoy visa-free entry to Canada.

“With a diaspora in excess of 85,000 in Canada, the GCCI believes that removal of the visa restriction of Guyanese to Canada will serve to engender improved trade relations, support deeper commercial and economic ties and support economic growth for both territories,” the GCCI said in a statement.

Canada recently announced that it will allow visa-free travel to “known travellers” from 13 more countries including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts & Nevis.

In its statement, GCCI said that while it views the move by Canada as  a positive one to engender economic growth, it “would like to take the opportunity to reiterate its call for visa-free access for Guyanese to Canada.”

The GCCI said that currently Guyana is the third largest merchandising partner with Canada in the Caribbean community and is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

The GCCI said nonetheless it wanted to thank Canada and the Canadian people for its continued leadership role in global affairs, and support for Guyana’s development and anticipates continued co-operation with both the government and private sector of Canada.

Jamaica

Leader of the opposition Mark Golding says he has donated the retroactive sum associated with his salary increase to six charitable organizations.

The beneficiaries are Missionaries of the Poor, Mustard Seed Communities, Food for the Poor, Joy Town Community Development Foundation, OT Fairclough Trust Fund, and the Jamaica Paralympic Association.

Noting the importance of supporting of organizations dedicated to social welfare, Golding said the entities were selected based on their exceptional work in addressing critical needs within the Jamaican society.

He said he aims to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals and marginalized communities.

In May, Golding promised to donate a substantial portion of his salary increase to charitable organizations.

Golding, in media release, outlined that he has contributed 80% of his retroactive salary increase , totalling $5,417,000, to the charities.

The opposition’s leader reiterated his call for the increase granted to parliamentarians to be rolled back.

He also called for an independent body to thoroughly evaluate and reset these remuneration packages, which he views as unreasonably excessive.

Trinidad

Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley confirmed recently that he had discussed the desired deal for Trinidad and Tobago to buy natural gas from Venezuela’s Dragon field at the CARICOM leaders’ meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris in the Bahamas.

“On our own matter, the discussions continue,” Dr. Rowley said.

“We are heavily engaged with the US at the appropriate level. Those discussions between us and Venezuela and between us and the US, and there’s no more I can tell you at the moment except that we remain on the job, we remain hopeful and we have been talking to the people who make the decisions.”

Rowley said CARICOM heads, seeking access to cheap oil under Venezuela’s Petrocaribe programme, had urged the US to ease sanctions against Venezuela.

“CARICOM, I think for the first time, issued a very clear statement on CARICOM’S position on the sanctions against Venezuela, asking the US to lift those sanctions.

He said CARICOM heads had spoken “very forcefully” about their need to participate in the Petrocaribe once Venezuela is relieved of the sanctions.Rowley said it was not only a T&T position, but a CARICOM position.”

He also added that Petrocaribe could spare Caribbean governments hundreds of millions of dollars in expense.

— Compiled by Devika Ragoonanan