Swine flu precautions
Health officials throughout the Caribbean are taking precautionary measures following the outbreak of Swine Flu in Mexico.
At least 100 people are suspected to have died of the disease in the central American country.
Neighbouring Belize has issued a travel advisory for its nationals.
The Health Minister Pablo Marin said local authorities are stepping up surveillance across the country, in order to detect all influenza and suspected influenza cases.
Jamaica’s ports of entry are on alert for travellers arriving from Mexico, the US and Canada, where human cases of the virus have been confirmed.
And Trinidad plans to screen the national under-17 football team and their escorts, who are currently in Mexico.
Opposition MPs to return to parliament
Opposition MPs in St Lucia were expected back in Parliament yesterday, for debate on the US $449 million budget.
Members of the St Lucia Labour Party (SLP)boycotted Friday’s budget presentation in protest at the government’s unwillingness to engage in talks regarding the “speaking order” of legislators during the debate.
Opposition Leader Dr Kenny Anthony said it was an established convention to decide on the order before the budget debate.
During his presentation, Prime Minister Stephenson King warned St Lucians to brace for ‘a difficult year ahead’, saying it would not be business as usual.
Zoellick urges help for poor countries
The president of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, has warned of a human catastrophe unless urgent action is taken on the global economic crisis.
He was speaking after a meeting of the main policy making committees of the World Bank and the IMF in Washington.
Zoellick said most of the internationally-agreed targets to tackle poverty in the developing world were unlikely to be met, and he urged richer countries to offer more help.
Vybz Kartel barred from Grenada
Jamaican dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel has been barred from performing in Grenada because of his raunchy lyrics.
Kartel, whose real name is Adija Palmer, was forced to cancel a May 2 concert planned to coincide with the local launch of his line of condoms, labelled ‘Daggering’.
They are already being marketed in Jamaica.
Junior health minister Ann Peters said the government denied the artiste a performance permit, because of concerns over lyrics that seem to promote violence.
But concert promoter Dexter Tillock defended Kartel’s music, saying his most recent work includes positive message and emphasises respect for women.
He also said he is considering legal action against the Grenada government, to recoup thousands of dollars in losses.
