The Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the Organization of American States (OAS), Neil Parsan, has assumed the Chair of the Permanent Council of the hemispheric institution, a position he will hold for the next three months and in which he follows the Ambassador of Suriname, Niermala Badrising.

Upon assuming office, Ambassador Parsan expressed the honour he felt at leading the Permanent Council and reiterated the “commitment of Trinidad and Tobago to the values and principles of the OAS,” which he promised to defend during his term.

Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. The Honourable Timothy Harris, will be among Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government to attend a summit held between the Region and the United States of America in Jamaica on April 9.

United States President Barack Obama will maintain a tight itinerary during his visit to Jamaica this week.

According to Jamaican Government spokespersons, Obama, who is scheduled to arrive at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston late Wednesday evening on Air Force One, will be airlifted on one of the helicopters in the presidential Marine One fleet to the Jamaica Defence Force’s Up Park Camp headquarters, from where he will be transported to the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in one of the 12 limousines in the presidential fleet.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) moved into a new US$4-million headquarters on Thursday despite a warning from the host country that the regional institution is “bleeding” and having difficulties in paying its day-to-day bills.

Barbados Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite, speaking at the ceremony to mark the occasion, called on 18 member States to lend their support to the agency. He gave no details of the amount outstanding.

Haiti’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIH) organized a best practices sharing mission for experts from the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) in Haiti from 10 to 13 March 2015 with the support of The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export). Haiti’s essential oils sector represents the country’s largest export sector, in particular the production of vétiver oil a main component in the production of fragrances and perfumes,  exported primarily to Europe and the United States.