Haiti’s Laurent Lamothe Begins Term as Prime Minister, Joined by Martelly

By: - May 17th, 2012

Above: New Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and President Michel Martelly

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Laurent Lamothe was inaugurated Thursday as Haiti’s new Prime Minister, giving President Michel Martelly a new government for the second time.

The inauguration came two days after the first anniversary of Martelly’s arrival as head of state.

“The people cannot wait,” Lamothe said in his inauguration speech. “Failure is not acceptable.”

Martelly called for the new government to get to work, confident in Lamothe, his longtime friend.

Lamothe arrives as Prime Minister following the resignation of Conille, a former UN official, in late February.

“I have the ambition of working and being the Prime Minister that takes care of the people’s needs,” Lamothe said.

The US-educated Prime Minister faced a drawn out confirmation process in Parliament, which had twice before rejected Martelly’s picks for the post (until eventually agreeing on Conille).

“Despite difficulties, we are moving in the right direction,” Martelly said.

CJ Politics

Antigua, Continuing Caribbean Trend, Pushes Backyard Gardening

By the Caribbean Journal staff Continuing a Caribbean trend, Antigua is in the process of launching a backyard gardening programme nationwide. The project, like several in the region, looks to improve the domestic capacity of food production on the island. Caribbean nations have been working to improve their agricultural production, both on the commercial and […]

CJ Politics

Puerto Rico Governor Fortuño Launches Water Project in Las Marias

Above: the countryside in Las Marias, PR By the Caribbean Journal staff Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño announced today the investment of $51.5 million in a plan to improve the quality of drinking water in Las Marias. The second phase of the programme could benefit as many as 6,800 families in the region. “We will […]

CJ Politics

Montserrat Premier Signs New European Development Fund Agreement

Above: Montserrat Premier Reuben Meade and EU Ambassador Valeriano Diaz (Photo: GIS) Montserrat Premier Reuben Meade has signed a new agreement to receive 10th European Development Funds earmarked to support the government’s development goals. Meade signed the agreement on behalf of the government, joined by Ambassador Valeriano Diaz, head of the EU’s delegation to Barbados […]

Former HOVENSA Workers in US Virgin Islands Get $7.8 Million Federal Grant

Above: the HOVENSA refinery By the Caribbean Journal staff The US Virgin Islands will be receiving a $7.84 million National Emergency Grant from the US Department of Labour to assist more than 1,200 workers impacted by the closure of the HOVENSA oil refinery in St Croix. HOVENSA was the territory’s single-largest employer and the largest […]

US Virgin Islands Delegate, Senator Menendez in Row over Diageo Deal

Above: US Virgin Islands Delegate Donna Christensen and New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez By the Caribbean Journal staff US Virgin Islands Delegate Donna Christensen said she was “dismayed” that Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) used a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee to speak against the Virgin Islands’ agreement with Diageo. Menendez, a member of the […]

Grenada Plans New Drug Rehab Centre

Above: the HOVENSA refinery By the Caribbean Journal staff The US Virgin Islands will be receiving a $7.84 million National Emergency Grant from the US Department of Labour to assist more than 1,200 workers impacted by the closure of the HOVENSA oil refinery in St Croix. HOVENSA was the territory’s single-largest employer and the largest […]

St Lucia Modifies Fuel Price Policy

By the Caribbean Journal staff St Lucia’s government has adopt a modified version of its so-called Fuel Pass Through Pricing Mechanism. The new policy on fuel price allows for the retail price of fuel to be adjusted every three months rather than on a monthly basis. Beginning this week, consumers in St Lucia pay a […]