GEORGETOWN, Guyana – President Irfaan Ali has defended his government’s vaccination or test policy, saying it is aimed at creating a safe work environment, even as unions approach the High Court to challenge the measures.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago is celebrating its 59^th anniversary of political independence from Britain on Tuesday without the traditional military parade and other public activities but with contrasting messages from the two main political leaders in the oil rich twin island republic.

NASSAU, Bahamas – At least none affiliated members of the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) have distanced themselves from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between their president Bernard Evans and the main opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) ahead of the September 16 general election.

NASSAU, Bahamas – Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis says campaigning for the September 16 general election will be held in strict accordance with the regulations put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) as he appealed to Bahamians to ensure that they are vaccinated against the pandemic.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Governor General Dame Sandra Mason has been nominated to be the first President as Barbados moves to become a republic by November 30.

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Bahamians will go to the polls on September 16, eight months before a general election is constitutionally due, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced Thursday morning, as he stressed that whoever emerges victorious will have to make key decisions on the way forward in the COVID-19 pandemic.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Belizean diplomat, Dr Carla Barnett, was on Monday installed as the eighth Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) indicating that she has no misapprehensions about the severity of the challenges that the 15-member grouping faces economically, socially, environmentally and financially.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Belizean Dr. Carla Barnett is to be installed as the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) first woman Secretary-General on Monday.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has condemned what it said were disrespectful comments made by newly appointed Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs Alva Baptiste about the island’s longstanding international and regional partners.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana parliament has given the green light to legislation that government legislators say will support the efforts of the Irfaan Ali administration to provide reliable energy and transform production in several sectors.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – The main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) is claiming harassment and intimidation after the police late Saturday, raided the homes of several opposition supporters and other activists, following the recent incident in which Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was injured. 

KINGSTOWN, ST. Vincent – Parliament is expected to begin debate on Thursday evening of a third revision of proposed changes to the Public Health Act, even as Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was nursing wounds suffered during protest here earlier during the day.