Antigua weighs high cost of fossil fuels

The Petrotrin Oil Refinery in Trinidad and Tobago which has significant, proven fossil fuel reserves. (Credit: Desmond Brown/IPS)

Desmond Brown

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Monday July 28, 2014, IPS - Caught between its quest to grow the economy, create jobs and cut electricity costs, and the negative impacts associated with building an oil refinery, the Antigua and Barbuda government is looking to a mix of clean energy and fossil fuels to address its energy needs.Venezuela’s ambassador to Antigua, Carlos Perez, announced last week that Caracas was at an advanced stage of negotiations with the government in St. John’s to build an oil refinery on the tiny 108-square-mile island.

“The pending negotiations for the oil refinery I believe are well advanced and we’re hoping with this new administration of Prime Minister [Gaston] Browne we will advance to conclude that project that will be beneficial for Antigua and for Venezuela too,” Perez said.

Brown’s Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party won General Elections on Jun. 12 after 10 years in opposition.

Environmentalists, including Dominican Arthurton Martin, oppose the move and say it’s the worst possible time to make an announcement like this.

“The United Nations Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) just released its 2014 report presenting evidence that not only can we expect a two degree centigrade rise in global temperatures but [possibly] a four degree centigrade rise, which will result in significant increases in coastal damage from sea level rise for countries like Antigua that are relatively flat,” Martin told IPS.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

“This will in fact result in significant extension of periods of drought as a result of fluctuations in temperature. This is also happening at a time when there are so many options that could deal with part of the energy challenge,” he added.

Martin said the refinery was a bad choice not only because of the global movement to avert catastrophic climate change, but because cleaner alternatives are readily available.

He suggested instead that government look into sources like biofuel, solar and wind energy to reduce reliance on crude oil. These sources of energy have already been developed and financing exists to explore these options.

“These technologies are off the shelf. You can purchase them right now. You don’t even have to do R&D to develop them,” he said.

“This is the first time in the history of the international financial community that they have in fact made grants and concessionary loan financing available to actually reduce the dependence on fossil fuel for energy.”

Environmentalists stress that oil refineries are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.

Oil refineries also emit methane and nitrous oxide, which are more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide, as well as several other air contaminants that pose risks to human health and the environment such as hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds.

Chante Codrington, director of Wadadli Industrial Renewable Energy Ltd, who is in negotiations with the government of Antigua and Barbuda to build a wind farm here, is of the view that wind energy is the most efficient and affordable energy source for the island.

“No good can come from the oil refinery. The environmental concerns associated with the burning of fossil fuel in a country whose main industry is tourism are many,” he told IPS.

“There is an odor that comes from the oil refinery, air pollution, water contamination concerns, fire, explosions, noise pollution, health effects – these are all the disadvantages.”

Clean energy advocate John Burke agrees with Codrington, telling IPS it would benefit the island’s poor more if the country goes green.

“The price of oil is going to go up. The last time I heard the price of sun and wind had not gone up. Currently, every kilowatt hour we’re generating we’re spending about 80 or 90 cents EC on fuel. If they put together a programme to finance and install solar systems for the poor and the middle class that would in effect be financed by the amount of money we save from importing oil.”

According to a report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), energy demand in the region is expected to double in the next 20 years, at a 3.7 per cent average annual rate of increase.

Currently, most Caribbean countries are heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, their energy consumption being based almost solely on oil products, which account for more than 97 per cent of the energy mix.

Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Barbados cover part of their fuel requirements from their own reserves of oil and natural gas. Nevertheless, only Trinidad and Tobago has significant, proven fossil fuel reserves.

Several Caribbean countries spend 15 to 30 percent of their export earnings, inclusive of revenues from tourism, on oil products. This results in electricity prices of between 20 and 35 cents per kWh, much higher than in the United States or Europe.

Peter Lewis, managing director of the Bermuda-based Carib Energy Solutions, said the government should consider the environmental factors associated with an oil refinery.

“If the global trend of a mixed-bag approach is the best option for the pursuit of an energy agenda…you would be able to attract more entrepreneurs to the business sector and get the economy going,” he told IPS.

Martin also agrees with the mixed-bag approach.

“No single source of power should be allowed to deal with your entire energy bill. That is a bad thing to do,” he said.

“We had our banana experience in Dominica when we placed all our bets on one crop. My advice is no country should place all its bets on any one source of power. Even Venezuela is understanding that right now.

“So if solar can contribute three per cent, if wind can give you 15 per cent, if biomass conversion can give you 20 per cent, what you are doing is effectively reducing your dependence on the dirtiest form of energy which is fossil fuel driven energy,” Martin added.

In early 2007, the government of Dominica announced plans for Venezuela to construct an oil refinery on the island but after a barrage of objections was raised by environmentalists, plans for the plant were placed on hold in 2008.

View the original article here

Antigua weighs high cost of fossil fuels

Patrick Hoyos: Mia Mottley settles the Barbados leadership question

Leader of the Barbados Labour Party, Mia Amor Mottley (Credit: Mia Mottley/Facebook)

Patrick Hoyos

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday July 28, 2014 – Last week proved to be a turning point in the career of Mia Amor Mottley, both as Opposition Leader and potential next prime minister of Barbados.In short, there is no doubt now who leads the Barbados Labour Party, not just in name, but in deed.

Some people (including me, if someone were to have asked me) may have advised her not to lead last Thursday’s march from Parliament to Government Headquarters, where the increasingly embattled cabinet of the Freundel Stuart administration was having its regular meeting, but Ms. Mottley did as her leadership instincts advised, and went ahead anyway.

Even the rain accommodated her, falling late in the evening as the sun went down so as not to disturb the sunshine-filled midday event.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Her brief speech from the back of the lead truck at the Bay Street-Beckles Road stoplight – the march been made to end there by the police in an over-abundance of caution – was a metaphorical victory lap for Ms. Mottley, as she surveyed the thousands who had followed her and her parliamentary colleagues, but she displayed no unseemly pride in her new unchallengeable status.

She can now move forward with confidence in taking the fight to the government without looking over her shoulder all the time.

Even on the day of Mia’s complete ascension to the title of undisputed leader, Owen could not resist asking for attention. 

What a difference a day makes, goes the lyric to an old jazz standard. And that difference is Mia Mottley. You might think I am making a big thing of this, but I say – knowing nothing about politics and all of its strategies – to give credit where its due.

The announcement of the demonstration, the first held by one of the two major political parties in a very long time, was openly criticized by one MP, who went on the air – as if he were her equal in party status – to say he wasn’t going to take part and that it was a bad idea. Something about raising the expectations of the people too high, which would only disappoint them and turn them against the party, if the hated Solid Waste Tax was not repealed as a direct result of the march.

It was an argument that was a solid waste of broadcast time. Nobody in their right mind who takes part in a demonstration is crushed if they don’t get their way. They accept that they may not achieve their goal, but they want those in power to understand how they feel. They know that cumulatively this may in time tip the balance in their favour.

Ms. Mottley seems to be succeeding in stirring up a national whirlwind of countrywide opposition

A couple of hours after it ended, I spoke to one of the people who took part in the demonstration. She was at work keeping the dining area of a popular mall clean and tidy for patrons. For her, she said, it was more a victory for Barbados than for the BLP. She felt so good that she had been able to let the government know her view on the tax and how hard they had made life in general, even if nobody knew that she was there individually. It was good for her psychologically, she told me, to actually go out and peacefully protest against what you thought was unjust in your country.

That was why it was a good day for Barbados, as the people didn’t do enough of these kinds of demonstrations, she said. And then she went back to work.

Ms. Mottley, I realised, had reached past all of the intellectual ‘long talk’ about political strategy and gone out on a limb. She might have failed, but she would have done so with her heart in the right place. Many people (yes, including you-know-who) have wondered about her overall strategy, which is reflected in the public sessions which the Bees have been hosting all over the country of late, and in her speech from the back of that lorry on Thursday.

Ms. Mottley, I realised, had reached past all of the intellectual ‘long talk’ about political strategy and gone out on a limb. 

There she read from her letter to the prime minister, offering ideas for the way forward and calling on the administration to bring the Opposition into its confidence and work towards a bipartisan approach to getting us out of the economic whirlpool dragging us to the bottom.

Ms. Motley has take an all-inclusive approach and while I would never have come up with it myself (which is why I am no politician) I have to admit that it finally seems to be gaining traction.

Instead of just trying to stir up a political storm, Ms. Mottley seems to be succeeding in stirring up a national whirlwind of countrywide opposition to an administration whose policies may leave the country bankrupt, given a little more time.

Two opponents of Ms. Mottley were swift to harden their positions. Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler said essentially that you could march wherever you liked, but you will eventually have to march over to your bank for money to pay the solid waste tax anyway.

And Owen Arthur, the sole MP not to take part, whose lack of support for Ms. Mottley was as much in evidence as much as it was unmissed, however lost no time in calling up a newspaper to try to re-direct the spotlight on himself. He hinted at an early resignation from Parliament, claiming he was tired of always being made the centre of controversy, or words to that effect.

Even on the day of Mia’s complete ascension to the title of undisputed leader, Owen could not resist asking for attention. Like Winston Churchill, the great man can not concede that his era of leadership is over. (Source: Broad Street Journal)

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Pat Hoyos. Pat Hoyos is a business writer and publisher of the Broad Street Journal.

View the original article here

Patrick Hoyos: Mia Mottley settles the Barbados leadership question

Skerrit predicts Dominica’s economy will grow

ROSEAU, Dominica, Friday July 25, 2014, CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is projecting growth in the country’s economy in the new financial year.

In his presentation of the 2013/2014 budget on Wednesday, Skerrit told Parliament that estimates show the economy will grow by 1.5 percent in 2014
He said the main contributors to growth have been agriculture, construction, manufacturing and tourism.

Concerning the agriculture al sector, Skerrit said the government is concerned that growth is being compromised by new and emerging diseases such as Black Sigatoka and the Citrus Greening disease.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

However, with a combination of methods, including the use of pesticides, cutting down infected fields and obtaining new planting materials Dominica is expected to win the war over these diseases.

Within the construction industry, the Prime Minister said infrastructural works undertaken by the government is likely to boost the construction sector.

He said growth in the sector has been supported by a series of government policies including the housing revolution.

“Whether it was created through special loan facilities at the AID Bank and the government Housing Loan Board or through the Housing and Sanitation Program, the construction sector has been positively impacted.”

Where tourism is concerned, he said the sector has seen “mixed fortunes” in terms of growth from 2009 to 2013, averaging one percent with a high of 8.2 percent in 2011.

“This sector is the one that has been most directly affected by the global crisis which started in 2008, hence the 2009 result is not surprising,” he said. “This along with decrease in cruise arrivals meant the level of growth desired in the tourism sector has not been achieved, however preliminary estimates suggest that despite the 1.6 percent decline in 2012, activity in the sector strengthened during 2013 with estimated growth of 2 percent.”

He said activity in the manufacturing sector has remained positive in the past three years with 3.4 percent growth estimated in 2013 with two percent growth expected in 2014.

“The performance in the various sub sectors change from time to time but the imperative is to always find the measures which will encourage growth,” Skerrit said.
He noted that the record of his government in terms of fiscal management “is well known.”

“There has been challenges created by external shocks, such as the impact of the global financial crisis and weather related events and disasters,” he noted. “Despite these, government continues to maintain fiscal discipline while safeguarding the poor and vulnerable.”

View the original article here

Skerrit predicts Dominica’s economy will grow

Pakistani activist, Malala Yousafzai, arrives in Trinidad

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani education activist. (Credit: rebellesociety.com)

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday July 28, 2014, CMC – Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani education activist, has praised Trinidad for the stance taken on free education.

Malala who arrived here Sunday said her ultimate goal is to ensure education is free.

“I heard children’s education is free and the BSc is free. This is how it should be—100 per cent education should be free. I will be happy to meet with the children and adults.”

Malala’s visit coincides with the tenth anniversary celebrations of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).

She is accompanied by her parents and brothers Khan and Khushal Khan, along with chairman of The Malala Fund, Eason Jordan, will continue her activism with two speaking engagements on Wednesday and Thursday at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA).

Malala achieved international renown after she was shot by the Taliban for campaigning for education rights for girls and women.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

View the original article here

Pakistani activist, Malala Yousafzai, arrives in Trinidad

Samuel Rosenberg: Breaking down financial jargon

Samuel Rosenberg

NEW YORK United States, Friday July 25, 2014 – You would have met people that try to use the longest and most complicated sentences to make them sound superior in your company, while not wishing to check whether you understand the flow of the conversation or not. When it comes to important financial matters, some people try to impress you with a constant stream of complex financial jargons. The good news is that you don’t have to be worried, and here’s why.

Learning about financial jargon isn’t difficult. If you think back to the first day when you started to learn English grammar, you may not have known the difference between verbs, nouns and infinitives. Those strange names, from the past, became much easier to understand as you were taught and educated by your teachers. Financial jargon is the same.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Across the course of your lifetime you will be involved in a number of investment openings. You might be purchasing your first home; saving funds for your children’s education; seeking an opportunity to begin a business or looking towards your pension planning.

You will need to begin your investment journey by locating a professional financial adviser that can guide you through your first investment involvements. A friend or relative who has invested successfully is a good introduction to an advisor. Alternatively, your bank is likely to have an expert or be able to recommend one.

Your initial target is to find out about all of the products that are available in the marketplace and after close assessment, decide which are available to you and then which are right for your investment planning at that time.

You will need to give your financial advisor sufficient information about your current and future circumstances, so they can adapt to a plan that will help you choose the best investments for your needs. Over time, these needs may well change and once you have built up an education and knowledge about investment planning, you will be in a position to know which products and services will serve you best. There is a great deal of difference between saving money to buy land over the next two years against planning your retirement which might be 20, 30 or 40 years away. One will need a short-term focus and the other a much longer viewpoint.

You should always ask your financial advisor whether they are receiving commission from a company they are introducing to you or whether you must pay a management fee for their knowledge and investment advice. This will affect, or lower, the overall return on your investment and is a very important question to ask at an early stage.

There is absolutely no reason to be afraid of financial jargons. Every industry has its own jargon that people use every day. You will no doubt confuse your financial advisor when you talk about your own industry and use general jargon when you perhaps don’t even realise you are using it. The more knowledgeable you become, the better your chances are to make a higher return on your investments, so don’t miss the opportunity to gain the knowledge.

The writer is the founder and CEO of Axcel Finance Ltd., the leading regional microfinance institution. Share your thoughts and email your questions to srosenberg@axcelfinance.com

View the original article here

Samuel Rosenberg: Breaking down financial jargon

Barbados prime minister ‘opens door’ for Owen Arthur following resignation

Barbados prime minister, Freundel Stuart (left). former Barbados prime minister, Owen Arthur pictured right. (file photo)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sunday July 27, 2014, CMC - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has expressed no surprise at former prime minister, Owen Arthur’s resignation, from the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP), and BLP Leader Mia Mottley, thanked Arthur for his service.

Arthur, on Friday, handed in his letter of resignation with immediate effect to the Office of the Opposition BLP, ending 43 years of membership in which he led the party and country as prime minister for 14 years.

Owen Arthur, who led the party to defeat in the 2013 general election but retained his parliamentary seat in the constituency of St Peter, indicated that he will remain in parliament as an independent member until his term of office comes to an end in 2018.

Arthur was Prime Minister of Barbados from 1994 to 2008, making him the longest serving Barbadian Prime Minister to date. He was also Leader of the Opposition in Barbados from 2010 to 2013.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Stuart, who heads the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), on Friday cited a historical example of a sitting BLP member of parliament – at the time representing what is now Arthur’s constituency of St Peter – resigning to cross the floor and join the then governing DLP, led by Errol Barrow.
Stuart suggested Arthur is free to follow the example of history.

“Soon or later members of parliament get to realise that the Barbados Labour Party is not the place to be…if Mr Arthur has now got to the stage of this realisation, I am glad for him…I’m glad that he has seen the light, the light was there ever since.”

Opposition Leader, Mia Mottley, said, “Owen Arthur served the Barbados Labour Party and Barbados at a critical time before the end of the last century. He helped to lay the foundation for the Barbados that is and the Barbados that we are struggling to preserve”.

She added, “These are extraordinary times, and extraordinary times require of us courage and extra ordinary action”.

View the original article here

Barbados prime minister ‘opens door’ for Owen Arthur following resignation

May and June were the hottest months ever as global warming heats up

Sea surface temperatures

FLORIDA, United States, Friday July 25, 2014 – The planet appears to be turning up the jets, setting a global heat record last month hot on the heels of breaking the same record in May.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average global temperature in June was 61.2 degrees, which is 1.3 degrees higher than the 20th century average, and beat the record set in 2010 by one-twentieth of a degree.

Although one-twentieth of a degree might not sound impressive, “it’s like winning a horse race by several lengths” when it comes to temperature records, according to NOAA climate monitoring chief Derek Arndt.

Arndt went on to reveal that the world’s oceans not only broke a monthly heat record at 62.7 degrees, but it was the hottest the oceans have been on record in any month.

“We are living in the steroid era of the climate system,” he commented.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

The climatologist explained that both the May and June records were driven by unusually hot oceans, especially the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Although the United States had only its 33rd hottest June, heat records were broken in June on every continent but Antarctica. Particularly high temperatures were recorded in New Zealand, northern South America, Greenland, central Africa and southern Asia.

According to NOAA, the first six months of this year were the third warmest first six months on record, trailing 2010 and 1998.

June was the 352nd hotter-than-average month in a row as determined by global temperature records dating back to 1880.

All 12 of the world’s monthly heat records have been set since 1997, more than half of them in the last decade.

All of the global monthly records for low temperatures were set prior to 1917.

View the original article here

May and June were the hottest months ever as global warming heats up

Henry S. Fraser: Society School and the Codrington Legacy

Codrington College (File)

Henry S. Fraser

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday Juy 28, 2014 - “My two plantations in the island of Barbados to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts … and a convenient number of Professors and Scholars maintained there, all of them to be under vows of poverty and chastity and obedience … to study and practice Physic and Chirurgery as well as Divinity, that by the apparent usefulness of the former to all mankind, they may both endear themselves to the people and have the better opportunities of doing good to men’s souls whilst they are taking care of their bodies …” (From the will of Colonel Christopher Codrington, who died on Good Friday, April 7th, 1710.)

Christopher Codrington was described as the brightest star of Barbados – scholar, poet, public orator, soldier, governor and Christian benefactor. His vision of a University for Barbados to train Christian doctors, to care for their bodies and save the souls of all mankind, was an extraordinary vision, two and a half centuries ahead of the University of the West Indies. And his vision certainly inspired me, as a teenager at The Lodge School, one of the products of his vision, to become a Christian doctor at the institution that extended the mission of Codrington.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Unfortunately the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) turned out to be hopeless managers. The college buildings were well underway by 1721 but not completed until 1743 and the Codrington Grammar School finally began in 1745. Because of inept management from afar, the school suffered serious vicissitudes and the College of Codrington’s vision never materialised until the arrival of our first bishop, William Hart Coleridge. He recognised the failure of the SPG and was able to bring the College into being, by moving the school up the hill to the “Upper Estate”, now called Society, to the Chaplain’s Lodge, in 1829 and so it became The Lodge School. The College began in full, at last, in 1830 and was later affiliated with the University of Durham. It trained priests, teachers and administrators for the entire English speaking Caribbean and beyond, including my father-in-law, the revered Lee Harford Skeete, and most Caribbean priests and bishops for nearly 150 years.

While the College building contains its own splendid small chapel, beautifully panelled and with a barrel vaulted ceiling, the SPG built a larger, wooden chapel for the slaves in 1819 – the first conscientious attempt within the Anglican community to bring Christianity to the slaves. It was replaced by a stone chapel in 1831, and after this was blown down in the 1831 hurricane, the present Society Chapel, now Holy Cross Church, was built, under guidance of Bishop Coleridge.

Meanwhile, the College began a Sunday School for the slave children in 1795. This became a full primary school in 1797, an initiative that would have been much against the wishes of planters across the Caribbean, who were against such instruction for slaves. It is truly a shining historical legacy … the first known school set up to teach the slave children here and possibly anywhere in the Caribbean, unless preceded by Moravian schools in the Danish Virgin Islands. The present building of Society School is a solid coral stone structure on a solid plateau of rock in the middle of Society Hill, built more than a hundred years ago. It caters to the surrounding villages of Society, College Bottom, Sargeant Street, Coach Hill, Massiah Street and Stewart’s Hill. And at the top of the hill, next to Holy Cross and the cross commemorating Reverend Rawle, is the sprawling complex of Codrington School.

The Codrington legacy has thus resulted in Codrington College, The Lodge School, Society School, the Rawle Institute (replaced by Erdiston Teachers College), Codrington School and Holy Cross Church – six important, historic educational establishments which have had a huge impact not only on Barbados but the wider Caribbean. Indeed the Society School has produced famous figures like Rawle Parkinson, the great, legendary educator after whom the Parkinson School is named, and today’s distinguished, globally successful alumni such as Dr. Ken Harewood and Dr. Louis Brown, as well as a long list of local luminaries.

It was therefore a shock to pupils, parents, teachers, alumni, historians and the wider society to hear in June of the sudden closure of Society School. This follows poor maintenance leading to the need for industrial cleaning last September, which resulted in a drop in the number of students. Shocked parents, teachers, parish priest and others have organised a petition and efforts to keep this historic educational monument open. Distinguished alumni of the school have joined the effort, vocalised by attorney David Commissiong, and at a large meeting of parents last Sunday the passion for maintaining the school was clear, echoed in a CBC-TV news poll of 85 % of responders voting to keep it open.

My own assessment is that the historic importance of the school justifies its continuing existence even if it remains a small school, by amalgamating so as to reduce the number of classes, as has been suggested. From what I have been told by several parties, it seems that the physical problems are poor maintenance and not structural; the need for industrial cleaning last September allegedly led to the drop in the roll as some parents were so upset that they removed their children. Primary school children should not have to travel long distances to school. And the importance of the Codrington legacy and the entire Codrington complex, in the opinion of many, justifies World Heritage inscription. In fact Barbados has submitted the Sugar (and Rum) Industry of Barbados as a tentative nomination, and Codrington’s six institutions with their rich and unique history comprise a hugely important part of the larger nomination. We should therefore be proud not only of the history of Society, its seminal role in the education of slave children and the building of its surrounding community, but of its brilliant alumni here and around the world. We should do everything to keep it open and rebuild its great reputation. While alternative uses of the building can be considered, our Governments’ outstanding record over decades of abandoning buildings to decay does not give hope.

The Sentinel Committee of the National Trust will be more than willing to assess and report on the physical state of the school, before it joins the many other derelict built treasures abandoned by successive governments over the past 40 years.

Bouquet: To Glyne Murray on the launch on Wednesday of his splendid book Barbados – Customs to Treasure.

Professor Fraser is past Dean of Medical Sciences, UWI and Professor Emeritus of Medicine. Website:  profhenryfraser.com

View the original article here

Henry S. Fraser: Society School and the Codrington Legacy

St Vincent farmers receive compensation following sudden closure of cocoa company

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Friday July 25, 2015, CMC – The St. Vincent Cocoa Company, which last week abruptly announced that it is ending its operations here in August, will compensate farmers in lieu of the two years’ notice stipulated in the agreement with the government.

“By virtue of the fact that notice is not given, they are writing off all the money that [farmers] borrowed, against the need to give notice,” Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar told reporters.

Ten farmers had received loans totalling EC$34,800 from the company’s micro finance programme, and this amount will be written off.

Famers who did not receive loans from the SVCC will each receive EC$1,000 (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents).

“But coming out of the discussion, it was decided that farmers who have over 3,000 plants will get between $1,500 to $2,000,” Caesar said, adding that not many famers had more than 3,000 plants.

The St. Vincent Cocoa Company came into existence after Armajaro Trading Ltd. signed a 50-year agreement with the government in August 2011, granting the firm exclusivity in the overseas marketing of wet and dry cocoa beans produced here.

Fifty-four farmers went into cocoa cultivation with the company after the 2011 agreement was signed, while a further 10 to 20 entered the sector, outside of the Armajaro agreement.

The company has invested more than $5 million in SVG, but Caesar said it decided to cease operations at the end of August because it no longer sees local production as “a viable one”.

The company had a target of cultivating 5,000 acres of cocoa, where only 18,000 acres of agricultural land remains.

“That was a big number and over the last four years, they were only able to rehabilitate 50 acres and to plant 200 new acres,” Caesar said.

The minister said farmers were disappointed by the development.

“Quite naturally, if you are in a relationship and the relationship did not work out quite as you had planned it, quite natural, there were some sad feeling, persons felt a bit sad, but I must state, no one was angry,” he said.

“It was very interesting. Persons expressed sadness that they no longer had an opportunity to work with what they considered, in their estimation, an internationally renown cocoa distributor. They thanked the company for coming to St. Vincent and working with them and for transferring the knowledge,” he said after a meeting with farmers.

View the original article here

St Vincent farmers receive compensation following sudden closure of cocoa company

Kamla wants criminal investigation into Trinidad Lifesport Programme

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Friday July 25, 2014, CMC – Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar Friday said she had asked her Attorney General Anand Ramloan to hand over copies of the audit of the controversial Lifesport programme to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police “to investigate, detain and prosecute those guilty to the fullest extent of the law”.

Persad Bissessar told Parliament that the audit had revealed a number of discrepancies including procurement breaches; the involvement of some persons in criminal activities; fraud by suppliers; theft of equipment; breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act and a deviation from the mandates of Cabinet.

Former National Security Minister Austin Jack Warner, who described the programme as a “cess pool of corruption” said that in another country, the Minister of Sport, Anil Roberts would have resigned.

The main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) has filed a motion in the Parliament calling for the censure of Roberts as a result of the programme that they said was riddled with corruption.

Prime Minister Persad Bissessar, defending her government’s decision to launch the audit, said that in May, a newspaper publication brought to light allegations of wrong-doing and misuse of resources in the LifeSport programme.

“Based on the very real possibility of there being irregularities I immediately instructed that the programme be transferred to the Ministry of National Security, and that the Ministry of Finance and the Economy, through its Central Audit Committee, conduct a full audit.”

She told legislators that a thorough and focused audit has now been completed and that because the programme was intended to “positively impact some of our most vulnerable, younger citizens, I believe it is appropriate that the report of the Central Audit Unit on the LifeSport Programme be made public, by being tabled here in the House of Representatives”.

She said that the programme began in June 2012 and at the time of the audit, 43 centres had been established throughout the country to cater for young people between the ages of 16-25.

She said that the audit also raised questions regarding possible complicity by officers of the Ministry, given the widespread nature of the breaches.

“What is most shocking and disappointing, is the fact that given the usually stringent nature of the bureaucratic processes in obtaining approvals for projects, implementing programmes and monitoring progress, no action was taken to halt or prevent what the Audit Committee found”.

Persad Bissessar said that she was disappointed of having to immediately halt the programme because it was conceptualised and formulated as part of a comprehensive programme to try to roll back the tide against criminals and criminality in the country.

“It was specifically focused on saving the lives of young men who needed to be protected from the criminals who routinely preyed on them, and helping to shape positive futures for these young people.

“We see our young men as future fathers, future role models, future professionals, who need care, attention and opportunities.

“The criminals see them as pawns and as persons who could front crime and violence. To the criminal elements, these young men are a means to an end, and are, in their view expendable.”

She told legislators that given the fact that the Central Audit Committee has raised the possibility of complicity by Ministry officials, the report will be sent to the Integrity Commission and the Head of the Public Service for further investigation, consideration and action.

“Citizens of our country can rest assured that as we move forward implementing programmes meant to positively impact our communities, we will not tolerate wrong-doing, we will not tolerate corruption, and we will not tolerate the abuse of programmes meant to save our people, for selfish, personal gains.

“In fact, if there is one very important message coming out of this Audit Report is the urgent need for procurement laws to become fully operationalized,” said Persad Bissessar, who made no mention of her Sports Minister during her statement to Parliament.

View the original article here

Kamla wants criminal investigation into Trinidad Lifesport Programme

Japanese prime minister meets with CARICOM leaders today

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday July 28, 2014, CMC – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday began an official two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago holding talks with Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar.

A statement issued afterwards said that the two leaders had discussed a wide range of issues including possible Japanese investment in the oil-rich twin island Republic and the possibility of Port-of-Spain opening an embassy in Tokyo.

Abe, whose first ever visit here forms part of his trip to Latin America and the Caribbean, will meet with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders on Monday for talks that the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said would include areas such as climate change, technical cooperation, trade and investment.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

The CARICOM Secretariat said that the half-day summit is also expected to provide an opportunity for discussions on the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on Small Island States to be held in Samoa in September.

“The summit provides a timely opportunity to advance CARICOM’s priorities in these areas and for fostering solidarity between CARICOM and Japan,” the statement said.

Abe, who was met on arrival by Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran, expressed his gratitude to the Trinidad and Tobago government for its decision to waive entry visa requirements for Japanese nationals coming here to conduct business for a maximum period of 90 days.

According to the statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, the two government leaders discussed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which establishes international standards for the movement of conventional arms and ammunition across borders. Both Japan and Trinidad and Tobago signed the treaty in 2013.

“In the meeting, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar sought the support of the Japanese Government to support Trinidad and Tobago’s bid to host the ATT Secretariat,” the statement said, adding that Port of Spain has also “recognised Japan’s and Trinidad and Tobago’s bid for non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.”

The statement noted that during the discussions, Prime Minister Abe raised the matter of deepening bilateral relations and requested that Trinidad and Tobago consider opening an embassy in Tokyo.

“The Prime Minister promised to immediately engage in discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs on this issue.

“Discussions between the two Prime Ministers also focused on Trinidad and Tobago as an attractive destination for trade and investment; in particular, the recent launch of the Tamana Intech Park, the first science and technology park in the Caribbean.”

Prime Minister Persad Bissessar is encouraging Japanese firms to take up residency, particularly firms involved in the areas of ICTs, Clean Technologies, and Agro-processing.

The statement said that the Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications, Vasant Bharath, would pursue discussions with relevant members of the delegation during their stay.

“The Japanese Prime Minister agreed to consider further areas of cooperation in such ventures,” the statement said, quoting Prime Minister Persad Bissessar as noting the “positive impact on the South-Western peninsula with regard to job creation by the introduction of the dimethyl ether (DME) Project, which has been established by the Massy Group, the Mitsubishi Corporation, and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical”.

The US$850 million project is situated at la Brea, south of here.

The statement said that Japan would also host the fourth Japan/CARICOM Foreign Ministers Forum. It gave no date.

View the original article here

Japanese prime minister meets with CARICOM leaders today

Online petition calling for dismissal of Trinidad sports minister goes viral

Trinidad & Tobago Sports Minister, Anil Roberts (Credit: news.gov.tt)

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday July 28, 2014, CMC – A petition calling for the dismissal of embattled Sports Minister Anil Roberts in the wake of a damning audit of the controversial multi-million dollar Lifesport programme has apparede on social networks.

The petition on the website change.org is calling on Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar to “immediately revoke the ministerial portfolio of Anil Roberts” and follows calls even from Robert’s Congress of the People (COP) party for him to step down.

Last weekend, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar told Parliament that she had asked her Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to hand over copies of the audit to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police “to investigate, detain and prosecute those guilty to the fullest extent of the law”.

Persad Bissessar said that the audit had revealed a number of discrepancies including procurement breaches; the involvement of some persons in criminal activities; fraud by suppliers; theft of equipment; breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act and a deviation from the mandates of Cabinet.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Prime Minister Persad Bissessar, who announced the immediate end to the programme, said that in May, a newspaper publication brought to light allegations of wrong-doing and misuse of resources in the LifeSport programme.

“Based on the very real possibility of there being irregularities I immediately instructed that the programme be transferred to the Ministry of National Security, and that the Ministry of Finance and the Economy, through its Central Audit Committee, conduct a full audit.”

The petition, which has so far been signed by more than 400 people, noted that the audit “has unearthed massive corruption, millions of (dollars of) taxpayers’ money lost and laws of Trinidad and Tobago breached.

The petition also noted that the approval given by Cabinet was not strictly adhered to and there may have been breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

“The citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago hereby demand that the Hon. Prime Minister immediately advise His Excellency the President Anthony Carmona to revoke the ministerial portfolio of Anil Roberts,” the petition stated.

Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar, who is also the COP leader, said the issues highlighted in the audit are a “very grave cause for concern regarding serious breaches of the law….”

“The contents of this report have been referred to several institutions for further investigation to determine whether criminal acts or other breaches of the Integrity in Public Life act and or acts of serious misconduct meriting criminal or disciplinary charges being laid, have been committed,” Ramadhar said in a statement.

He said in light of the findings and further investigations, the COP, which is the second biggest partner in the four-party coalition government here, is calling on Roberts “to recuse himself from his ministerial responsibilities until these investigations are concluded and decisions taken in respect of their findings”.

The main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) has also called on Roberts to resign.

But Roberts has maintained his innocence, saying that the report has not linked him to any corrupt activities and therefore he had no reason to resign.

View the original article here

Online petition calling for dismissal of Trinidad sports minister goes viral

Former Barbados prime minister, Owen Arthur, resigns

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday July 25, 2014, CMC - Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur Friday announced his resignation as a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) which he has led as Prime Minister for 14 years.

He handed in his letter of resignation with immediate effect to the office of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party Friday morning.

Owen Arthur, who led the party to defeat in the 2013 general election but retained his parliamentary seat in the constituency of St Peter, indicated that he will remain in parliament as an independent member until his term of office comes to an end in 2018.

Arthur was Prime Minister of Barbados from 1994 to 2008, making him the longest serving Barbadian Prime Minister to date. He was also Leader of the Opposition in Barbados from 2010 to 2013.

Below is a recent video clip of Owen Arthur addressing his St Peter constituency:

He led The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to victory in the 1994 general election and also won the 1999 and 2003 general elections.

The David Thompson led Democratic Labour Party defeated the Barbados Labour Party in the 2008 general election, resulting in Owen Arthur stepping down as party leader, however Arthur remained Member of Parliament for the constituency of Saint Peter.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Arthur returned as BLP leader in 2010, however following the 2013 general election defeat he was replaced by the current BLP opposition leader, Mia Mottley.

Arthur’s resignation from the BLP comes one day after thousands of Barbadians took to the streets to protest against the imposition of the Municipal Solid Waste Tax. However Arthur tried to distance himself from Solid Waste Tax issue as seen in this tweet from the local media company, Barbados Today.

Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur has refused to be drawn into the raging controversy … – http://t.co/O3ha9WGJTC pic.twitter.com/HIoBan5heY

— Barbados Today (@BarbadosToday) July 23, 2014

The midday march, led by Mia Mottley – leader of the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) ended outside the office of Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart, where she delivered a letter of protest on behalf of people across the island.

Share your thoughts on Owen Arthur’s resignation in our comments section below.

View the original article here

Former Barbados prime minister, Owen Arthur, resigns

The end of Western dominance of the global financial and economic order

Shyam Saran

NEW DELHI, India, Friday July 25, 2014, IPS - The sixth BRICS Summit which has just ended in Brazil marks the transition of a grouping based hitherto on shared concerns to one based on shared interests.Since the inception of BRICS (bringing together Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2009, it has been seen as a mainly flag waving exercise by a group of influential emerging economies, with little in terms of convergent interest other than signalling their strong dissatisfaction over persistent Western dominance of the world economic, financial as well as security order, but unable to fashion credible alternative governance structures themselves.

BRICS leaders have kept the door open for other stakeholders, but will retain at least a 55 percent equity share.

However, with the Fortaleza Summit finally announcing the much awaited establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB) with a 50 billion dollar subscribed capital and a Contingency Reserve Arrangement (CRA) of 100 billion dollars, the monopoly status and role of the Bretton Woods institutions – the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – stand broken.

True, it may take the NDB and the CRA considerable time and experience to evolve into credible international financial institutions but that clearly is the intent.

BRICS leaders have kept the door open for other stakeholders, but will retain at least a 55 percent equity share. They have also been careful to declare that these new institutions will supplement the activities of the World Bank and the IMF, and this has also been the initial response from the latter.

Nevertheless, the emergence of an alternative source of financing with norms different from those followed by the established institutions will alter the global financial landscape irreversibly.

The setting up of the BRICS institutions owed a great deal to the energy and push displayed by China

.

It may be noted for the future that the one component of the global financial infrastructure where Western companies still remain supreme is the insurance and reinsurance sector. Global trade flows, in particular energy flows are almost invariably insured by a handful of Western companies which also determine risk factors and premiums.

In Brazil, the BRICS countries have given notice that they will examine the prospect of pooling their capacities in this sector. A more competitive situation in this sector can only be a positive development for developing countries.

The BRICS initiatives were born out of mounting frustration among emerging countries that even a modest restructuring of the governing structures of the Bretton Woods institutions, to reflect their growing economic profile, was being resisted. The commitment made in 2010 at the G20 to enlarge their stake in the IMF remains unfulfilled while the restructuring of the World Bank is yet to be taken up.

The longer the delay in such restructuring, the more rapid the consolidation of the new BRICS institutions is likely to be. It is this factor which played a role in helping resolve some of the differences among the BRICS countries over the structure and governance of these proposed institutions.

The setting up of the BRICS institutions owed a great deal to the energy and push displayed by China. It is doubtful that the proposals would have been actualised had China not put its full weight behind them and showed a readiness to accommodate other member countries, in particular India. Russia became more enthusiastic after being drummed out of the G8 and subjected to Western sanctions.

Chinese activism on this score must be seen in the context of other parallel developments in which China has also been the prime mover and sometimes the initiator. These are:

1. The proposal for setting up an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to fund infrastructure and connectivity projects in Asia, in particular, those which would help revive the maritime and land “Silk Routes” linking China with both its eastern and western flanks. The parallel with the NDB is hard to miss.

2. The consolidation of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM) and the associated Asian Multilateral Research Organisation (AMRO) among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) + 3 (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea). The CMIM is now a 240 billion dollar financing facility to help member countries deal with balance of payments difficulties. This is similar to the 100 billion dollar CRA set up by BRICS.

AMRO has evolved into a mechanism for macro-economic surveillance of member countries and provides a benchmark for their economic health and performance. This would enable sound lending policies and may very well be linked in future to the AIIB. The CMIM and the AMRO thus provide building blocks which could serve as the template for the NDB, the CRA and the AIIB.

3. In addition to the CMIM and the AMRO, there are ongoing initiatives within ASEAN + 3 to develop a truly Asian Bond Market which could mobilise regional savings into regional investments through local currency bonds. To support this initiative, a regional Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility has been established. A Regional Settlement Intermediary is proposed to facilitate cross-border multi-currency transfers.

These developments are taking place just when there is a rapidly growing Chinese yuan-denominated bond market, the so-called dim-sum bonds, which have become an important source of corporate financing. This reduces the dependence on euro and U.S. dollar-denominated bonds. The NDB could tap into this market to build up its own finances.

It is important to keep in mind this broader picture in assessing the significance of the decisions taken at the Fortaleza Summit. In systematically pursuing a number of parallel initiatives, China is attempting to create an alternative financial infrastructure which would have it in the lead role. The dilemma for other emerging countries is that there appear to be no credible alternatives, especially since the Western countries are unwilling to cede any enhanced role to them.

The Fortaleza Summit marks the beginning of the end of the post-Second World War Western dominance of the global economic and financial order. The existing institutions will now have to share space with the new entrants and may be compelled to adjust their norms to compete with the latter.

The prime mover behind the establishment of a rival network of financial institutions is China, whose global profile and influence is likely to increase as the various building blocks it has put in place come together to shape a new global financial architecture. This is still in the future but the trend is unmistakable.

View the original article here

The end of Western dominance of the global financial and economic order

Large tropical wave forms in the Atlantic

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Monday July 28, 2014 - A tropical wave located located near 10°N, 33°W at 8 am EDT Monday, about 500 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, is producing disorganized cloudiness and thunderstorms.

The National Hurricane Center designated the disturbance, Invest 93L, early Monday morning and environmental conditions in the Atlantic are conducive to futher development. The system has a high chance of developing into a strong tropical storm either Friday or Saturday.

Computer model forecast tracks for Invest 93L (Credit: Weatherunderground.com)

According to Dr Jeff Masters at WeatherUnderground, “infrared satellite images showed that the system’s heavy thunderstorm activity had increased significantly since Sunday.”

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

The National Hurricane Centre reports the location of Invest 93L at 10.0N 32.5W, and is curretly moving westward at 15 mph.

Our

Tropical Disturbance 13 appears likely to impact the NE Caribbean as a tropical storm this coming weekend. pic.twitter.com/l9lQqaKm5E

— TropicsWatch (@TropicsWatch) July 28, 2014

My preliminary analysis of #tropical disturbance #Invest93L in the Atlantic posted on FB https://t.co/WgOfELWrnq pic.twitter.com/gj6XBcoEfA — John Morales (@JohnMoralesNBC6) July 28, 2014

Tropical Depression likely to form in the Atlantic by the middle/end of the week. Near Lesser Antilles by SAT. pic.twitter.com/GgGuMHYaC8

— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) July 28, 2014

View the original article here

Large tropical wave forms in the Atlantic

Sandals to give Barbados foreign exchange boost with US$53m hotel purchase

Almond Beach Village, Barbados (File photo)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sunday July 27, 2014, CMC - Jamaican hotelier, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart’s, Sandals Group will within a few days purchase a Barbados flagship tourism property, Almond Beach Village, for US$53 million.

Reporting on the matter, the Sunday Sun newspaper, hailed the pending transaction for providing a boost to Barbados’ highly stressed foreign exchange coffers.

“It will all be in the form of badly needed foreign currency,” the paper stated.

The property is currently owned by state corporation, Barbados Tourism Investment Inc.(BTI), through which government has been borrowing money from another state entity, National Insurance Service, to keep that premier real estate afloat.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

Sandals Chairman, Gordon “Butch” Stewart.

The sale of Almond to Sandals was recently examined by Cabinet and approved by prime minister Freundel Stuart.

The Sunday newspaper quoted from a note sent to Cabinet by BTI when the purchase was being considered, “It is also worthy of note that Barbados would have been able to convert a Barbados dominated loan facility, namely borrowings from [NIS] and Almond Resorts Inc., which was all in Barbados currency, into United States dollars at a rate of $2 to $1?.

The emphasis on the foreign exchange gain from this anticipated purchase comes against the background of an analysis by international rating agency Moody’s on the perilous threat the Barbados dollar faces if its foreign currency reserve suffers further drops.

“Any further erosion in reserves would likely put further pressure on Barbados’ currency, which is pegged to the US dollar,” Moody’s stated in a July 21 report.

Moody’s added, “After recovering slightly during the previous three quarters, foreign exchange reserves have resumed their decline, and as of 30 June remained around 25 per cent below early-2013 levels,” Moody’s noted. “This decline occurred despite a slight recovery in long-term private financial inflows that traditionally help support the central bank’s international reserves”.

Half-year figures from the Barbados Central Bank show the foreign exchange reserve falling from BDS$1,219.9 (One BDS dollar = 50 US cents) at the end of June 2013 to BDS$1,093.3 at June 30 this year.

View the original article here

Sandals to give Barbados foreign exchange boost with US$53m hotel purchase

Rumoured St Vincent plane crash thought to be a metorite

The St Vincent Coast Guard indicated that the flaming object is believed to be a meteorite and that they were investigating.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Friday July 25, 2014, CMC – A meteorite set social media ablaze and turned Deputy Director of Grenadines Affairs Herman Belmar’s phone into a hotline Thursday night, as people expressed fears that an aircraft may have crashed near Bequia, one of the Grenadine islands here.

A meteorite is a solid piece of debris, from such sources as asteroids or comets that originates in outer space and survives its impact with the earth’s surface.

Belmar told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that he had received numerous reports that a flaming object was seen falling towards land at around 10.05 pm (local time).

Some people assumed that it was a small aircraft that had crashed. But Belmar, however, said that checks with police and the Coast Guard showed that there were no reports of a missing aircraft.

He said the Coast Guard informed him that the flaming object is believed to be a meteorite and that they were investigating.

Belmar said he understood the fears that an aircraft might have crashed, in light of recent aviation disasters.

On Wednesday, TransAsia Airways passenger aircraft GE222 crashed on the island of Penghu, Taiwan, killing 48 of the 58 persons on board. Last week, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 fell to the ground in a ball of flames in Eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 persons.

On March 8, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, disappeared from radar screens over Indonesia and has not seen since.

There were 200 people on board.

View the original article here

Rumoured St Vincent plane crash thought to be a metorite

Controversial research claims blacks age faster than whites

Differences in biological age between blacks and whites appear to increase up until ages 60-65 and then decline. (File)

CALIFORNIA, United States, Friday July 25, 2014 – A controversial new study in the United States claims that black people age more quickly than white people.

Published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, the study found that the difference in age can be up to three years and could shed new light on higher mortality rates in blacks.

The study used data on 7,644 black and white participants, aged 30 and over, from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Each participant’s body-mass index, level of education, and whether they were present or former smokers were also noted.

The research team calculated each participant’s “biological age” by looking at 10 biomarkers that have been linked to aging, including C-reactive protein, serum creatinine, glycosylated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

The researchers then compared biological ages of blacks and whites as indicated from the biomarkers.

“Our results showed that, on average, blacks tend to be more than three years older biologically than whites,” Morgan Levine and Eileen Crimmins of the University of Southern California’s Davis School of Gerontology wrote.

“Blacks experience morbidity and mortality earlier in the life course compared to whites,” they continued.

“This is consistent with findings from previous studies reporting that blacks tend to have levels of biological risk factors that are indicative of someone significantly older chronologically.

“Such premature declines in health may be indicative of an acceleration of the aging process,” the gerontologists said.

Differences in biological age between blacks and whites appear to increase up until ages 60-65 and then decline.

The University of Southern California gerontology researchers said the cause for the biological age differences by race could be stress-related.

“Everyday stressors associated with being black may negatively impact physiological functioning and, under chronic exposure, accumulate over the lifespan and contribute to growing disparities in biological risk,” they wrote.

“Furthermore, if such environmental, behavioural, and mental factors contribute to an acceleration of the aging process, we would expect that persons who are aging the fastest should have the highest risk of mortality, and thus lower life expectancy.”

View the original article here

Controversial research claims blacks age faster than whites

Guyanese man jailed for raping eight-year-old

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Monday July 28, 2014, CMC – Talbert McPherson has begun serving the remaining 20 years of a 25-year prison sentence for raping an eight-year-old girl.

The court Friday passed the sentence on the man for the 2009 crime in the village of Hopetown in Berbice.

The incident occurred at the home of the girl’s relatives, where she was sleeping-over and where McPherson, then 37-years-old, was residing.

The girl testified that after going to bed, McPherson, whom she recognised despite dim lighting, entered her room and raped her. The matter was reported to the police the following day.

A medical examination revealed bruises on the vaginal wall and anus of the eight-year-old, and McPherson was arrested. He pleaded his innocence throughout the trial.

Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)

View the original article here

Guyanese man jailed for raping eight-year-old

Court grants injunction in favour of Access Financial Services CEO

The court has granted Marcus James, CEO of Access Financial Services, an injunction barring his chairman Brian Goldson and directors, Chris Berry and Gary Peart from directly or indirectly acquiring any more shares in the company.

The injunction prevents them from usurping Marcus James, who owns 46% of Access Financial, as the majority shareholder, at least until a judgement is made in a dispute between Mr James and members of the board.

The dispute stems from what the board members charge in a lawsuit is an unjust enrichment of Mr. James from renovation works done on the company’s headquarters.

The injunction also prevents the board from taking any action to reduce Mr James’ salary as CEO, or varying his powers in any way.

The injunction was granted Friday. No date has been set for the matter to be heard by the court.

View the original article here

Court grants injunction in favour of Access Financial Services CEO

Patrick Hylton supports measures to broaden tax net

Patrick Hylton, Managing Director of NCB Group, has thrown his support behind the governments’ attempt to broaden the tax net.

The government wanted to grant the tax authority powers to go directly after the assets of tax cheats, but has now said it will amend that provision for a court order to be sought first. Either way, Mr Hylton said on Friday that he had no problem with the measure.  

Mr. Hylton said it was left to be seen  how successful the measure will be in raking in taxes. He added that the asset tax charges to financial institutions could be temporary.

View the original article here

Patrick Hylton supports measures to broaden tax net

World Bank approves US450M "Competitiiveness" loan for Jamaica

The World Bank has approved a loan of US$50 million for Jamaica’s Foundations for Competitiveness and Growth Project.
This will assist existing and new businesses to benefit from streamlined regulations and processes, public-private partnerships, as well as training and access to financing.     
Finance Minister Dr. Peter Phillips says the project complements Jamaica’s fiscal and monetary measures by supporting efforts within the public sector to enhance competitiveness among Jamaican enterprises.

View the original article here

World Bank approves US450M "Competitiiveness" loan for Jamaica

LIME Jamaica sees big jump in subscriber base

Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) has announced that its Jamaican operation continues to record strong growth in its subscriber base. 

CWC said on Friday that its LIME subsidiary recorded a strong 37% increase in its subscriber numbers, in the April-June quarter, which helped its revenues grow by 34%. 

That was the best performance by a CWC subsidiary and helped the company to reverse previous declines in the company.

View the original article here

LIME Jamaica sees big jump in subscriber base

Union wants to discuss merger concerns with Sagicor Life

The union representing workers at Sagicor Life Jamaica is seeking a meeting with the management to discuss the implications of  the merger of  the entity’s banking operations.
Sagicor recently completed the acquisition of RBC Royal Bank, which it merged with Sagicor Bank.
Senator Kavan Gayle, President General of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) told RJR News that employees of Sagicor Life – part of the Sagicor Group – have concerns about the impact of the merger.

“We are going to be requesting to have discussions with the management of Sagicor Life Insurance to discuss any impact on the way going forward,” he said.

View the original article here

Union wants to discuss merger concerns with Sagicor Life

Stock Exchange revenue increase by 15%

An increase in fees and other income helped to boost the financial performance of  the Jamaica Stock Exchange, JSE, during the April to June quarter.The Stock Exchange’s revenue rose by 15 percent or eleven percent to 83 million dollars when compared to the corresponding period in 2013. The improvement in income also helped the JSE lower its losses from 10 million dollars last year to one million dollars during the three months.In the meantime, the JSE is banking on the improved economy to help boost stock trading. The Stock Exchange says while trading has been subdued, improved economic results and outlook will have a positive impact on listed companies and the equities market.The JSE also expects increased marketing and income diversification to pay off  in the medium to long term as it seeks growth through new and existing markets as well as new product development.

View the original article here

Stock Exchange revenue increase by 15%

NCB shareholders to get dividend next month

National Commercial Bank shareholders will receive an interim dividend next month.
At a meeting on Thursday the Board declared a dividend of  35 cents. It will be paid to shareholders on August 25.
Persons holding NCB shares, as at August 12, will benefit.

View the original article here

NCB shareholders to get dividend next month

Razz releases debut rhythm, "Razz Attack"

Razz – Contributed

The Razz Attack rhythm is the debut production from sound system selector and disc jock Sean ‘Razz’ Cousley.

The dancehall rhythm features 10 tracks from up-and-coming acts as well as established names. It is the first release under his Razz Attack Muzik label.

“I have an extensive knowledge of good music, and a keen ear to music that will progress into greatness and ones that will last forever. I love music, and it has helped me immensely and production is an excellent way to recreate and reevaluate what is released on air, and it is my contribution to the business I have grown to understand and love,” Cousley said in a media release.

The beat was built by artiste and producer Craig ‘Serani’ Marsh. Getting artistes involved with the production was an easy task for Cousley.

“It wasn’t difficult to get the artistes who are on it now, but there were other artistes that I tried to have on the project as well. However, they were either too busy or weren’t interested,” he noted.

Featured on the rhythm are This A Di Best by Dexta Daps, Loyal Yute by Demarco, Print Pon Dem Face by Dean Loyal, Nuh Tek Bad Up by I Octane, One Life To Live by Delus and Rikroot, Write The Book by Lady Saw, Grey Sky Blue by Ryme Minista, Get Gal Easy by Kanambo, Who Me by Serani and Razz Attack and Prescription by Ryme Minista.

Since its release, the rhythmm has been receiving significant airplay on most radio stations and is fast becoming a favourite with music industry selectors and the general public.

A mix CD titled Razz Attack Summa (Dancehall Mix CD 2014) was recently release to boost the promotion of the project.

Cousley is a former Kingston College student. He also studied at the University of Technology (Utech). He plans to get more involved in music production.

Fans can follow Razz on Instagram and Twitter @razzattack876 and on Facebook.com/razzattack876.

View the original article here

Razz releases debut rhythm, "Razz Attack"

Gage camp claims...Alkaline is a fraud, copycat

CURTIS CAMPBELL, STAR Writer

Gage, Alkaline – File

The camp of upcoming dancehall artiste Gage has responded to a recent interview done by deejay Alkaline by describing him as a copycat and fraud.

Alkaline in a recent television interview had said that he did not know who Gage was and he (Alkaline) is the only relevant dancehall artiste, except Mavado and I Octane.

However, Gage’s manager, Neil Daley, who spoke on his behalf, had some strong words for Alkaline when contacted by THE WEEKEND STAR recently.

“Time will tell, he will know who Gage is. He stole Gage’s song called Queng Dem and he stole Vybz Kartel’s songs and style. Alkaline is nothing but a copycat, he walks and bite Vybz Kartel, you are the youngest and the foolest,” Daley said.

want a clash

He continued; “Who are you? You not even reach Tommy Lee level yet and yu a try style him in interview. If you want a clash to prove your worth then step up, bring it on.”

The manager in bashing Alkaline’s recent performance at Sumfest, described it as a flop.

“Him nuh get nuh forward at Sumfest. But mi like how him stand up and pretend that he was getting forward. Him contacts nearly drop out of him eyes when him a kill out himself onstage and the people dem nah respond,” Davis said while poking fun at Alkaline’s record Touch You which speaks about anal stimulation in sex.

When THE WEEKEND STAR contacted Alkaline’s publicist, Kymona Bartley, for a comment, she said she was not prepared to speak on the situation and that Alkaline is still googling ‘what is a Gage’.

Alkaline is presently promoting his singles How It Feel, Queng Dem and Never End, while Gage has released new singles Thief Di Queng, Levels To This and Jah Jah.

Curtis.campbell@gleanerjm.com

View the original article here

Gage camp claims...Alkaline is a fraud, copycat

There was no fight - Ishawna admits to only quarrelling with Foota after show

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Ishawna

Amidst allegations that she was in a physical altercation with her ex-fianc? Foota Hype recently, singer Ishawna says they were merely involved in an argument.

It was being rumoured that the singer and her selector ex-fianc? were involved in a fight after her performance at Chug It in Portmore last week.

However, Ishawna has cleared the air, stating that there was no physical fight between them.

“We were not fighting, we had an argument,” she said.

“The whole Downsound was there, it was just a verbal altercation between me and him.”

She, however, did not disclose what the argument was about.

This incident comes just months after she announced that she had parted ways with Foota Hype despite being together for almost a decade and being parents of a son.

“It’s done, I am just doing me. We have to deal with each other regardless ’cause we work together. There is no bad vibe or anything, but because of personal issues, we call it quits. Sometimes, that’s just how it is in life, nobody knows the answer,” she told THE STAR in an interview in March.

But the split came as quite the surprise to many, as there was much fanfare around their engagement in April last year.

She also said she didn’t expect there to be any awkwardness between them as it relates to raising their son. And she did not expect it to affect their working relationship.

“We still have to work together because we are still signed to Downsound Records. No animosity or anything … we had such a public relationship, so we have to let the people know that we are no longer attached in that way. I am not gonna say I hate him ’cause I don’t. It’s not working right now, and I just want to focus on my career,” she said in the March interview.

Meanwhile, Ishawna has been gaining much traction in the entertainment industry since releasing the music video for Need Love.

View the original article here

There was no fight - Ishawna admits to only quarrelling with Foota after show

Riddim guru does it again - Happy Boulevard rhythm a hit

Seanizzle – Contributed

Multitalented producer, Seanizzle, has done it again with his Happy Boulevard rhythm.

The rhythm features artistes such as I’Octane, Kapri, Lukie D, T’nez, Bryka, Mr G, Seanizzle himself with the title single, Happy Boulevard, along with many more artistes.

The rhythm, released less than two months ago, has been getting heavy rotation on local and international airwaves.

Seanizzle has nothing but high hopes for the project. “The feedback as been great; everywhere I’ve been to promote the riddim, everyone instantly places the riddim in their juggling, saying the riddim gave them a happy vibes – just what was intended by Happy Boulevard,” he said.

The first video for the rhythm, Kapri’s Bad by Myself, shot in Pennsylvania, will be released monthend.

Recently a video of Kevin Hart dancing to the Seanizzle-produced Beenie Man song, I’m Ok, on the 2010 One Day rhythm, was posted on social media. The video got more than 25,000 likes on Instagram.

“It’s a great feeling knowing my music is appreciated by people of different cultures not just the reggae/dancehall community,” Seanizzle said of the video.

View the original article here

Riddim guru does it again - Happy Boulevard rhythm a hit

International Dancehall Queen Contest to help boost tourism

Adrian Frater, News Editor

From left, Kingsley Cooper, chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Brian ‘Big Head’ Martin, the promoter of the International Dancehall Queen Contest, and Robert Russell, chairman of Summerfest Productions, the promoters of Reggae Sumfest, in discussion during Tuesday night’s launch of Dancehall Queen 2014. – Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

Kingsley Cooper, chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, says the International Dancehall Queen Contest, staged in Montego Bay annually, is tailor-made for the government’s new Jamrock Summer – 90 Days, 90 Ways initiative, which is designed to boost both tourism and entertainment.

Cooper, the guest speaker at Tuesday night’s launch of the 18th renewal of the Big Head Promotions event, to be held at Pier One on August 2, says grassroots events like ‘Dancehall Queen’ are integral to the preservation of Jamaica’s culture.

“90 days of summer is designed to showcase a range of entertainment activities over the 90 days of summer,” said Cooper. “It has the capacity to boost tourism and other business-related spin-offs associated with entertainment, so ‘Dancehall Queen’ would fit perfectly into the concept.”

Commending the organiser for keeping the contest alive over so many years, Cooper spoke to the global appeal of Jamaica’s music as girls travel from all over the world annually to vie for the title.

Promoter Brian Martin, who started the contest to help expose talented inner-city dancers and has since taken it to over 40 countries, said he is not convinced that dancehall and its various spin-off activities are getting enough respect locally.

This year’s event, which will be streamed all over the world via the Internet, will see the winner walking away with a whopping J$1 million in cash and prizes. The second- and third-place finishers, as well as the winners of sectional awards, will also be handsomely rewarded.

“So far, we have had confirmation from more than 40 countries, to include newcomers Slovakia and South Africa and, as usual, we will be expecting the usual strong representation from Japan, Poland, the United States, and across the Caribbean,” said Martin.

In last year’s contest, Keja ‘Tall Up’ Christie, a student of the G.C Foster School of Physical Education, copped the coveted title. Brandi Watts, of the United States, was second; while Lillian Wamini, of Canada/Uganda, was third.

View the original article here

International Dancehall Queen Contest to help boost tourism

Gage ready for Shades Pon De Beach

Gage – File

Carl Gilchrist, Star Writer

Top acts Gage and Venomous, along with main act Alkaline, are ready for Sunday’s third staging of ‘Shades Pon De Beach’, set for Sugar Pot Beach in Rio Nuevo, St Mary.

“Ochi seh Gage! Mi nuh know who else dem seh, but dem like Gage. Mi just a go deliver to the crowd mek dem know seh Gage can perform,” the Throat DJ told The Star on Monday, fresh from his Sumfest performance a few days prior.

Describing his Sumfest performance as “good”, Gage said, the audience at Shades Pon De Beach could look forward to another good performance.

“Dem can expect songs like Throat, Hey Kitty Part 2 - a whole heap a song,” he added.

Venomous has also expressed confidence in his ability to please the crowd on Sunday.

After a terrific performance at Amnesia nightclub in Ocho Rios in June, Venomous is expecting to give another wonderful performance at Shades Pon De Beach.

“Dem can expect a whole heap a things – lots of energy like mi always a put out,” Venomous stated. “Venomous a come bun a fire pon di beach although water deh deh. They can expect songs like Carnival Time and Pretty Pose. Plus, the One Drop girls will be there with the Shades girls. Patrons can come expecting a good time.”

Alkaline, also fresh from his performance at Sumfest last week, is expected to excite the crowd with his witty and controversial lyrics.

View the original article here

Gage ready for Shades Pon De Beach