Black Immigrant Daily News

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led byMr. Varapat Chensavasdijai, visited St. John’s during September 20-October 3, 2022, to hold the 2022 Article IV consultation. At the conclusion of the mission, Mr. Chensavasdijai issued the following statement.

Recent Developments, Outlook, and Risks

Antigua and Barbuda’s economy is recovering, but output remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Labor market disruptions, loss of tourism capital stock, and school closures during the pandemic may contribute to long-term scarring effects.

Following a decline of 20 percent in 2020, real GDP is estimated to have expanded by 5.3 percent in 2021 buoyed by tourism and construction activity.

The external position in 2021 is assessed to be weaker than the level implied by fundamentals and desirable policies, with the current account deficit estimated at 15 percent of GDP and financed by foreign direct investment.

Tourism has been robust despite some real exchange rate appreciation. The financial sector remains stable so far even as regulatory forbearance has expired, but credit growth is weak.

Higher commodity prices and tighter global financing conditions are weighing on economic activity. 

The country’s first international bond issuance was delayed in the context of elevated gross financing needs (19 percent of GDP at end-2021).

Inflation accelerated to 8½ percent in July following the surge in global food and energy prices. The government responded by allowing fuel price pass-through but introducing targeted subsidies to the transport and fishing sectors to keep public transportation fares and seafood prices stable.

Implementation of the Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy (MTFS) and growth recovery have helped improve the fiscal position, but outturns underperformed the original targets. The primary deficit narrowed by 2 percent of GDP in 2021 as pandemic-related spending was wound down and better tax administration and higher external capital grants bolstered revenues. The outturn, however, fell short of the MTFS target by 1 percent of GDP. Despite arrears resolution during 2021, arrears to domestic and external creditors stood at 19 percent of GDP. Public debt peaked at 102 percent of GDP and is projected to decline to 91 percent of GDP in 2022. Revenue shortfalls in 2022 are likely to imply a primary deficit of about ½ percent of GDP, or 1 percent of GDP below target. Tax exemptions have increased significantly from late 2021. Fuel consumption taxes have fallen by about 1½ percent of GDP since 2021 to absorb the impact of rising global energy prices.

Risks to the outlook are largely on the downside. Output is expected to return gradually to its pre-pandemic level by 2025 supported by strong tourism recovery and foreign direct investment in the hospitality sector, and public sector projects. Real GDP is projected to grow at 6 and 5½ percent in 2022 and 2023, respectively. However, commodity price shocks can dampen domestic demand and entrench inflation. A growth slowdown in main tourism source markets and/or renewed COVID-19 outbreaks and travel restrictions could stall the tourism recovery and deepen scarring effects. A further appreciation of the U.S. dollar would weaken competitiveness through the currency peg. Tighter financial conditions may put additional strain on public finances and lead to further domestic arrears accumulation. On the domestic front, a decline in citizenship-by-investment program (CIP) revenues due to increased scrutiny of such programs by the EU and U.S. would hamper fiscal consolidation efforts. More frequent and intensive natural disasters due to climate change pose an ever-present risk. On the upside, a faster-than-expected recovery in tourism activity could boost growth.

Fiscal Policy

The government should continue to prioritize spending on social safety nets to protect the vulnerable against rising living costs. The authorities should expedite efforts to centralize and digitize information and payment systems for social transfer programs, to improve their coverage and targeting. Coordination amongst government agencies implementing social transfer programs should be enhanced, in line with the objectives of the Social Protection Act. A comprehensive social safety net program, including cash transfers to lower-income households, could then be used to replace the temporary gas voucher program, which needs to be monitored to avoid abuses.

To return to the fiscal path envisaged in the MTFS will require steadfast implementation of the strategy and additional measures of at least 1¼ percent of GDP over the next three years. Tax exemptions should be limited to those specified in the legislation with clear eligibility criteria and sunset clauses, and effective monitoring and evaluation. To improve accountability and transparency, tax expenditures should be published with the budget. The ABST rate for tourism activities could be harmonized to the standard 15 percent and the ABST extended to online purchases. Excise duties could be introduced on alcohol and tobacco products. Stricter controls on the property tax are required to ensure timely payment of obligations, while property valuations for tax purposes should be updated effective 2023. The authorities will also need to contain increases in public sector real wages and rely on worker attrition and redeployment to ensure the wage bill is brought below 9 percent of GDP by 2025. A public sector employment census and skills database will help inform a longer-term strategy to tackle the wage bill. The government’s decision to allow pass-through of international fuel prices to domestic consumers is welcome and should be continued to ensure demand responds to the global shift in relative prices. Going forward, the authorities should consider adopting an automatic fuel pricing mechanism with full pass-through in conjunction with social protection for vulnerable households.

Securing long-term financing and avoiding accumulation of new arrears are critical in an environment of tight financial conditions. Continued fiscal consolidation and growth recovery are expected to bring debt to under 70 percent of GDP by 2030 as set out in the MTFS. However, gross financing needs will remain above 10 percent of GDP until 2025 even as the deficit falls, if high reliance on short-term borrowing continues. Public debt remains unsustainable due to the large outstanding stock of arrears and high gross financing needs, which if not covered, will likely lead to the accumulation of new arrears. To address these vulnerabilities will require progress in reducing the underlying fiscal imbalance and securing financing with long maturities. The authorities are making efforts to issue long-term securities on the domestic and external markets and are planning a green bond issuance in collaboration with multilateral and commercial partners. Securing this financing could potentially extend debt maturity and lower rollover risk and debt service burden. Further progress in clearing the stock of domestic and external arrears, including reconciliation and prioritization of arrears for clearance and close engagement with creditors, will help increase credibility of the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and will boost economic activity.

Further strengthening of the fiscal framework will help institutionalize fiscal discipline and build buffers against natural disasters. To build political consensus, it would be useful to have the MTFS and underlying Fiscal Resilience Guidelines formally endorsed by parliament. There is also a need to increase the operational capacity of the Macro-Fiscal Unit and get the Fiscal Resilience Oversight Committee up and running before end-year. The government should move ahead to approve regulations to operationalize the Climate Resilience and Development Fund (CRDF), enact the amended Finance Administration Act, develop a public financial management action plan based on the results of the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability self-assessment, introduce a system to measure the financial performance of SOEs, and finalize amendments to the Procurement Administration Act and ensuing regulations. On revenue administration, operationalization of post-clearance audit and risk management at customs is a welcome step. The authorities should put in place the single window system at customs and extend forensic audits to other low compliance sectors as planned. Implementation of e-filing and e-payment of taxes in the coming year will enhance revenue mobilization and improve the business environment.

Parametric reforms to the pension system are essential to ensure its long-term sustainability. Despite ongoing reforms that began in 2017, the financial position of the public pension system weakened in large part due to the loss in expected contributions as wage income and employment remain permanently lower than pre-pandemic forecasts. Further parametric reforms and revisions to the investment framework and strategy are thus warranted. As a transitory step, retirement age could be increased by half a year to 64.5 years in 2024 and reach 65 years in 2025 as currently envisaged. After 2025, gradual increases in contribution rates (0.5 percent per year up to 17 and 18 percent for public and private sector employees, respectively) and automatic adjustment in the retirement age in line with the increase in life expectancy at retirement would improve the pension system’s sustainability.

Financial Sector Policies

The Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) should continue to exercise vigilance to safeguard financial stability. It will be important to intensify the monitoring of credit unions’ asset quality and ensure loan loss provisioning is consistent with fragilities in borrowers’ financial position and broader economic prospects. The FSRC should also collaborate with the ECCB to formulate a national crisis management plan to contain potential system-wide risk covering both banks and non-banks. In addition, the supervision, reporting, and regulatory frameworks should be adapted to incorporate climate risks, leveraging regional initiatives led by the ECCB and including through stress tests for non-banks.

Reforms are needed to improve access to credit. The regional credit bureau is expected to accelerate the lending process and enhance credit quality. Modernization of the insolvency law to facilitate out-of-court settlement and clarify creditor rights can help incentivize lending. The recently launched regional partial credit guarantee scheme for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises can be utilized to alleviate collateral constraints of borrowers.

Effective implementation of the AML/CFT framework would help mitigate risks to the CIP, thereby protecting existing correspondent banking relationships. Significant progress has been made in adopting and strengthening a risk-based supervisory AML/CFT framework applicable to all financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions (including CIP agents). The due diligence process for screening CIP applicants that is currently in place has several layers to minimize the risks and additional measures are being taken to strengthen the CIP legislative framework. Active communication with counterparts in the EU and U.S. and other CIPs in the region should be maintained to keep all partners abreast of the progress of these reforms and to share best practices.

Structural Reforms

Policies to revive the labor market would support the economic recovery. Formal work arrangements declined and education outcomes worsened due to school closures during the pandemic. To help mitigate these effects, policies should prioritize increased training, vocational education, and skills certification to address human capital deterioration, assisting with job search to facilitate reintegration of workers into the labor force, and reversing the decline in self-employment by providing comprehensive support to small businesses.

Investment in climate resilience continues to be a priority. Resilience building is necessary as part of the current infrastructure is not resilient to natural disasters, which will become more intense and frequent due to climate change. Ongoing efforts to leverage donor resources and other international financing are crucial given the large investment needs and limited fiscal space. The National Adaptation Plan is expected to be completed by June 2023, which will help coordinate and focus donor efforts on key priorities and incorporate climate resilience considerations into the development strategy and budget process. Timely capitalization of the CRDF will be key to building fiscal buffers against natural disasters.

Accelerating the shift to renewables would help insulate the country from swings in global energy prices. Antigua and Barbuda’s electricity tariffs are among the highest in the Caribbean region. Diversifying the energy matrix in line with the National Energy Policy and allowing private sector participation in the renewable energy market can bring significant energy cost reduction. A phased approach to the transition to renewables should be taken, with careful considerations given to the financing instruments and the implications of stranded assets of carbon-intensive sectors.

Data Issues

Progress is being made to improve data quality, but further efforts are needed to update and disseminate critical information for policy and business decision-making. With support from the IMF Statistics Department and CARTAC and other donors, progress is being made on a new Producer Price Index, collection of the rental index for the Consumer Price Index, and improvements to the national accounts and external sector statistics. Key remaining areas that require attention include conducting a poverty assessment, publishing timely reports on central government and SOE operations, and compiling detailed labor market statistics.

The mission team thanks the authorities and other counterparts for their excellent collaboration and the candid and constructive discussions.

Antigua and Barbuda: Selected Economic and Financial Indicators

Population (2021)
98,219
Adult literacy rate (2015)
99
GDP per capita (US$, 2021)
14,978
Mean years of schooling (2021)
9.3
Life expectancy at birth (years, 2021)
78.5
Human Development Index rank
71
Mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births, 2020)
6
(2021, of 191 economies)
Prel.
Projections
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
(Annual percentage change)
National Income and Prices
Real GDP
3.1
6.9
4.9
-20.2
5.3
6.0
5.6
5.4
4.0
2.7
2.7
Nominal GDP
2.2
9.4
5.1
-18.8
7.4
15.0
10.3
7.9
6.1
4.8
4.8
Consumer prices (end of period)
2.4
1.7
0.7
2.8
1.2
10.5
2.7
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
Consumer prices (period average)
2.4
1.2
1.4
1.1
1.6
8.5
4.5
2.4
2.0
2.0
2.0
Money and Credit
Net foreign assets
10.9
6.2
-0.9
-4.6
18.5
5.4
4.2
4.0
2.3
1.0
0.3
Net domestic assets
-3.3
0.1
1.7
-0.6
-4.6
-1.6
6.1
4.0
3.8
3.8
4.5
Broad money (M2)
7.6
6.3
0.8
-5.2
13.9
3.9
10.3
7.9
6.1
4.8
4.8
Credit to private sector
-1.6
1.8
1.3
4.8
-4.1
0.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
(Percent of GDP)
Central Government
Primary balance
-0.1
0.0
-1.2
-3.8
-1.9
-0.4
-0.9
1.5
2.0
2.1
2.1
Overall balance
-2.8
-2.5
-4.0
-6.4
-4.8
-2.4
-3.3
-1.2
-0.5
-0.4
-0.4
Total revenue and grants
20.7
19.8
18.6
20.4
20.6
20.9
20.2
21.2
20.9
20.8
20.8
Total expenditure
23.6
22.3
22.6
26.8
25.3
23.4
23.5
22.4
21.4
21.2
21.2
External Sector
Current account balance
-8.0
-14.5
-7.5
-18.4
-15.0
-20.3
-14.1
-13.3
-12.5
-11.8
-11.3
Trade balance
-31.1
-36.1
-34.2
-29.3
-33.7
-39.8
-37.5
-37.4
-37.0
-36.8
-36.7
Nonfactor service balance
32.3
30.2
35.1
18.6
25.6
26.0
29.1
33.6
34.2
34.8
35.1
Of which: Gross tourism receipts
50.2
48.3
53.5
30.1
37.1
45.4
46.0
44.9
45.2
46.2
47.2
Overall balance
-2.4
-0.5
-4.2
-7.1
4.3
-3.9
-5.1
-1.8
-2.6
-3.3
-3.8
External public sector debt
37.5
36.7
36.5
48.1
50.5
49.7
49.9
49.7
49.4
48.3
46.8
Savings-Investment Balance
-8.0
-14.5
-7.5
-18.4
-15.0
-20.3
-14.1
-13.3
-12.5
-11.8
-11.3
Savings
15.4
22.9
27.4
12.9
23.2
19.3
22.7
24.2
24.1
24.3
24.3
Investment
23.5
37.5
34.9
31.3
38.2
39.6
36.8
37.5
36.6
36.1
35.7
Memorandum Items
Net imputed international reserves (US$ million)
314
329
279
222
324
349
414
482
524
543
549
(Months of prospective imports)
3.3
3.3
4.5
3.1
3.1
3.3
4.0
4.4
4.5
4.4
4.2
GDP at market prices (EC$ million)
3,964
4,336
4,556
3,700
3,972
4,567
5,040
5,439
5,770
6,045
6,332
Public debt stock (EC$ million) 1/, 2/
3,654
3,803
3,702
3,754
4,066
4,167
4,305
4,353
4,369
4,354
4,339
(Percent of GDP)
92.2
87.7
81.3
101.5
102.4
91.2
85.4
80.0
75.7
72.0
68.5
Sources: Country authorities, ECCB, UN Human Development Report, World Bank, and IMF staff estimates and projections.
1/ Includes stock of principal and interest arrears, unpaid vouchers, and suppliers’ credits.
2/ Includes central government guarantees of state enterprises’ and statutory bodies’ debt.

IMF Communications Department

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Black Immigrant Daily News

News

TOBAGO FLOODS: Drivers took a chance by going through floodwaters in Whim Village, Tobago on Wednesday. PHOTO BY DAVID REID –

NEWSDAY REPORTERS

THE TROPICAL wave, known by meteorologists as Invest #91L, brought with it thunderstorms, strong winds and lightning, as it dumped rain over both islands between Tuesday night and all of yesterday.

The end result was major flooding throughout the country as well as landslides.

While the nation was put on alert by the Met Services since early Tuesday, by way of an adverse weather yellow-alert, few could have foreseen the swiftness in which major roads and highways, as well as large swathes of land became raging torrents of flood waters.

This road in Bad Hill, Tobago was partially blocked by debris following a landslide on Wednesday. PHOTO BY DAVID REID –

The Met Office said the latest weather alert began at 12 am on Wednesday and ends at 12 pm Friday.

Information poured into our newsroom all day Wednesday citing major flooding along the East/West Corridor; in Sangre Grande, especially in Coalmine; in parts of Chaguanas especially Edingburgh 500; in Tobago; in Tunapuna;Lopinot; in Five Rivers; in San Juan; in Trincity; in Manzanilla and in many other parts of the country.

At one point around midday, there were reports from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) of flood waters washing over the eastbound lane of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway near Orange Grove Road and Savannah Drive, rendering it impassable.

CLASSES END EARLY

Several schools including Trinity College East, St Augustine Secondary, Presentation College, Chaguanas, Northeastern College in Sangre Grande and others, were severely impacted by flooding.

The UWI St Augustine campus also ended classes early as parts of the university became inundated with water.

Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, interviewed by Newsday, said schools in affected areas have been making requests to dismiss early.

A Newsday report stated that when asked if the ministry will close schools owing to the flooding, she said, “Approval is being given upon request for schools in affected areas to close.

“Also, principals are allowing parents to collect their children from schools if required,” she added.

Nadir Khan surveys the rubbish left behind from flood waters at his home in Arima on Wednesday. PHOTO BY ANGELO MARCELLE – Angelo Marcelle

Several video images showing entire communities such as Paradise East in Tacarigua being turned into a sea of fast-moving brown water; the mangled remains of cars after they were washed away; and the Sangre Grande Hospital being flooded, were uploaded to social media and quickly went viral.

WOMAN WASHED AWAY

The flooding is also believed to have been directly responsible for the loss of at least one life, after a woman was washed away in flood waters in Lopinot, and is believed drowned.

Police said William Ramlogan and his 45-year-old sister Teresa Lynch of La Pastora Village, were on their way to tend to crops when Lynch was swept away as she tried to cross the Surrey river.

MILES OF TRAFFIC: Traffic stretches for as far as the eye can see on the eastbound lanes of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway as under rainy skies on Wednesday. PHOTO BY ROGER JACOB – ROGER JACOB

Her brother attempted a rescue but the currents quickly slammed him into rocks and he had to give up trying to reach his sister in order to save himself.

Up to 5.30 pm, villagers, police, firemen and divers were searching for Lynch, even as her brother had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

FLOOD ALERT

At 5 pm, the Met Services – in addition to the ongoing adverse weather yellow-alert – also placed Trinidad and Tobago on a riverine flood alert – yellow level warning. The riverine alert runs until Friday.

The Met Office said major watercourses in Trinidad including the North Oropouche, Caroni and South Oropouche; and in Tobago, including Crooks and Darrell springs rivers were continuing to rise. At the time of the press release, these watercourses were at 80 per cent capacity.

Search and rescue officers near the Surrey River in Lopinot as the search continued Wednesday afternoon for a woman who was swept away by raging waters. PHOTO BY SUREASH CHOLAI –

The Met Office said even as weather conditions appeared to be more settled as of late Wednesday afternoon, expected overnight showers and spring tides could conspire to bring capacity of the watercourse to maximum.

There is the potential for overspill and consequent flooding overnight and into Thursday.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) was also monitoring the weather and resultant flooding as it confirmed in a release that the weather had impacted its various housing developments.

The HDC said it had distributed sandbags in Oropune Gardens, Piarco where the level of the Arouca River was rising.

“We have placed and turned on pumps in strategic locations and these are being used to push excess water out,” the HDC said.

Its Disaster Management Team has been on the ground monitoring the corporation’s most high-risk communities. It added that in some areas, the volume of water had risen faster than predicted.

For those areas, the HDC will continue to monitor and provide assistance to residents as needed. HDC clean-up crews were also said to be on standby to be deployed when the need arises.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Ademas di ta culpabel di atraco arma cu violencia y drive by shooting

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Diaranson mainta Hues di Corte di Husticia, a dicta sentencia den e caso penal cu Ministerio Publico a cuminsa contra e hoben Izak Principaal.

   Hues a confirma e exigencia di Fiscal cu ta 9 aña di prison y cu Principaal tin cu sigui tratamento obligatorio den un institucion na Hulanda.

   Acusacionnan contra dje: E acusacionnan contra Izak Principaal ta:

(*) A menaza tur trahador di OC riba 30 Augustus 2019.

(*) Dia 30 December 2020, a menaza su mama y ruman muher di ta kima e cas. Tambe a kibra porta y cashinan den cas. Tambe posecion di marihuana.

(*) Dia 22 Mei 2021, atraco arma cu violencia hunto cu otronan.

(*) Dia 30 Mei 2021, intento asesinato den “drive by shooting” na American Bar na San Nicolas. Principaal tabata core e auto, Celaire a tira diferente biaha y a herida 4 persona.

(*) Dia 4 Juni 2021 na Flamboyanstraat 4., a tira e dama hoben Sayuri mata.

(*) Posesion di arma di candela.

   Exigencia di Fiscal: Fiscal durante tratamento di e caso dia 15 September 2022 a bisa cu e ta haya Principaal culpabel. E punto fastioso ta cu mester mira e acusado pero tambe e comunidad. E impacto cu e casonan tabatin den comunidad.

   Na opinion di Fiscal, e seriedad di e casonan ta mustra cu ley hubenil no ta husticia tur loke Principaal a haci. Anterior Fiscal a exigi 11 aña di prison pero awor a exigi 9 aña di prison y TBS.  TBS ta nifica tratamento obligatorio den un institucion na Hulanda.

   Sentencia di Huez: Via video conference e sentencia a sosode. Den sala di Corte tabata presente e abogadonan di Principaal y Fiscal. Tambe tabata presente famianan di e victima Sayuri y e tata Mike Petronia.

   (*) Hues a bisa cu dia 30 December 2019, Principaal a menaza 2 trahador di Instituto OC. E tempo ey e tabatin 15 aña. Hues a rechaza ponencia di abogado cu Principaal tabata hopi emocional. Hues a bisa cu e abogado a bisa esey pa hustifica defensa propio. Hues ta haya cu no por papia di defensa propio. E ta haya e incidente legalmente proba proba.

   (*) Hues a sigui bisa cu 30 December 2020 e no ta haya proba cu Principaal a menaza di kima cas di su mama. Hues a mustra cu ta solamente declaracion di e ruman so tin. El a declara Principaal liber di esey. Pa loke ta e kibramento di porta, cashi y spiel den cas, mester tin un keho pa asina por persigui un persona. Hues a remarca cu no tin ningun keho di e mama contra Principaal. Pesey mester declara Fiscal no admisible.

   (*) Hues ta haya legalmente proba cu Principaal tabatin 17.9 gram di marihuana den su poder.

   (*) Hues ta haya cu e atraco cu violencia hunto cu otronan riba 22 Mei 2021, legalmente proba. El a mustra cu Principaal tabata den auto hunto cu otronan ora a sigui e homber T. E tabata sa cu lo bay horta. Te ora T. a yega su cas, nan tur a baha for di auto. Principaal tabatin un cuchiu, otro cu bate y un cu cuchiu. E homber T. y un otro a worde atraca cu violencia. Principaal a bay cu e auto di T. y na cas di Principaal a parti e placanan. Esaki Hues ta considera complice di atraco arma cu violencia.

   (*) Dia 30 Mei 2021, e Drive by shooting na American Bar, Hues ta haya legalmente proba. Hues a mustra cu Principaal tabata stuur e auto y Celaire a tira. Hues ta haya cu Principaal tabata sa cu Celaire tabatin e arma y dilanti American Bar, Principaal a baha velocidad y Celaire a tira riba distancia cortico y 4 persona a resulta herida. El a bisa Danki Dios ningun perona no a sufri herida fatal. El a mustra cu ta na cas di Principaal a kita number, pone sticker na e auto. Tur esaki na opinion di Hues ta premedita, o sea a bay prepara pa tira. Esaki Hues ta haya intento di asesinato y cu Principaal ta complice den esaki. Hues tambe ta haya proba cu Principaal tabatin arma di candela.

  (*) Dia 4 di Juni 2021, Principaal a tira Sayuri mata. Hues a bisa cu mescos cu Fiscal, e no ta haya proba intencionalmente a tira pa mata. Pero si e ta haya proba, cu Principaal a coy e arma y pone e arma den direccion di Sayuri. Sayuri a bisa Principaal pa no haci esey. Na opinion di Hues, tur hende mester sa cu si tin un arma di candela den man y dirigi esaki riba un hende, esaki ta hopi peligroso, si no sa cu tin bala den dje.

   Polis su investigacion ta mustra cu mester a hala e parti ariba di e loop di e arma patras pa asina e por a tira. Principaal a bisa cu el a saca e peña y a hala e parti ariba di e arma atras. Accidental su dede a primi e gay y arma a tira. Hues a bisa cu e no ta kere cu e stoel a kibra. El a bisa cu Polis no a haya ningun stoel kibra.

   El a rechaza e ponencia cu ta accidental Principaal a tira. Hues a mustra cu Principaal mester a hala e parti ariba di e loop atras pa asina e por tira. El a haci esaki sin controla si tin bala den loop y si e arma ta riba “safe”. Door cu su dede a primi e gay e arma a tira.

   Arma di candela un problema serio: Hues a splica con el a yega na e decision pa aplica castigo di adulto. El a bisa cu el a tene cuenta cu e menaza di e dos trahadornan di OC, Principaal tabatin 15 aña. Segun ley mester aplica castigo hubenil. El a tene cuenta cu e tempo cu a transcuri, mas cu 3 aña. Hues a bisa cu e no lo castiga Principaal pa esaki.

   El a mustra cu tin otro hechonan hopi serio, posecion di droga, atraco arma cu violencia hunto cu otro, drive by shooting hunto cu otro, tira Sayuri mata, posecion di arma di candela. Hues a mustra cu e victimanan di atraco arma, por keda den trauma. E victimanan di e Drive by shooting tambe. Danki Dios cu no tabatin morto. Hues ta haya cu e problema di arma di candela ta hopi serio na Aruba. Na opinion di Hues, hende mester por para pafor trankil sin tin miedo cu hende ta pasa tira riba bo.

   E caso Sayuri ta hopi tristo. Principaal a laga famianan cu hopi tristeza. Hues a bisa cu den e casonan menciona, Principaal tabatin 17 aña.

   Usa castigo di Adulto: Sicologo di Aruba, den su raport ta conseha pa usa castigo di adulto. E psycologo tambe ta haya cu Principaal ta menos responsabel pa su actonan. El a mustra cu e chens ta grandi cu si Principaal no haya tratamento, e lo bolbe cay den mesun cos. Tambe e sicologo a conseha TBS.

   Hues a bisa cu TBS ta un castigo serio. Hopi acusado no kier cay bao TBS. El a splica cu TBS (pone na disposicion) ta nifica cu Principaal mester keda interna den un institucion y haya tratamento obligatorio, te ora cu psychiater determina cu Principaal a recupera. Esey por dura añas.

Hues a sigui bisa cu e psychiater ta haya cu Principaal ta completo responsabel pa su actonan. E ta haya cu e psychiater no a splica esey bon y tambe pa aplica castigo hubenil. E psycologo di Hulanda ta comparti basta punto cu e psycologo di Aruba. Pero e ta recomenda pa aplica castigo hubenil.

Hues a analisa e raportnan y e circumstancianan bou di cual e incidentenan a tuma lugar. Hues a conclui cu mester aplica castigo di adulto. Tambe el a tene cuenta cu personalidad di Principaal y su actitud den Corte ora di trata e casonan. Tambe el a evalua orientacion di Hof den casonan asina. Hues a remarca cu e tempo ey Principaal tabata bisa riba su mes.

   E castigo final: Hues a bisa cu den caso di atraco cu violencia tin castigo mas cu 4 aña di prison, posecion di arma ta 1 aña, drive by shooting ta mas cu 5 aña. E tira mata di Sayuri ta 15 aña. Pa cu e castigo, Hues a tene cuenta cu ta promer biaha cu Principaal ta cay sera. Tambe el a tene cuenta cu e conclusion di psycologo y psychiater. Hues a bisa cu e ta tene cuenta cu Principaal mester di tratamento.

   El a mustra cu Fiscal promer a exigi 11 aña di prison pero despues di a haya e splicacion di sicologonan, a bahe na 9 aña di prison cu TBS.

   Hues a bisa cu e ta confirma exigencia di Fiscal. El a condena Principaal na 9 aña di prison y TBS na Hulanda. Ademas Hues a aproba e demanda di daño di 10 mil Florin cu ta e gasto di entiero di Sayuri. Hues tambe a aproba 6 mil Florin pa daño inmaterial pa e tata.

   Tambe Hues a aproba otro daño material pa victima di atraco arma. Den e tempo cu Principaal lo ta sera den KIA, lo mester haci e preparacionnan pa asina e tempo yega e por bay Hulanda pa haya tratamento obligatorio den un institucion.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Ministro Geoffrey Wever den Parlamento di Aruba:

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Riba Diaranson, Minister Geoffrey Wever, encarga cu e coleccion, procesamento y publicacion di estadistica, hunto cu representantenan di Centraal Bureau Statistiek (CBS) y Comision di e Sistema Nacional di Estadistica (Nationaal Statistisch Systeem (NSS)) Commissie), mr. Marlon Faarup, Director di CBS, dr. Desiree Helder, Presidente di e NSS Commissie y drs. Gayle Arendsz, Vice-presidente di e NSS Commissie, a duna presentacion na Parlamento di Aruba over e pogreso di implementacion di e NSS.

   E Sistema Nacional di Estadistica ta un cooperacion entre CBS y otro productor di estadistica oficial cu e meta di garantisa produccion di un gran variedad di estadistica oficial di calidad halto, relevante y actual pa asina esaki forma e fundamento di formulacion y evaluacion di maneho y di desaroyo sostenibel.

   E informacion cu lo ser brinda door di e NSS ta un tool esencial pa gobierno pa fomenta bon gobernacion door di desaroya y monitorea  maneho di manera mas responsabel y uzo mas efectivo di e fondonan di gobierno. E NSS no ta solamente pa gobierno, pero e NSS ta brinda informacion tambe na Parlamento den nan trabao primordial di controla gobierno. E NSS ta tambe pa sector priva, mundo academico y e publico en general.

   E presentacion tabata uno hopi positivo unda varios Parlamentario a expresa nan sosten pa e proyecto NSS mirando e necesidad di esaki na Aruba. Tambe Parlamentarionan a haci pregunta over e condicionnan necesario pa implementacion di e NSS y a trece dilanti e necesidad pa ora di aloca fondo pa e implementacion di NSS ta importante pa duna atencion tambe na alocacion di fondo pa training pa e usuarionan di e datos den aparato gubernamental.

   “E NSS ta un proyecto cu lo duna nos e tool pa traha maneho di pais Aruba na un forma mas moderno, un forma eficiente, efectivo, participativo y transparente, yudando asina pa haci uzo di fondonan di gobierno mas efectivamente. Esaki ta un elemento esencial den bon gobernacion y mi ta spera di conta cu sosten di Parlamento di Aruba den esaki”, Minister Wever a comenta.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Ma Tété a présenté ses activités pour Octobre rose, un programme pour tous les publics particulièrement riche. L’association a aussi signé le bail de son “Tiers-Mieux”, son futur local.

France-Antilles Martinique

1207 mots – 06.10.2022

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