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LIAT employees gets advice on money management

LIAT

LIAT employees gain valuable and timely advice on good money management.

The employees of Liat are gaining much needed Financial Literacy and Money Management best practices, compliments Axcel Finance.
Staff of the regional air carrier took away essential knowledge in key money-life areas including: spending and saving; needs versus wants; setting money goals; expected expenses; tracking cash flow; creating a budget and making a savings plan.
Axcel Finance is aware that people do not often prepare for “rainy days”, therefore, the leading Micro-Finance Institution is recommending that as part of good money management, people save at least 10% of their income.
“ We are content with the outcome of the workshop. The Liat employees were fully engaged in what was being said, and we were to able to drive home the key message – to help persons better manage their money and save towards a goal,” states Axcel Finance Business Development Officer for Grenada/ Workshop Coordinator- Clive Frederick
Frederick explains that the participants provided positive feedback on the workshop saying it was timely and necessary.
“We really appreciate Axcel Finance taking the time to assist us with better managing our money. We particularly love the advice about putting loose coins into a cash pan and opening it at the end of the year,” expresses a Liat employee.
“ The advice that Axcel Finance gave was realistic and quite doable. You don’t normally see a Financial Institution giving money saving guidance so we are grateful that Axcel took the initiative to host this workshop,” expresses another participant
These Financial Literacy Workshops are part of Axcel Finance’s proprietary and flagship initiatives focusing on employees.
LIAT
“Research, including our own observations and feedback from employers continue to re-emphasize the need for financial fitness in the workplace. It has been proven that employees exhibit good financial habits, including managing their indebtedness, and are more productive both in their lives and performance at work. This is what we want to encourage and where it is lacking we want to provide these employees and employers with the free resource of financial literacy workshops as often as they are needed”, notes Mr. Frederick
Following a successful series of Financial Literacy programmes across the region, Axcel Finance remains committed to increasing Financial Literacy to its clients and the general public.

Carmen René to hold parents’ meetings

parents meeting

The Carmen René Memorial School has scheduled grade level meetings for parents and guardians of students attending the school. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss the grade level and other pertinent issues which impact student-learning. The grade level meetings will be held on the following dates: Grade 6 – Monday, April 23; Grade 5 – Tuesday, April 24; Grade 4 – Wednesday, April 25, grades 3 and 2 – Thursday, April 26; and Grade 1 and K – Wednesday, May 2. All meetings commence at 5 p.m. Please make a special effort to attend.

Fuel price – April, 2018

Fuel price

The retail prices of unleaded gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and liquid petroleum gas have all changed.

In keeping with changes in international oil prices and government’s application of the modified market pass-through petroleum pricing mechanism, the retail prices of unleaded gasoline, diesel,  kerosene, and the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) 20, 22, and 100 lb cylinders have been changed.
The price of gasoline increased from $2.80 to $2.94 per litre or $12.75 to $13.35 per gallon. Diesel increased from $2.80 to $2.91 per litre or $12.75 to $13.23 per gallon, while the price of kerosene  increased from $1.81 to $1.88 per litre or $8.24 to $8.52 per gallon.
The price of the 20-pound (9.07 kg) cylinder decreased from $32.65 to $32.53 per cylinder; the 22-pound (9.98 kg) cylinder decreased from $36.20 to $36.07 per cylinder; and the price of the 100-pound (45.36 kg) cylinder decreased from $205.60 to $204.42 per cylinder.
The price changes take effect on Monday, April 23. The retail prices of fuel products will be next adjusted on Monday, May 14.

Ban on the use of plastic items

plastic items
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Proposed ban on the use of plastic items for cabinet’s consideration.

A proposed plan that could affect a ban on the use of plastic items will be presented to Cabinet for its consideration; a move that is supported by the Department of Environment.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon made the disclosure today while addressing the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Environment’s Earth Day celebrations at State House.
“We would have introduced to cabinet a memorandum prepared by the Department of the Environment, which Cabinet will consider seriously. It a very solid piece of document, a very solid memorandum.”
Minister Harmon, who also has responsibility for the environment, said he has already asked the Department of Environment to have the technical officers be present at that cabinet session to properly explain the measures proposed to ban plastic.
The department’s head, Ndibi Schwiers said the document is a simple draft that is seeking to reduce on a short-term basis, the importation of the single-use of plastic items. It is hoped that by 2020 there will be a complete ban on the product.
Earth Day 2018 is being celebrated under the theme “end plastic pollution”. Data from the day’s proceeding showed that nearly two million single-use plastic bags are distributed worldwide every minute. One million plastic bottles are bought every minute around the world. That number is expected to top a trillion by the end of 2021.
One million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals are killed every year from the ingestion of plastics in the ocean.

Attendees
Attendees at the event at State House today

“Free Souls” dance group
Members of the “Free Souls” dance group performs Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song”

According to Minister Harmon, plastic remains a useful material. However, it is also responsible for the degradation of the earth.
As part of the government’s commitment to care for the earth and preserve its eco-systems, Minister Harmon said several measures have has been implemented to curtail the use of plastic receptacles in Guyana. In January of last year, the administration had tabled and passed an amendment to the Customs Act, which stipulated that importers of plastic containers pay an environmental levy to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The levy was not a revenue collection initiative, but a measure to encourage the recycling and reduction of the use of plastics.
Speaking also at the event today, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin said the use of plastic bags must be addressed with urgency.
“Guyana has a big problem with single-use plastic items and this needs to be addressed with urgency if Guyana is to become the green state that we all look forward to.”
Minister Gaskin observed that there needs to be a long-term solution to address the issue of plastic pollution in the country, so that “we can be green and clean again”.

Anti-Violence Campaign rolling out

anti-violence campaign

The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation will launch a comprehensive anti-violence campaign early next month to address the issue of violence in schools.
Themed: Peace Begins with Me, the campaign is supported by the UNICEF office for the Eastern Caribbean Area, and will target parents, students, teachers and the community in general, with the understanding that everyone has a role to play in addressing school violence.
The Ministry designated its first Peace Ambassador, Princess Margaret Secondary School student, Ayra Newton, on Tuesday, March 27, under the Schools’ Positive Behaviour Management Programme (SPBMP) (SPBMP).
The peace campaign will feature consultations with students from secondary schools at the Savannah Hotel, Christ Church, to find out what problems students are facing and how these could be tackled. The Ministry will also recognise more Peace Ambassadors, and students will be part of a public education campaign, where they will share their views on how to walk away from, or deal with violent situations.
One of the campaign’s highlights will be a Pledge Day for Peace, which will be held on Friday, May 11. Students from all schools will be expected to make a peace pledge against violence. A ‘peace space’ will also be created at secondary schools for students, which will serve as a sanctuary where they can reflect or cool off, if faced with contentious situations.
Early Childhood Educators will also be included in the campaign, and they will participate in workshops addressing child protection issues among young children at the Savannah Hotel, on May 29 and May 30. Additionally, teachers and principals across the board will receive training in Crisis Management throughout the year.
Senior Education Officer with responsibility for SPBMP, Janice Reid, said violence in schools did not affect any particular age group.  
“The Anti-Violence Campaign will include all nursery, primary and secondary schools.  As the agency responsible for the welfare of students, it is the mantra of the Ministry to create peaceful schools, where all students, teachers and parents feel safe to learn, teach and visit,” she emphasised.

Gov’t to Develop Bunkering Industry

Bunkering Industry
Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Robert Montague (left), in conversation with Chairmain of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, Mrs. Corah-Ann Robertson-Sylvester, at the Gala Dinner of the International Bunker Industry Association Caribbean Bunker Conference held recently at the Hyatt Ziva Hotel in Montego Bay.

Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Robert Montague says the government is to aggressively pursue the development of Jamaica’s bunkering industry.

This, he said, will be done through the facilitation of investment and ensuring that the necessary administrative and regulatory framework are in place.
Minister Montague was addressing the gala dinner of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) Caribbean Conference at the Hyatt Ziva Hotel in Montego Bay recently.
Citing a 2012 Commonwealth Secretariat Commissioned study, Mr. Montague said Jamaica could benefit from the generation of up to 900 job opportunities and increased economic activity of approximately US$3 billion, if the country grows its share of vessels passing through the Panama Canal and bunkering (refuelling) in Jamaica, to ten percent.
“It therefore goes without saying that any industry, such as bunkering which has the potential for positive economic gains and employment, will be a target for priority action for the Government.
We are therefore aggressively pursuing strategies to realise the projected growth levels,” he stated.
The study, commissioned on behalf of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), sought to identify the potential and the required framework, to position Jamaica as a bunkering location in the Caribbean.
At the time, Jamaica’s share of vessels passing through the Panama Canal and bunkering in the country was approximately five percent.
“In addition to pointing to the fact that a successful and competitive bunkering hub will have a positive impact on the dynamism of the Jamaican maritime cluster; perhaps of greater interest to this Government, is that since bunkering forms an important eco-system within the wider maritime cluster, it provides great prospects for significant economic impact,” he said.
The conference was hosted jointly by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica and IBIA from April 17 to 19.

British High Commission in Antigua and Barbuda

British High Commission

PM Browne welcomes decision by UK to open British High Commission in Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda will again be host to a British High Commission. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced on Thursday, 19th April its decision to establish a mission in Antigua and Barbuda a decade after closing its last mission in 2008.
The United Kingdom is one of Antigua and Barbuda’s largest trading partners and one of the most important source markets for tourism. The two countries have enjoyed a long, rich history and the UK is considered a key ally and friend of the country.

On receiving news of this decision, Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who was in London last week, where he led a delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting said, “this mission signals Britain’s intention to be a truly global Britain and the importance Britain places on the Caribbean. Antigua and Barbuda has had a long shared history with the United Kingdom. As we look to the future we are eager to work even more closely with our UK friends to strengthen trade, investment and develop cooperation in areas of mutual interest including climate change, issues of security, advocacy for reform in ODA rules and the sustainable use of our ocean spaces.”
Also, reacting to the decision was the Foreign Minister, the Honourable E.P. Chet Greene MP. Minister Greene welcomed the decision by the UK Government to open a High Commission in Antigua and Barbuda at this critical point in time in global relations. He stated: “This will allow Antigua and Barbuda to potentially serve as a hub for identified areas for UK trade and investment into the Eastern Caribbean”.
The Mission is expected to open in Antigua and Barbuda in January 2019.

Illegal Importation of Africanised bees from Trinidad

Africanized Bees

The Ministry of Agriculture and lands wishes to inform the General Public especially individuals already in or interested in joining the beekeeping sector that it is illegal to import bees from other regional islands as well as internationally.
Persons seeking to bring in Africanised bees from Trinidad are asked to stop immediately as these bees would destroy our native bees and very harmful to the Grenadian population.
The Ministry is also asking all persons engaged in beekeeping and not registered as a beekeeper with the ministry to kindly do so.
The Ministry have a farmer’s registration process where all farmers registered with the ministry are issued an Identification card.
Once again Africanised bees also known as killer bees are very dangerous and shouldn’t be allowed into our island.
The ministry would treat this matter very seriously. Any information about persons bringing Africanised bees from Trinidad can be reported to:
Quasi Williams,
Veterinary and Livestock Division,
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
440-2708/3078/3083

GNDZ-Kidz $1.1 Million dollar Fundraiser

GNDZ-KIDZ

A major medical fundraising project has started in Grenada with the full backing of the island’s Health Ministry.
The initiative which is aimed at raising funds to source and ship a container of medical equipment and supplies for the General Hospital Pediatric Ward and Eye Clinic, among other departments, was officially announced on April 13 at the True Blue Bay Resort by G. Swank.
Swank, is one of the founders of the “GNDZ-KIDZ” project, a medical charity founded in May 2017, by himself and Jean Mallipudi. The charity benefits Grenada’s children and recently assisted the Pediatric Ward at the General Hospital.
Earlier today members of the organization were engaged in a fun and games exercise at the hospital’s pediatric, medical and surgical wards utilizing previously donated items.
The project’s most recent fundraiser was a trivia night, co-hosted with the International Federation of Medical Student’s Association IFMSA, at the True Blue Beach Resort.
Several medical students, Health Minister – Hon. Nickolas Steele, Permanent Secretary – Ms. Pauline Peters along with senior managerial and nursing staff from the General Hospital, attended that activity.
The trivia night fundraiser was supported by a number of individuals and organizations including such as the Marie Fielden, True blue Bay Boutique Resort, Aquanauts, Mt. Cinnamon Resort, New York’s Finest Bagels Island Fever and other generous donors/contributors.

Four-Year Climate Change Project

Climate Change

Jamaica to Benefit from Four-Year Climate Change Project

Jamaica is among three Caribbean islands to benefit from a four-year initiative that will help the country prioritise and invest in ecosystems that specifically reduce its risk of disasters related to climate change.
The Dominican Republic and Grenada are the other two islands to benefit from the Resilient Islands by Design Project, which runs from 2017 to 2021.
The objective of the project is to combine cutting-edge conservation science with the world’s leading expertise in disaster response to develop tools and test solutions that use nature to ensure protection of coastal communities in the Caribbean islands.
These include the use of coral reef and mangroves, which can reduce wave energy and reduce wave height.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the project is being led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Addressing the launch at The Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on April 12, Minister without Portfolio in the Economic Growth and Job Creation Ministry, Hon. Daryl Vaz, expressed pleasure at the approach the project is taking to ensure the protection of coastal communities.
“I believe this hands-on approach is best, as it will help the targeted communities to think, plan and act to ensure their resilience and to position themselves to seize opportunities to integrate climate change considerations into their communities, businesses and lives in a transformative way,” he said.
Mr. Vaz added that this has to be the desired approach, “particularly as the underlying forces that are driving climate change are rooted in the physics that govern our planet, and we cannot ignore these anymore”.
He urged Jamaicans and other people around the world to begin planning and thinking in concrete ways to integrate climate considerations in “all relevant plans and projects to deal with the rising temperatures and seas, deadlier disasters and changing economic circumstances” that now exist.
“Building climate resilience is urgent, particularly as Jamaica and countries in the Caribbean are becoming increasingly urbanised. Where to build and how to build and the role the ecosystem services can play in order to develop and prosper within the new climate change reality (are) to be major considerations in the planning process,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Helmut Domas, said the Resilient Islands by Design Project is among a list of projects being funded by his government to benefit Caribbean countries.
“The International Climate Initiative funding made available by the people and the Government of Germany for climate protection and resilience has directed the Caribbean region as a priority target, as we recognise that the Caribbean islands are the most vulnerable when it comes to the destructive influences of adverse climate phenomena,” he said.
These, he noted, include unseasonal heavy rains, drought conditions and category five hurricanes.
Director General of the Jamaica Red Cross Society, Yvonne Clarke, said the project falls very much in line with what her agency has been doing across Jamaica and “fits beautifully into the (agency’s) strategy”.
For her part, Deputy Director of the Caribbean Division of the TNC, Marcie Eggers, urged a proactive approach in finding natural solutions to address climate change risks.
She noted that the introduction of the project is timely, especially in light of 2017’s active category-five hurricanes, Irma and Maria, which resulted in US$150 billion worth of economic losses.

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