BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - When four Caribbean leaders met in Bridgetown last Friday to discuss the future of the regional airline LIAT, they sounded upbeat, even with the times continuing to be turbulent for the airline industry worldwide. It is evident, after hearing not only the political directorate, but moreso the airline’s chairman Jean Holder and chief executive officer Ian Brunton, that a sustainable business model must be rolled out.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Chairman of the cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, is calling for a meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders early in 2013 to deal with transportation problems in the region.
In a paper to the meeting of major shareholders of the Antigua-based airline over the weekend, Jean Holder said that the summit should be convened to discuss regional air transportation and its critical role in supporting the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The promised ministerial re-alignment of the Baldwin Spencer-led administration has done nothing to reassure the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) that the quality of the governance in Antigua & Barbuda will be improved.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has announced what he described as ‘realignments’ to a number of cabinet portfolios. In his New Year’s Day message, the Antigua & Barbuda leader said the changes would affect the ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Public Works, Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture. He said they were all part of government’s plans to improve the management of the country.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC - President Donald Ramotar has called on the opposition to meet his government half way in dialogue to take Guyana forward. In his New Year’s Day message, the head of state urged the collective opposition to reconsider its positions and recommit itself to the betterment of the country and the lives of the citizens of Guyana. In a message to the nation Ramotar said he had hoped that the new configuration in Parliament would have led to more cooperation.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - IT IS the considered position of this newspaper that much of the public discussion about Jamaica's negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is misdirected, of limited value, and does little to advance an understanding of the issues facing the island's economy and how to make things better. Essentially, what we have engaged in is keeping time on when, or when not, the agreement may be signed, without a deep exploration of the consequences, if any, of failure to meet the deadline. So, there is an a priori assumption that the proposed agreement is good.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - The first year of this new People's National Party (PNP) administration has been a mixed bag. Among the things under its control, there (have) been spectacular lows, but no spectacular highs. There have been promises kept and pledges broken. There has been talk on specific issues but no commensurate action and, as the world knows by now, there's been, as yet, no agreement on a new economic programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has acknowledged the reality of harsh conditions that may accompany an International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement expected to be finalised during this New Year.
On the eve of the third anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti in January 2010, the country remains in a fragile state. Billions of dollars in aid and lofty promises to “build back better” have brought it only so far. A recent article by Deborah Sontag of The Times showed, in disheartening detail, the distance between hope and reality.
President Michel Martelly on Tuesday declared 2013 as Haiti's Year of Environment and called on citizens to join government efforts to preserve the country's ecosystem. Speaking at a ceremony in northern Haiti to commemorate the 209th anniversary of Haitian Independence, Martelly also urged every Haitian to plant a tree this year. Haiti is currently in an "ecological catastrophe," according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which warned that between 25 and 30 drainage basins in the country are "severely degraded."