DOMINICA: A National Trade Facilitation Workshop geared at improving the efficiency, speed and transparency of trade in Dominica got underway at the Fort Young Hotel on Thursday, April 7th.
In December 2013, Dominica signed the Trade Facilitation Agreement at the 9thMinisterial Conference in Bali.
When fully implemented, this Trade Facilitation Agreement will obligate World Trade Organization members, such as Dominica, to improve customs procedures, transparency and efficiency and increase cooperation with other border control agencies and the private sector.
At the workshop’s opening ceremony, Acting Director of Trade, Matthan Walter explained that Dominica has already implemented several components of the agreement. However, there are additional key areas for implementation.
“There were approximately six measures with which we felt that we needed technical assistance and support.”
He listed consultations, advanced rulings, average release times, authorized economic operators, border agency cooperation and single window.
“A proposal was forwarded from the Ministry of Trade through the OECS Commission to the International Trade Centre. The ITC perused that proposal and answered our call for assistance,” Walter explained.
He says the objective of the workshop is to put together proposals that will attract funding for the implementation of these six measures.
Lead facilitator for the workshop is Business and Trade Policy Advisor at the International Trade Centre, Ben Czapnik.
“The number one aim is to bring down the cost and time it takes to trade products. That affects both imports and exports. On the import side, if you can implement good trade facilitation reforms and you can lower the cost of bringing in products, it’s very good for consumers…they can get imported products more cheaply and get a variety of products coming in.
“On the export side, it potentially contributes to competitiveness. If at the moment you have exporters losing time at the border or the cost of exporting is excessively high, it affects their competitiveness when trying to sell their products in other markets.
“In real world terms, those are the major benefits to trade facilitation reform,” Czapnik explained.
He says his main aim is to help stakeholders identify the gaps preventing Dominica from implementing trade facilitation measures.
The other facilitator for the workshop, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development or (UNCTAD) representative, Poul Hansen, listed funding and private and public sector knowledge as challenges to implementation.
While he says it may take up to seven years to fully implement the agreement, the Director of Trade is confident that within two to three years the agreement will be fully operational in Dominica.
The workshop is scheduled to end on April 8th.
Trade Facilitation Agreement Under Discussion
Over 25,000lbs of White Potatoes Projected for Harvest
DOMINICA: The Ministry of Agriculture is anticipating over 25,000 pounds of white potatoes in this season’s harvest.
In December 2015, the Ministry of Agriculture received 1100 bags of Elite white potato seeds sponsored by the PROPEL organization.
These seeds, according to the Hon. Minister for Agriculture Johnson Drigo, were rapidly purchased by farmers for the 2016 season.
In an interview with the Hon Minister on Wednesday, April 6th, he gave an update.
“For the period March to May 2016, we will be harvesting, for the local market, 118 tonnes of white potato; this is equivalent 259,600 pounds. This is a record year for us.”
He continued, “I want to thank the farmers engaged in the production of white potato especially the farmers in the Calibishie area. They are new to the white potato project. This means that we will be importing very little potatoes for 2016 since we are able to produce a significant amount of what we will be consuming this year.”
The Minister says the main aim of the Ministry of Agriculture is to increase local consumption of local foods.
“This speaks well for the sector. Our mission is to ensure that our local consumers increase their consumption of local products. This will certainly decrease the huge food import bill. We are only are we working to cut down meat importation but we are rapidly working on the other areas of agriculture imports…as long as we can produce it locally. We are asking our consumers to continue buying local. Continue supporting the agriculture sector.”
He assures that the local produce will get a fair chance on the local market.
“There is a tariff structure in place to limit the importation of potatoes during the local peak season. The Ministry of Trade and the business community are familiar with the structure which comes into play every year.”
Childhood Obesity rate alarming – Health Minister
DOMINICA: The percentage of overweight and obese children and youth in Dominica is increasing alarmingly says the Hon Minister for Health, Dr Kenneth Darroux.
Dr Darroux addressed the nation on Thursday, April 7th in observance of World Health Day.
This year, the World Health Organization has placed its focus on diabetes.
Dominica adopted the theme, ‘Stay Super…Beat Diabetes.’
“Clinic data indicate the prevalence of overweight and obese children (0 -59 months) increased from 9% in 2000 to 12% in 2009; and an estimated 24.8% of adolescents (13-15 years) were overweight and 9.1%, obese.
“The International Diabetes Federation warns that 08 is one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21st century. Each year, more and more people are diagnosed with the condition; further more children and adolescents are being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Concern for the disease, stems not only from the ill-health caused by the disease itself but also from the associated disabling and life-changing complications such as blindness, kidney failure, lower limb amputations and cardio-vascular (heart) disease. The cost of treating these complications and the associated human suffering is of grave concern to us at the Ministry of Health and Environment and the Government by extension.”
He added, “It can be argued that much of the overweight and obesity among our children is directly related to the processed energy dense non-nutritious foods and drinks that they consume coupled with physical inactivity at home and in the school environment. Some of our children are fed foods and drinks with high sugar and salt contents daily . Some of these so-called snacks can be classified as non-foods, yet our children consume them every day.”
The Minister says childhood and adolescence are critical periods when established eating habits and lifestyle behaviours can persist through adulthood.
Director of the Pan-American Health Organisation, Dr Carissa Etienne says the World Health Organisation is reiterating the message as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the burden of diabetes and the urgent need to step up action for its prevention and control.
Dr Etienne continued that this year’s World Health Day is an opportunity to highlight the role that individuals, Governments and all of society can play to help reverse the diabetes epidemic in the Americas.
She says it is time to join together to “step up and beat diabetes.”
$406K for St. Joseph Constituency Development
DOMINICA: Hon. Prime Minister, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit has promised the people of St. Joseph that very soon improvements will be made to various parts of the community.
The Hon. Prime Minister was speaking at the 21st inaugural meeting of the St Joseph Village Council.
“By the end of next week, you will receive a check of about $278,000 to effect washrooms for the people of St. Joseph.
“I am giving a commitment to the farmers group, in anticipation of you forming a group, of a cheque of $15,000 to go towards the purchase of fertilizer for distribution to the farmers of St. Joseph.
“In respect to the footbridge which the Hon. MP has raised as a concern, there was a delay because we had to do the design. It will cost over $113,000.”
The Prime Minister commended the new chairman and councilors who were sworn in on Wednesday, April 6th.
The incoming chairman, Eric Serrant, outlined the council’s accomplishments over the past three years.
These included centralized garbage collection points made possible through the use of garbage receptacles; a food hamper programme for the elderly and shut-ins; monthly food donations to the Kelleb John Laurent Primary School for its school Feeding Programme. Youth training programmes in pastry-making, garment making, computer literacy and repair and others were secured by the council training more than fifty. Street lights were also sourced for critical areas and footpaths constructed for pedestrian safety.
Hon Parliamentary Representative for the St Joseph Constituency, Kelver Darroux, urged the community to support the council.
He said, “We have to support what is our own. We have a responsibility to ensure that we together with this council to build St. Joseph and make it a better place for each of us. At the end of the day, the community doesn’t belong to the Member of Parliament; what will happen when I leave or this council leaves? St. Joseph will still be there for all of us.”
T&T elected to sit on Executive Board of the UN WOMEN, 2017- 2019
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: April 8, 2016: At elections held during the Coordination and Management Meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations yesterday, 6th April, 2016, Trinidad and Tobago received overwhelming support for its election to the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN) for the three-year term, 2017 to 2019.
Having commanded the largest number of votes of any candidate country in the Latin American and Caribbean region, that is 44 votes out of a possible 54, Trinidad and Tobago’s election reflects the confidence of the international community in the country’s ability and in its commitment to add value to the work and discourse of UN WOMEN.
UN WOMEN is the primary United Nations Organization charged with advancing the status of women and girls across various spheres of development. Election to the Executive Board, which is highly competitive, places countries so elected at the very heart of international advocacy and dialogue on the promotion of gender equality and on the role and empowerment of women to make their unfettered contribution to the development and up-liftment of society.
The Executive Board which comprises representatives from 41 countries elected directly by the members of the Economic and Social Council is the primary governing body of UN WOMEN, charting the strategic direction and determining the operational programmes of the Organization.
Our electoral success reinforces this country’s position on the empowerment of women in achieving their full potential in contributing to national development, in all spheres, through among other things, the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 to which the Government is fully committed. With Trinidad and Tobago sitting at the cutting edge of global thinking and policy formulation on the full integration of Women and Girls into the development process, a direct link to extraordinary global leadership and activism on these complex issues has been created, in a manner that could better inform and bolster domestic policy and practice. This would be to the benefit not only of women, but to the nation as a whole, as we intensify efforts to achieve balanced sustainable development.
In offering their congratulations to Trinidad and Tobago on its election, the international community expressed their confidence that Trinidad and Tobago would effectively execute the mandate given to it due to its track record in advancing issues relevant to women and the empowerment of women over the years in the areas of human rights, disarmament and the rule of law.
Trinidad and Tobago will take its seat on the Executive Board on 1 January, 2017.
Social Development Ministry holds discussions with UN, US Embassy and civil bodies for disability affairs
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: April 8, 2016: On Monday April 4, 2016, Minister of Social Development and Family Services, the Honourable Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn joined by Permanent Secretary, Jacinta Bailey-Sobers, UN Resident Coordinator, Richard Blewitt, International Disability Rights Lawyer, Allison Franco, US Embassy Public Affairs Officer, Steve Weekes, Consortium of Disability Organizations President, Bhawani Persad, and Technical Officers from the Ministry’s Social Welfare, Disability Affairs and Non-Governmental Organization Units, for discussion on a collaborative initiative in support of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s implementation of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The meeting, which took place at the Ministry’s Head Office located at St Vincent Street Port of Spain, focused on how the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, through its Disability Affairs Unit could collaborate with the UNDP, US Embassy, Consortium of Disability Organizations and other civil society organizations to ensure and promote the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for persons with disabilities.
Stakeholders at the meeting discussed the establishment of the national register of persons with disabilities, the efforts by Government to ensure access in accordance with the said Convention and high priority government initiatives related to the information of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Minister Crichlow-Cockburn speaking with attendees expressed her readiness to working with all bodies to ensure legislative, administrative and other measures are issued for the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities.
Photo Caption: (L-R) US Embassy Public Affairs Officer, Steve Weekes; Coordinator of the NGO Unit, Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, Ann-Marie-Quammie-Alleyne; Consortium of Disability Organizations, President Bhawani Persad; UN Resident Coordinator, Richard Blewitt; Minister of Social Development and Family Services, the Honourable Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn; International Disability Rights Lawyer, Allison Franco; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, Jacinta Bailey-Sobers; Disability Affairs Coordinator, Catherine Ferreira; and Social Welfare Director, Vijay Gangapersad. (Photo courtesy the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services)
Community Department Assessment Surveys
BARBADOS: A series of Community Needs Assessment Surveys are to be carried out across the island.
Hosted by the Community Development Department, the surveys will assist the Department in better catering their programmes to service these communities.
During the first phase, surveys will be conducted in Baywoods and Sion Hill, St. James, on Thursday, April 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and also on Saturday, April 23, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Surveys will be conducted in Silver Sands and St. Christopher, Christ Church on Thursday, May 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Saturday May 7, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The team will then move to Lammings and Blackmans, St. Joseph to conduct surveys on Thursday, May 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and the following Saturday, May 14, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The final surveys of the first phase will be conducted in Belleplaine and Shorey Village, St. Andrew on Thursday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 21, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Surveys will be conducted by the staff of the Community Development Department who will be carrying Identification Cards. No personal information will be collected. All information gathered will be treated with the strictest confidence. Persons are encouraged to give their fullest cooperation.
deirdre.gittens@barbados.gov.bb
Labour Ministry Conducting BARSOC Survey
BARBADOS: The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development has contracted consultants, Profiles Caribbean Inc., to conduct research in support of the Barbados Standard Occupational Classification (BARSOC).
Research officers from that company are currently in the field conducting interviews with employers in both the public and private sectors, obtaining job descriptions for positions within these organisations.
The officers, who are wearing identification badges, require the assistance of employers and employees alike, to complete the process.
The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development is, therefore, appealing to public and private sector entities to facilitate this ongoing initiative.
The overall objective of the consultancy is to enhance the ability of the Barbados Labour Market Information System to provide relevant, timely and accurate information that would inform decision making within a demand-driven education and training environment. The research phase will be concluded on Friday, April 29, 2016.
This information will be used to update the BARSOC which once completed will also be available in an electronic format for usage by key stakeholders such as human resource professionals, employers, job seekers, students and the general public. The new BARSOC will provide timely and relevant labour market information to these groups.
The Barbados Standard Occupational Classification system provides a common classification reference for categorising data by occupations across all statistical sources in Barbados. Its development was based on the 1988 International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88) and was then adapted for the local labour market.
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb
Ministry of Education to host National Awards Ceremony
ST. VINCENT: The Ministry of Education will host the 2016 National Awards Ceremony today, Friday 8th April, to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of a number of students.
During the ceremony, students will be recognised for their performances in the 2015 primary and secondary exit exams.
The top 10 performers, assessed under the CPEA model last year, will receive awards, as well as students who gained 11 or more CSEC subjects, the top performers in the various subject areas and the overall CSEC performer. FLOW will also offer a special award to the most outstanding student after remediation. In addition to these individual awards, a few schools will be recognised – the school with the best CSEC results after remediation, the school with the most improved results and the school with the best results overall.
Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, will deliver the feature address at the ceremony. The event takes place at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown, beginning at 1:30 p.m. It will be broadcast live on NBC Radio.
PM Harris: PEP workers, once they perform their duties well, will be given a fair chance when openings arise in civil service
ST. KITTS: BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, APRIL 8th, 2016 – Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris and Cabinet Secretary, Mrs. Josephine Huggins met with more than 100 civil service professionals on Thursday and Friday.
The series of meetings formed part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to communicate clear expectations to its staff, improve employee engagement and workplace relationships, and ensure sustainable performance in the public sector.
While congratulating and encouraging all workers during one of the staff meetings on Thursday, the Prime Minister had special commendation and advice for People’s Employment Programme (PEP) workers who “continue still to be on the payroll.” Prime Minister Harris said that they were still on the PEP although “the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has told us PEP was never intended to be a permanent programme.”
The Prime Minister continued, “PEP was intended to take some people off the dole of unemployment and give them a good feel for a while, and everybody saw through it. That is why the banks are not going to give you a loan once you are on PEP, that is why the US will not accept that for purposes of determining your eligibility for a VISA because they know at some point in the future it will come to an end. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) uses a word, saying PEP is not sustainable, which means that as you look further into the future, it cannot last.”
Dr. Harris pointed out that when the previous government went to the IMF for assistance, the Douglas-led regime was at a stage where it could not pay its bills. That’s why the government’s creditors were told they would have to take a so-called haircut, he said.
“That is why the 85% increase in electricity was imposed, that is why VAT came and even in the face of all of these, the measures were not enough to allow the government sufficient space to meet all of its bills and be able to pay. That is why the government stopped the increment for some three years,” Prime Minister Harris said, referring to the period between 2011 and 2014 when the Douglas-led regime imposed on civil servants a wage freeze and took away their increments. In January 2014, the former government discontinued the wage freeze and restored incremental payments.
Context: The International Monetary Fund’s St. Kitts and Nevis Country Report published in September 2011 stated that the authorities started to implement a strong fiscal adjustment program at the end of 2010, after having been “faced with increasing fiscal imbalances.” The IMF report said elements of the program included civil service reform. “St. Kitts and Nevis’ public sector is large even by standards of small states,” the report said, adding that, “In order to underpin improvements in the fiscal position during the program period, the authorities will freeze the wage bill for the next three years.”
Yet, on December 21st, 2012, a mere 16 days after Members of the Federal Opposition filed a Motion of No Confidence in the Douglas-led administration, the government launched the People Employment Programme (PEP), which would see more than 4,000 people ultimately participate in the programme.
The civil service employs close to 5,000 people permanently, Dr. Harris said on Thursday. “So that is like a second civil service that Douglas added. How could you pay twice? It can’t happen. It’s not practical and it couldn’t last without putting the country back into difficulty,” Dr. Harris said. Prime Minister Harris added that the annual wage bill for the federal government’s permanent workers is about $180 million, which is $15 million per month.
At the start of 2016, PEP had reportedly cost the country more than $165 million. However, a recent productivity and performance assessment of PEP by the Caribbean Development Bank revealed that fewer than 140 of the more than 4,000 workers benefited from sustainable training.
“We have said that we are not going to come in and turn away people,” Prime Minister Harris assured government employees this week.
“However, people including those who are on the government payroll permanently will have to perform. We are not going to tolerate any slackness and I make, and we make, no apologies for saying that. People have to respect their job and make themselves indispensable everywhere they go,” Prime Minister Harris said, adding, “We have said that when opportunities come in any department, the PEP worker should be given a fair chance to now come on permanently.” Dr. Harris said that PEP workers should look for vacancies throughout the public sector, rather than focusing only on the department where they work.
– See more at: http://sknis.info/pm-harris-pep-workers-once-they-perform-their-duties-well-will-be-given-a-fair-chance-when-openings-arise-in-civil-service/#sthash.kJIBeDIX.dpuf
