Caribbean Report 01-02-1991

Abstract

An American company buys 80% shares of Guyana’s telecommunication system replacing the state owned company. Atlantic Tele Network (ATN) based in the US Virgin Islands has an exclusive license for 20 years and will be aiming to improve the quality of the Guyana’s telecommunication service. Mr. Clement Rohey, the International Secretary of Guyana’s Opposition People’s Progressive Party held talks with officials of the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London. These talks centered on the upcoming general elections in Guyana and the need to have a free and fair election. Mr. Rohey expressed the need for electoral reforms in Guyana and accused the government of dragging its feet with the completion of a new electoral list. The FCO advised that the British government is not able to link future aid to Guyana for the holding of free and fair elections. The election date has not yet been announced. Dr. Timothy Ashby, formerly from the United States Department of Commerce, believes that levels of US aid will continue to fall in the Caribbean. Dr. Ashby who is currently in London addressed a discussion on US aid to the Caribbean and believes that the US no longer sees the Caribbean region as one that commands its interests. He adds that the Caribbean region only has itself to blame for this decision because it is viewed by the US as a group of disparate, argumentative countries. He believes that Caribbean countries should have a collective stance instead of seeking individual aids for their countries from the US. He contends that the US has a stronger interest in Mexico, rather than the Caribbean. Heads of Government of the OECS are meeting for a 2nd time in Castries, St. Lucia. Grenada’s Prime Minister, Mr. Nicholas Braithwaite believes that the emphasis at the meeting should be placed on the Common External Tariff and that the OECS countries should try to increase intra regional trade. He admits that there are problems with foreign exchange in certain countries which make it difficult for some of them to find a market. Representatives from CARICOM and the International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) have signed off on the Caribbean Fisheries Assessment Programme. This is a major project aimed at improving the Caribbean’s fisheries resources and management. The final signature on the agreement worth 20 million dollars took place in the headquarters in Belize.

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Table of Contents

1. Headlines (00:00-00:38)
2. An American company will be embarking on improving the quality of Guyana’s telephone and telegraph service (00:39-02:44)
3. Mr. Clement Rohey, the International Secretary of Guyana’s Opposition People’s Progressive Party holds talks with officials of the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London (02:45 -03:40)
4. Dr. Timothy Ashby, formerly from the United States Department of Commerce believes that levels of US aid will continue to fall in the Caribbean (03:41-08:24)
5. Heads of Government of the OECS are meeting for a 2nd time in Castries , St. Lucia and one of the items high on the agenda is the Common External Tariff. (08:25-10:49)
6. In Belize, representatives from CARICOM and the International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) have signed off on the Caribbean Fisheries Assessment Programme (10:50-14:31)

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