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Solidarity with Trinidad and Tobago

PM Harris expresses solidarity with Trinidad and Tobago

PM Harris expresses solidarity with Trinidad and Tobago following widespread flooding and landslides.

Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris has reached out to Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley to express solidarity with his country, government and people after unprecedented levels of rainfall over the weekend resulted in devastating widespread flooding and landslides.

The passage of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over Trinidad and Tobago reportedly brought on about a month’s worth of rain over the course of three days, leaving more than 100,000 people in the country affected by flooding.

“The Government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis stand with the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago,” Prime Minister Harris said Monday, October 22nd, 2018.  “We thank God that there have been no fatalities, serious injuries or missing persons reported at this time,” the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis added.

“I want to commend Prime Minister Rowley and his government for the very organized and prompt cleanup response,” Prime Minister Harris also said.

Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris went on to note that he and his Government were also heartened to hear the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago say that his government is able to cope with the situation at this specific time.

“Prime Minister Rowley, his government and people have our full assurance that we will support them in any way we can,” Prime Minister Harris said, adding, “We stand ready to be of assistance.”

Floods in Trinidad and Tobago

Floods in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago Floods: OECS Primes to Share Disaster Mitigation Knowledge.

Trinidad and Tobago: In the wake of the devastating flooding which has inundated parts of the nation and left thousands stranded, the OECS Commission has expressed its readiness to share its disaster mitigation knowledge with the people and Government of the twin island state.

Speaking from the OECS Heads of Government meeting in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules said the OECS expressed its sorrow and stood in strong solidarity with the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago at this difficult time.

“These extraordinary torrential rains are yet another reminder of the impacts of climate change and the need for global leadership to keep moving beyond posturing to action” said Dr. Jules.

“We express our profound sadness for those impacted by the floods and understand many including the elderly, infirm and young children have been seeking shelter on rooftops until help has arrived.

“Let us be clear, left unchecked, climate change will continue to have a disproportionate and devastating impact on the economies and people of the Caribbean.

“The question therefore is not the challenge before us but our capacity as a region, as a people to meet it.

“The most valuable course of action we can now offer is to share specialized disaster resilient knowledge gained from within the OECS experience to complement local approaches and expertise in Trinidad and Tobago and beyond, to allay future weather events.

“Practical, successful coastal defence and flood mitigation measures such as drainage works, river bank stabilization programs to the strategic planting of certain species of trees to help prevent land erosion and slips are delivering results in Montserrat, Anguilla, Saint Lucia, BVI, Nevis and Dominica as examples.

“While no mitigation initiative will ever avert flooding of this scale it can help diminish the magnitude of the outcome, and if just one life is saved as a result, then it is worth it.

“While knowledge is power in the fight against climate change the OECS will also continue to back the global effort to mobilise $100 billion dollars by 2020to galvanize local community disaster mitigating initiatives which combined can ensure Trinidad and Tobago and the wider region becomes more climate resilient” 

said Dr. Jules.

CARIFESTA XIV Launch

CARIFEATA XIV

Trinidad and Tobago is host to CARIFESTA XIV from August 16-25, 2019.  Members of the media are invited to cover the Official Launch of this Caribbean Festival of the Arts on Tuesday October 23, 2018 at the Ballroom, Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre from 6:30pm. The formal programme commences promptly at 6:30 p.m. with the arrival of Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. the Hon. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts will address guests on Trinidad and Tobago’s readiness as well as provide an update on what to expect at CARIFESTA XIV.  Dr. Douglas Slater, Assistant Secretary General, Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat will bring greetings on behalf of CARICOM and Her Excellency, Paula-Mae Weekes will deliver a Welcome Statement. The CARIFESTA Logo will also be officially revealed and one of the campaign jingles performed.

The formal proceedings will be followed by a short concert and cocktail reception. The event will be streamed live on www.ttt.live and on today.caricom.org and on the facebook pages TTTLive Online, CARICOM and Carifesta.

Members of the media are advised that all television cameras and other technical equipment must be set up and tested by 6:00 p.m.  Failure to meet this timeline will result in a delay in your station’s ability to capture this historical occasion.

Public Service Posts Termination

Public Service

Statement on termination of Public Service posts.

Government has commenced its programme for restructuring the public service and for reducing expenditure in this adjustment exercise. Those persons affected are being given a package which includes an exit cheque for vacation leave, severance, and any other entitlements at the time.

Some categories of workers have already been given a package in line with the enunciated procedures, notably, security guards, who were informed last Friday, October 19, and given the package, including their cheques.

The process for other departmental posts which are being affected will continue today and will be completed by Wednesday, October 24. Some of the agencies in this phase include the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance and the Post Office Department. With respect to general service posts, the termination process will commence today and is also expected to be completed by Wednesday.

The layoff process is one of the most challenging in any restructuring process. The Government is making every effort to ensure that these public officers are given the necessary support to assist them in going forward. This will include opportunities for retraining to allow them to provide services to Government, including, the digitising of Government records, as was recently announced by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.

It is also anticipated that some of the displaced workers will find employment in the upcoming projects, also indicated by the Prime Minister in her address to the Nation.

Every effort is being made to ensure that there is a smooth process according to established principle of last in, first out, and that these officers who have made a valuable contribution to the public service and Barbados are treated fairly.

Caribbean unites to fight NCDs

NCDs
From left to right, Chair of the National Task Force on Wellness, Dr. Janelle Bryan; Jamaica’s Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Tufton; Barbados’ Minister of Health and Wellness, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic; and Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce, Dwight Sutherland, participate in the boot camp session at Barbados Moves on Saturday at Ellerton Community Centre, St. George. (J. Weekes/BGIS)

One message, one method, one approach. That is the united stand Caribbean countries are taking as they confront the epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the region.

The brand, Caribbean Moves, was birthed at the United Nations High Level Meeting on NCDs in New York last month, and will be introduced throughout the region. Jamaica kicked off the initiative and last Saturday was Barbados’ turn, when Barbados Moves was officially launched at the Ellerton Community Centre, Ellerton, St. George. Simultaneously, a number of health fairs and boot camps kicked off at venues around the island.

Delivering the feature address, Health and Wellness Minister, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic, said it was his intention to take the programme into “every community, every school, every church, every household”.

He acknowledged the work that was already being done to address the problem, particularly among the non-governmental organizations, but declared that the time had come for a harmonized, national initiative which would impact every Barbadian.

“The wellness initiatives over the years have tended to focus on those already impacted by NCDs. The focus now will broadened to prevention, those people who are not yet sick and those people who may have an NCD but not know,” he shared.

Lt. Col Bostic said that there will be a greater outreach to communities which may not otherwise be targeted and added that his Ministry will also be collaborating with other Ministries to disseminate the message.

“I want, for example, to bring the Ministry of Culture on board to discuss how we can incorporate the messages of prevention and personal responsibility for health into, for example, dance performances, so that there will be dances against cancer, against hypertension, etc.”

The Health and Wellness Minister concluded: “I’m urging each and every Barbadian to let’s move. Let’s move together as a country and as a region, and if we do this together, we should see a significant reduction in NCDs across our country and across our region.”

Minister Bostic was supported on Saturday by his Jamaican counterpart, Dr.
Christopher Tufton, who stressed the importance of an approach to health and wellness which focused on prevention.

Caribbean Moves, he explained, aimed to motivate Caribbean people to do three things – know their health status by getting regular physical checkups, exercise every day and eat a balanced diet.

“What we are saying to our populations is ‘if you do these three things you will do a lot to change the statistic where 70 per cent of deaths in the region is caused by lifestyle-related diseases’.”

The Jamaican Minister of Health said the emphasis was on encouraging people to take personal responsibility for their health by doing the things that will help them to live longer.

“Each country will do its own thing in keeping with its culture and traditions and where we can benefit from one another, we will work together to benefit from one another. We are uniting the Caribbean with one message, one method, one approach,” he declared.

Train Derailment kills 18

Train Derailment
Getty Images

Prime Minister Expresses Condolences to Taiwan Following Train Derailment.

Prime Minister Honourable Allen M. Chastanet has expressed condolences on behalf of the Government and People of Saint Lucia, to the Republic of China (Taiwan) following a deadly train crash on Sunday in north-east Taiwan.

According to reports, at least 18 people have been killed and 187 injured after a passenger train derailed in Yilan County.

“This incident is a sad and painful tragedy and one of the most deadly in Taiwan in decades. We cannot even imagine the pain the families of the victims or those who are waiting on word about their loved ones, are enduring at this time,” stated Prime Minister Chastanet.

“Having just visited Taiwan and spent time with the President, the Foreign Minister and other Government officials, as well as our Saint Lucian students there, this tragic loss is even more deeply saddening.

“On behalf of the Government and People of Saint Lucia, I express to the People of Taiwan and President Tsai Ing-wen, our deepest condolences and we pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. Please know that we continue to pray for your nation’s strength in this sorrowful moment.”

Prime Minister Chastanet has also spoken personally and expressed condolences to Taiwan Ambassador to Saint Lucia His Excellency Douglas Shen. The Prime Minister was also assured of the safety of Saint Lucian students and personnel currently in Taiwan.

LIAT Shareholders to discuss its future

LIAT

Grenada and other LIAT Shareholder Governments to discuss the Airline’s future in St.Vincent.

The future of regional airline, LIAT will come under the microscope when Prime Minister, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell and representatives of other shareholder governments and stakeholders meet in St. Vincent today.

Delegates attending the meeting are expected to discuss a number of options intended to secure the future viability of the regional carrier.

As he prepared to depart for the meeting, Prime Minister Mitchell said, “today’s meeting could be a defining moment for the future of LIAT as we discuss the varying roles of shareholder governments, stakeholders and the private sector.

The underlying premise of the discussions is that the travelling public must be better served and intra-regional travel encouraged.”

While in St. Vincent, Dr. Mitchell will also attend the 66th Meeting of the OECS Authority which is scheduled for Tuesday, October 23.

Agenda items for the meeting include a presentation on Climate Smart and Investment Ready Opportunities for the OECS; establishment of diplomatic presence in Canada; OECS membership in the Inter-American Development Bank and the establishment of a fourth University of the West Indies campus in Antigua/Barbuda and the implications for OECS member states.

A number of reports from OECS organs will also be discussed including the OECS Commission, End of Financial Year Report; Annual Report of the OECS Assembly for the Financial Year 2017/2018 and Reports of the Council of Ministers: Social Development, Foreign Affairs, Environmental Sustainability and Tourism.

CIX Ordinary Meeting of the C.C.T.

CIX

Belize Hosts CIX Ordinary Meeting of the Central American Council of Tourism Ministers, and XIII Ordinary Meeting of the Central American Tourism Promotion Agency

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, hosted the CIX Ordinary Meeting of the Central American Council of Tourism Ministers (C.C.T., for its Spanish equivalent), as well as, the XII Ordinary Meeting of the Central American Tourism Promotion Agency (C.A.T.A., for its Spanish equivalent), in North Ambergris Caye, during the week of October 15th- October 19th, 2018.

As the President Pro-Tempore of the Central American System for Tourism Integration (S.I.T.C.A., for its Spanish Equivalent), Hon. Manuel Heredia and a joint team of the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Belize Tourism Board hosted over 40 participants from Central America and the Dominican Republic at a series of technical meetings leading up to the Ministerial Meetings of Tourism Ministers of the Central American Integration System (S.I.C.A, for its Spanish equivalent) region, held on October 17th, 2018.

Minister Heredia expressed that it is an honour to serve as President of the C.C.T., and President of the Board of Directors of C.A.T.A. during the period July to December 2018, and reiterated Belize’s commitment to advancing the collective goals of the Central American Region and the Dominican Republic in promoting multi-destination travel and intra-regional tourism. In addition, Minister Heredia proposed the integration of Climate Change and Climate Resilience as a key development factor for tourism in the SICA region, as well as, iterated Belize’s ongoing commitment to continue building the region’s digital presence in the global tourism market.

CIX

The CIX Meeting of the CCT also saw Belize being host to the official launch of a long-term credit financing mechanism for Tourism Micro-, Small-, and Medium Enterprises, called PROMITUR; a partnership between SITCA and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. At the Ministerial Meetings, the SICA countries also began officially the process to develop a new Five-Year Tourism Strategic Plan for the region in earnest, expressing their commitment to Sustainable Tourism Development.

Drug Treatment Court to be Strengthened

Drug Treatment Court

CARIFORUM ‘s response to crime and security advances: The Dominican Republic Drug Treatment Court to be Strengthened

The Dominican Republic will benefit from training on strengthening drug treatment courts at a workshop to be held on 22-23 October, 2018, in Santo Domingo. The CARICOM Secretariat has collaborated with the Government of the Dominican Republic and the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (c) to strengthen Dominica’s existing Drug Treatment Court Initiative and to expand its operations to include juveniles and adolescence.

The training is part of the response under the Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) component of the Tenth European Development Fund (EDF) Crime and Security Programme between the European Union and CARIFORUM. The DDR component seeks to strengthen institutional capacity of national and regional drug demand reduction entities and practitioners to effectively develop strategies and implement policies and programmes in CARIFORUM. The use of illicit drugs continues to rise in CARIFORUM countries and a lack of institutional capacity has been identified as one of the challenges in the response against this issue.

The agenda for the two-day event will look at, among other issues, therapeutic justice programme as an alternative to incarceration, comprehensive protection of the rights of children and adolescents: principles and rights and identification of the needs to generate a specialised model in the adolescent population

The workshop will be held at the Crowne Plaza, in Santo Domingo. It begins at 0:900 hrs with a brief opening ceremony   in which representatives of the Government of the Dominican Republic, CARICOM Secretariat, Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union will deliver remarks.

Zika transmission no more

Zika

Barbados reclassified as free of active Zika transmission.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has removed its Zika virus country classification scheme which categorized Barbados and most of the Caribbean as having active Zika virus transmission.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) announced on October 18 that the region’s removal from the classification scheme was as a result of data released by CARPHA, which showed that the Zika virus transmission in the Caribbean “had been interrupted for over 12 months, or was at undetectable levels”.

This meant that there was very little risk to residents and visitors, and this evidence was matched by data shared with CARPHA by Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, which showed that no Zika had been detected for more than 12 months in travellers returning from the Caribbean to those countries.

According to CARPHA, this evidence was used by CARICOM in a letter to the WHO Director General calling for the immediate reclassification of CARPHA member states from Category 1 (having active Zika transmission) to Category 3 (having no Zika transmission).  It was further argued that the classification system had outlived its useful purpose.

Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr. C. James Hospedales, explained that the classification was not only having an adverse effect on the Caribbean, but it was also against the tenets of the International Health Regulations.

Dr. Hospedales noted: “The Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world.  It is also one of the most popular honeymoon destinations worldwide, and ongoing cancellations due to the classification of most Caribbean countries as Category 1 is hurting the industry unnecessarily.  Therefore, CARPHA felt compelled to provide the evidence, and to advocate for the removal of this WHO Zika classification scheme.”

CARPHA, the sole regional public health agency, pledged to continue to work with its member states to ensure that the Caribbean is capable of preventing, detecting and responding to public health threats affecting the region.

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