GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Wednesday confirmed that four officers who sued Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best for allegedly refusing to pay them a one-month bonus, have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Health authorities here have announced a voluntary recall of Loratadine Syrup which is manufactured in India. A statement from the Ministry of Health said that the syrup is manufactured by Health 2000 Inc. and the batch numbers are being recalled are LB-1202 and LB-1212, manufactured in May 2012 and having an expiry date of April 2015. “The syrup is being recalled due to the fact that the product appears cloudy on inspection. It should be clear when consumed.
St. John’s Antigua- Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer sent congratulatory remarks to the newly elected Pope Francis I referring to him as a “crusader” for the most vulnerable and indigent people of Latin America and the Caribbean. “As a member of the Caribbean and Latin American community your wisdom and good grace will be needed as our countries continue to promote peace and goodwill among our people and our efforts to eliminate poverty and inequality,” the Prime Minister said. Spencer said he would pray for the Pope as he seeks to carry out the work of the church in challenging times.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC - The Trinidad and Tobago government Wednesday congratulated Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina who has been elected the new head of the Roman Catholic Church worldwide. The new Pope has chosen the new name Pope Francis I. He was ordained Cardinal by the late Pope John Paul II and is the first person from Latin America to be elected to the post..
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC -- Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has admitted that an investor whose company is the focus of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) investigative programme visited his official residence twice, contrary to what he told the media in February. The admission in a March 7 letter to Matthew Chapman, producer of a BBC programme being made about Harlequin Property, owners of Buccament Bay Resort here, also contradicts Gonsalves statements that he has never met Ames in the absence of his lawyer, Samuel E. Commissiong.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The St. Lucia Teachers Union (SLTU) has accepted a new offer by the government signalling a possible end to industrial action by public workers that has severely disrupted the operations of public services on the island. The SLTU Tuesday voted to accept the government’s four per cent wage increase in addition to six of the eight conditions outlined by the union during the talks with the Government Negotiating Team (GNT). The GTN had made two new offers from its original offer of a four per cent wage hike.
BRIDGETOWQN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados government says it plans to spend an estimated BDS$3.8 billion (One BDS dollar = US$0.50 cents) during the 2013-14 fiscal year, according to the estimates laid in Parliament. The Freundel Stuart government which was re-elected to office by a narrow 16-14 margin in the February 21 general election will spend BDS$227.5 million more than had been budgeted for the 2012-13 revised figure.
St. John’s Antigua- The church is answering the call from the nation’s leader, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, to organise activities aimed at curbing crime and violence, which continues to permeate the twin island state. Beginning this weekend, churches across the island will be offering special prayer sessions for the country. The events, which remain in planning stages, will lead up to a National Day of Prayer, Fasting and Worship, to be held at the Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG), on Wednesday, March 20.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sub-regional Office for Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) will host the finals, expo and award ceremony of the Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC) on April 25-26, at the Hilton Hotel Resort in Barbados. The Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC) is an international entrepreneur competition and business start-up accelerator for young people in CARICOM member states.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - JAMAICA is to receive euro 0.5 million (approx J$63.4 million) from the European Union (EU) to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy in the eastern section of the island. The EU said the money, which will fund the operations of the French Red Cross in Portland, St Thomas and St Mary to repair damaged homes and helping victims overcome their losses and regain their livelihoods. The Dominican Republic has also been offered one million euro by the EU, which said it has decided to increase the aid granted to victims of Hurricane Sandy by euro 1.5 million.