News-buzz

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Dec 5, CMC – The third Dry Season Caribbean Regional Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) of the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) began here Monday with a warning to Caribbean countries to expect above normal rainfall next year during the dry season.

LAST Fridays, LIAT welcomed its new ATR72 aircraft at the V.C. Bird International Airport in St John’s, Antigua. The aircraft, a brand new 68-seater carrying the tail number V2-LIN, was piloted from Toulouse, France by Captain Philemon Gunsam and First Officer Rawle Francis both of Antigua. Accompanying the crew were Engineer Robert Collins and Quality Manager Conrad William Lewis.

Despite efforts currently underway, domestic work remains one of the sectors with the highest level of informal employment, a new …

Soufriere, St. Lucia – The previously-advertised date for fee increases at the Sulphur Springs Park and Gros Piton Nature Trail …

OFTEN characterised by its limited natural resources and extreme vulnerability to natural disasters, the Caribbean region was not immune to the crippling effects of the global financial crisis of 2008. In fact, the period following this crisis was one known for its stagnant economic growth, depletion of vital sectors (in particular tourism) and a significant reduction in overall GDP. For a region which relies so heavily on foreign direct investment, the road to recovery post-2008 was no easy undertaking.

DIRECTOR General of the OECS Commission Dr.Didicus Jules says the 2020 target of for AIDS related deaths could be pushed out reach as research indicates that co-infections among people living with HIV, such as TB, cervical cancer and hepatitis C are on the rise.

ST. LUCIA’S almost two year old Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) has granted 38 citizenships, after approving eleven applications. This was disclosed at a recent public consultation hosted by the CIP unit in Gros Islet. Chairman of the Board Ryan Devaux, says 14 families and four single applicants have applied to the programme to date comprising 65 individuals in total.

AFTER more than two years of industrial confrontation, the National Workers Union (NWU) and Secure St. Lucia Ltd are hoping to start the New Year on better terms and are working towards concluding negotiations over a collective agreement and work conditions before the year ends.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Dec 2, CMC – More than two weeks after four people were killed alleged by an 18-year-old youth, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has broken his silence on the matter. He told reporters that while he could not comment on the November 13 incident in which the four people, including a mother and her son, were killed by the youth, who has a history of mental illness, killing sprees should not be something occurring here.

ST LUCIA today observes World AIDS Day with the startling news that it now has the second highest number of persons stricken with the disease in the Eastern Caribbean. The grim statistic is contained in the annual UN Aids Caribbean Summary of the AIDS epidemic I for last year which has just been published. It indicates that there are 500 persons in St Lucia living with AIDS a figure that is topped only by St Vincent and the Grenadines with some 800.