Farley: Tobago should have gotten more

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

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THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine weighs in on the budget at the Red House on Monday evening. PHOTO BY ROGER JACOB –

ALTHOUGH Tobago received $185 million more than it did last year, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said the THA could have done with more. Tobago was allocated $2.521 billion or 4.3 per cent of the total 2023 national budget.

In his June presentation, Augustine presented a $3.97 billion budget package for Tobago, but was left with a 38.4 per cent shortfall.

Speaking at a press conference after the presentation, Augustine said his team predicted the nation budget would be around $57.4 billion which was close to the actual number of $57.685.

“That speaks to the accuracy with which we in Tobago actually do our budgetary preparation. You would also appreciate that this request (of 3.97 billion) was … THA’s smallest request for some time, and yet it was not completely fulfilled.”

He pointed out that Finance Minister Imbert said the THA budget was excellent, good for economic development and growth, yet the minister chose not to give the THA the allocation that would have allowed for the development of Tobago.

Augustine rejected Imbert’s suggestion that the THA would have received 6.8 per cent of the national budget if the 2021 Tobago Island Government Bill was passed to provide the island with greater autonomy.

“In 2001, this Parliament, in this place, accepted the Dispute Resolution Commission’s recommendations and Parliament unanimously accepted those recommendations, which is, in fact, the guiding regulations for budgetary allocations to Tobago.

“In that recommendation it says that Tobago, the THA, should be funded to the tune of between 4.03 per cent and 6.9 per cent.”

As such, he said, the Bill did not need to pass for the THA to get 6.8 per cent.

He said Imbert encouraged the THA in his presentation to engage state enterprises and agencies in raising revenue. Augustine agreed and hoped the central government would expedite the granting of an export license to the THA so Tobago could attract foreign exchange so the Assembly could meet the billion-dollar shortfall.

He added that the air- and sea-bridge was an important part of the island’s public transportation infrastructure but accessibility in its service-driven economy was a challenge. He said Tobagonians travelled to Trinidad for medical, education, services not available in Tobago and other critical reasons.

“The first thing the minister should have treated with has to do with the efficiency of the air and sea bridge to allow for the transiting of people to and from Tobago.”

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Kamla to Imbert: What is heritage fund balance after $1b deposit

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

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Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar. File photo/Sureash Cholai

AFTER Finance Minister Colm Imbert told the country that over $1 billion was deposited into the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF), Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is questioning what is current balance in the nation’s saving.

During her response to the near $58 billion budget, Persad-Bissessar in a media conference at her Charles Street, Port of Spain office said her team has been consistently asking for information regarding the HSF and had not been given answers by the Government.

“What he did not tell us was how much is in the HSF. He withdrew $2.5 billion in their seven years,” she said, adding that apart from the withdrawals the investments made internationally would have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Persad-Bissessar said one concern she had was the “very worrying area of debt.” She said since assuming office, Imbert has placed the country in a debt trap and pushed the debt-to-GDP from 46.3 per cent under her administration to 88.7 per cent.

According to the 2021 HSF report, as at the end of September 2021, the HSF’s net asset value was US$5,463.9 million, down from US$5,731.8 million, one year earlier. The report added that US$892.7 million was withdrawn from the fund with US$600 million used to deal with the pandemic.

Imbert, in informing the country of the deposit, said: “As a result of higher-than-expected oil and gas prices, we have deposited US$163 million, or TT$1.1 billion, into the HSF for intergenerational benefits.”

He boasted that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio has been reduced from 80 per cent in September last year to 70 per cent.

This reduction, he said, will allow the country to access loans from both local and international banks such as the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Imbert promised to stimulate growth in the economy by allocating $6.2 billion to the Public Sector Investment Programme. This , he said, was some $2 billion more than last year’s allocation of $4.110 billion.

“To create employment, drive development and stimulate economic activity, the PSIP has been increased to $6.2 billion, $2 billion more than fiscal 2022. And while increasing investment in the development programme in 2023, we will continue to pursue our fiscal consolidation objectives which will ultimately lead to reasonable fiscal and debt sustainability.”

The PSIP is the Government’s funded initiatives through the Consolidated Fund and the Infrastructure Development Fund that includes programmes and projects of various ministries and state agencies to enhance socio-economic development as part of the country’s overall vision.

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Spik en span voor nieuw schooljaar

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

Tekst en beeld  Arjen Stikvoort PARAMARIBO — “We moeten creatief met de schoolbenodigdheden omgaan, want ook schoolspullen zijn heel duur

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, clarifie Fritz Alphonse Jean

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Le Nouvelliste

Le pr?sident ?lu de l’accord de Montana Fritz Alphonse Jean encourage les acteurs ? trouver la voie qui m?ne vers un consensus entre les diff?rents groupes de la soci?t? afin de r?soudre la crise qui la gangr?ne. De son c?t?, il dit ?tre en discussion avec des acteurs de la soci?t? civile, des op?rateurs ?conomiques, des partis politiques, entre autres. Toutefois, il explique qu’il n’a pas entam? de discussion avec le premier ministre Ariel Henry autour de la mise en place d’un conseil de transition. <>, a-t-il expliqu?.

En ce temps difficile, M. Jean demande ? tous les secteurs de la vie nationale de mettre de c?t? leurs int?r?ts personnels et toutes les intrigues afin de se fixer sur les pr?occupations de la population ha?tienne qui fait face ? de nombreuses difficult?s. <>, a d?taill? l’?conomiste.

Etes-vous courtis? par le premier ministre Ariel Henry ?

<>, a r?pondu Fritz Alphonse Jean.

Le premier ministre en mauvaise posture

<>, a insist? l’ancien gouverneur de la banque centrale qui note que le gouvernement aura besoin du soutien de l’international. <>, a analys? Fritz Alphonse Jean.

Qu’est-ce qui se passe au niveau de l’accord de Montana ?

<>, a recadr? M. Jean.

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Augmentation des prix des carburants, le contexte n’est pas propice, estime Joseph Harold Pierre

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Le Nouvelliste

Si la cessation des subventions du carburant s’av?re n?cessaire pour la croissance ?conomique du pays, l’augmentation des prix de l’essence peut encore attendre dans ce contexte de bouillonnement social marqu? notamment par une paralysie des activit?s dans la capitale et dans plusieurs autres d?partements du pays. <> a avanc? l’?conomiste Joseph Harold Pierre ? la matinale du week-end de Magik 9 le 25 septembre 2022. Cependant, <> a-t-il relativis?. D’autre en plus, que la paralysie est sujette ? impacter consid?rablement le PIB du pays en aiguisant la croissance n?gative pr?vue ? hauteur de -0,4 % pour par le minist?re de l’Economie et des Finances.

Le politologue a aussi analys? l’impact que pourrait avoir l’augmentation des prix de l’essence sur la population. <>, a pr?vu l’?conomiste Joseph Harold Pierre. <> a-t-il ajout?.

Le Programme gouvernemental d’apaisement social, <>

Joseph Harold Pierre reste dubitatif quant ? l’annonce du gouvernement qui pr?voit de rediriger l’argent de la subvention dans l’impl?mentation de programmes d’apaisement social. <> a r?agit le politologue. Il a fait savoir que le programme n’est ni clair, ni fiable. <> a critiqu? le professeur. <> a ajout? Le professeur Pierre.

Joseph Harold Pierre craint une guerre civile dans le pays. <> a conclu le politologue.

Wedster Lyvert

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Le gouvernement ha?tien doit express?ment demander l’aide des Etats-Unis pour stopper les gangs

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Le Nouvelliste

<>, a d?clar? le professeur Jean Antoine Mathias Laur?us ? l’?mission Panel Magik, sur Magik 9, lundi 26 septembre 2022, en insistant surtout sur les capacit?s technologiques des USA. N?anmoins, a-t-il ajout?, puisque le ph?nom?ne de gangs traverse la soci?t? dans toutes ses composantes, ils ne pourront pas le r?soudre de mani?re p?renne. <>, a-t-il dit.

<>, a sugg?r? le professeur Laur?us.

M?me s’il se dit, par principe, contre toutes interventions ?trang?res dans le pays, Jean Antoine Mathias Laur?us pense que la nouvelle d’une aide am?ricaine en ce sens suffira pour d?stabiliser les gangs. <>, pense-t-il.

Selon M. Laur?us, compter sur la Police nationale d’Ha?ti pour venir ? bout des gangs n’est peut-?tre pas le meilleur choix. <>, a affirm? le professeur qui pense que la ligne gouvernementale de l’?quipe au pouvoir ne conduira le pays nulle part.

<>, a par ailleurs sugg?r? Jean Antoine Mathias Laur?us.

“Les gangs n’agissent jamais seuls”

Jean Antoine Mathias Laur?us nous invite ? r?fl?chir sur les gangs dans leur transversalit?. Selon lui, les gangs n’agissent jamais seuls si ce n’est pour se d?fendre face aux gangs rivaux ou la police. Comme il l’a toujours soutenu, le professeur a fait savoir que les gangs sont instrumentalis?s dans le pays, tant?t par les politiciens tant?t par des membres du secteur priv?. Et la situation que l’on conna?t actuellement dans le pays ?tait pr?visible, a-t-il estim?, car l’?tat s’est retir?. Dans plusieurs axes de la capitale, depuis un long moment, il faut des arrangements avec les gangs pour que les activit?s r?guli?res puissent se tenir.

<>, a expliqu? le professeur. << Dans un tel environnement, les gangs d?couvrent progressivement leurs forces. Car ils se rendent compte que le bon d?roulement des activit?s d?pend d’eux. S’ils le veulent, pendant une journ?e ou une semaine, ils peuvent bloquer toutes les activit?s.

Dans ce jeu d’instrumentalisation, les politiques instrumentalisent les gangs qui les aident ? se renforcer, ou bien pour les aider ? provoquer l’alternance au pouvoir, ou bien pour d?stabiliser le pouvoir. Selon le professeur Laur?us, vu que les membres de la soci?t? civile n’organisent pas de grosses manifestations, les politiques de l’opposition demandent aux gangs de les aider dans les manifestations qu’ils organisent et ceux du pouvoir, a poursuivi M. Laur?us, demandent aux gangs de les aider ? d?stabiliser les manifestations, soit en habillant les gangs comme des policiers soit en se servant d’eux pour d?l?gitimer les mouvements.

<>, a soutenu le professeur avant d’ajouter que les gangs sont au centre des actions des politiciens de l’opposition, du pouvoir et des membres du secteur priv? proches du pouvoir ou de l’opposition.

Un gros risque se dessine alors. Comme aux temps des Cacos, Jean Antoine Mathias Laur?us dit croire qu’? tout moment les gangs peuvent d?cider de qui doit prendre le pouvoir dans le pays. <>, a-t-il indiqu?.

<>, a martel? le professeur.

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Gr?ve de syndicats de transport, les activit?s une nouvelle fois paralys?es ? Port-au-prince

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Le Nouvelliste

Au niveau de la route de Delmas, de Nazon, de Bourdon, de Lalue de G?rald-Bataille, entre autres, les rues ?taient pratiquement vides. Par ailleurs, au niveau de l’intersection la route de Delmas et Delmas 30, des individus ont dress? des barricades de pneus enflamm?s et lanc? des pierres en direction de quelques motards. Quelques centaines de manifestants ont ?t? remarqu?s en milieu de journ?e au niveau de Ma?s-G?t?. Il n’y a pas eu d’incidents majeurs signal?s.

Pourtant, dans la commune de Carrefour, au sud de Port-au-Prince, plusieurs milliers de personnes sont descendues dans les rues pour protester contre la d?cision du gouvernement d’augmenter le prix du p?trole ? la pompe.

Le journal a observ? un renforcement des patrouilles polici?res dans les rues de la capitale. En plus des points fixes, des agents de l’ordre de diff?rentes unit?s sp?cialis?es de la Police nationale d’Ha?ti ont ?t? constat?s.

Le syndicaliste Mehu Changeux de l’Association des propri?taires et chauffeurs d’Haiti (APCH) qui a support? le mot d’ordre de gr?ve lanc? par le Front Unifi? des Transporteurs et des Travailleurs d’Ha?ti (FUTRAH) se dit satisfait de cette premi?re journ?e. <>, a d?clar? Mehu Changeux en interview au journal ce lundi apr?s-midi.

Depuis l’annonce du gouvernement d’ajuster le prix du p?trole, les stations d’essence sont totalement hors service. Le parc industriel de Caracol qui emploie plus de 12 500 personnes ferme ses portes ce dimanche 25 septembre ? cause de l’?puisement des r?serves carburant de sa centrale ?lectrique, a appris Le Nouvelliste.

L’Association des professionnels du p?trole (APPE) a appel? l’Etat ? rendre accessible le terminal de Varreux pour que les stocks, en quantit? suffisante actuellement, puissent avitailler tous les stations-services avant de pouvoir les rouvrir avec les nouveaux prix, afin d’?viter qu’elles ne soient prises d’assaut et/ou d?truites, peut-on lire dans une lettre du pr?sident de l’APPE, Randolph Rameau, au ministre de l’Economie et des Finances, Michel Patrick Boisvert, le 22 septembre 2022.

<>, selon cette correspondance.

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Sizzla Calls For Vybz Kartel, Ninjaman Freedom, Performs Buju Banton’s ‘Boom Bye Bye’

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz

Sizzla shout-out some dancehall legends in prison, namely Vybz Kartel and Ninjaman, while paying homage to Buju Banton by performing the now disbanded classic single “Boom Bye Bye.”

The Judgement Yard icon was in his element last weekend when he performed at the Good Times party in Kingston, along with new artists he is mentoring. If you’re a fan of Sizzla, then you will know he has been one of the best live performers in reggae/dancehall for the past decades, and he is never one to shy away from controversial moments like fire burn the LGBTQ community or calling out other artists.

Around midway through his performance, Kalonji paused to hail his family and some of his comrades behind bars, including Vybz Kartel and Ninjaman, while calling for their freedom. “Big up all the youths them in a jail, Kartel, Ninjaman, and the whole a dem. Big up all a me family its time leggo the black people them now,” he said on stage before diving into performing his classic “Dry Cry.”

Vybz Kartel and Ninjaman, who have both beefed in the past, are both serving life sentences for murder. It’s unclear if they are currently housed at the same prison facility, but we do know that the former Portmore Empire leader is currently at the Horizon Remand Center.

Sizzla also caught the attention of dancehall fans who have been reacting on Twitter when he injected some lyrics from Buju Banton’s controversial single, “Boom Bye Bye.” During the performance, Kalonji said, “All ah the people them weh know say them love da party yah seh boom bye.”

Sizzla also questioned if he even could single the song. “Ah who sing da song deh?” he asked. “Mi cyaan sing da song deh, cause them fraid fi sing it?”

Urban Islandz reported in 2019 that Buju Banton issued a permanent ban on the song he released in 1992. The reggae/dancehall icon recorded and released the song when he was a teenager, something he said he has since grown and now has a different perspective.

“I recognize that the song has caused much pain to listeners, as well as to my fans, my family and myself,” Buju said in a statement sent to Urban Islandz. “After all the adversity we’ve been through I am determined to put this song in the past and continue moving forward as an artist and as a man.”

Buju Banton issued the ban just before his big performance at Summerjam in Germany. At the time, he had recently been released from prison, leaving some fans to speculate that he was pressured by the LGBTQ community to denounce “Boom Bye Bye.” His rep at the time, Ronnie Tomlinson, later denied that the singer was pressured to disband the song.

Banton has not performed “Boom Bye Bye” since around 2007, before his arrest in the United States and subsequent 10-year prison sentence for a drug conviction. It’s very unlikely he will ever perform the song again after causing him a lot of problems overseas in the past.

“Boom Bye Bye” is undoubtedly one of the most infamous anti-gay songs in reggae/dancehall history. Sizzla Kalonji might just help revive it from the trash bin.

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Business networking-event focust op werk-leven balans

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

door Tascha AvelooPARAMARIBO — UM-tech organiseert in samenwerking met Chef Thro een derde business en networking-evenement. Het thema is dit

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70% chance of another tropical depression in 48 hours Loop Cayman Islands

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Cayman Compass
Loop News

25 minutes ago

The National Hurricane Center reported on September 26, 2022 that another disturbance has made its way off the coast of Africa. It has a 70 per cent chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours.

Currently, the system is producing showers and thunderstorms and environmental conditions are conducive for the system to further develop.

The disturbance is forecast to meander for the next day or two and then turn north-northwestward by early Thursday.

Due to the unpredictability of the system, interests in the Caribbean area should remain vigilant and monitor how it develops.

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