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We support our Manufacturers

John Dickinson
Minister of Trade and Industry, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon chats with officials of John Dickinson and Company Limited ahead of her tour of the organisation. (Photo courtesy the Ministry of Trade and Industry)

June 7, 2016: Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry along with senior officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry participated in a tour of the tissue and stationery factory operations of John Dickinson and Company Limited on Tuesday 7 June , 2016.

During the tour, Minister Gopee-Scoon described the operations as ‘impressive and well kept’, adding that ‘your growth and expansion over the years has been phenomenal’.  She commended Mr. George Haloute, Executive Director, John Dickinson Company Limited for his company’s contribution to community development through the provision of employment for the residents, which in turn contributes to the economic development of the country.  She told the Executive team that ‘the Government will continue to protect and support our manufacturers and we want all of you to continue to grow and do better.’
Mr. George Haloute, Executive Director, John Dickinson Company Limited assured the Minister that ‘we are here to stay!  We are a household brand in existence for 52 years, providing quality, value and service.  It is not just about the dollars and cents but we have had excellent growth in expanding and development over the years through keeping close to our people and investing into their growth and development’.
The Trade Minister also took time to meet and greet with members of staff of the organisation.  Accompanying the Minister were Mr. Norris Herbert, Permanent Secretary (Ag.); Ms. Karlene Roach, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.); and Dr. Ramesh Ramdeen, Chief Executive Officer, Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association.

Minister examines a roll of Snuggle toilet paper
Minister examines a roll of Snuggle toilet paper

Minister Gopee-Scoon greets members of staff
Minister Gopee-Scoon greets members of staff during the tour.
 

Owen King EU Hospital

Owen King EU Hospital

Construction upgrades at the Owen King EU Hospital are underway.

A staff and visitor cafeteria, kitchen, laundry and car park are being built.
Project Engineer at the hospital, Wendel Bernard, said a staff and visitor cafeteria is being built, in addition to a kitchen, laundry and car park. The upgrades, he said, are not expected to significantly affect the opening of the hospital.
“We expect the cafeteria to be completed in the next three to four months, and the car park to be finished within the next two months. But with respect to the kitchen and laundry, which affects the opening, we earmark that it will be completed in the next three months.”
Mr. Bernard added that equipment and furniture for the hospital have been shipped, and will be installed over the next few months.

Dominica – Silicon Valley

Dominica - Silicon Valley

Dominica positioned to become regional ‘ Silicon Valley ’- ICT Minister

Dominica is positioned to be the silicon valley of the Caribbean.  That’s the sentiment of the Hon Minister for Information, Science, Telecommunication and Technology, Kelver Darroux.
The Information Minister made these remarks last Friday, June 3rd, at the official opening ceremony of Dominica’s first ICT Center for Excellence which is housed at the Dominica State College.
Among a list of six objectives outlined by the Minister, the center is meant to generate ICT knowledge and awareness of the latest technologies and create direct and indirect employment through ICT.
“To develop and produce world class ICT programmers; to offer short and long term courses in a variety of ICT subject matters; to train Government officials in ICT; to upgrade ICT faculty in all schools and the Dominica State College and to develop and expand e-learning initiatives,” he listed.
The center was established in collaboration with the Government of India, a country which has made significant headway in the area of information communication technology.
Three Indian IT specialists will remain at the center for the next two years to train at least 50 people from the public and private sectors in a ‘Train the Trainers’ programme.
“It is further anticipated that 500 hundred students will be trained in various ICT disciplines at the center over the initial two year period while our Indian friends will be assigned in Dominica. Correspondingly, the program also calls for the training of a minimum of 50 locals as trainers who will replace our Indian colleagues after the initial two year period.
“Phase 1 of the programme at the Center for Excellence is expected to run from June 13th to August 31st, 2016. The trainees will be IT professionals from both the public and private sectors including ICT teachers from secondary schools, system administrators and industry professionals.”
The center will deliver international certification in a number of ICT-related disciplines.
He continued, “The ICT Center for Excellence and innovation is expected to deliver the following certified courses and others: developing with Java Basic and Advanced; 3D animation with Maya; software business processes; basic and advanced Linux; communication and networking; web designing and applications; visual basics; relational database; advanced Linux administration and a host of others.”
Hon Darroux appealed to Dominicans to take full advantage of this the opportunity presented by Government.
According to census figures in 2001, only 8.6% of households in Dominica had internet connections. That figure rose to 44.5% in 2011.
The Dominica Labour Party administration, recognizing the importance of access to vital information has achieved a number of policy objectives for the advancement of the ICT sector in Dominica. This includes a National ICT Policy and Strategy, the National Cyber Security Strategy and the National Broadband Strategy.
The One Tablet Per Child Programme which began in September 2015 is another sterling example of Government’s pursuits to create universal access to information on the island.
With the Dominica Internet Exchange Point (IXP) launched in 2013, Government has facilitated the entry of even more internet service providers to the Dominican market.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Hon Darroux made an appeal to local internet providers to make the service even more affordable to Dominicans.

Barbados Prison Act to be reviewed

Barbados Prison Act To Be Reviewed
President of the Association of Caribbean Heads of Correction and Prison Services, Lieutenant Colonel John Nurse (left) has the attention of Anglican Bishop of Barbados, Dr. John Holder; Chief Justice, Sir Marston Gibson; and Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite (C.Pitt/BGIS)

Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite, has disclosed plans to review the Barbados Prison Act and make amendments to bring it in line with best practices.

He made this disclosure as he addressed the opening of the 10th annual Association of Caribbean Heads of Corrections and Prison Services (ACHCPS) conference at the Hilton Barbados Resort yesterday.
Mr. Brathwaite, who is also Minister of Home Affairs, told those present that there was a need to move the prison officers into a different regime from the Civil Service.
He explained that at present when there were disciplinary issues, the Civil Service process was applied, which he lamented could take anywhere from one to three years.
However, he stressed that the Prison was too dynamic an environment to operate within that scenario. “I am not talking about disadvantaging officers; I am talking in the area of discipline to be able to be more responsive to the needs of the Prison. That is something that is a challenge,” he said, while urging the correctional officers to consider the point during their deliberations.
President of the ACHCPS and Superintendent of the Barbados Prison Service, Lieutenant Colonel John Nurse, said this year’s conference was designed to focus on the overall transformation of the profession.
To do so, he explained, there will be emphasis on designing a regional approach to corrections management, which would focus on correctional professionals, offenders and the public, among others; policies, including social policies; and practices, including both institutional and community-based corrections.
“I am confident that this year’s conference will aid in the further strengthening of our regional approach to corrections and institutional management based on best practices, further strengthening of regional cooperation and information sharing,” Mr. Nurse said.
This year’s conference, which is being held under the theme: Assembling a Modern Regional Correctional Approach, will conclude on Thursday, June 9.

Christmas in July

Christmas in July

Indigenous gifts being sought for ‘ Christmas in July ’

The Tourism Linkages Network is inviting persons specialising in locally manufactured hand crafted gifts, to participate in the 2016 renewal of ‘ Christmas in July ’.
Head of the Network, Carolyn McDonald-Riley, told JIS News that the items being sought include those tailored for the tourism industry and corporate offices, among others.
“The tourism industry uses gifts every day. We always have to put a pen in the (hotel) rooms, (leave) different paraphernalia, or (any other item) that guests are allowed to take home,” she noted.
Mrs. McDonald-Riley said interested persons can log onto the Tourism Ministry’s website at www.mot.gov.jm to access the registration form and further details about the event. The registration deadline has been extended to June 17.
Meanwhile, Mrs. McDonald-Riley believes that last year’s staging was a tremendous success.
“Based on the satisfaction survey that was done, persons were pleased with the show, they were pleased with what we had on display and persons still continue to get orders (for gifts). It was also successful because we were able to produce a corporate gift catalogue which remains online,” she stated.
Mrs. McDonald-Riley is hoping that more local manufacturers will participate this year.
The Christmas in July corporate gift and souvenir initiative brings local manufacturers together to showcase their products to Jamaican entities and tourism participants.
Corporate gift-giving is a multi-million dollar business which includes, but is not limited to, gifts given at Christmas and conferences as well as tokens for promotional engagements.
This year’s event will be jointly staged with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).

Diaspora can help region grow

Stephen Lashley
Culture Minister, Stephen Lashley being met by President of the Coalition, Tony Alleyne while at centre is Barbados' Honorary Counsul to Atlanta, Dr. Edward Layne. (GP)

A call has been made to the emerging generation of West Indians within the diaspora to continue to accelerate the development of the economies of the Caribbean.

It came from Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley, who spoke at the 11th Opening Ceremony of the Georgia Caribbean American Heritage Coalition, in commemoration of Caribbean American Heritage Month, in Atlanta, Georgia.
While encouraging persons within the diaspora to see themselves more as West Indians, the Minister said: “Let us see how we can continue to twin our economies and provide greater opportunities to our youth to generate wealth in areas that can best diversify the economies of the Caribbean.”
Adding that he would like to see a “more strategic refocusing” of members of the diaspora’s role in the United States in a way that “specifically responds to how you can collectively impact development in your respective countries,” the Minister stated that it was his hope that the cultural and economic ties between the United States and the rest of the region would be strengthened.
He noted that such strengthening would ultimately lead to securing opportunities for greater collaboration that “can translate into increased investment in the short and medium term”.
Minister Lashley further suggested that there were exciting opportunities for joint partnership arrangements in the area of intellectual property, specifically the use of patents to protect innovations in technology.

PM Harris congratulates Allen Chastanet

Allen Chastanet

PM Harris makes congratulatory phone call to St. Lucia’s prime minister-elect Allen Chastanet.

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 6th, 2016 (PRESS SEC) – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris has made a congratulatory phone call to Mr. Allen Chastanet, St. Lucia’s Prime Minister-elect.  Mr. Chastanet’s United Workers’ Party will form the new government after securing victory at the polls today, June 6th, 2016, against the St. Lucia Labour Party led by Dr. Kenny Anthony.
Tonight, Prime Minister Harris told Mr. Chastanet that he feels very happy for him, his colleagues, and all of the supporters of the United Workers’ Party.  Dr. Harris also affirmed that he considers the Prime Minister-elect to be a very good friend.
The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis was the Featured Speaker at the United Workers’ Party’s 50th Anniversary Gala that was held on Saturday, March 28th, 2015 at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort under the theme “All that Glitters IS Gold.”
Prime Minister Harris – in a rousing speech that resonated with the large, appreciative audience who gave him exuberant applause, as well as a standing ovation – praised Mr. Chastanet, the leader of the U.W.P. of St. Lucia, for providing moral support and vocal encouragement for Team Unity when the coalition was pressing to get the Motion of No Confidence matter heard in Parliament.   During his speech, Prime Minister Harris also commended Mr. Chastanet for showing courage in mounting a legal challenge against the Boundaries Commission.
(Press release courtesy of the Office of the Press Secretary)

Achieving Caribbean development goals

Achieving Caribbean development goals

 Multi-Stakeholder partnerships critical to achieving Caribbean development goals

If the Caribbean is to achieve the goals committed to in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, multi-stakeholder partnerships among State and non-State representatives will be critical. This was discussed at a recently held workshop –Caribbean Partnerships II: Co-Constructing Transformative Economic Policy. The event brought together a diverse group of approximately 40 participants, representing Caribbean civil society organisations, governments, academia, and regional institutions, to discuss methods of strengthening partnerships among civil society, the private sector and government to substantively contribute to regional development choices.
The three-day workshop, held from May 23-26, in Trinidad and Tobago, was convened by the Institute for Gender and Development Studies at University of the West Indies (Cave Hill and St. Augustine) and Regions Refocus, in collaboration with CDB and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES). Its aim was to consider how new, progressive approaches to policymaking, in areas such as debt sustainability, climate change and economic diversification, can drive development in the region.
“Here in the region, there is growing recognition that truly democratic process and action are about people’s knowledge of and inclusion in the everyday policy processes that affect them…Through our governance work, CDB supports the functioning of local government; the strengthening of civil society capacity and engagement and civic participation and empowerment… It is in this context that we have partnered with UWI-IGDS, Regions Refocus and FES to collaborate on Caribbean Partnerships, one of the desired outcomes of which is the creation of a sustainable mechanism for citizen and civil society engagement in policy decisions and action,” said Patricia McKenzie, Vice-President, Operations at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
During the workshop, participants also assessed how best to revitalize public engagement and state support for effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, with a view to advancing economic and gender justice in the Caribbean.
“The goals and targets are still giving enough room for different interpretation and I believe it is very important to be engaged in national and regional debates on how the goals should be achieved and which policies through which instruments should be implemented… But in order to envision sustainable social and economic development broad alliances are necessary. The knowledge and experiences of women and feminist groups plays an important role for developing alternative development pathways in order to achieve the goals set by the new agenda,” said Judith Wedderburn, FES Representative, Jamaica. She was delivering remarks on behalf of Dr. Cäcilie Schildberg, FES, Berlin.
“By building solidarities across activists, academics, and allies in government we can co-construct policy alternatives that will make a difference to the lives and livelihoods of women and marginalized communities across the Caribbean”, said Anita Nayar, Director, Regions Refocus.
Deputy Principal of UWI St. Augustine campus, Rhoda Reddock, said the institution was particularly pleased to be associated with the workshop: “In establishing academic programmes of women’s and gender studies in the region we saw these centres—now institutes, as members of and partners in the regional and global movement for social justice, feminist futures and a better world…This collaboration with the Freidrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Regions Refocus and the Caribbean Development Bank is another example of the kind of work that we do.”
This is the second Caribbean Partnerships workshop, with the first held in January 2015. The previous meeting revealed the need to deepen the conversation on transformative economic analysis and policy-making by strengthening multi-stakeholder modes of engagement. This second workshop drew on regional and international experiences in advancing new approaches to economic and gender justice. Examples were provided by gender bureaus, planning departments, and ministries of social transformation, and budget divisions of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago; academics from the University of the West Indies community and beyond; and representatives from South Centre, UN Women, UNDP, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission. Participants also included representatives from women’s groups, environmental groups and other NGOs, trade unions, and other social movements.

YES Program Registration Open

Yes Program

The Youth Affairs Division within the Ministry of National Mobilization, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities & Youth; with responsibility for the implementation of the Youth Empowerment Service, YES Program, announces open registration for the Youth Empowerment Service (YESSVG) 2016.

Registration for the YES program starts Monday June 6th from 9 am to 2 pm and closes on June 17th 2016. This will take place at the Youth Affairs Division Conference Room located at Rose Place, kingstown.
Application for the SET program is available for persons under the age of thirty (30). Registration runs on a first come first serve basis, persons are asked to walk with copies of certificate if they have.

Observer missions witness general election

election

Observer missions witness general election – The US, the UK and the EU all requested observer status and were granted approval.

Observer missions from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union will witness the June 6 general election, Cabinet Secretary, Darrel Montrope, said.
The US, the UK and the EU have all requested observer status and have been granted approval.
The Electoral Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are expected to accommodate the missions. It is also expected that CARICOM and the Organization of American States (OAS) will send missions as they habitually do, for elections in every CARICOM member state.

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