LIONZMAN.

ST PETERS--The Independence for St. Martin Foundation headed by Jose Lake JR,   said they welcomed the statement from members of the Dutch Second Chamber Andre Bosman (VVD) and Ronald van Raak (SP) about the Foundation’s intention to approach the United Nations (UN) to facilitate the exit of Curaçao, Aruba, and St. Maarten from the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Foundation sees this as a welcome development and agrees with the position of both Dutch legislators that the current constitutional arrangement within the Kingdom is not final. The Foundation referred to a report in De Antilliaans Dagblad newspaper of July 12, 2017, in which Bosman was quoted as saying: “The Kingdom Charter is not final but an intermediate solution to be seen as a transfer phase. The Netherlands is obligated by the UN charter to develop a system of self-government which would lead the countries into full independence.” “This has been our position since we were established in...

The world is likely to face a food crisis by 2050 unless agricultural production increases. The Food and Agricultural Organization estimates that there will be an additional two billion mouths to feed in the world within the next thirty-five years. The growth of the world’s population along with increased urbanization is expected to increase the demand for agricultural produce by some 70 per cent by 2050. The ability of many countries to meet this demand will be affected by climate change. The global phenomenon of climate change is resulting in increased desertification and the depletion of freshwater supplies. Guyana’s abundance of land and freshwater supplies for agricultural purposes places it in an enviable position to take advantage of the increased demand for food globally. Opportunities for increased agricultural markets exist within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The Region’s agriculture’s sector share of Gross Development Product (GDP) declined from 13 percent ...

 4 July 1973, when the Caribbean Community's Founding Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago.  Flag of CARICOM. Today is Happy CARICOM day and in lieu of that fact and many Blog post’s that I have written, on my Blogs and in my books, I want to recognize the day and offer up, an historical perspective. The following is the official press release of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, at Grande Anse, Grenada 1989. (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     More than 20 years ago, the Hon Herbert Blaize, Prime Minister of Grenada and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, posited that what was occurring in the Caribbean Community was a microcosm of the international scene. He was at the time delivering the feature address at the opening of the Tenth Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government in 1989 in St. George’s. In o...

In an opinion piece on Caribbean News Now Caribbean feminist Felicia Brown lays out succinctly the dire situation regionall, with regards to gun violence and males. That article is reposted in the following. By Felicia Browne Young males are increasingly becoming victims of gun- and gang-related violence. Out of 28 homicides in Saint Lucia for the year, 95% were males. This is critically alarming as males are becoming more vulnerable and susceptible to violent crimes within their communities. There is an urgent need to enact effective gun policies and community interventions that will work as deterrents against gun violence and access to illegal guns. Felicia Brown.               Felicia Browne is a feminist philosopher at the University of the West Indies and human rights and peace ambassador for the region I appeal to civil society and youth organisations to focus their community projects on alleviating gun violence and gang ac...

 Law enforcement on Trinidad after Muslims shot their way out of prison. A report in the Guardian on Trinidad and Tobago featured the following article, by Gail Alexander on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. Caricom states must urgently develop new strategies to win back the hearts and minds of young men now being recruited by the Islamic State (Isis), says Caricom Security Agency chief Francis Forbes. “Let’s accept that whether we like it or not, we’re already at war,” Forbes added at yesterday’s closing ceremony of a two-day Counter-Terrorism Strategy Conference. Forbes is executive director of Caricom’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), which hosted the event. Discussions by regional stakeholders and international experts strategised on tackling areas - from arms, financing and returning fighters, to preventing radicalisation - to build a collaborative regional framework to deal with terrorism. At next month’s annual summit, Caricom lea...

Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon delivers an address during the formal opening of CARICOM Counter-Terrorism Strategy two-day conference held at Hyatt Regency Hotel yesterday. Looking on, from second left, are United Nations Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative T&T Richard Blewitt and CARICOM Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer Ambassador Irwin Larocque. PHOTO: SHIRLEY BAHADUR. Caricom clampdown on returning Isis fighters Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon delivers an address during the formal opening of CARICOM Counter-Terrorism Strategy two-day conference held at Hyatt Regency Hotel yesterday. Looking on, from second left, are United Nations Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative T&T Richard Blewitt and CARICOM Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer Ambassador Irwin Larocque. PHOTO: SHIRLEY BAHADUR. An article by Gail Alexander published Tuesday, June 13, 2017, confers much o...

PHILIPSBURG – The KPSM is informing the general public concerning information that was received via Interpol and Caricom Operations of a dangerous subject who fled from Martinique and is wanted by Martinique authorities. Rachid  Rafaa This subject has ties to the terror group al-Qaeda. The subject is believed to have used private boats or aircrafts to be able to travel. The suspect might be traveling through the Eastern Caribbean islands and this puts Sint Maarten on alert as being a tourist destination. The subject is named: Rachid Rafaa, born in Morocco June 30th 1976. The subject may be using false identification for traveling purposes. Anyone who identifies this subject should immediately get in contact with the police department by calling 1721-549-1125 / 911 / the police tip line 9300 or 54-22222 The report above appeared online in specifically, Curacao Chronicle and      several Curacao based news outlets, ...

“Cuba catalyst for sustainable regional marketing campaign!”. The above headline jumped out at me in the Friday issue of July 17 th , 2015 in the Today Newspaper. Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) President Emil Lee is the brainchild of the above quote. His statements were in reference to CHTA’s so called “Cuba White Paper”. The paper called Cuba: The Great Disruption for the Good of the Caribbean. The article claims that the paper has generated, a “huge” amount of interest in newspapers and trade journals in the US, without referencing even one instance of such, or providing a quote from one of the mediums, that has supposedly shown interest in Lee’s claims. On the heel of Carnival Cruises announcing that it had received permission from the US government, to begin cruises between the US and Cuba. The CHTA claims that, the cruise lines Cuba plans will adversely affect some current cruise destinations. Lee claims that: “ tourism presents the fastest opportunity ...

Africa-Caribbean Business Council and City of Philadelphia gives Award for Leadership to Trinidad's Ambassador Parsan Philadelphia, PA – H.E. Dr. Neil Parsan, Ambassador of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to the United States of America was honoured by the African Caribbean Business Council (ACBC) with an Award for Leadership for his deep commitment to promoting business for Trinidad and Tobago and closer cooperation between Africa, American and the Caribbean businesses. The City of Philadelphia also recognized Dr. Parsan for his significant contribution to building partnerships for Local and Global Economic Development. According to the President of ACBC, Dr. Azuka, Amb. Parsan was selected “for his indefatigable efforts in promoting his beloved country of Trinidad and Tobago and the leadership role he continues to play in the International Community within this country...” Ambassador Parsan also served as the keynote speaker in the forum where he spo...

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) DSG recommends areas of focus to improve disaster management strategy results MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica - Deputy Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite has cited several areas for increased focus in order to enhance the results from the implementation of the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy for the Region. Speaking at the 7th Annual Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management held recently in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Ambassador Applewhaite recommended: vulnerability assessment and Mainstreaming Risk Management into sectoral and overall development planning; developing ‘disaster knowledgeable’ communities; focusing on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Education System at all levels; enhancing systems through use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); engaging the Private Sector; and engaging Regional Champions as areas for increased focus. The Deputy S...