REGIONAL

Caribbean faces squeeze from financial crisis Wednesday, November 19, 2008 (Reuters): The international financial crisis is putting a squeeze on cash-strapped governments across the Caribbean as the region braces for a steep economic slowdown.  A severe spillover from the crisis will be seen in the Caribbean's important tourism market during the winter high season. read more... Forum to address broadband connectivity for small island states in the Caribbean Tuesday, November 18, 2008 A major initiative taken by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) in conjunction with the government of Trinidad and Tobago is to address the requirement for national broadband connectivity for small island states throughout the Caribbean. read more... OAS to explore opportunities to increase export income in the Caribbean Tuesday, November 18, 2008 Light Years IP has been commissioned by the Department of Trade and Tourism of the Organization of American States (OAS), funded through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), to study a variety of Caribbean products with potential for increased export income. read more... CARICOM and Canada establish disaster fund for the region Tuesday, November 18, 2008 With the increasing incidence of natural disasters hitting the region, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has partnered with Canada to set up a new fund,  the Canada-Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Fund, to support small projects that can reduce disaster risk in communities across the region. read more... St Kitts-Nevis tourism minister issues wake-up call to the region Saturday, November 15, 2008 St Kitts and Nevis tourism minister, Ricky Skerritt, has said that increasing competition from new and emerging markets should serve as a wake-up call for the Caribbean. He said that regional tourism officials must find ways to promote the Caribbean as the destination of choice in the face of growing competition. read more... Caribbean Awards presentation on November 14 in Washington DC Friday, November 7, 2008 The 15th CARAH Awards, which is under the patronage of the Caribbean Diplomatic Corps, will be held on November 14 in Washington, DC, in which a number of outstanding Caribbean personalities will be honoured and recognized. The honourees include the legendary Cicely Tyson. read more... CARICOM seeking early meeting with Obama Friday, November 7, 2008 The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is seeking an early engagement with newly elected President of the United States Barack Obama to lay the foundation for improved US-Caribbean relations. CARICOM Chairman Baldwin Spencer, who is also Prime Minister of Antigua, said that the region welcomed Obama. read more... Seminar increases awareness of need to protect Caribbean Sea from pollution Thursday, November 6, 2008 A regional seminar was recently completed that aimed to increase the public awareness of marine pollution from ships and land. Specifically, it focused on the ratification and implementation of Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78). read more... European Commission supports disaster management agency's new direction Tuesday, November 4, 2008 (CDERA): The European Commission (EC) is providing the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) with € 3.4 million to support the agency's new direction in which it will no longer just respond to disasters when they occur, but also promote prevention and preparation. read more... FirstCaribbean gives to hurricane ravaged islands in the region Tuesday, November 4, 2008 Haiti, The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Jamaica have received over US$150,000 for disaster relief in the Caribbean. This follows the adverse effects of several severe weather systems in recent months and the significant recovery efforts needed to return these countries to normalcy. read more... Caribbean trade and investment with Asia-Pacific region untapped Friday, October 31, 2008 Trade and investment between Latin America and the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific region remains untapped despite the economic emergence of several countries in that region especially China. Several Caribbean countries have expanded trade with Asia-Pacific countries. read more... Education is the way to reduce use of illicit drugs in the region, says Jamaican minister Friday, October 31, 2008 (JIS): Jamaica's Minister of Health, Rudyard Spencer, has expressed the view that to successfully reduce the demand for illicit drugs throughout the Caribbean, a region-wide public education programme, similar to the one being implemented for HIV/AIDS, must be carried out. read more... Caribbean focusing more on trade agreements than regional integration Thursday, October 30, 2008 In the midst of an uncertain international context, countries in the region are striving to advance towards trade agreements that reduce associated transaction costs. There is also a trend towards productive integration through private-sector investment and trade decisions. read more... 'Cutting edge ideas needed' for region's cultural industry, says CARICOM secretary-general Monday, October 27, 2008 The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Edwin Carrington has called on the newly established Regional Task Force on Cultural Industries to recommend cutting edge ideas and approaches that would guarantee sustainability in Caribbean cultural industries and to adopt a coordinated regional approach. read more... IUCN makes new commitment to the Caribbean Friday, October 24, 2008 The World Conservation Congress concluded its work in Barcelona, Spain, after two weeks that brought together over 8,000 government officials, environmentalists, scientists, business people, NGO leaders and other delegates concerned with the fate of the planet. read more... Culture can be critical to Caribbean economies, says CARICOM Secretary-General Friday, October 24, 2008 Officials of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) feel cultural industries can play a crucial role in the development of Caribbean economies if properly pursued. This was the line, along which the regional task force on cultural industries at the CARICOM secretariat was launched. read more... British Overseas Territories minister reshuffled Wednesday, October 22, 2008 Meg Munn, Minister for Overseas Territories at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been replaced by Gillian Merron in a recent ministerial reshuffle by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Merron’s responsibilities include the British overseas territories and the Caribbean. read more... CARICOM rallying to help hurricane victims Friday, September 19, 2008 Technical assistance, relief supplies and financial resources are being provided by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to the countries affected by the disastrous events of the ongoing Atlantic hurricane season.The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency has mobilized its resources. read more... Digicel pledges over US$1.3 million to hurricane recovery across the Caribbean Thursday, September 18, 2008 Caribbean mobile company Digicel has pledged over US$ 1.3 million to support the relief efforts across the Caribbean in the wake of recent Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike. Digicel’s contribution comes in the shape of donations to NGOs like the Red Cross, Food for the Poor, and Catholic Relief Services. read more... Cable & Wireless Caribbean establishes fund to assist hurricane victims Saturday, September 13, 2008 Cable & Wireless Caribbean announced on Wednesday that it would be supporting the region to the tune of more than US$500,000 in cash and services to assist victims of the recent hurricanes and tropical storms that affected the region.  The company is immediately establishing a relief fund of US$250,000 in cash. read more... Message by Edwin Carrington, Caricom Secretary General on the occasion of Caribbean Wellness Day Saturday, September 13, 2008 One year ago, on 14 September, 2007, the Caribbean Community held the first ever Summit of Regional Leaders in the World to address the challenges of the non communicable diseases which are estimated to cause more that 50 percent of the World’s deaths. That Summit resulted in the Port of Spain Declaration. read more... Digicel teams up with Western Union to expand Diaspora programme in US Thursday, September 11, 2008 Caribbean telecommunications operator Digicel on Tuesday announced it has teamed with Western Union, a leader in global money transfer, further expanding its Diaspora programme in the US. The Western Union network in the United States will offer great convenience to the Caribbean Diaspora. read more... Cable & Wireless Caribbean establishes fund to assist hurricane victims Thursday, September 11, 2008 Cable & Wireless Caribbean announced on Wednesday that it would be supporting the region to the tune of more than US$500,000 in cash and services to assist victims of the recent hurricanes and tropical storms that affected the region.  The company is immediately establishing a relief fund of US$250,000 in cash. read more... CARICOM Youth Ambassadors meet in Antigua Wednesday, July 23, 2008 PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands: Last week, CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYA) representing 13 countries, convened in Antigua to explore how people can make a living and move capital within the CSME. They also reviewed the art of public speaking and gained insight into the critical role the media plays. read more...