Jamaica losses of one of its musical icons Byron Lee, who founded the famed band ‘Byron Lee and the Dragonaires’, died yesterday from cancer at the age of 73.

Mr. Lee dedicated 50-years of his life, and was known to be one of the best promoters of Jamaica’s music as far back as the 1960s. The recipient of the Order of Distinction was conferred with the Order of Jamaica, the fourth highest National Honour.

Humble and talented, Byron Lee used his music to unite persons of all ages, races and people from all walks of life.

Source:360Caribbean.com

Photo of Edwin Carrington, Caricom Secretary General
Source:Caribbeannetnews.com

Officials of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) feel cultural industries can play a crucial role in the development of Caribbean economies if properly pursued.

This was the line, along which the regional task force on cultural industries at the CARICOM secretariat was launched on Thursday at the CARICOM’s secretariat in Guyana.

But although artists have been making repeated calls for a proper framework to guide this industry, it is only in recent times that this has been acknowledged.

Co-chairman of the regional task force, Adrian Auger is hopeful that artists will finally reap the rich dividends and gain recognition for the valuable contributions they make to the sector, adding that, artists often wish to have a decent, viable and respectable existence.

However he says they are usually discouraged by the lack of institutional understanding, support and finances and is hopeful that the task force will begin a process of change which is both persistent and persuasive.

In his address to the gathering CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Edwin Carrington believes that this multi-sectoral approach is necessary for moving the region’s cultural industries forward, noting that it has always been an integral part of life in the Caribbean.

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OECS Trade Ministers want to see the areas of Services, Development and Special and Differential Treatment for their small island states, become integral in the OECS Strategy and Approach to negotiating Bilateral Trade Agreements, including the upcoming CARICOM-Canada negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.

The Ministers made the recommendation at a meeting on September 24th in St. Lucia at which the launch of the CARICOM-Canada negotiations was a major talking point. The Ministers’ meeting was preceded by a meeting of Senior Trade Experts and Private Sector Representatives which reviewed and provided recommendations on a Draft Strategy and Approach prepared specifically for the OECS region, to guide its participation in bilateral trade negotiations, with particular emphasis on the CARICOM-Canada talks.

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Antiguan tourism consultant and now the general manager of the Rosalie Bay resort in Dominica, Celia Roberts, addressed the recent Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Small Hotels retreat in St. Kitts.

She used the opportunity to express the view that the tourism sector is no longer confined to the interests of the immediate stakeholders.

“The point that I want to bring out is that we have reached a point where we need to understand and disabuse ourselves of the idea that the tourism industry is simply about our resorts and our hotels. It is in fact the entire island and all of its institutions that comprise the tourism sector,” Roberts declared.

The Antiguan-born general manager noted that there are numerous tourism related activities for service providers thus ensuring that their product is unique and one that has significant opportunities. She also issued a passionate call for more hoteliers and service providers within the service industry to attend more fairs and regional gatherings of people in the same field as a means of broadening their scope and networking ability.

She noted that she is very concerned about Dominica’s tourism future as the key players in the industry do not seem to have a clear understanding of their roles and the possible opportunities they can and will derive from participating in regional and international fora.

She also pointed out that attending such events will assist significantly in creating opportunities that will result in a capacity of accommodating visitors to the island.

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Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is sympathising with the position taken by Guyana on the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). However Mr Skerrit says despite sharing some of the concerns expressed by Guyana’s President Bharat Jagdeo, Dominica will not delay sealing the trade deal with Europe.

Guyana is the only CARICOM member state currently holding out on the agreement, with President Bharrat Jagdeo arguing for the inclusion of two special clauses. The first clause aims to safeguard the regional integration process, should any conflicts arise between the EPA and the CARICOM Treaty, and the second mandates a review of the new accord every five years.

But Mr. Skerrit, who is also his country’s foreign affairs minister, is not optimistic that Europe would be willing to enter into fresh EPA negotiations at this stage.

The EPA is due to be officially signed on October 15 in Barbados.

The agreement, which broadly covers trade in goods and services, will be phased in over a number of years, up to 25 years in some instances.

Whether the Caribbean will complete the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union now seems apparently up for debate again. Coming out the last week’s summit of African, Caribbean and Pacific capital in the Ghanaian Capital Accra, last week, was a declaration demanding a review of the free trade deal with Europe.

CARICOM and Dominican Republic are due to meet mid-October to complete signing process on the trade deal. But there are already calls for the region to delay finalizing its signing of the agreement pending the outcome of a meeting between ad delegation from the ACP and European Union.

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News Source:caribbean360.com.

After emerging victorious in a leadership battle that divided Jamaica’s opposition People’s National Party (PNP), Portia Simpson Miller has called on all the party’s troops to unite.

Mrs Simpson Miller was able to secure 373 more votes than her challenger - PNP vice president Dr Peter Phillips - to win the presidency of the party. It was the second time she beat Dr Phillips in a battle for the party’s leadership, the first occasion being in February 2006 after former prime minister P.J Patterson retired from active politics and she won the election held to choose his replacement. The election held over the weekend, in which for the first time a sitting PNP president was challenged, Mrs Simpson Miller secured 2,332 votes to Dr Phillips’ 1,959.

After her victory, the PNP president declared that it was time to unite the party which had suffered from a bitter campaign in which both sides levelled numerous accusations at each other.

Carib Aviation, the Antigua based carrier, today announced the suspension of flight operations on the 30th September 2008.

In announcing the suspension, the company’s chairman Mr. Bruce Kaufman said that Carib had received a total of seven resignations from pilots within the last few days. This group comprises four Twin Otter captains and three first officers. Six of the seven have been actively recruited by LIAT. An understanding, reached on the 13th February 2008 following another un-announced mass recruitment of Carib crew by LIAT was not respected. That understanding called for prior notification of Carib by LIAT if the latter was targeting Carib’s pilots for recruitment and the giving of at least the statutory thirty days notice of resignation. Neither of these requirements was observed on this occasion. In fact, the starting date required by LIAT did not allow for the giving of proper notice.

As a direct result of the sudden loss of the great majority of its Twin Otter certified crew; and the unavailability of replacements, Carib will be forced to reduce its Twin Otter schedule with effect from Friday 12th September 2008 and only operate three Antigua / Montserrat and two Antigua / Barbuda rotations daily. On 12th September, Carib will suspend its Antigua, Dominica Canefield, Nevis, St Kitts and Anguilla scheduled operations. Because Carib will not be able to generate enough revenue on this scaled down schedule, it will incur crippling and unsustainable financial losses as the available revenue will not be able to cover overheads and or operating costs. Mr. Kaufman said that Carib is prepared to incur those heavy losses for a temporary period until 30th September 2008 to give the governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Montserrat an opportunity to secure replacement service. He said that Carib regretted this turn of events, but in the circumstances scheduled and charter services cannot be sustained past the 30th September.

Passengers who have purchased travel on Carib operated flights after the suspension of service will be fully refunded for the unused portion of their tickets. Those who have purchased tickets direct from Carib Aviation or through the Carib Aviation web site should contact Carib Aviation for their refunds. Any tickets purchased via the LIAT web-site or ticket office will be refunded by LIAT. Passengers who have purchased tickets on Carib from travel agents, should contact the agent from whom they purchased the tickets.

Cable & Wireless Caribbean announced Tuesday that it would be supporting the region to the tune of more than US$500,000 in cash and services to assist victims of the recent hurricanes and tropical storms that affected the region.

The company is immediately establishing a relief fund of US$250,000 to assist with aspects of restoration in the Caribbean territories that have been affected by Tropical Storm Gustav and Hurricanes Ike and Hanna.

In addition, the company is providing free calling minutes and other assistance to many of its customers.

In Jamaica, before, during and immediately after the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav, mobile customers were given between 25 to 50 percent additional calling time, each time they topped up.
In Turks and Caicos the cost of all mobile calls are significantly reduced until 12am September 14 and the company is providing special outlets for customers to re-charge and top up their phones.

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica says it will sign a trade agreement with the European Union despite opposition from other Caribbean leaders.

Trade Minister Colin McIntyre says the tiny Caribbean island cannot afford to reject the agreement because that might mean higher tariffs on its exports. Countries including Guyana and St. Lucia are opposed to the Economic Partnership Agreement that would eliminate import duties and quotas. They say smaller islands would be inundated with cheap products from Europe. Leaders plan to meet Wednesday to talk about the pact.

The EU says the pact would help increase food production by boosting agricultural trade.