Caribbean Report 19-02-2003 - Niles, Bertram (anchor); Charles, Paul (correspondent); Weir, Karen (correspondent); Condor, Sam (interviewee); Savarin, Charles (interviewee); Spencer-Jarrett, Judith (interviewee); Letang, Thomas (interviewee); Ninvalle, Pete (correspondent); Seaga, Edward (interviewee); Rothschild, François (interviewee); Pierre, Philip J. (interviewee) (The British Broadcasting Corporation, 2003)
1. Headlines with anchor Bertram Niles (00:00-00:25)
2. Political leaders in Saint Kitts and Nevis work towards full autonomy for Nevis and pledge to negotiate a new constitution to govern two islands only two miles apart. Sam Condor, Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Deputy Prime Minister and also Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform, explains what the aim is politically. BBC’s Bertram Niles reports (00:27-03:27)
3. Dominica’s air and seaports are seriously affected as a thousand public servants go on strike to persuade government to abandon its new austerity measures. Government’s proposal includes a six and a half percent wage cut and layoffs. Thomas Letang, General Secretary of the DPSU says his organization is willing to find a solution and Charles Savarin, acting PM says the government is not withdrawing its proposal. BBC’s Paul Charles reports (03:28-05:07)
4. Trade unions in St. Lucia warn of escalating worker agitation in the Caribbean if governments fail to consult more with them and also fail to move apace with the changing global environment. In Jamaica, teachers are asking for a thirty percent increase but the government is offering just three percent while awarding itself a one hundred and three percent pay hike. Judith Spencer-Jarrett, Past President of the Jamaica Teacher’s Association sees this as a negative forecast for the future of industrial relations. BBC’s correspondent Pete Ninvalle reports (05:08-06:54)
Keywords: Politics and government -- Saint Kitts and Nevis; Constitutional amendments -- Saint Kitts and Nevis; Labor unions -- Dominica; Prime ministers -- Dominica; Strikes and lockouts -- Dominica; Labor unions -- Jamaica; Labor unions -- Saint Lucia; Seaga, Edward P. G.; Politics and government -- Jamaica; Journalists -- Haiti; Mass media -- Political aspects; Tourism -- Marketing; Tourism -- Caribbean Area; Protest movements -- Cuba; Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU); Savarin, Charles Angelo, 1943-; Spencer-Jarrett, Lorraine Judith; Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA); CARICOM -- Great Britain; Dissidents -- Cuba