Caribbean News Highlights

NASSAU, Bahamas, Oct. 29, CMC   

With the corona virus spiking in some parts of the Caribbean, the government of The Bahamas has announced a slight relaxation in COVID-19 rules, but warned that Bahamians must get used to cycles that involve tightening and loosening of restrictions from time to time.

Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis made the announcement on Wednesday, just days before the territory welcomes visitors and returning residents without requiring that they quarantine for 14 days.

The Prime Minister said that all beaches and parks in New Providence and Abaco will open starting Monday, but could not provide a timeframe for when the country’s state of emergency — currently extended until November 30 — will come to an end.

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On Wednesday, Jamaica recorded four new COVID-19 deaths, increasing the tally to 202. Two other deaths are under investigation, moving that figure to 31. Some 109 persons are in hospital with 15 being moderately ill and four critically ill.

With Covid 19 cases on the rise, Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, this week warned of a triple-demic with dengue fever and the influenza being of major concerns.

And in a further effort to fight the pandemic, PRIME Minister Andrew Holness says the islandwide nightly curfew will be extended until November 16. The curfew hours will remain at 9:00 pm to 5:00 am daily.

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United States (US) Ambassador Donald Tapia has apologised for controversial tweets made from his official Twitter account on Tuesday.

Tapia found himself in a Twitter storm that saw Jamaica's Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Kamina Johnson Smith commenting publicly, taking issue with the posts.

"I spoke with the ambassador [and] he is aware that the engagement was not appropriate for a diplomatic representative. He assured me that it will not recur," said Johnson Smith on her official Twitter account.

However, Tapia said the tweets weren't made by him.

"I take full responsibility for what took place. I believe the individual will be leaving shortly, because it was inappropriate ... I don't know what was actually tweeted out, I have not looked at it," he said on Nationwide News Network.

He added: "To the people that were involved on Twitter, I have to apologise to them, very deeply ... I've always said that I'm here as your guest and guests don't talk or act in that matter. I stand by that today as I did the day that I arrived here."

The US government, including President Donald Trump, remains suspicious of Chinese technology, citing national security risks as its main talking points.

Tapia has repeatedly spoken of his unease and has even warned the Jamaican Government of (hidden) Chinese intent in the affairs of the country.

However, in this latest volley of tweets, the ambassador said that Chinese technology company Huawei "has a history of spying and supporting authoritarian regimes".

When one Twitter user stated that Tapia should "leave Jamaica's internal affairs alone" and that he was "being a bully",  Ambassador Tapia’s Twitter handle hit back: "sell your freedom and you will be like the people of Hong Kong".

The Twitter rant became personal, as insults were traded with other twitter users, accusing them of  smoking "too much ganja" and that they "couldn't have graduated from high school".

The Jamaican Government is mulling over the introduction of 5G mobile technology, with emphasis on the Spectrum Management Authority's recently tabled annual report for 2019/2020, which stated its objectives to prepare Jamaica for 5G services.

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As the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis continues to spread, The World Bank says projections are that global remittances will decline 14 per cent by 2021 compared to the pre-COVID-19 levels in 2019.

This is according to the latest estimates published in the World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief.   

Remittance flows to low and middle-income countries  are projected to fall by 7 percent, to $508 billion in 2020, followed by a further decline of 7.5 percent, to $470 billion in 2021.

According to the Bank, the foremost factors driving the decline in remittances include weak economic growth and employment levels in migrant-hosting countries, weak oil prices; and depreciation of the currencies of remittance-source countries against the US dollar. 

Mamta Murthi, vice president for Human Development and chair of the Migration Steering Group of the World Bank said that "the impact of COVID-19 is pervasive when viewed through a migration lens as it affects migrants and their families who rely on remittances. The World Bank will continue working with partners and countries to keep the remittance lifeline flowing, and to help sustain human capital development.” 

The declines in 2020 and 2021 will affect all regions, with the steepest drop expected in Europe and Central Asia (by 16 percent and 8 percent, respectively), followed by East Asia and the Pacific (11 percent and 4 percent), the Middle East and North Africa (8 percent and 8 percent), Sub-Saharan Africa (9 percent and 6 percent), South Asia (4 percent and 11 percent), and Latin America and the Caribbean (0.2 percent and 8 percent).  

“Migrants are suffering greater health risks and unemployment during this crisis,” said Dilip Ratha, lead author of the Brief and head of KNOMAD. “The underlying fundamentals driving remittances are weak and this is not the time to take our eyes off the downside risks to the remittance lifelines.”  

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KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has announced the approval of three private labs for testing related to the COVID-19 response.

These are Caribbean Genetics (CARIGEN) and Microlabs Limited which will offer the PCR test, and Technological Solutions Limited which has been approved to do environmental testing.

Dr Tufton made the announcement during today's COVID Conversations digital press conference at the S Hotel in Montego Bay, St James.

Meanwhile, the minister also stressed that given the recent increase in rainfall, the country cannot become complacent with preventative measures against mosquito borne diseases

He said the risk level for transmission is currently assessed as low with all three Aedes aegypti indices used for risk assessment remaining relatively low for January to September this year.

The minister said if the country becomes complacent, in addition to COVID-19 cases, there could be more than 300 dengue cases and three to five dengue deaths each week in addition to influenza-like illnesses.

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KINGSTON, Jamaica — The US dollar on Thursday, October 29 ended trading at J$147.57 up by $1.14 according to the Bank of Jamaica's daily exchange trading summary.

Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $111.49 down from $111.79 while the British pound sterling ended trading at $190.70 down from $192.08.

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GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has praised leaders within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) for their leadership in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as they confront shocks to their economies, the tourism sector, trade and remittances.

The secretary general was addressing a virtual meeting of the regional body on Thursday.

“Your unique voice is vital as we tackle shared threats such as climate change, citizen insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic that expose deep and systemic inequalities,” he said.

The UN chief stated that the pandemic's socioeconomic impacts have been worse than the virus itself for some developing economies, including the Caribbean.

He highlighted his push for a relief package equivalent to at least 10 per cent of the global economy, as well as an appeal for debt relief.

“As you have long advocated, the world must look beyond incomes and factor in the vulnerabilities of countries. The private sector, including the credit rating agencies, also must be engaged in relief efforts.”

Guterres also underlined his solidarity with Caricom members in addressing climate change.

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Sports

West Indies left the Caribbean late Tuesday for the November 27 to December 15 tour, which will comprise three Twenty20 Internationals and two Tests played under strict bio-secure protocols.

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One-time Manchester United promise Ravel Morrison is one of four new call-ups to a national senior team that features five local-based players, with Jamaica set for a double date with Saudi Arabia on November 14 and 17.

As the Reggae Boyz get ready to tackle the Saudis in the two friendly international assignments, which will both be played in Riyadh, General Secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Dalton Wint took time to note that despite the small number of local players in the 24-member squad, which was named yesterday, the organisation still plans to go ahead with its training camp at the University of West Indies (UWI)/JFF/Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.

The camp is scheduled to begin on November 3, with the team set to depart the island on November 6.

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