Bahamas to Host Caribbean Economic Policy Forum

By: - September 13th, 2013

Above: the Atlantis Resort

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The second annual Caribbean Economic Policy Forum will be hosted at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas next week.

The conference, which takes place Sept. 19-20, is being organized by the Bahamian Ministry of Finance and the Inter-American Development Bank, in conjunction with the Caribbean Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank.

This year’s summit is being held under the theme “Building Growth into the Caribbean Sustainability Agenda — a Concerted Approach.”

It will cover areas such as stimulating the private sector, mitigating vulnerability to natural disasters and reducing public sector debt, among others.

“The focus continues to be on how the international financial institutions can enhance support they provide in particular to small and highly-vulnerable income countries, both in terms of tailoring policy advice as well as how they intervene with direct assistance when small middle-income countries encounter economic crises,” said Michael Halkitis, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance.

The first edition of the conference was held last year in Trinidad and Tobago.

Bahamas

Sandals in Talks to Build Brand-New Beaches Resort in Barbados

Above: the Almond Beach Village site By Alexander Britell A Beaches resort could soon be coming to Barbados. Sandals Resorts International announced Friday that it was in “exciting discussions” with the government of Barbados to build a brand-new Beaches resort in the country. The property would be located on the site of the former Almond […]

Bahamas

Jamaica Readies Climate Change Plan

Above: Jamaica By the Caribbean Journal staff Jamaica will soon be putting forth a draft Green Paper on a national Climate Change policy to Parliament, according to Environment Minister Robert Pickersgill. The policy and action plan will call for the development of climate change sector plans and the implementation of “special initiatives,” Pickersgill said. While […]

Bahamas

Grenada Creating Tourism Authority

Above: Grenada By the Caribbean Journal staff Grenada is upgrading its Board of Tourism to a full-fledged Tourism Authority. Tourism Minister Alexandra Otway-Noel said the transition would lead to “Increased marketing opportunities, greater potential for earning and better partnership with airlines and cruise ships,” among other benefits. “We all understand that the tourism sector is […]

Mexico Foreign Minister Meets With Cuba's Raul Castro

Above: the meeting in Havana By the Caribbean Journal staff Mexico Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade Kuribreña has concluded a visit to Cuba that included a meeting with Cuban leader Raul Castro. In a statement, Cuba’s government characterized the meeting as “friendly,” covering “issues of bilateral interest” and the performance of the Community of Latin […]

Barbados, Russia Hold Talks

 Above: Bridgetown (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Barbados and Russia are planning increased cooperation in a number of areas, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Russia’s Ambassador to Nikolay Smirnov, recently paid a courtesy call on Barbados Foreign Minister Senator Maxine McClean to discuss a range of potential areas of partnership, including […]

Rum Journal: Matusalem Gran Reserva 18 From the Dominican Republic

 Above: the meeting in Havana By the Caribbean Journal staff Mexico Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade Kuribreña has concluded a visit to Cuba that included a meeting with Cuban leader Raul Castro. In a statement, Cuba’s government characterized the meeting as “friendly,” covering “issues of bilateral interest” and the performance of the Community of Latin […]

Haiti, OAS to Hold "Major" Investment Conference in Washington

Above: OAS Headquarters in Washington (OAS Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The OAS and Haiti are also working to facilitate a “major conference” in Washington next year. The aim of the conference is for Haiti to present its Investment Master Plan to potential foreign investors and international stakeholders, according to the OAS. The event […]