ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – 65-year-old Keith Claudius Mitchell entered into the history of Caribbean politics when he led his New National Party (NNP) to a clean sweep of the 15 seats at stake in Tuesday’s general election, becoming the first political leader here to achieve the feat, having previously done so in 1999. Mitchell, whose NNP had been booted out of office in 2008 by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of outgoing prime minister Tillman Thomas, said, however, he hoped to leave a legacy of having united the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

KINGSTON, Jamaica -JAMAICA should step cautiously in its attempt to remove the Queen of England as head of state, as it could have adverse consequences, a special advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
Shaun Bailey, a budding, black politician who is of Jamaican heritage, told Jamaica Observer executives and journalists yesterday at the newspaper's weekly Monday Exchange, that it would not be in Jamaica's best interest for The Queen to be removed as this north Caribbean island's head of state.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace has accused Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of not telling the truth when he told the nation that two journalists from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had said he (Eustace) was the source of information that a foreign investor had left a briefcase with money at the office of the prime minister recently.

ROSEAU, Dominica, Feb 19, CMC – High Court judge Lionel Jones has reserved judgment on whether or not to uphold an application to strike out a challenge by the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) to the nomination of Eluid Williams as President of Dominica. Opposition Leader Hector John filed the lawsuit in October last year claiming that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s nomination of Williams for election to the office of the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica was “unconstitutional, null and void”. Hector is also challenging the procedure and process of the election.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – A series of consultations aimed at identifying national and regional measures to better facilitate trade in keeping with the commitments being negotiated under trade facilitation within the World Trade Organization (WTO) began here on Monday.
The consultations to be held throughout the seven-member Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States are aimed at simplifying and harmonizing international trade procedures such as payment of fees, access to information and cooperation between customs and other authorities.