KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves wants Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders to seriously address the regional airline industry when they meet later this year. CARICOM leaders will meet in Haiti for their inter-sessional summit in February and Gonsalves said that apart from cooperation with other airlines, there is need to address matters such as energy costs, fuel and “we need to address the subsidy which CAL (Caribbean Airlines) is getting and competing with LIAT in the same space, the same single economic space.

NASSAU, Bahamas — THE government of the Bahamas says it has prepared a two-part referendum that could legalise certain forms of gambling on the islands. National Security Minister Bernard Nottage says voters will be asked whether they support creation of a national lottery and the regulation and taxation of now underground gambling centres. He said in a speech late Wednesday that the referendum will be held on January 28.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Government and opposition were continuing their barbs over the need to reform the security system in Guyana with the embattled Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee saying it is “very regrettable” that the opposition parties were not willing to support the new initiative. The Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) have both said while they welcomed the initiative they were not prepared to work with Rohee on the matter.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The financial problems affecting the University of the West Indies have trickled down to the UWI Open Campus programme.
Reports indicate that the Open Campus which operates in 16 nations is owed millions by contributing countries and, as a result, is struggling to pay its bills.
The major defaulters, according to a source, were the Eastern Caribbean countries which were feeling the brunt of the economic downturn.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – China is providing more than US$4.8 million to Grenada under an economic and technical agreement, a government statement has said here. It said that the accord was signed by Finance Minister Nazim Burke and China’s Ambassador to Grenada, Xu Jianguo. “On behalf of the government, I wish to place on record our profound gratitude to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China for its continued financial support in assisting us to meet the needs of our people,” Burke said.