Caribbean Report 31-01-1991

Abstract

CARICOM countries have decided on the respective dates that they would implement the Common External Tariff (CET). However, Barbados expresses frustration but says it is still interested in the CET and is committed to the Caribbean regional integration movement. However certain things have not been achieved by CARICOM governments as they have not yet met their deadlines. The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mr. Erskine Sandiford, believes that people from the Caribbean countries should have been given specific responsibilities to speed up the process. The CET is the main agenda discussed by the OECS in a two day meeting held in St. Lucia. CARICOM leaders attended the meeting and Prime Minister of Grenada, Eugenia Charles indicated that the serious issues that they are facing with finance were addressed. The British government has given Montserrat £12.5 million towards the long term rebuilding programme following the ravages of Hurricane Hugo. Britain’s total commitment to Montserrat amounts to £17.5 million. The Governor of Montserrat, David Taylor speaks to correspondent Leslie Park on how this aid will be spent and the projects earmarked for completion. In Trinidad and Tobago, delegates took part in a Domestic Violence Seminar that was organized by the Rape Crisis Centre, CAFRA and UNECLAC. It was revealed that Domestic Violence is on the upswing in the Caribbean region. However, the delegates are unable to say how big is this problem. Representatives call for legal reform and the tightening of loopholes regarding domestic violence. They argue that the law will not work unless society continues to accept and tolerate violence against women. With the recent appointment of Jean Bertrand Aristide in Haiti, a British based Methodist Minister has been appointed to act as an intermediary between President Aristide and the Roman Catholic church. The rift between President Aristide and the Catholic Church has caused deep divisions between Haiti’s religious communities. The Jamaican government receives confirmation from the IMF as it meets all the targets set by the government last December. As a result, Jamaica is now able to access further funds from the IMF.

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Table of Contents

1. Headlines (00:00-00:35)
2. Barbados expresses frustration but says it is still interested in and committed to the Caribbean regional integration movement. CARICOM countries need to prioritize in order to get their finances together (00:36-03:52)
3. Montserrat receives £12.5 million from the British government towards the long term rebuilding programme following the ravages of Hurricane Hugo (03:53- 06:26)
4. In Trinidad and Tobago, delegates take part in a Domestic Violence Seminar and calls for legal reform and the tightening of loopholes on domestic violence (06:27-08:14)
5. A British based Methodist Minister has been appointed to act as an intermediary between President Aristide and the Roman Catholic church (08:15-11:59)
6. Jamaica is now able to access further funds from the IMF as they have met all their targets of last December (11:60-14:11)

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