Barbados welcomes condominium projectBRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):
A multimillion-dollar condominium project has been launched in Barbados with Tourism and International Transport Minister, Noel Lynch describing it as epitomising all that is right about the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy (CME).
The CSME allows for the free movement of skills, goods, services and labour across the region.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the six-storey, beachfront Sapphire Beach development on Thursday, Lynch said the BDS$50 million (US$25 million) project on the south coast of the island, would boost Barbados' tourism industry.
"For one thing, this is a beachfront development which is being sold as individual units on the open global market.
Calypsonians urged to educate about HIV/AIDS
ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):
As the island prepares for the annual carnival celebrations, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell is urging calypsonians to educate citizens about the deadly HIV/AIDS virus.
"Calypsonians must see themselves championing the cause of a moral society and be involved in real meaningful activities, particularly in a case where HIV/AIDS threatens the very economic existence of society of small states," Mitchell said, following talks with officials of the National AIDS Directorate (NAD).
He said with calypsonians able to captivate large audiences they could be used to educate the population on the disease as well as preventative measures.
India lobbying for Commonwealth top postGEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):
India is courting Guyana in its bid to win the Secretary-General post of the 53-nation Commonwealth grouping.
India's nominee, Kamalesh Sharma who is currently the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is in a three-way race with Maltese Foreign Minister, Michael Frendo and Malaysia's veteran cabinet minister, Dr Rais Yatim vying to replace outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General, Donald McKinnon of New Zealand.
On Thursday, Sharma accompanied by India's High Commissioner to Guyana, Avinash Gupta paid a courtesy call on President Bharrat Jagdeo to lobby the country's support for the Commonwealth post.
Government minister critical of UWI lecturers
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):
Science Technology and Tertiary Education Minister, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has described as "malicious" the decision by lecturers of the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) to withhold examination results in protest over new salaries.
Saying the protest action was "unfortunate", the minister said students who had already written their exams "ought not to be severely inconvenienced".
"I would go a bit further and say it seems to be a bit malicious, there is no need for it," Abdul-Hamid said.
Cuba invited to help develop farms in T&T
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):
Cuba is sending a technical team to Trinidad next week as the Patrick Manning-government initiate plans to develop agricultural farms across the country.
Agriculture Minister, Jarette Narine speaking at the end of the weekly Cabinet meeting on Thursday, said invitations for thedevelopment of these farms would soon be placed in the local, regional and international media.
He said Cabinet had given approval for the establishment of 15 large farms in the country as well as the intervention of the Cubans in the project.
According to Narine, the farms were "expected to be commercial private sector entities which would contribute to future agricultural development by producing new, high value crops, as well as producing commodities for export."
