Caribbean Report 25-01-1991

Abstract

This program presents reports on the impact of the war in the Gulf on Suriname, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago. The Muslim Association of Suriname intends to lead a protest demonstration in Paramaribo against the bombing of Iraq and it is urging the government to speak out against the killings in the Gulf. It believes that these differences can be solved through consultation instead of destroying lives. In the Dominican Republic (DR), there is a delay in the signing of an agreement between the Dominican Republic and the IMF. The DR is hoping that the signed agreement will reopen the doors of international credit for the country because it has accumulated over 4 billion dollars in foreign debts. In Haiti, radio call-in programmes are receiving more attention about the war in the Gulf as the interest in the recently coupé d'état in the country has decreased. The citizens are interested in getting more details of the military affair and the impact of the war on their lives. Although CARICOM countries and its leaders are receiving criticisms for their stance in supporting the war in the Gulf, the Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Sahadeo Basdeo, explains that CARICOM’s decision was a principled one. He adds that they have taken a position at the United Nations level and not at a United States level. Also in Trinidad and Tobago, the worry is not about the war in the Gulf but on whether Carnival will take place in the country because of the war. An Trinidad and Tobago economist states that the country should not only depend on the revenues from oil but the economy needs to diversity and grow differently by increasing its foreign direct investment.

Description

Table of Contents

1. Headlines (00:00- 00:42)
2. The Muslim Association of Suriname will lead a protest demonstration in Paramaribo against the bombing of Iraq. It is urging the government to speak out on the killings and encourage the US to sort its differences through consultation instead of destroying lives. (00:43-02:44)
3. The signing of an agreement between the Dominican Republic and the IMF could be delayed because of the war in the gulf (02:45-04:07)
4. Radio call-in programmes in Haiti are receiving more interest in the war and there is little interest on the recent coupé d'état that had taken place (04:08-5:46)
5. Although CARICOM countries are receiving criticisms for their stance in supporting the war in the Gulf, The Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Sahadeo Basdeo believes that CARICOM’s decision was a principled one (05:47-11:34)
6. In Trinidad and Tobago, the worry is not about the war in the Gulf, but more on whether the war will hamper the Carnival. On the impact of the war on the country’s economy, Economist, Neil Rolingson, thinks that the country needs to grown its economy differently by increasing its foreign direct investment (11:35-14:09)
7. Hugh Croskill’s summary report (14:10-15:00)

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