Caribbean RoundUp

Antigua and Barbuda

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has hinted at the possibility of the state owned Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) purchasing water from a Trinidad and Tobago based company as he expressed his frustration regarding the ongoing water crisis on the island.

Browne said despite his administration investing a significant amount of funds over the last few years to deal with the water situation, the problem continues to exist.

The APUA was asked to consider two options, one from the local company, Caribbean Water Treatment, and the other from a Trinidad and Tobago-based concern.

“We will be buying water, if not from Caribbean Water Treatment, a firm out of Trinidad. I know APUA is looking at the two proposals now to determine, which firms can meet their needs,” said Browne.

“Our preference to work with a local company, assuming it can meet our needs and within the timelines that have been established. If that doesn’t work, then we would have to significantly resolve the water issue in this country.”

Browne said he expects improvements to happen during this coming year, with an n additional reverse osmosis plant set to become operational by the second half of 2024, producing three million gallons of water daily.

Dominica

The Dominica parliament gave the green light for the island to seek a US$41 million loan from Saudi Arabia to fund the implementation of the Roseau Enhancement Project and the construction of an entertainment complex.

The government said that the complex would include a bowling alley, a built-for-purpose theatre, and a recording studio for artists, among other features.

Finance Minister Dr. Irvine McIntyre told legislators that the loan from the Saudi Arabian government through the Saudi Fund for Development will be for an infrastructural rehabilitation project in the capital.

He said the repayment will be over 20 years with an interest rate of 2.5 per cent with a grace period of eight years.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said Saudi Arabia had sent officials to Dominica to appraise the project and conduct their own due diligence, review the scope of works and walk through with the engineers.

Skerrit added that Dominica is very grateful for its good relation- ships with other countries such as the US, UK, China, Japan, EU, and Venezuela.

Guyana

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Business Solutions company signed an agreement with the 149-room Aiden Hotel to provide an integrated high-speed security and telecommunications system.

The company said its US$15 million agreement with Aiden Hotel by Best Western will allow for the introduction of the first of its kind “smart rooms” by the first quarter of 2024.

GTT Business Solutions will provide a comprehensive suite of services to Aiden Hotel, including a complete network management, security in two layers, a state-of-the-art CCTV system and a managed security operations center, complete structured cabling throughout the entire facility, fully enabled cloud voice solution, high-speed internet access with 100 per cent Wi-Fi coverage among other features.

“We’re committed to a locally-focused approach for Aiden Hotel, and GTT’s proven expertise and knowledge made them the right choice,” said Lorenzo Alphonso, co-director of Arimu Investments Inc, the Guyanese company behind the Best Western Boutique Brand.

Guests can look forward to unique features at Aiden Hotel.

Chief Operations Officer at GTT Business Solutions, Orson Ferguson, in highlighting the impact of this collaboration on the company’s market presence, said, “This is a significant milestone for GTT.”

Jamaica

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that a state of emergency has been imposed in St. James, days after the murder of two schoolboys on their way home in the parish. He made the disclosure at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

The SoE measure follows an increase in gang violence and the shooting death of three persons, including two schoolboys, in the western parish.

“We will not wilt, we will not resile in the face of terror,” the prime minister said. Holness said the SoE declaration, which took effect at midnight, followed a recommendation by the security forces.

States of emergency allow the security forces, or authorised persons, enhanced powers of search and arrest and limit the right of detained persons to due process. It will run for 14 days after which there must be Parliamentary approval for any extension.

The Opposition People’s National Party has resisted the use of SoEs in routine policing, saying the constitution never contemplated such a use.

St. Lucia

The St. Lucia-based Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has signed an agreement with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to bolster the sustainable energy landscape in the Eastern Caribbean.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration on a range of initiatives aimed at transforming the energy sector for the economic and social advancement of the region.

The two parties said in response to rising energy costs and the global imperative for cleaner energy sources, they have committed to forging strategic partnerships that will revolutionize the energy landscape of the Eastern Caribbean.

“The MOU epitomises their shared vision of harnessing an optimal energy mix, fostering innovation, and implementing policies that pave the way for a more secure, resilient and sustainable energy future.”

Under the MOU, the OECS Commission and the CARILEC will harness their collective expertise to identify and implement sustainable energy solutions and technological advancements, enhance capacity building, provide technical assistance, encourage proactive policy formulation and energy regulation.

They will also collaborate with potential partners to secure investments, facilitate data collection and economic analysis for informed decision-making as well as promote project development, including public-private partnerships, foster the emergence of innovative business models aligned with evolving energy demands and explore pooled procurement opportunities for the OECS electricity sector.

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago’s Head of Government Business in the Senate and CARICOM and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Amery Browne said he would be advocating strongly on the Palestine/Israel conflict during a meeting of the CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations.

Browne was responding to a matter on the adjournment of the Senate, which was raised by Independent Senator Anthony Vieira regarding assistance for nationals in the Middle East who are at risk by the escalating conflict between Gaza and Israel.

During his contribution, Vieira said he was horrified by the horrific pain and suffering being endured on both sides of the conflict.

“Most of us would like to see the UN or a group of nations interceding as peacemaker on humanitarian and moral grounds, with a view to offering a viable path to peace.”

He believed Israel had a right to exist as a state and countries had a right to defend themselves. However, he said there was such a thing as excessive self-defence, and with the measures being carried out by Israel, including indiscriminate killing and displacement of Palestinians, Israel risked pivoting from the role of victim to that of oppressor.

Vieira called for the UN to step in and take stewardship of Gaza. He said the conflict did not only threaten security and stability in and around Gaza but, if left unchecked, could escalate into a greater war.

— Compiled by Devika Ragoonanan