Guyana on list of 'next decade' oil and gas producers

The United States is in the process of working on a proposed Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI) for countries on the verge of becoming oil and gas producers for the next decade.
Guyana is on the list of such countries and on Thursday Coordinator for International Energy Affairs of the US Department of State David Goldwyn met President Bharrat Jagdeo at State House to discuss the proposal which will include the provision of technical assistance to empower countries to wisely manage resources and revenue generated from oil and gas.

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Clinton urges Latin America to cut tariffs, invest in Haiti

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Latin American nations to follow the US and Canada by investing in Haiti and offering the country preferential trade terms to speed its recovery from the January 12 earthquake.
“Together we can encourage investment and increase demand for Haitian products -- a critical piece of Haiti’s long-term recovery,” Clinton told trade, economy and foreign ministers from across Latin America. They were gathered in San Jose, Costa Rica, to discuss expanding market access for populations that haven’t benefitted from globalized trade.

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Air Jamaica on course for possible April takeover

April 12th is the date the Jamaica government is hoping to hand over the country’s national carrier to Caribbean Airlines, according to a memo circulated to staff yesterday. It is the clearest indication yet that the sale of cash-strapped Air Jamaica to the Trinidad and Tobago airline is a done deal.

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Concerns about behaviour of students in Barbados

There is concern about an apparent increase in deviant behaviour among some school children in Barbados, especially at Inter-school sports.
It was expressed on Wednesday by Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, Ronald Jones, at a closed-door emergency meeting with principals of public secondary schools, at the Ministry of Education.
The meeting was held to gather the opinion of the principals and to chart the way forward.

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Regional Briefs

Tax systems hampering investment The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says complex tax systems and widespread evasion are hampering investment decisions by companies in the Caribbean and ... Full story

Migration is taking a toll on nursing care in the Caribbean's countries.

According to a new World Bank report, nursing shortages across the region are limiting access and quality of health services and affecting the Caribbean's competitiveness. And the Washington-based institution has advised countries to work harder at training and retaining these health care professionals.

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Gangs operating franchises in Jamaica

Jamaica’s Minister of National Security, Senator Dwight Nelson, has revealed that some gangs in the country have become so powerful they’re now operating franchises.

And he said while the impending anti-gang legislation, scheduled to go before Parliament by March, could be perceived as draconian it is necessary to cut down the growth of these illegal groups.

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Guyana ready to accept Haitian children

The government of Guyana has decided to make its hospitals and orphanages available to take Haitian children who are left without a family and injured from the January 12 earthquake, which devastated the impoverished Caribbean island’s capital Port-au-Prince and neighbouring towns.
President Bharrat Jagdeo told a media conference last week that he will be supportive of any move to get children injured and homeless out of the country into a safer place in the short term.
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Government supporters, opposition demonstrate in St Vincent

Supporters of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government, along with those from the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), gathered outside parliament in St Vincent last week to lend support to the government and to stage a protest.
The police were on hand to prevent any clashes and both sides stayed their ground.
The ULP supporters were called out to show solidarity with the government and its programme and used at least one poster to display their satisfaction with the Government.
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Guyana ready to accept Haitian children

The government of Guyana has decided to make its hospitals and orphanages available to take Haitian children who are left without a family and injured from the January 12 earthquake, which devastated the impoverished Caribbean island’s capital Port-au-Prince and neighbouring towns. 
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