CARIBBEAN ROUNDUP
Antigua
Antigua and Barbuda government
has reiterated its position that it is prepared
to acquire the shares of financially
strapped Irish-owned telecommunications
company Digicel if it is unable
to provide a service in the island in the
future.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne noted
that Digicel is in trouble at the moment,
“we will buy it provided we get a good
price and by doing
so, tens of millions of
dollars repatriated to
Ireland on an annual
basis could stay here
creating more opportunities
for the people of Antigua and
Barbuda.”
Recently, Digicel Group One Ltd.
The Bermuda-based holding company,
announced that it had gone into provisional
liquidation there and has also
filed for Chapter 15 recognition at US
bankruptcy court in Manhattan.
But a spokesman for Digicel, which
operates in more than 30 markets in
the Caribbean and South Pacific, said
the moves would not impact regular
operations of the company and were
aimed at strengthening the balance
sheet.
The Chief of Staff in the Office of the
Prime Minister, Lionel Hurst, said he is
confident that the government would
be interested in acquiring the local
shares of Digicel if “at some point” it
indicates it could continue the function
normally in Antigua and Barbuda.
Digicel is going through a major
restructuring of some of the approximately
US$7.4 billion of debt it carries
so that it can continue operating as a
going concern.
Barbados
Former Barbados Central Bank Governor,
Dr. Lisle Worrell has made some
suggestions for the revival of the country’s
travel and tourism industry.
In his June economic
letter recently
released, Worrell
pointed to the need for
collaboration between
Barbados and other
regional governments and hotels, airlines
and other tourism interests and
their representative bodies.
He said the essential element needed
for the revival of travel and tourism is
restoration of confidence of visitors that
their health is well protected, while they
enjoy a pleasurable holiday.
Worrell said tourists must first be
able to travel and socialize safely within
their own countries and they must be
assured that they can travel and socialize
in the Caribbean as safely as they
can be at home.
Worrell, who presided over the Barbados
Caribbean L 6 ife, June 19-25, 2020
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Antigua offers to buy Digicel
Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Alphonso Browne addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly
at the U.N. headquarters Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. Associated Press / Kevin Hagen; File
Central Bank from November
2009 to February 2017, said the order
is a tall one, “but is the challenge for
countries everywhere, not just for tourism
or tourist destinations.”
He added that none of the measures
currently being undertaken for the reopening
involves the collaboration of all
the relevant international players.
Caribbean
The Caribbean Development Bank
(CDB) said many Caribbean countries
will experience a general decline in economic
activity in the coming months in
light of COVID-19’s impact.
In a release, the CDB
said many of these
countries, including
those, which will be
supported with emergency
loans, will fall into recession
this year.
It indicated that Caribbean countries
are especially vulnerable to the global
outbreak due to their heavy dependence
on tourism for income and employment.
The institution has already approved
and is making available US$66.7 million
for seven Caribbean countries to
finance the response to the COVID-19
pandemic.
It also noted that the bank’s board
of directors has approved financing
for Antigua and Barbuda (US$13 million),
Belize (US$15 million), Dominica
(US$2.5 million), Grenada (US$5.9 million),
St. Lucia (US$10.8 million), St.
Vincent and the Grenadines (US$11.3
million) and Suriname (US$8.2 million).
CDB President, Dr. William Warren
Smith said the provision of support
to the seven countries to respond to
COVID-19 and keep critical government
services and operations running
are urgent to halt the economic decline
and minimize social hardship, while
giving focused attention to the most
vulnerable.
Grenada
The Grenada government has
announced the relaxation of the curfew
hours put in place as part of the measures
to stem the spread of the virus.
It said freedom
of movement is now
allowed between 5:00
am and 9:00 pm daily
and beaches will now
be open for 10 hours staring from 5:00
am.T
he Ministry of Health in a statement
said businesses that have already
been authorized to operate may do so
until 7:00 pm daily, adding that new
establishments permitted to operate as
of a week ago include gyms and fitness
centers, operators licensed under the
Gambling Act, as well as food vendors
and restaurants with in-dining services.
The statement added that the new
establishments must adhere to a specific
set of reopening protocols and only
after receiving authorization from the
Ministry of Health.
They must also undergo an inspection
by health officials to obtain their
clearance certificate in order to operate.
Grenada is the latest CARIOM country
engaged in the reopening of their
local economies that had been shut
down in March as a result of the virus.
Grenada has reported 23 cases of the
virus so far.
Jamaica
Jamaica is reporting an 11 percent
reduction in major crimes for the first
five months of this year as compared to
the same period last year. Deputy Commissioner
of Police (DCP) in charge of
Crime, Fitz Bailey said that 2,325 major
crimes were recorded between Jan. 1
and May 31, 2020, as compared to 2,621
last year.
He said this represents
a reduction
of 269 or 11 percent,
of major crimes are
down.
Bailey noted that that gang activity,
as well as domestic-related and interpersonal
violence, played a significant
role in the number of murders committed.
Continued on Page 26
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