CARIBBEAN ROUNDUP
Antigua
The Antigua and Barbuda government
has announced a record $1.7 billion
dollar budget for fiscal year 2020.
Prime Minister, Gaston Browne who
is also finance minister, recently presented
the budget themed “Growth and
development for the benefit for all.”
This year’s budget
is $300 million more
than the one in 2019
and $500 million more
than the 2018 budget
which was estimated at $1.2 billion.
The Ministry of Education, Science
and Technology for the largest chunk of
the pie — the allocation jumped from
$119.4 in 2019 to $151, 6 million.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and
the Environment received $113.6 million,
the second largest allocation.
Prime Minister, Browne said over
$206 million has been set aside for the
capital budget, which will be used to
acquire state assets.
He also outlined plans to transform
Barbuda.
There were no new taxes for this year.
In 2019, the government introduced a
tax on sugar beverages and the University
of the West Indies windfall tax.
Bahamas
The Bahamas recorded more than
seven million visitors last year despite
the setback caused by the passage of
Hurricane Dorian last September when
it swept through the Caribbean island,
killing at least 70 people and causing
damage in excess of US$3.4 billion.
Tourism and Aviation
Minister Dionsio
D’Aguilar said it was
the strongest tourism
numbers in the history
of The Bahamas.
He said: “We are looking forward
to building upon the success of our
marketing efforts and continuing the
momentum in 2020 as we show the
world that The Bahamas continues to
be ‘Open for Business’ and has much
to offer visitors.”
According to the authorities, the
impact of Hurricane Dorian has not
slowed the country’s tourism growth,
noting since 2009, the islands have continuously
seen a steady increase in air
and sea arrivals, with an impressive 52
percent increase in the last decade.
According to the Department of
Immigration, Port Authority and Customs
by the end of 2019, foreign air and
seas arrivals totaled 7.2 million, a nine
percent increase from 2018.
Stopover visitors alone were the highest
in recorded history at 1. 78 million,
with Americans visitors amounting for
1.45 million.
Dominica
Caribbean L 4 ife, February 7-13, 2020
Updated daily at www.caribbeanlifenews.com
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Gov’t of Antigua and Barbuda
Dominica Prime Minister, Roosevelt
Skerrit says it will cost an estimated
EC$2.5 million in legal fees to defend
the 10 election petitions filed by the
main opposition United Workers Party
(UWP) challenging the outcome of the
December general election last year.
Speaking on the
state-owned DBS radio,
Skerrit said that while
it is the democratic
right of the failed candidates
to bring court action, the funds
would have been better utilized in the
“dynamic” development of the island,
given that regional and international
observers that monitored the poll had
declare it free and fair and representative
of the will of the population.
Skerritt led his ruling Dominica
Labor Party (DLP) to a fifth consecutive
victory at the polls, winning 18 of
the 21 seats in Parliament.
He also became the first prime minister
in Dominica to win four consecutive
general elections.
But the UWP has filed petitions contesting
the results in a number if constituencies.
No date has been set for the
start of hearing of the petitions.
Guyana
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority
(GCAA) is taking steps to apply to the
United States-based Federal Aviation
Administration for category one status.
This was revealed
by Minister within
the Ministry of Public
Infrastructure, Naipaul
Sharma, who said
the assessment is to be conducted this
month.
According to the minister, 12 aviation
regulations were completed and
submitted in reference to the Civil Aviation
Act 2020.
These regulations will fall under
certification of operators, licensing of
pilots and engineers.
Senegal, Seychelles, The Bahamas,
Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Germany,
Greece and Spain can now send carriers
to Guyana.
He also said two navigation inspectors
and two operating inspectors were
added to enhance the GCAA’s ability
and in addition, 152 pilots and engineering
licenses were also issued.
Jamaica
A section of the Corporate Area has
been placed under a State of Emergency
(SOE).
Prime Minister, Andrew Holness
announced that the SOE has been
imposed in East Kingston.
Speaking during
a press conference
recently, Holness
said he petitioned the
Governor-General, Sir
Patrick Allen to make the declaration.
Also speaking at Jamaica House was
Police Commissioner, Anthony Anderson
who said there were 33 wanted
persons.
Since the start of 2020, East Kingston
has recorded 11 murders — in
2019 during the same period, three
murders were recorded.
According to police statistics last
year, East Kingston saw a 16 percent
increase in murders and a 49 percent
increase in shooting incidents.
It was also revealed that 67 percent
of the shootings are related to gang
activity.
St. Lucia
Invest St. Lucia
(ISL) said 2019 turned
out to be a good year
for the tiny Caribbean
island with regards to
economic development.
In a press release ICL CEO, Roderick
Cherry said effective negotiations with
Continued on Page 18
THE NEWS FROM BACK HOME
Record Antiguan budget
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