CARIBBEAN TODAY Economic situation on Jamaica diaspora conference agenda Bahamas's budget offers relief KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - The Jamaica government has said that the economic situa- tion in the country would be among agenda items to be dis- cussed at the third Biennial Diaspora Conference to be held here this month. A government statement said Prime Minister Bruce Golding would discuss the country's economy and related development initiatives at the June 16-17 event. The statement added that the role of Jamaicans in the diaspora would also be dis- cussed at the two-day meeting that is expected to be attend- ed by more than 700 nationals from the diaspora, including a high-level delegation from the United States. Junior Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Dr. Ronald Robinson said the conference would be held under the theme "A Borderless Partnership for Development". He said the ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, CMC China has donated $1 million to Grenada that will help the government follow through on a promise of back pay for civil servants as well as carry out a number of devel- opment projects. The grant, according to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and China's Ambassador to Grenada Zhang Wanhai, who signed the agree- ment, was in keeping with the memorandum of understanding GEORGET CMC The Partnership between the Commission Caribbean F Caribbean a (CARIFOR signed next theme underscores the "con- centrated efforts of many Jamaicans on the island who seek to build stronger rela- tionships with Jamaicans in the diaspora to achieve greater economic develop- ment". Robinson said that the conference, organized by the Jamaica Diaspora Foundation (JDF), "will bring all the dias- pora representatives together in one place, where the prime minister and ministers of gov- ernment can articulate to them the policies and direction of the new administration. "We are looking to have a conference this year with a big, big difference," he added. CORE AREAS The government state- ment said that experts and government officials would discuss five core areas of development, including eco- nomic growth and investment, education and culture, crime signed between the two coun- tries at the resumption of diplo- matic relations three years ago. "It's clearly written in the memorandum of understand- ing that this sum is to be given annually until the year 2009," Mitchell said. SUPPORT He explained that the money would be used for, among other things, budgetary support and payment of retroactive salaries to public and justice, the church role and faith based organizations in development and youth and leadership. Robinson said the Golding administration is seeking to bring more young people into the diaspora movement and to encourage them to assume leadership roles to ensure continuity. "For the first time this year's conference will have a delegation of youngsters com- ing with the members of the diaspora and we will have a special session where that is concerned," he said. "We will be engaging these individuals not just as a new administration, but also in terms of building on what was there before. This means that the conference will be looking to actualize a lot of the ideas and thoughts and so this conference for us is a very important one." 0 servants in June as provided for in the recently signed col- lective agreements with the Grenada Public Workers Union and the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers' Union. "In this period every bit of grant is important to us because it is money we don't have to pay back and I assure that it will be put into productive use," the prime minister said. Caribbean ready to sign EPA in July FOWN, Guyana, to a statement issued by the trade and industry Economic Caribbean community (CARI- had considered po Agreement (EPA) COM) Secretariat. for signing and the European It said that the EPA had application of the i (EC) and the been discussed at the special and reported they worum of African, meeting of the Council for consultations with nd Pacific States Trade and Economic the subject. UM) is to be Development (COTED) in month, according Antigua last month and that y ministers possible dates e provisional agreement were in the EC on NASSAU, The Bahamas, CMC Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has delivered what he described as a balanced budget to "cushion the harshness of the impact of international turbulence" on citizens. In tabling the $1.8 billion [ fiscal package in Parliament late last month, Ingraham said his govern- ment "careful- ly determined Ingraham the size and components of the fiscal pro- gram which will touch every family with significant finan- cial relief. "At the same time we will not under any circumstances compromise the sound fiscal status of our economy which we have worked so hard to maintain through several terms in government," he said. LESS TAXES The budget, which prima- rily focused on providing relief for low income families who are mostly impacted by the ris- ing cost of living, included the elimination of several taxes on food items and suspension of taxes on fuel imports. "Having reduced the stamp tax on food items from four per cent to two per cent during our last stint in office we are now moving to elimi- nate the two per cent stamp tax on some 160 food items," the prime minister said. The measure will result in the elimination of import duties on a number of citrus fruits, frozen vegetables, cere- als, oatmeal, and breads. With regards to the rising cost of fuel, the prime minister announced that his govern- ment will grant a two-year suspension of customs and stamp duties on the Bahamas Electricity Corporation's (BEC) fuel imports to address the rising utility surcharge. Ingraham admitted that some of these measures will result in revenue losses for the government, but said they will provide some much-needed relief for consumers and homeowners. LION'S SHARE With respect to the alloca- tion of budgetary funds, the ministries of Tourism and Aviation, National Security and Education received the bi-n,-l shares. "Once again education receives the greatest call on the government's resources. This ought to be no surprise as we believe that the educa- tion of our children is the "Once again education receives the greatest call on the government's resources" Ingraham most critical investment that we can make in the future of our nation," Ingraham said. "The education, youth, sports and culture services receive a total of $312 million or 20 percent of total recur- rent expenditure." He also announced salary increases for civil servants, with every public officer expected to get a $750 hike and each teacher in the coun- try's public schools being promised a $1,250 pay rise. Despite the global uncer- tainties, Prime Minister Ingraham has projected that the economy will grow 2.8 per- cent this year, a drop from the 4.8 percent growth recorded in 2006. However, he said, the anticipated growth was "com- mendably strong in the con- text of the developing interna- tional economic downturn. 0 China provides $1M grant to aid Grenada 5SIu Anniversawy eciniwwre 11020lS.W 176 Street Miami, FL 33157 Friidy, fuly 11, 200B I7:0oO pm efr wre- IlA mwtin cill (305) 258-4470 Bishop M~i has God Given Power of Prayer kIOyw hIm busi0lisd hEkop r~ IN ilDWISwi llt.~ ~~no kI tJu lh 9Wprat iith yxi *IWPtIL W1IrilaItshum$a* -1 vishIilig WO Ikies aid Awirah ad IIt soeuI ~*SlTIil ig 1lt I I [iv iok to EDc PWII m.iw I~mdNip fhelli a DpublaW igp rw * Ines W" PUJAani KARMA Offrrimgs Call Today: BIS&-410 5I-4 1951-320 June 2008 TF^'