T&T NAMED HAPPIEST CARIBBEAN COUNTRY—04/25/15
The World Happiness Report published by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network has named Trinidad and Tobago as the happiest country in the Caribbean. The nation was ranked 41st happiest among countries of the world. The happiest country overall was Switzerland, and Ireland came in at second place. The rankings are based on information collected by the Gallup World Poll.
ONLINE CARIBBEAN ART PORTAL LAUNCHED—04/26/15
Osmosis Caribbean has taken the arts of Jamaica to the next level, according to Julian Robinson, Jamaica’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining. The new arts portal was launched in St. Andrew, and according to Robinson, the initiative confirms the island’s strategic position as an information hub that nurture entrepreneurs and moves the Jamaican brand to global significance.
CARIBBEAN PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO—04/27/15
The Caribbean Public health Agency (CARPHA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mexico’s Ministry of Health. The agreement is designed to create a way to make international cooperation in the health care field stronger. The agreement provides for support in establishing the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS),, which CARPHA will host. This will benefit all people in the Caribbean region, since the agency’s activities aim to strengthen the regulatory capacity of the area and enhance expansion and access to lower-cost generic medications.
EPIDEMIC OF CHILD ABUSE EXISTS IN DOMINICA, SAYS JUDGE—04/28/15
High Court Justices Errol Thomas is warning that there is an “epidemic” of child abuse in Dominica. He issued his warning during the sentencing of a man for having sexual relations with three minor children. Thomas expressed outrage at the way Clife Elijah Charles behaved. Charles pleaded guilty to having sex with children aged six, seven and eight. He received a sentence of eight years in prison for the crimes.
CONCERNS ARISE THAT ISIS WILL USE DRUG ROUTES FOR ACCESS TO REGION—04/29/15
Military officials in the United States are afraid that ISIS militants will look to drug-smuggling routes through the Caribbean as a way to enter the U.S. According to Nasser Mustapha, senior sociology lecturer at the University of the West Indies and a security expert, has heard rumors in his homeland of Trinidad that recruiting videos for ISIS are being distributed throughout the Caribbean region, and some Caribbean citizens are even traveling to Syria to join the group. According to Mustapha, people without family or community attachments in the Caribbean are vulnerable to ISIS recruitment. He agrees that ISIS could find regional access via the drug trade in the Caribbean.
BUSH FAVORS U.S. STATEHOOD FOR PUERTO RICO—04/30/15
During a campaign stop by former Florida governor and potential Republican candidate for the presidency in 2016, Jeb Bush, he stated his support for the idea of statehood for Puerto Rico. He told his supporters at events in the country about his party’s need to connect with Latino voters. His comments caught the attention of some 640,000 Puerto Rican voters in Florida, who were strong supporters of Barack Obama in the last two U.S. presidential election cycles.
