CARIBBEAN ROUNDUP
ANTIGUA
People who protested in a recent
march against the Antiguan government’s
plan to have frontline workers
vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus
are being urged to get themselves tested
after several police officers who were
present at the event have tested positive
for the virus.
The Ministry of Health is calling on
people who were in attendance at that
event that they should
seek testing as early as
possible to verify their
status because the
indications are that
there might have been
a spread at that event.
A statement issued following the
weekly Cabinet meeting noted that the
government had been informed that
“several police officers who were present
at Market Square that Sunday afternoon
on Aug. 8, controlling an unlawful
gathering of marchers, have tested positive
for COVID-19.”
It also said that those who took part
in the gathering even as spectators are
encouraged to have themselves tested
for the virus.
Media reports have said that as many
as 16 law enforcement officers have
tested positive for COVID-19.
BARBADOS
The International Monetary Fund
(IMF) says the Barbados economy
“remains severely depressed” as a result
of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.
This was revealed after a delegation
from the IMF ended a virtual visit to the
island recently.
The delegation, headed by IMF Economist,
Bert van Selm
had conducted a staff
visit by videoconferencing
between Aug.
27 at the invitation
of Barbados government led by Prime
Minister Mia Mottley.
According to a statement issued, the
IMF said while tourism was expected to
recover gradually in the second half of
2021 and the first half of 2022, risk to
the outlook remain.
But the IMF official said that despite
this very challenging environment,
Barbados continues to make good
progress in implementing its ambitious
and comprehensive economic
reform program, while expanding critical
investments in social protection.
The head of the IMF delegation said
that the tourism activity has picked up
in recent months but remains at a fraction
of normal level. He said economic
growth for the second half of 2021 and
the first half of 2022 is premised on a
gradual recovery of tourism.
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne attends a signing ceremony with his China’s Premier Li Keqiang (not pictured)
at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing August 26, 2014. REUTERS / Diego Azubel / Pool, File
CARIBBEAN
Members of the Caribbean community
Caribbean Life, S 4 EPTEMBER 17-23, 2021
have pledged financial donations to
help Haiti in the aftermath of a powerful
earthquake last month.
During a special session of the
Bureau of the Heads of CARICOM, the
member states said
the funds will help to
address the immediate
needs of the country.
An agreement was
also reached on the
need for a sustained development effort
over the long term to give Haiti a fresh
start.
The meeting was called to discuss
the political and humanitarian needs of
the country.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister,
Gaston Browne chaired the meeting
that included Belize Prime Minister,
John Briceno, Trinidad and Tobago Foreign
Affairs Minister, Dr. Amery Browne,
Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley,
Jamaica Prime Minister, Andrew Holness,
as well as the foreign ministers of
Guyana and Suriname.
The Bureau noted that the crisis
presented a good opportunity to rebuild
Haiti and offered the assistance of the
community in those areas in which
member states had expertise such as
the election process, judicial and investigate
support for the inquiry into the
assassination of President Moise and
restoration of the democratic institutions.
Support was also offered with respect
to curbing crime and violence in Haiti.
GRENADA
Grenada’s Deputy Commissioner of
Police, Michael Francois has called out
officers of the Royal Grenada Police
Force (RGPF) who are currently on
leave to report for duty at their respective
stations.
The call was made following an
increase in infections of the COVID-19
among officers.
He said there were
82 officers who tested
positive for the virus
and over the past week
the numbers were rising.
The Grenada government last week
declared no movement days as well as a
daily curfew for the next 14 days as the
country seeks to deal with an upsurge
in cases of COVID-19 that has killed
seven people in as many days.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell
said the curfew will be in force from 7
pm to 5 am and that from Sept. 10 to 13
, as well as Sept. 17 to 20, there will be
no movement of people.
He said no movement will be permitted
except for the purposes of testing
and vaccination.
The prime minister said that the
Maurice Bishop International Airport
and the commercial ports of entry will
remain open.
GUYANA
The Guyana government has issued
amendments to Section 7 of COVID-19
guidelines which dealt with vaccination
requirements for government buildings
to now include all public buildings
including privately owned ones and
institutions of learning.
According to the
amendment, any person
who wishes to
enter a public building
shall be vaccinated.
It further explained that in the
absence of being vaccinated against the
Continued on Page 22
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