GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Members of the Rastafarian community have expressed disappointment with the recent removal of custodial sentences for possession of small amounts of marijuana. 

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados has bestowed the Humanitarian Award on the outgoing Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Dr Carissa Etienne for her sterling contribution in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica government Tuesday declared a State of Public Emergency (SOE) in the parishes of Clarendon, St Catherine and sections of Kingston and St Andrew, even as it acknowledged that the country is not immune to the high level of criminality confronting the region.

BELMOPAN, Belize – The Belize government says it will need at least US$20 million to assist with the rebuilding of storm-ravaged communities in the Belize District following the passage of Hurricane Lisa last week.

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt – Declaring himself an “accountability chief”, former Grenadian politician Simon Stiell who now serves as the UN climate chief said on Sunday as the Climate Change Conference (COP27) began here that leaders will be held accountable for promises they made at last year’s conference.

WASHINGTON DC - The Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency, PICA, is to implement a new customer relations management system at the island’s two international airports which will enhance the ability of PICA to provide a better quality of service to anyone coming into Jamaica.

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – A Haitian publication, Le Nouvelliste has announced the discontinuation of its print edition following the violent assault of one of its reporters, Roberson Alphonse last week.

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti –The United States has condemned the attack on journalists in Haiti as prominent media worker, Roberson Alphonse, is recovering in hospital after he was shot in his car while on his way to work in the capital on Tuesday.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The United States is providing a grant of US$5.3 million to the St. Lucia-based Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission to implement the Opportunities to Advance and Support Youth for Success (OASYS) project in the Eastern Caribbean over the next four years.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands – Seven persons suspected to be involved in the gang-related crime wave, that has gripped this British Overseas territory, were arrested last week as the police forces continues to clamp down on the upsurge in crime and violence.

HAMILTON, Bermuda — The resident population of Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory, fell by more than 200 people between 2020 and 2021, with a growing number of deaths and fewer births.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The President of the St. Lucia Senate, Stanley Felix, will re-appear in court on November 16, after he was granted EC$15,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) on a charge of perverting the course of justice.