KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – The outgoing president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Friday called on the 33-member grouping to establish a permanent headquarters for the hemispheric bloc in order to fulfil its objectives.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Jamaica will hold a meeting “within the next two weeks” on the situation in Haiti as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders and the various stakeholders continue their efforts to finding a lasting solution to the political, socio-economic situation in the French-speaking CARICOM country.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Children’s First and the Jamaica Association for the Deaf (JAD) are now partners with the Ministry of Justice in a national mission to strengthen access to justice services by the deaf and children in contact with and conflict with the law. 

SANTIAGO, Chile –  The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has released its annual  statistical overview of the socio-demographic, economic and environmental development of the regional countries.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The United States has reiterated its commitment to the security of Haiti and says it remains “unwavering” in its support for the Kenya-led Multinational Security Mission (MSS) as authorized by the United Nations Security Council last October.

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands – A joint operation between the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and US Customs and Border Control earlier this week, led to the interception of a vessel suspected of carrying illegal immigrants.

UNITED NATIONS – Guyana has called for a targeted and bold approach in addressing the impact of conflict on food and climate security as the world grapples to deal with their effects.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – Anthony Conrad George, the designer of the Grenada National Flag died in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, the same day the island celebrated its 50thanniversary of political independence from Britain, attorney Jacqueline McKenzie has said.

BELMOPAN, Belize – Belize says it is “deeply concerned” at the decision of donor countries to suspend contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Officials in Barbados have nominated road tennis and landship to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

UNITED NATIONS – The Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Wednesday that escalating armed violence in Haiti has triggered a “profound” humanitarian crisis.

BERLIN – Transparency International says only Guyana and the Dominican Republic in the Americas have improved their Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scores over the past decade, while the others have either stagnated or significantly declined.