KINGSTON, Jamaica – Comprehensive legislation is slated to be tabled in the House of Representatives shortly to address the devastating effects of tobacco consumption in Jamaica, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton has disclosed.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Governor-General, Sir Tapley Seaton, has denied a request by six legislators for the removal of Prime Minister Timothy Harris as the split within the ruling coalition Team Unity government takes another turn.

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands – Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley was sworn in as the new Premier of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a few hours after the House of Assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence resolution revoking the appointment of Andrew Fahie as  premier of the British Overseas Territory.

FLORIDA, United States – The United States Attorney’s Office has rejected British Virgin Islands (BVI) Premier Andrew Fahie’s claim of diplomatic immunity which he applied for in a “Notice of Invocation of Immunity”, in an attempt to get released from detention.

NEW YORK, New York – In a clear effort to galvanize the Black vote, New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the appointment of US Congressman Antonio Delgado to serve as Lieutenant Governor of New York, replacing Caribbean American Brian Benjamin, who was indicted in early April on bribery and related offenses.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Embattled Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris Monday announced a 10 percent salary increase for public sector workers benefitting more than 9,000 workers in the twin island Federation.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) says it regards as “a retrograde step” the abolition of the Parliament in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) with direct rule from London.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The main opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has elected University of the West Indies (UWI) law lecturer, Dr. Ronnie Yearwood, as its leader as the party seeks to rebound following two successive humiliating general elections in Barbados.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Former commissioner of police Gary Griffith has announced the launch of a new political party.

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands – The governing Virgin Islands Party (VIP), is now in the process of appointing a new Premier and the members have so far thrown their support behind Deputy Premier, Dr Natalio Wheatley who made the announcement late Saturday.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The St. Lucia government says it has been forced to defer the full implementation of a tax waiver for workers earning up to EC$4,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) a month due to the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Vincentians will on Sunday, May 1st begin getting some ease from rising fuel prices, with the implementation of a government policy that would slash prices at the pump, Minister of Finance Camillo Gonsalves announced on Thursday.