The Public is hereby notified that in keeping with changes in international oil prices and Government’s application of the modified market pass-through petroleum pricing mechanism, the retail price of gasoline, diesel, kerosene, LPG 20, 22 and 100 lb cylinders has changed. The price changes take effect from Monday, February 24, 2020.
GASOLINE decreased from $2.96 to $2.88 per litre or $13.43 to $ 13.09 per gallon
Kerosene decreased from $1.83 to $1.57 per litre or $8.30 to $7.15 per gallon
Diesel decreased from $2.94 to $2.84 per litre or $13.37 to $12.91 per gallon
20 Pound Cylinder (9.07 kg) decreased from $32.44 to $32.01 per cylinder
22 Pound Cylinder (9.98 kg) decreased from $35.96 to $35.49 per cylinder
100 Pound Cylinder (45.36kg) decreased from $206.01 to $203.89 per cylinder
The Public is informed that the next adjustment of the retail price of fuel products will be on Monday, March 16, 2020.
Governor Timothy Antoine of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has confirmed that his organisation is reviewing applications for the intended sale of banking assets within the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) jurisdiction. Governor Antoine spoke at a press briefing on Friday 14 February 2020, following the 95th Meeting of the ECCU Monetary Council at ECCB headquarters in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.
In November 2019, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce declared that it had agreed to sell two-thirds of its Caribbean banking unit, CIBC FirstCaribbean, to GNB Financial Group Ltd., a Cayman Islands-based company run by Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski. CIBC has been in the Caribbean since 1920, when the Canadian lender opened branches in Barbados and Jamaica. CIBC combined their regional operations with Barclays Plc in 2002 to create FirstCaribbean, and four years later bought the British bank’s 44% stake.
In December 2019, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced its intention to sell its banking operations in the Eastern Caribbean to a consortium of indigenous banks, viz. 1st National Bank (St. Lucia), Antigua Commercial Bank, National Bank of Dominica, Bank of Montserrat, and Bank of Nevis. The sale includes operations in Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. RBC has operated in the Caribbean for over 100 years.
Governor Antoine explained that both sets of applications are under review:
“Essentially I just want to confirm that we have now received applications from both CIBC/ FCIB in respect of the sale of two thirds of FCIB to the Gilinski group, and we have also as of this week received a formal application from the indigenous banks which are proposing to purchase the RBC operations in the Eastern Caribbean.
“We are working with regulators across the region in respect of the first matter. As you know, the first matter (of FCIB) is not just a ECCU matter, it in fact is across the Caribbean. So Barbados is the lead regulator on this matter, but all central banks are involved. There has already been a college of regulators, that is to say a meeting of the bank supervisors on this issue, that was held at the end of January, and the application is now being assessed.
“In respect of the RBC operations, having received the application this week, we have now commenced our assessment of the application, and we will evaluate it on its merits.”
CIBC and RBC are the latest Canadian financial institutions to signal their intention to sell significant holdings in the Caribbean. In 2019, the Bank of Nova Scotia completed the sale of much of its stake in the Eastern Caribbean to the Trinidad and Tobago-based Republic Bank. Governor Antoine indicated that the situation is one for which the ECCB had prepared itself. He further suggested that the looming absence of the Canadian banks presents opportunities for domestic organisations to grow their scope, become more efficient, and strengthen their standing with international banks.
Said the Governor:
“In respect of the exodus of the Canadian banks, that has been foreshadowed for some time now. This is not a new development, and so the Council has taken this matter in stride. The position of the council, and certainly the Bank, has always been that in light of this development the additional responsibility does fall on our indigenous banks to take more of the load, as it were, in terms of the banking system in the ECCU. And a lot of the efforts have been to support our indigenous banks to be able to take that additional responsibility.
“So for instance, the idea of pursuing a shared service for risk and compliance is intended to do just that, give them additional support to be able to not just be as compliant as they can be, to improve the quality of the compliance, but to also lower the cost of compliance. One of the things that Scotia did very well is that it spread those costs across 19 or 20 jurisdictions, and therefore there is a lesson there for indigenous banks as well.
“So we are taking it in stride and we believe that that approach, that initiative will help not just with compliance at the level of the banks and their compliance in respect of the Central Bank, but perhaps just as importantly the preservation of their correspondent banking relationships. We believe that this is potentially going to give additional confidence and comfort to correspondent banks.”
Department of Health and Wellness prepares for new strain of Coronavirus
The Department of Health and Wellness continues to monitor the alerts issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in relation to a new strain of coronavirus discovered in central China. The virus has been linked to respiratory tract infections in China and according to WHO, current evidence suggests that person-to-person transmission is limited.
As of Wednesday, January 21, 2020, it has spread to at least four other countries, including the United States of America. Due to the novelty of this virus, the World Health Organization and other international partners continue to investigate and provide guidance to the international community.
The Department of Health and Wellness also maintains communication with our regional partners and will continue to provide the public with information as it becomes available.
In the interim, the public is asked to continue practicing the standard recommendations to prevent the spread of infection. These include:
regular hand washing with soap and water or alcohol based hand sanitizer where soap and water is not available.
cover mouth and nose with disposable tissues or clothingwhen coughing and sneezing.
avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
seek medical attention and share your travel history with your health care providerif you have symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel.
For more information, please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit at 468-5099/ 468-5325 respectively.
Impact of EU’s General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR to come under focus in January at a Regional workshop in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and its impact on companies and public authorities located outside of the EU will come under focus in January at a regional workshop in Bridgetown, Barbados.
A TAIEX-Partnership Instrument Workshop on the EU GDPR will be held on 29-30 January 2020. The workshop is being held to build awareness on the GDPR. It also seeks to clarify the GDPR’s extra-territorial application on private sector operators and national/regional administrations that process and hold personal data of EU citizens.
In May 2018, the GDPR entered into force as a tool to harmonise data privacy laws across Europe. It is aimed at protecting the data privacy of EU citizens and triggering more secure individual data privacy among organisations which work with the personal data of EU citizens.
At the two-day workshop, special emphasis will be placed on the application scope of the GDPR in the economies of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Attention will be placed on matters such as data protection policy and law in the Caribbean; digital trade and its impact on trade in services.
The Delegation of the EU to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenabeit GmbH (GIZ), Caribbean Export and the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries will host the workshop.
On January 7, 2020, the contract for construction of the new Micoud Wellness Centre was signed heralding a new, modern era of health care for residents of Micoud and neighbouring communities. The construction of the Wellness Centre is being funded and implemented through the Government’s Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP) which aims to build the country’s resilience to climate change impacts, including enhanced disaster risk and varied health sector impacts.
In keeping with the latest trends in global health care, the new facility focuses on wellness, preventative care and early interventions. Speaking to the importance of this approach, Honourable Minister Dr. Gale Rigobert, Parliamentary Representative for the Micoud North constituency and Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development explained that, “we need not wait until a citizen is so unwell and, in some cases, unable to fend for him or herself or his or her family to make an intervention. So, the emphasis on wellness and preventative care is central to what we will be doing at this Wellness Centre and undergirds health services nationally as well. Community health care is very much a feature of our national culture, especially in the rural areas; it is what we rely on and we have a cadre of health service providers in the village that we can boast of.”
The 4,000 square foot modern facility features triage, nurses’ station, pharmacy service area, dental services, auxiliary water supply, generator house and is climate controlled to effectively deliver health services. The facility is compliant with global standards for health care delivery and is designed to withstand climate change impacts, including stronger hurricanes and more frequent flood and drought events.
Mr. Claudius Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation and Mr. Ned Samuel, Managing Director of Mega Contracting Inc. sign the Micoud Wellness Center contract at the Prime Minister’s Office on January 7, 2020 in the presence of Honourable Guy Joseph, Honourable Gale Rigobert and DVRP project officials.
Honourable Minister Guy Joseph, Minister for Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation under who the DVRP falls as well as Honourable Minister Dr. Gale Rigobert, were integral in bringing the project to this stage and were present at the contract signing. Minister Guy Joseph described the project as one that would be welcomed by the community and said that it is long overdue. He complimented Minister Dr. Rigobert on her commitment to the project and expressed his delight saying, “the project is something the people of Micoud deserve.”
Dr. Rigobert expressed her equal gratitude to Honourable Guy Joseph, his Ministry and other stakeholders who have been instrumental in ensuring that the project comes to life. “I am very excited and relieved that we’ve been able to sign this project off today which means that we should see blocks going up shortly, and anticipate a ribbon cutting ceremony soon! I wish to thank Micoudians for their patience, perseverance and understanding over the last few years. For me this is the best start to 2020 – the people of Micoud will finally get their Wellness Centre!” Dr. Rigobert also thanked the dedicated health care professionals of the present Micoud Health Centre for their unwavering commitment to service notwithstanding the challenging circumstances.
At the contract signing Mr. Ned Sammuel, Managing Director of Mega Contracting Inc. which was awarded the contract following a competitive bidding process reiterated the significance of the project and gave his company’s commitment to delivering the project on time and within budget, while providing meaningful employment and economic opportunities for the community. The contracted company emphasized that the majority of labour for the project will come from Micoud.
As part of the ongoing commitment to keep residents informed on the project, a community meeting was held on Wednesday January 8, 2020 at 6 p.m. at the Micoud Secondary School. There, more details about the construction were provided and an update given on compensation for the existing structure on site. Minister Dr. Rigobert stated emphatically that Micoud residents will be “meaningfully engaged” in the project and urged residents in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting to express their interest in employment opportunities.
Further to the evident benefit of having a health care facility upon the completion of the project, the economic benefit to the community during the construction phase is expected to be significant.
The first fuel price adjustment show diesel prices increased for January 2020.
The Public is hereby notified that in keeping with changes in international oil prices and Government’s application of the modified market pass-through petroleum pricing mechanism, the retail price of kerosene and diesel has changed. The retail price of gasoline, LPG 20, 22 and 100 lb cylinders remains unchanged. The price changes take effect from Monday, January 13, 2020:
GASOLINE remains unchanged at $2.91 per litre or $13.24 per gallon
Kerosene increased from $1.79 to $1.83 per litre or $8.12 to $8.30 per gallon
Diesel increased from $2.92 to $ $2.94 per litre or $13.29 to $13.36 per gallon
20 Pound Cylinder (9.07 kg) remains unchanged at $32.12 per cylinder
22 Pound Cylinder (9.98 kg) remains unchanged at $35.61 per cylinder
100 Pound Cylinder (45.36kg) remains unchanged at $204.42 per cylinder
The Public is informed that the next adjustment of the retail price of fuel products will be on Monday, February 3, 2020.
3rd Caribbean Youth Conference set for April 2020 in Saint Lucia
The Caribbean Youth Conference (Saint Lucia) was developed to provide a platform for youth from all backgrounds, and across all areas of interest, to meet and discuss the multitude of issues affecting them, develop sustainable solutions, and converse with the state’s governance to ensure that these possible solutions receive a platform.
The 3rd Annual Caribbean Youth Conference will be held in Saint Lucia from April 20-24, 2020 under the theme: “Harnessing the Power of Caribbean Youth through Social Innovation.”
Objectives of the Caribbean Youth Conference are:
To provide a platform for young leaders from across the Caribbean to discuss the issues which affect them, as well as possible sustainable solutions to address these issues;
To create an environment in which young people can learn, inspire and be inspired by others;
To provide an opportunity for exceptional young persons to be recognized and celebrated;
To invoke a sense of pride among participants, and to help inculcate the values of advocacy and volunteerism;
To provide a platform for youth to engage in conversation with Members of Parliament and Cabinet, to discuss the outcomes of the Summit; and
To create an opportunity for Saint Lucian youth to learn from other outstanding youth leaders from across the Caribbean.
The forum will be all-inclusive focused on giving all participants a safe space to contribute.
This year’s conference will include an Opening Ceremony; Workshops; Plenary Sessions; an Innovation Lab; Community Outreach; Straight Up Talks; and a Chill Chat.
Eligibility Requirements
Must be between the ages of 15 and 35 years old.
Must be from a Caribbean country.
Note: The Conference is SELF FUNDED. Non-Saint Lucian nationals, or applicants residing outside of Saint Lucia, must be able to fully fund participation (Flights and Accommodation). Airport transfers, transportation and meals will be provided.
Benefits
Access to all Caribbean Youth Conference Events.
Catering and transportation will be provided for all delegates.
For Non-Saint Lucian Nationals and Residents, airport transfers will be arranged.
Every participant will receive a certificate of participation.
Note: If selected, there will be a registration fee of $50 EC to participate in the Conference. This fee will cover catering, transportation and access to all conference events.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was able to reduce the importation of eggs during the 2019 Christmas season.
Adrian Lewis, President of the Poultry Association, commended farmers for their excellent work and dedication noting that this is the first time in decades that eggs were not imported for the festive season. The Ministry of Agriculture currently provides subsidised day old chicks of broiler and layer birds to farmers.
Mr. Lewis, who has been in the poultry industry for two decades, stated that
“Every Christmas the price of eggs will go as high as $30-$35 per flat and sometimes more. Eggs had to be imported. This year we struggled to get to $15-$20 per flat. We did not import any eggs. There is actually an oversupply of eggs on the market currently.”
Hon. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in commending all local egg producers, the Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC) and the Veterinary Division of the Ministry, noted that his Ministry is currently engaged in discussions with two companies in the region which have expressed interest in purchasing eggs from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Agriculture Minister also called on persons, who can, to utilise more eggs and avoid using processed foods, especially at breakfast and dinner.
Minister Caesar further asserted that
“Production in all areas of agriculture is on the rise. We are not only producing more for local consumption, but Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is getting ready to export as well which is as a result of our diversification strategy. The agri-export strategy platform is obviously working well”.
Implementation of the Extended Article 164 Regime of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas
The Ministry of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs wishes to advise members of the general public of the impending implementation of a CARICOM wide initiative to enable the growth and development of the Less Developed Countries of CARICOM. This regional initiative which Saint Lucia is seeking to implement effective January 1st, 2020 is Article 164 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC) which establishes the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
According to the RTC, Article 164 is a regime which seeks to promote industrial development among the Less Developed Countries (LDCs) of CARICOM. Under this regime, which was first introduced by a decision of the 21st Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development in 2006, CARICOM LDCs including Saint Lucia may, if necessary, as a temporary measure, suspend community origin treatment on imports of a specified list of goods, imported from the More Developed Countries (MDCs) of CARICOM and from third countries. It should be noted however that goods of community origin sourced from the LDCs continue to attract a duty of zero percent.
This new (and third) edition of the Article 164 regime covers 14 product groups across 39 tariff lines and provides tariff protection to most of the products on the list for a period of ten (10) years and a period of five (5) years for two products namely curry powder and pasta. The remaining products include other wheat or meslin flour; aerated waters and beverages; malt; beer; stout; prepared complete animal feed; oxygen and carbon dioxide; acetylene; candles of paraffin wax; solar water heaters for domestic use; paint and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers) based on synthetic polymers or chemically modified natural polymers, dispersed or dissolved in an aqueous medium and furniture.
The objective of the regime is to increase the participation of LDCs in intra-regional trade and in so doing, increase the level of equity in the distribution of the benefits from the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) by enhancing the competitiveness of the products covered under the Article 164 Regime.
Saint Lucia remains committed to improving its productive capacity in order to increase its intra and extra regional trade in goods and is therefore committed to implementing the full list of the new edition of the extended Article 164 regime. However, Saint Lucia will be reserving on its implementation of furniture until further notice.
The full list of Article 164 products and corresponding tariff rates will be published in the Saint Lucia Government Gazette via Statutory Instrument before year end.
For further information on this initiative, please contact Dr. Thomas Samuel, Director of International Trade at 468-4259/285-9712/ Lydia Dariah, Trade Officer at 468-4213/484-1464.
