Caribbean Times 3rd Issue - Wednesday 22nd February 2017

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4 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g Wednesday 22nd February 2017 CARICOM should not fear Cuba By Everton Barnes The countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) need not fear the improving relations between Cuba and the United States and the anticipated ‘opening up’ of the Spanish-speaking countries to international free trade. The assurances came from the head of the Centre for International Economic Research’s Department of Caribbean Studies at the University of Havana, Professor Marlen Sanchez The New Winthropes Primary School held their 71st Anniversary Thanksgiving Service today at the New Winthropes Seven Day Adventist Church under the theme: Celebrating God's Faithfulness. Gutierrez. The professor, who spoke with Caribbean Times during her stop-over visit to Antigua, said the Cuban government is aware that many Caribbean countries are worried about the process of normalization now underway between Washington and Havana. She noted that there is the belief that Cuba will abandon the Caribbean return to its previous close ties with the U.S should the economic blockade be lifted. However, she said that not the view of the authorities in Havana and that’s why Cuba is undertaking a diversification of its investment portfolio. “There is a concern that Caribbean countries are worried about what is going to happen with the potential deviation of trade and finance should Cuba become another competitor and they don’t have the capacity to compete. I don’t think that is true!” she declared. She acknowledged that there will be some changes if Cuba establishes relations with the U.S, but that in the short term nothing will change dramatically. “In the short term nothing is going to happen! Because Cuba has too many structural problems now and it will not be able to assimilate properly a huge influx of investments,” she revealed. For example, she noted that Cuba cannot now take an influx of tourists by air or by sea as it does not have the infrastructure to accommodate the cruise ships and that its airports are in dire need of upgrading. “We are now trying to have investments in airports to take advantage of the expected influx, but it will take time,” she stated. Additionally, she disclosed the country’s finance system also needs overhauling to make proper provisions for currency exchange. She cautioned that while normalization will bring much benefits, Cuba has a myriad of domestic issues, particularly infrastructure, that need to be readied if the island is to take full advantage of improving relations with the US. “Cuba needs time to organize inside Cuba so the impact is not going to be short-term,” she declared.
Wednesday 22nd February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 5 Minister Benjamin represents Antigua at ILO meeting in Jamaica By Joanna Paris Attorney General and Minister of Labour, the Hon. Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin is in Jamaica, representing Antigua and Barbuda at the 10th International Labour Organization (ILO) Meeting of Caribbean Labour Ministers. The event is taking place under the theme “Realizing Decent Work under the 2030 Agenda”. The 10th ILO Meeting of Caribbean Ministers of Labour has four main objectives. It will review progress being made by the countries and the region since the last Meeting of Caribbean Ministers of Labour in 2015 in promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable development with productive employment and decent work in line with Goal 8 of the SDGs. Participants will also consider the Future of Work Initiative; this is an important part of the ILO’s Centenary Initiative. A discussion of the main challenges and opportunities necessary to advance towards a better future of work in the Caribbean is also high on the agenda. The forum also aims to determine the mix of policies needed to promote growth that is fair, inclusive and sustainable and to explore how the Decent Work Agenda can be effectively integrated in the national articulations of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agendas. The meeting will aim to identify and share good practices that can be replicated in addressing the challenges above, and to assess how the ILO can strengthen its support to member States and the region in developing responses. The high-level meeting will conclude on Friday.
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Caribbean Times 3rd Issue - Wednesday 22nd February 2017

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