Barbados
Prime Minister Mia Mottley has dedicated funds to support young people in Barbados in developing environmentally sustainable business ideas.
She allocated BDS$1 million from the Zayed Foundation for Humanity Award and an additional BDS$2 million from Generation Unlimited through UNICEF for the project.
An advisory board of experts in the blue and green economy will oversee the selection of projects eligible for financial assistance. The selection process will be impartial, focusing solely on the merit of the projects and businesses without any political, gender, or age biases.
She urged the young people to rise to the challenge of leading the behavioural change.
“If we can win the battle with changing the behaviour of our young people, then we can win the battle of shaping the future that we want to live in. And it is for this reason that I did not hesitate in accepting the responsibility to be the global chair of Green Rising because more than anything else, I want to see the young people of this planet, of this country, of this region, rise to claim that which is theirs,” Mottley said.
Mottley expressed pride in supporting a program targeting 12,000 young individuals and expressed optimism that the funding would provide opportunities for the youth to kickstart their ventures.
The announcement was made during the launch of the Green Rising program, accompanied by the symbolic planting of a mahogany tree at the National Botanical Gardens.
Dominica
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit recently said that the regional integration movement (Caricom) needs to have a “sincere conversation” about the present and future state of the grouping, but insisted that Dominica would not support calls for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to leave the movement that was established in 1973.
“Certainly Dominica does not support the exit from the CSME (Caricom Single Market and Economy), neither do we support the suggestion of exiting from Caricom,” Skerrit told a news conference, adding that he hopes the upcoming Caricom summit in Jamaica from July 6-8 will address these issues.
“In a family, you will have disagreements, but you have to look at it… and I think Caricom has to have a very sincere conversation about the present state of Caricom and the future of Caricom where all members are concerned.”
Prime Minister Skerrit emphasizes the importance of discussing matters at the upcoming CARICOM meeting in Jamaica. Skerrit advocates for unity and cooperation within the group and expresses opposition to the idea of individual countries leaving Caricom for bilateral engagements, highlighting the strength that unity brings in the face of global challenges.
He also emphasized the need for mutual support for the benefit of all citizens.
Grenada
Minister of Finance, Dennis Cornwall, announced an investigation by the Audit Department into contractors who were awarded contracts under the Hurricane Beryl Response Initiative but failed to complete the construction of houses.
“I want to put out a warning to persons who have collected government moneys and did not do what they should do with it, or you used it for other purposes and so on, we will have the Audit Department audit those things, we will have the necessary steps taken to make sure you can account or account for the moneys you were given,” he said.
As per the 2007 Audit Act, the Director of Audit is responsible for auditing all government accounts and conducting necessary examinations to ensure compliance with the Constitution and legislation.
The northern part of Grenada, specifically St. Mark, St. Patrick, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, was severely affected by a category four hurricane on July 1 last year. In response, the government allocated funds for home reconstruction.
The Ministry of Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation (MIT) received EC$15 million from the 2024 supplementary budget to aid in house rebuilding efforts.
The Ministry of Finance justified the allocation to the MIT ministry. It said it will be used for “the Reconstruction of approximately two hundred (200) homes on mainland Grenada in the parishes of St. Mark & St. Patrick. EC$50,000 per home, this includes labour, material, and equipment cost if deemed necessary.”
Speaking about alleged financial misconduct, malfeasance, and irregularities in public funds through MIT contracts, Cornwall mentioned there were a few cases where contractors vanished after beginning house construction.
When asked why this was happening, he replied, “I don’t really know, but I believe that the persons issuing the contracts to those contractors need to make sure that they vet these people properly.”
Haiti
The head of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, Godfrey Otunge, has called on countries to support the initiative.
“As a new model, funded by voluntary partners, the mission faces challenges, including funding, personnel, and logistics, that are being addressed to enable the mission to achieve its objectives on schedule,” Otunge said of the United Nations Security Council-backed mission.
Gang violence has led to the displacement of 1.3 million people, causing hunger and insecurity. The economy, hospitals, judicial system, and government are severely affected, with hospitals closing doors and services being paralyzed.
Despite limited resources, the mission has established strategic bases in the Artibonite department, an area heavily impacted by violence.
The Special UN Representative, Maria Salvador, emphasized the importance of recognizing the mission’s accomplishments over the past year despite its under-resourcing. The UN Secretary-General proposed measures to strengthen the mission, highlighting the significance of its mandate.
The MSS spokesperson highlighted the deficiency in human and material resources, indicating that the mission’s completion would have been expedited with adequate resources. The strategic dissemination of information regarding MSS operations aims to safeguard sensitive information.
The deployment of 400 Kenyan police officers marked the first anniversary on June 25. While countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, and the Bahamas have contributed troops, others are yet to fulfill their commitments.
Jamaica
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government intends to establish Jamaica as a leader in logistics and manufacturing and an investment destination.
“Nearly five decades ago, the Garmex Free Zone was established… and since then, it has been the cornerstone of industrial development in Jamaica. It has become a catalyst for job creation, particularly in the 1980s and early 90s, employing at its peak, over 12,000 Jamaicans,” Holness said at the official opening of the first phase of the Garmex Free Zone Redevelopment and Expansion project.
The project, funded by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica Limited (FCJ), aims to provide additional space for manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing, among other activities.
Phase one includes 31 units occupying approximately 126,000 square feet of space, including 22 mini-warehouses for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, six mixed-use spaces, and three warehouses.
Holness said the expansion project is a clear indicator of the government’s intent to establish Jamaica as a leader in logistics and manufacturing and an investment destination.
He commended FCJ for successfully executing phase one of the project that began in May 2020.
“Over the years, this complex has evolved to serve as a hub for manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, education, and healthcare. Today, it is the most diverse free zone in Jamaica and the largest commercial industrial complex on the island,” he said.
The new facilities at Garmex Free Zone have garnered almost J$200 million annually in revenue during their two years of operation. FCJ chairman Lyttleton Shirley said that infrastructure work has commenced for phase two, which involves the development of 5.7 acres of greenfield land on the west side of the campus to expand the complex to meet the constant demand for commercial space.
St. Lucia
The St. Lucia government has extended the tax amnesty programme until May 1 next year. This allows taxpayers to settle outstanding taxes by paying only the principal amount owed, while penalties and interests are completely waived for tax periods until Dec. 31, 2023.
“In the initial phase of the amnesty, the waiver was applied up to the 2021 income year. But with this extension, it now covers up to Dec. 31, 2023,” said the Acting Comptroller at the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), Felicia Ellie, adding that the amnesty does not exempt taxpayers from paying the taxes they owe. The relief applies only to penalties and interest.
“That’s something we need to make clear. The tax amount must still be paid. For periods up to 2023, there’s a 100 % waiver on penalties and interest, but the raw tax must be settled.”
The tax amnesty encompasses all types of taxes, such as income tax, Value-Added Tax (VAT), and other relevant taxes. Failure to utilize the amnesty may result in stringent enforcement measures like garnishments, deductions, and account seizures.
“At the end of the amnesty period, if taxes remain unpaid, the full amount, including penalties and interest, will remain on the taxpayer’s account. The opportunity for relief will no longer exist. We urge taxpayers to act now and not wait until the deadline approaches,” Ellie said.
Taxpayers are urged to address outstanding tax balances for the year 2024 promptly to facilitate transactions with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).
“While the amnesty covers periods up to 2023, I also encourage taxpayers to use this opportunity to address their 2024 balances so they can be fully cleared and up to date.”
Taxpayers are encouraged to take advantage of the tax amnesty by settling their obligations early and contacting the IRD to request information or arrange payment plans to benefit from the programme effectively.
Compiled by Devika Ragoonanan
