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Spread of Zika virus under control

Dr David Johnson

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Johnson says every aspect relating to the spread of Zika virus is under control.

He was speaking at a National Emergency Planning Organisation (NEPO) meeting on Friday, 20th May.
Dr. Johnson indicated that special care is being given to infected pregnant women.
“We have identified two persons who are pregnant and those are the greatest concern to us… we have a complete team of medical specialist who are monitoring these individuals and providing psychosocial support and doing all of the necessary investigation and monitoring. To date we have not identified any complications in terms of the pregnancy….” he revealed.
He says the main focus of the Ministry of Health is source reduction of the Aedes Egypti mosquitoes.
“As most of you aware there was a national clean-up campaign which was a cabinet decision to reduce the white goods and all of the breeding sites of the Aedes Egypti mosquitoes in Dominica. That effort is continuing and our main focus right now is the source reduction of the breeding sites of mosquitoes. As all of us may know the Aedes Egyti mosquitoes breed a lot of receptacles and anything that contains stagnant water.
“The main drive of the ministry of health is focusing on where there are high indices of mosquitoes and we have identified those areas based on the mapping that we have. Our environmental health personnel together with the vector control personnel have intensified the campaign and the action on the ground in terms of reducing the breeding sites of mosquitoes.”
Dr. Johnson encouraged the general public, especially pregnant women, to do a number of things including preventing the bite of the mosquitoes by sleeping under mosquito nets using long clothing as much as possible and using repellents as often as possible.
The Ministry of Health continues to fog the areas with high concentrations of Aedes Egypti mosquitoes.
Dr. Johnson says, to date there have been no Zika related deaths.

PM Stuart To Attend Guyana Celebrations

Freundel Stuart
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart. (FP)

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart left Barbados today to attend the 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

The main events at which Mr. Stuart will be in attendance are the National Flag raising ceremony, tomorrow, Wednesday, May 25, and the Jubilee Float Parade on Thursday, May 26.
The Cooperative Republic of Guyana was granted independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966, and became a republic on February 23, 1970. Barbados’ independence from the UK was also granted in 1966 and its golden jubilee will be celebrated in November.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s office noted: “The acceptance of this invitation to share this historic moment with Guyana is a demonstration of the high level of importance which Barbados places on the relationship between the two countries, one of the strategic goals of Barbados’ foreign policy being the strengthening of regional integration and the fostering of closer bilateral ties with member states of the CARICOM.”
Barbados and Guyana established formal diplomatic relations on November 30, 1966. Guyana is currently the CARICOM country with the highest level of diplomatic/consular representation in Barbados through its Consular General. Barbados’ non-resident Ambassador to CARICOM and High Commissioner to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is Robert Morris.

Regional Task Force advances the process towards Free Circulation of Goods in the OECS

OECS

Trade officials and border control agencies from the OECS are in Antigua and Barbuda this week for talks on practical approaches to support the free circulation of good within the OECS.

Task Force on FCGThis is the purpose of the 7th meeting of the regional task force on free circulation of goods which opened on Tuesday May 24th 2016
Chairman of the task force, Ambassador Ellsworth John says the regional task force hopes to have administrative procedures, laws and regulations agreed for free circulation of goods by January 2017: “Having the free circulation of goods regime for the OECS will go a long way towards ensuring that we have fair trade in the OECS; that we are able to compete with the other countries in the region first of all, and this world and that we are able to level the playing field for us as very small states in being able to be competitive. We have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of areas that we need to understand clearly. We have a legislative process to put in place that is acceptable to all of our Member States.”
Director General of the OECS Dr Didacus Jules says businesses within the region are anxiously awaiting the day when the dream of free circulation of goods becomes a reality: “..with the free circulation of goods for us to achieve this there are a lot of things as you well know that have to be put in place. The single point of registration. Somebody registers a company in Antigua and Barbuda, that company should have an immediate presence everywhere else in the OECS. It should have the right of establishment, the ability to do business everywhere across the OECS…. At this point it is for us to press our feet harder on the pedal, accelerate this vehicle so that we can accomplish the goals in a shorter period. I want to give special thanks and recognition to Ambassador John’s Chairman of this task force and to you the Members of the Task Force for the very acidulous work and the diligence that you exercised to date.”
Representing the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, Senator Colin James encouraged the participants to carefully examine the current situation across the Member States, and review the policy positions with a view to moving the process forward in a calculated way designed to operationalise the various facets of the free circulation of goods regime in the shortest possible time frame.  James pledged his government’s continuous commitment towards advancing the OECS Economic Union.
Compete Caribbean has been providing technical and financial resources to facilitate meetings and other activities regarding the proposed Free Circulation of Goods regime:  Tara-Lisa Persaud is the Business Climate Reform coordinator  for Compete Caribbean “ This project  is integral to the development of the region and the donors behind the programme  are the UK Government the  Canadian Government and the Caribbean Development Bank as well as the IDB.”
The 7th meeting of the Regional Task Force on Free Circulation of Goods is taking place at the Halcyon Cove by Rex Resorts on Antigua and Barbuda’s north coast.

ISL contributes to national telethon

ISL Give to NCF

ISL’s annual donation will help supplement the NCF’s existing educational assistance program.

For the fourth consecutive year, Invest Saint Lucia (ISL) has shown its support for the National Community Foundation (NCF).
During its annual telethon held on May 22, ISL made a donation of EC$5000 to the foundation which is geared towards assisting disadvantaged students meet the cost of their educational needs.
As is customary, ISL also assisted with the pledges during the event which was carried live on local television.
During ISL’s cheque presentation to the NCF, ISL representative Natasha. Edwin-Walcott said “ISL is once again proud to assist with such a worthwhile cause not only because it is part of our community outreach program, but more so because this initiative is one of the ways in which we are able to contribute to Saint Lucia’s most important resource.”
ISL’s annual donation is aimed at supplementing the NCF’s existing educational assistance program that helps provide much needed financial support to students who have difficulty meeting the expenses associated with getting an education.

Grenada Wins Gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show with 'Three Enchanting Islands – Pure Grenada'

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016
Grenada TEAM AT RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 (Photo Courtesy: Grenada Tourism Authority)

May 24, 2016: The Grenada exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 named ‘Three Enchanting Islands – Pure Grenada’ has won Gold.

The Show team was led by Grenadian-based designer Catherine John and brought Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique to life with a display of floral diversity.
“Our theme this year was inspired by the distinct floral character of the three islands, which although in close proximity of each other in the Southern Caribbean Sea, do not receive the same amount of rainfall. The vegetation and crops grown on Carriacou and Petite Martinique are markedly different from those that thrive in Grenada,” said Mrs. John.
The greenery and spices were all grown in Grenada and arranged to Catherine’s design, ahead of Monday 23rd May when the display enthralled Press Day visitors including Grenada’s High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr. Karl Hood and Dr Johnson Beharry VC – recipient of the highest military decoration for valour in the British and Commonwealth armed forces, who was born in Grenada.
“As small islands we are mindful of rising sea levels due to climate change, and our display features the coastline as a reminder of the balance of nature that we all depend upon,” added Mrs. John.
The display won a gold medal, making this the twelfth gold medal Grenada has received at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
“We’re delighted that the exhibit has been awarded Gold here in London. My personal inspiration this year comes from just wanting to differentiate and display the diversity of plant materials on our Sister Isles,” said Catherine after receiving the news.
“Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are three distinctive islands that each boasts a remarkable natural landscape. The design team has captured the essence of all three islands to provide visitors to the world’s greatest flower show with an authentic taste of Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean,” said Ms. Sharon Bernstein, Grenada Tourism Authority Director of Sales for the UK & Ireland.
For more information please contact:
Corporate Communications
Grenada Tourism Authority
St. George’s, Grenada, W.I.
Tel: 1-473-440-2001 / 2279

Senator Boyce Responsible For Business Facilitation

Darcy Boyce
New Minister responsible for Business Facilitation, Senator Darcy Boyce. (FP)

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has designated Senator Darcy Boyce, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, as the Minister to deal with business facilitation.

He made this disclosure at the end of a meeting of the Social Partners at Government Headquarters recently, and is in keeping with a promise he made during an address to the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry earlier this year.
Mr. Stuart told those present that Senator Boyce’s new designation would broaden the base of his remit.
As Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Boyce has responsibilities for Energy, Immigration, Telecommunications and Invest Barbados. Mr. Stuart said that under his new designation, Senator Boyce would be required to identify blockages in the system and have them removed or clarified where possible, or brought to the Prime Minister’s attention.
In some cases, Mr. Boyce may be required to explain the operating systems to persons and suggest what improvements need to be made.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belize and Guatemala Meet in Istanbul, Turkey to Address Matters in their Bilateral Agenda

Hon. Wilfred Elrington and Mr. Carlos Raúl Morales,

Istanbul, Turkey. May 24, 2016.   On the occasion of the World Humanitarian Summit held by the United Nations Secretary General, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belize and Guatemala, Hon. Wilfred Elrington and Mr. Carlos Raúl Morales, and in the presence of Magdalena Talamas, Representative of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), held a working meeting in the City of Istanbul, Turkey on the 23 and 24 May 2016, and discussed several issues under their bilateral agenda.

Both Foreign Ministers once again expressed their commitment to peace and good faith. In this vein, they reiterated that the existing Territorial, Insular and Maritime differendum should be definitively resolved by the International Court of Justice, once approved by the required referenda.
They expressed that as long as this process continues and even after its conclusion, it is necessary that both promote and develop relations of good neighborliness that conduce to peace and stability and that promote the economic development of both peoples. In this vein, they underlined the importance of the thirteen agreements signed in Placencia, Belize in December 2014 that have contributed to the development and strengthening of their bilateral relations.
The Ministers recognized the need to avoid incidents between the two countries that affect the process of confidence building as agreed in 2000, 2003 and 2005. In this context they affirmed the need to work more in the development of building confidence, especially between the Armed Forces of both countries, including the possibility of having joint training for the troops responsible for patrolling the Adjacency Zone.
Both Ministers recognized the urgent need for and committed to working on the design and development of a mechanism for cooperation in the Sarstoon River, which should include the participation of relevant institutions of both Parties and be coordinated by both Foreign Ministries with the participation of the Organization of American States.
Recognizing the importance of the OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone and of the urgent and critical need for funding to maintain this Office, they undertook to jointly pursue efforts to source such funding.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both Foreign Ministers congratulated each other for the agreements reached and expressed their commitment towards dialogue and the creation of a positive bilateral agenda, in line with the advancement of the process mentioned in the Special Agreement to submit the Territorial, Insular and Maritime differendum to the International Court of Justice signed in December 2008.
World Humanitarian Summit

GOB Revokes Sarstoon Prohibition SI

Belize Press Office

Belmopan. May 24, 2016.   The Cabinet of Belize announces that the Government of Belize has asked the Governor General His Excellency Sir Colville Young to sign a Statutory Instrument revoking, with immediate effect, the Sarstoon Prohibition SI.
Government’s decision comes as a consequence of the agreement reached in Turkey between Belize and Guatemala regarding the Sarstoon. That agreement commits both sides to start work now on a formal cooperation mechanism that will respect Belize’s and Guatemala’s respective use and navigation of the Sarstoon. While the formal mechanism is being worked on, the two sides have informally accepted a situation in which there will be untrammeled traffic for Belize’s military and civilians along the Sarstoon.

Guyana can be justly proud of achievement, progress – CARICOM SG

Guyana celebrates its Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Independence

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     As Guyana prepares to celebrate its Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Independence on Thursday 26 May, 2016, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said that the country could be “justly proud of its achievements and progress over the five decades of Independence.”

In a congratulatory message to President of Guyana, His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, the Secretary-General pointed out that the path trodden over the half century of endeavour had seen Guyana transformed through its determination to fulfill the vast potential of its human and natural resources.
“This steadfast commitment has been bolstered by the resilience and fortitude of the people of Guyana who embraced eagerly the task of building a nation,” Ambassador LaRocque said.
The Secretary-General also referred to Guyana’s role in the Community, and singled out the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) which was conceived by, and inaugurated in Guyana.
“As one of the original signatories to the Treaty of Chaguaramas, and as the headquarters of the Caribbean Community and its Secretariat, Guyana has demonstrated leadership and foresight in advancing and promoting regional integration.  A most significant contribution in this regard is the Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA) which was conceived by and inaugurated in Guyana.  It continues to serve the worthy goal of strengthening the bonds between the people of the Community, an essential ingredient of the integration process.  The work and talents of Guyana’s artists, scholars, writers and sportsmen have adorned the regional and global landscape,” Ambassador LaRocque noted.
In his message also, the Secretary-General said that the theme of the Golden Jubilee `Celebrate; Reflect; Inspire’ provided the people of Guyana with ample scope to rejoice on this “landmark occasion, to weigh this formative period of the Nation’s history and to draw its lessons and appreciate its achievements, and to kindle the motivation to strive towards greater progress in the future.”

Opposition St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Dumps Senator

Nigel Carty

The St.Kitts-Nevis Labour Party held it’s 84th Conference over the weekend at the Royal St.Kitts Hotel (Formerly Jack Tar). Party loyalists attended the event which featured Damon Crawford as the special guest Speaker.

The annual conference largely deals with the election of officers to the leadership of the party. The Party Executive remained the same for the most part except for the glaring absence of the Party’s Parliamentarian and Senator Nigel Carty who had served for at least a decade as the Deputy Chairman of the 84 plus year old Political organization.
Reports from sources close to the party have indicated that the party’s overseas strategists and advisors had strongly recommended that Carty be replaced and removed from the forefront of the party. Carty is widely perceived and viewed as arrogant and oftenlabelled as an unelectable politician .
At the most recent sitting of the National Assembly the former Minister of Information Technology, Communications and Education in the ousted Douglas regime was removed from the Parliament by Ag Speaker Micheal Perkins as a result of his deplorable conduct.
The party leadership , the rank and file of LABOUR along with the entire Nation were enraged over recent disclosures in parliament that Carty’s health bill of over over EC$135,000 (US 50,057.60) was met by the state .
The monies were paid in medical fees to Baptist Health International in Florida for his treatment after   suffering an illness in 2011.
SKNIS reported that Two St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank cheques, one totaling USD$ 6,001.63 dated October 13, 2011 and the other USD$ 44,055.97 dated November 23, 2011, were sent to the International Accounts Specialist at Baptist Health International on November 24, 2011, for the senator’s two week hospitalization.
Senator Carty took ill during the visit of the Cabinet Ministers to high schools in St. Kitts and Nevis to distribute personal laptops to fourth and fifth formers. He was first hospitalized at the Joseph Nathaniel France (JNF) Hospital in St. Kitts but had to be flown out of the country after his condition allegedly deteriorated.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas subsequently reported to the country that Senator Carty had undergone emergency surgery. However, the nature of illness and surgery were undisclosed.
The failure of the Douglas led regime to reveal  the nature of  Cartys illness allowed speculation in the public domain that the illness was of a psychological nature. Carty himself since his return  has never disclosed publicly what his health situation was.
The  Douglas led govt felt more compelled to  spend taxpayers money on Cartys alleged  issues as opposed to providing similar or even more well needed and life threatening assistance to other less fortunate Nationals who suffered for help from cancer and other serious ailments.
Carty, who was at one time considered the heir apparent to the Leadership of the Party also created quite a stir when it was revealed that he  received duty free concession on on a property. He was the First govt minister in history  to be accorded a duty free house . To make matters worst the Senator, after constructing the duty free mansion, rented or leased the property to the then Chief of Police C.G Walwyn . Carty is alleged to have received over a quarter million dollars from the rental of his duty free property to Walwyn . The bill for Walwyn’s  housing  was paid for and carried  by the govt.
These misdeeds and more have now resulted in the discarding of Carty to what some persons are describing as the  political rubbish heap.
Carty has been replaced on the Labour Executive by unsuccessful labour candidate Dr. Terrance Drew. Drew lost by a whopping 256 Eugene Hamilton at last years February 16th Elections
The Party’s Newly Elected Executive includes:
National Leader  Dr. Denzil L.Douglas
Deputy Leader.  Dr.Earl Asim Martin
Chairperson Marcella Liburd
Vice Chair  Dr.Terrance Drew
Secretary Diana Williams-Humphrey
Asst Secretary. Karen Crossman
Treasurer Shavon Douglas
Three Elected Members.
Kenny Douglas
Lexi Peets
Thamesha Fyfield
Designated Members of the Executive
Constituency # 2  Rudy Morton
Constituency #3.  Vincia Herbert .
Constituency #5.  Carl Lake
Constituency #6.  Ruby Taylor

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