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#129: CANA on CARICOM, Haiti, etc. (fwd)
From: Max Blanchet <MaxBlanchet@worldnet.att.net>
The Caribbean News Agency (CANA) is the premier provider of news and
information from the English Caribbean
CARICOM leaders optimistic
Port of Spain, Trinidad, CANA - Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of
government are in a mood of high optimism after concluding their 20th
and final summit of this century yesterday with major agreements on
issues of critical importance to the regional economic integration
movement. Topping the list of approved decisions are launching of
CARICOM as a single market and establishment of a Caribbean Court of
Justice in 2000. Accession of full membership of CARICOM by the Republic
of Haiti which had acquired provisional membership at the 18th CARICOM
Summit in 1997 in Jamaica -- is also another significant achievement of
the summit.
CARICOM can make progress - UN
Port of Spain, Trinidad, CANA - UN Secretary General Kofi Anna believes
the Caribbean Community has important resources to help it achieve the
progress it seeks. "The region has produced an impressive number of
Nobel prize winners. The University of the West Indies is a renowned
beacon of knowledge and understanding," Annan has said. He added that
the region was a place of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among
diverse peoples and traditions.
CARICOM governments ending summit
Port of Spain, Trinidad, CANA - Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of
Government are wrapping up their 20th annual summit in Port of Spain
today. They spent the past four days discussing a wide range of issues,
including the proposed CARICOM Single Market and Economy and the
Caribbean Court of Justice, which will replace the British Privy Council
as the final court of appeal for some Caribbean states. The leaders are
expected to issue a joint communique on the outcome of the summit, the
last one for this century.
Venezuelan prez calls for Caribbean integration
Scarborough, Tobago, CANA - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez yesterday
called for economic, social and political integration of Caribbean and
Latin American countries to face up to the challenges of the 21st
century. "We are taking up again the old idea that existed 200 years ago
of a united bloc of Caribbean forces and of Latin American forces
together to face up to the pluri-plural (multiple) world which is seen
in the future," he told reporters following a meeting with Heads of
Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). President Chavez also
invited Caribbean heads of state to a meeting in Caracas on July 24,
2000 to discuss the proposal.
Haiti wants LDC status within CARICOM
Port of Spain, Trinidad, CANA - Haiti wants a least developed country
status within the Common Market of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
with a 10-year grace period in intra-regional trade arrangements as it
moves to become a full-fledged member of the trade and economic
grouping. The special case for Haiti's involvement as a full member of
CARICOM has been outlined in a Technical Working Group's report. Haiti,
with its estimated seven million people, was provisionally accepted as a
member of CARICOM at the heads of government conference in Jamaica in
1997.
CARICOM focus on politics/trade
Port of Spain, Trinidad, CANA - Preparation for a single market and
economy next year and a focus on the political crisis in Suriname
occupied the first working day of the Caribbean Community's 20th summit
yesterday. The heads of government deliberated on key protocol
provisions for the single market. Discussions on Suriname were brought
forward partly to facilitate that country's President, Jules
Wijdenbosch, who had to return home last night.
Caribbean Publishers Association to be formed
Kingston, Jamaica, CANA- A steering committee is looking at ways of
assisting regional publishers to get funding for their books. The
grouping was established Friday and is to pave the way for a Caribbean
Publishers Association. Ian Randle, Managing Director of Ian Randle
Publishers Limited and chairman of the committee, said the panel
comprised 13 Caribbean publishers other persons who had an interest in
publishing.
Spain to renew ties with Caribbean
Port of Spain, Trinidad, CANA - Spain's Prime Minister, Don Jose Maria
Aznar, has expressed interest in renewing closer relations with the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the areas of culture, trade and
investment. "We very much would like to improve upon our presence here.
Today represents a marvellous opportunity...," said Aznar during the
start of a working luncheon with CARICOM governments who opened their
20th annual summit yesterday. He said Spain would like to increase trade
ties with the Caribbean while it wants to pursue investment in areas
such as telecommunications, energy and tourism.
Cuba defends nuclear energy project
Havana, Cuba, CANA - The son of Cuban President Fidel Castro has
rebuffed foreign criticism of the country's aspirations to build and
operate a nuclear power plant. Foreign critics, especially in the United
States, have cited security and safety issues to attack the government's
efforts to develop a nuclear power plant. "The alleged danger does not
exist," writes Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart in a book entitled "Nuclear
Energy. Environmental Threat or Solution for the 21st Century?".
Port of Spain, Trinidad, CANA - Leaders of the 14-nation Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) trade and economic grouping have begun arriving in
Trinidad for their 20th Annual Summit. The only expected absence from
the summit of leaders is Guyana's President Janet Jagan who was
hospitalised Wednesday after complaining of persistent chest pains.
Among the matters to be discussed at this summit are the proposed
Caribbean Court of Justice for which the leaders will sign documents
giving their authorisation for its implementation by the end of the
year.
Cuba invests millions in environmental programmes
Havana, Cuba, CANA - Cuba will invest some US$340 million this year in
environmental programmes -- in compliance with agreements adopted at the
1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Among the objectives of the
environmental programs is the elimination or reduction of contamination,
reforestation and application of conservation measures to stop soil
erosion. Cuba will also include environmental education ...