News

In Jamaica, a New Look at Literacy

Interview with Dr Keith Nurse: What Climate Change Means for Caribbean Tourism

By Alexander Britell The Caribbean is continually looking for ways to emerge from the downturn. And with an economy largely dependent on tourism, a changing world economy – and a changing world climate — pose new problems for the region. …

Making Haiti Safer by Design

Above: the Centre de Reconstruction in Port-au-Prince (Photo: Open Architecture Network) While Haiti once had its own comprehensive building code, along with a zoning code, construction in Haiti has lost a coherent structure, according to Stacey McMahan. While Haitian architects …

Talking with the Caribbean’s Rum Minister

By Alexander Britell The “noble spirit” of rum has captivated the Caribbean for centuries, and Edward Hamilton has devoted himself to exploring it. Hamilton, who began the “Ministry of Rum” website in 1995 and is a leading rum importer based …

LaRocque Begins Term with Guyana Visit

Above: CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque with Acting Guyanese President Samuel Hinds (Photo: CARICOM) New CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque began his term yesterday with a visit to the Guyanese government, meeting with acting President Samuel Hinds and making a courtesy visit …

Jamaica, Chinese Firm Finalize Sugar Deal

The Jamaican government has completed the privatisation of the country’s sugar industry, signing a divestment agreement with state-owned Chinese company COMPLANT. Under the agreement, COMPLANT will acquire the Bernard Lodge, Frome and Monymusk lands for $9 million. “We know that …

ECLAC: Development Aid “Not Sufficient”

Above: ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena (Photo: UN) By the Caribbean Journal staff Caribbean and Latin American authorities gathered in Santiago, Chile last week for a dialogue on the international cooperation system and its relation to development. The “Latin America …

Reaching Beyond Nevis, West Indies Power Explores Geothermal in Dominica

Above: West Indies Power CEO Kerry McDonald (Photo: Caribbean Journal) By the Caribbean Journal staff West Indies Power, which is already in the process of bringing geothermal power to Nevis, has been given approval by the government of Dominica for …

New CARICOM SG Takes Office

Above right: CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque By the Caribbean Journal staff New CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque will assume office duties on Monday, April 15th. “Ambassador LaRocque assumes office as the Community’s seventh Secretary-General, with the full confidence and …

Barbados Gets Boost in Narcotics Fight

Above: Barbados Attorney General and Home Minister Adriel Brathwaite (FP) Barbados and the United States will soon be signing a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the execution of the Secure Seas Programme, which falls under the umbrella of the Caribbean Basin …

Oxfam Haiti Director Resigns

Above: a tent city in Haiti (UN Photo) Roland Van Hauwermeiren, director of Oxfam’s operations in Haiti, has resigned amid an inquiry into a small number of aid workers. A group of Oxfam employees in the country has been suspended …

Jamaica, Costa Rica Talk Free Trade

Above: Jamaican Foreign Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh Jamaican and Costa Rican officials met in Kingston this week to discuss a potential Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. The Costa Rican delegation was led by Anabel Gonzalez, the country’s minister …

Trinidad Minister: “Gas Not Running Out”

By the Caribbean Journal staff While Trinidad’s natural gas reserves have declined, the country is not running out of gas, according to Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs Kevin Ramnarine. “I want to make it very clear that gas is …

Jamaica, UAE Sign Airlift Agreement

The Jamaican government has signed an air services agreement with the United Arab Emirates, according to Information Minister Daryl Vaz. The deal was signed in the context of the country’s Open Skies policy, which was previously approved by the cabinet. …

Barbados Tourism Looks to New Markets

Barbados’ Tourism Ministry is looking to a number of new markets, particularly with the expansion of airlift into countries not previously explored. Minister of tourism Andrew Cox said he had undertaken a number of new initiatives looking to expand the …

CARICOM-Canada Free Trade Agreement Unlikely before Next Year

Above: Canadian diplomat Francois Montour, left, and Guyanese Prime Minister Sam Hinds (GINA Photo) The Free Trade Agreement currently in the process of being negotiated by Canada and CARICOM could see its completion by later this year, but may end …

Bahamas Uses New Tools in Crime Fight

Above: Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest addressing the conference (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna) The Bahamian government is implementing a series of new programmes aimed at addressing crime and criminality, according to Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest. Yesterday, in similar …

Martelly: Lack of Government “Killing Us”

Above: President Michel Martelly in 2010 (FP) Haitian President Michel Martelly said Haiti’s lack of a functioning government was “killing us.” Haitian lawmakers have now twice rejected choices Martelly has proposed to be the country’s Prime Minister, a political stalemate …

The US Downgrade’s Impact on Cayman

The recent downgrading of the United States’ federal debt rating by Standard and Poor’s may not impact Cayman in the near future, but US developments will continue to have a significant impact on the island chain. “Cayman will largely be …