Moontown

Elizabeth W. Allard Tobago Bureau

Burglars took advantage of the unoccupied holiday home of British citizens Peter and Murium Greene making off with several electronic and household items.

The break-in occurred even as the couple who were chopped during a cutlass attack on Emancipation Day are recovering from their once life-threatening injuries in England.

Their home, at Bacolet Crescent, had been broken into on more than one occasion in the past. According to police reports, the couple’s home was broken into sometime between Monday night and yesterday morning.

Police officials were alerted by neighbours in the area. Personal items that were taken included a stereo system, food and other personal items.

Tobagonian Clint Alexis, 25, who has been charged with attempting to murder the couple is now out on $200,000 bail. He is due to reappear on November 4.

Responding to this latest development Tourism Secretary Oswald Williams called for swift justice.

“We are a law abiding society and it is hoped the Police Service would work in the shortest possible time to investigate this matter,” Williams said.

-Ria Taitt

fun in the house: Prime Minister Patrick Manning, left, and Colm Imbert react during the 2009 budget debate at Parliament on Monday night. -Photo: MICHEAL BRUCE

Government total revenues for this year (October 2008 to September 2009) are projected to decline by $18.9 billion or 38.8 per cent; total public debt and debt servicing are projected to increase.

Total revenues amounted to $37.9 billion, reflecting a decline in tax revenue which comprises 83.3 per cent of total revenue.

This, according to the Review of the Economy, which is due to be tabled in the House of Representatives today. The document should have been laid last Monday with the other budget papers but was delayed because Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira said it contained errors.

The document points out that Central Government debt service is expected to increase by $2.5 billion to $5.9 billion in fiscal 2008/2009, “reflecting increases in both domestic and external debt service obligations”.

Domestic debt service is projected to rise by $2.2 billion to $4.5 billion or 76.4 per cent of total debt service. It added that this reflects a “one-off bullet repayment of $951 million bond (equivalent to US$150 million) which matured in November 2008″.

The Review of the Economy also states that external debt service is anticipated to expand by $352 million to $1.39 billion. It adds that this reflects a final payment of £30 million (equivalent to TT$294.6 million) on a £50 million loan which matured in May 2009.

The external debt is projected to increase by $880.6 million to $10.1 billion. The document said this was largely as a result of the strategic upgrade and expansion of the response platforms for the maritime forces of the country in an attempt to safeguard against regional threats to maritime safety and security, and for the protection of national resources.

This included disbursements towards the acquisition of three offshore patrol vessels (OPV), six fast patrol crafts (FPC) and other aviation assets. The Review added that the cost of construction of the National Academies for the Performing Arts is also included in the External Debt.

By contrast, taxes on income and profit, which is the largest component of tax revenue, is estimated to decrease “substantially” by $18 billion or 43.7 per cent to $23 billion. “This is due primarily to lower than projected tax collections from oil companies as a result of declining energy prices,” the document said.

Tax revenues from other companies operating in the refining, gas processing and petrochemical industries also declined as a result of overall lower prices from $7.6 billion to $5.1 billion. Unemployment Fund receipts also decreased by $1.2 billion or 63.3 per cent to $723.3 million, the document stated.

It added that tax collections from individuals are also expected to decline by $321 million to $3.9 billion, despite an increase in the number of companies employing persons in the $10,000 to $99,999 per annum income bracket. Similarly, tax receipts from the Green Fund, business levy, health surcharge are also anticipated to fall by $169.2 million.

The document states that taxes on goods and service, the second largest component of tax revenue, is expected to decline by $1.4 billion or 19.2 per cent to $6.2 billion, reflecting decreases in receipts from VAT, motor vehicle taxes and excise duties. It said collections in motor vehicle taxes decreased by 25.9 per cent as a result of a decline in sales of new and foreign used vehicles, while excise duties fell by 2.3 per cent because of production declines in products which attract excise duties.

The document states that receipts from taxes on international trade and stamp duties are expected to decrease by $344 million and $169 million respectively. It noted that receipts from taxes on property and land and buildings, also declined by $10.6 million and $11 million respectively.

It said, however, that non-tax revenue was projected to increase by $1.5 billion to $6.2 billion as profits from non-financial enterprises increase by $1 billion to $1.6 billion, largely as a result of higher dividends from State Enterprises.

On the other hand the gross public sector debt stock is anticipated to increase to $41.7 billion or 31.3 per cent, representing an increase of $848.5 million or 2.1 per cent compared with the previous fiscal year. It added that of the total debt stock, Central Government debt is expected to increase to $25.3 billion or 19 per cent of GDP. Contingent liabilities are projected to decline in absolute terms to $16 billion or an increase from 10.6 per cent of GDP to 12.3 per cent of GDP in fiscal 2008/2009.

The Government said that contingent liabilities, which comprises Government Guaranteed Debt, and letter of comfort, declined by $841 million to $16.4 billion, reflecting an overall decline in letters of comfort of $881.5 million. However, Government guaranteed debt rose by $40.4 million to $12.3 billion, primarily as a result of an increase of $449 million in domestic borrowings by statutory authorities.

The increase recording in the Statutory Authorities Government Guaranteed debt included borrowings by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) in the amount of $300 million for its national social development programme. Government guarantees to the Regional Health Authorities were also issued in the amount of $115 million to meet the operating and strategic objectives of the Ministry of Health, the document stated.

Golding said Bolt’s extraordinary performance for Jamaica had earned him the right to be called “ambassador” with full diplomatic privileges, including a diplomatic passport.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt

Highway 2000, linking several of the Caribbean island’s key cities, will be renamed the Usain Bolt Highway and the runner will be given Jamaica’s fourth highest national award, Golding announced in Parliament.

“I have advised the governor general to confer on Mr Bolt the Order of Jamaica for his outstanding achievements for Jamaica at the highest level of athletic competition,” Golding said.

Bolt, who smashed world records in the 100 meters in 9.58 seconds and the 200 meters in 19.19 seconds at the World Championship in Athletics in Berlin, Germany last month, returned to Jamaica on Monday after a grueling international season.

At 23, he will be the youngest recipient of the Order of Jamaica.

Bolt was involved in a car accident last April on the highway that will carry his name. He suffered minor injuries and his BMW was a write-off. No date for the name change was given.

He made the announcement at the official commissioning of the US$4 million Brazil-funded Takatu River Bridge which was held in Bomfin at the border between the two South American nations,

Speaking through an interpreter President Lula stated this project will be advanced very soon since he is “fully aware” that President Bharrat Jagdeo’s priority is an 800MW hydropower plant “and our minister… and president of the National Development Bank and other top authorities will be visiting Georgetown on October 2 or 3 to talk about these projects.”

He also revealed that already there are Brazilian companies to finance hydropower projects in Guyana, which would also benefit the Brazilian state of Roraima.

He noted the interior residents in both countries were already benefiting from the Takatu River Bridge through increased access to health, education and an alternative supply of goods. And his government is looking at opening more bank branches in the border areas in order to accelerate the integration process.

Turning his attention to the bridge the Brazilian leader says already a number of infrastructure and other arrangements are in place for the smooth flow of traffic across the borders adding that Brazil will open a vice consulate in Lethem soon.

“We will also be improving with more equipment and more training for our armed forces. Our frontiers should be the vanguard of our integration, a true point of coming together for dialogue.” Lula added.

He noted that a larger number of Brazilian goods enter the Guyanese market than local products making it across the border and “with the bridge over the Takatu River we will be incorporating Guyana once and for all into South America.

“But this bridge will also take Brazil to the Caribbean. I am convinced that there will be no South American or even Latin American integration without the full presence of the Caribbean and that was why Brazil recently joined the Caribbean Development Bank as a regional member,” Lula said.

He noted that the bridge is an indication of the “permanent friendship” between the two countries and Brazil’s renewed commitment to the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean.

He noted that they will institute exchanges between the schools of the two countries, with English and Portuguese being offered as second languages. Lula also touched on the trade imbalance between the two nations, saying this needed to be addressed.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. AFP PHOTO

President Jagdeo in his remarks stated that the construction of the bridge represented the fulfillment of a dream long held by Guyanese. “Today we demonstrate that there is no limit to what can be achieved through cooperation when political will is present.”

According to Jagdeo, the bridge was a reaffirmation for Guyanese and Brazilians that the two countries share the same “continental and hemispheric destiny” and that there were practical ways of making it promising for everyone.

Jagdeo noted that there was a significant Brazilian community which had contributed to the social development of Guyana.

“Guyana welcomes them warmly and assures them that they will find no hostility or suspicion on the part of our people; on the contrary you will be received with the warmth and affection of a true neighbor such as Guyana and Brazil are to each other,” Jagdeo reaffirmed.

He also lauded President Lula for his role in ensuring that Guyana and Suriname were included the South American bloc UNASUR

Prior to the commissioning, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Caroline Rodrigues-Birkett and several Brazilian government officials signed seven cooperation agreements which covered defence, agriculture, trade and investment, geological mapping, culture and the bilateral frontiers committee and the establishment of a special regime between Lethem and Bomfin to cover issues such as transportation and movement of goods under commercial quantities.

The top official said the number of visitors is expected to reach 2.3 million by the end of the year, mainly thanks to the promotion activities carried out by the Tourism Ministry (MINTUR) in the world market, and ratified the diversification of the tourist product.

During the inauguration of the 7th Ecotourism Congress (TURNAT 2009), underway at the Zapata Peninsula, some 180 kilometers to the southeast of Havana, Trujillo highlighted that Cuba is offering attractive tourism modalities, not only sun and beaches.

An example to that statement is TURNAT 2009, attended by a record figure of 130 participants from 14 countries, including tour operators, journalists and people interested in promoting the best from the largest and best preserved wetlands in the Caribbean.

Trujillo also announced that they plan to end 2009 with slightly higher incomes, and explained that its decrease, compared to the increase in the number of visitors, is the result of the current world economic crisis that also affects Cuba.

NASSAU, The Bahamas (BIS) — The Bahamas joined the rest of the Caribbean on Saturday, September 12 in celebrating Caribbean Wellness Day under the theme: “Love My Body”.

The Bahamas joined the rest of the Caribbean on Saturday, September 12 in celebrating Caribbean Wellness Day under the theme: “Love My Body”. Pictured viewing local produce on display a the Ministry of Health on Meeting Street are Camille Johnson, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette and Dr Hubert Minnis, Minister of Health. (BIS Photo/Kris Ingraham)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette officially opened a wellness fair at the Ministry of Health, encouraging Bahamians to curb the rate of non-communicable diseases through healthy living.

Caribbean Heads of Government, in response to the “heavy burden” of non-communicable diseases on its citizens issued the Port of Spain Declaration in September 2007, “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases” and declared the second Saturday in September be celebrated each year as Caribbean Wellness Day.

Such illnesses are heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes said to be the leading causes of premature death amongst Caribbean people.

Health statistics show that obesity remains a challenge in the 31 to 60- year-old age group, where greater than 30 per cent of the population is obese.

“However, measurable achievements are being made as well. One only has to look at the number of people that are out exercising in the mornings and evenings. Walking is becoming more common as a form also by you as individuals. You must also remain committed to reversing these trends within our nation,” Symonette said.

The Bahamas and the region have made progress in the fight against chronic non-communicable diseases. More than one hundred Healthy Dozen Clubs have been formed since the inception of the Healthy Lifestyles Secretariat in 2005, he said.

Health fairs are being offered more frequently by employers and churches and other non-governmental agencies, we actively seek to improve the health status of the population,” Mr. Symonette said.

Moreover, in 2001, the South Beach Health Care Centre opened and holds a weekly nutrition clinic for at-risk obese school children.

He encouraged Bahamians to incorporate some form of healthy living on a daily basis by exercising, parking a distance and walking to their office, cut back on unhealthy foods, drink alcohol in moderation, eat smaller portions and eat more vegetables and fruits.

The Port of Spain Declaration reinforces the gains made by the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development and the Caribbean Cooperation in Health, the Minister said.

“The Bahamas has forged strong partnerships to assist in its fight against chronic non-communicable diseases. The Pan American Health Organisation has continued to partner with us in this battle, providing financial and technical assistance along the way,” he said.

Minister of Health Dr Hubert Minnis also encouraged Bahamians to live healthy lifestyles.

“Many of these diseases share common risk factors combined with uncontrolled blood pressure, raised blood sugar and elevated cholesterol pose a major threat to the wellbeing of our citizens, resulting in loss of life and disability during the most productive years of life. With changes in lifestyle, 40 to 80 per cent of these diseases can be prevented,” he said.

Scores of Bahamians came in support of the event at the Ministry of Health on Meeting Street. They were given first-hand knowledge of healthy living through the various booths erected and sporting drills. The Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band led the entertainment segment.

US President Barack Obama on Monday extended the Cuban embargo. Bloomberg Photo

The move came a day after US President Barack Obama extended for one year the Trading with the Enemy Act, which bans exchanges with any nation considered a threat and serves as a basis for the trade embargo aimed at Cuba.

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will release Wednesday a report on the effects of the embargo that will be delivered later this month at the General Assembly meeting.

The General Assembly has condemned the US trade embargo on Cuba 17 times. In 2008, the resolution had 185 votes in favor.

The US government has been encouraging Cuba — the only one-party communist state in the Americas — to make progress on human rights issues.

Cuba’s communist regime has not allowed democratic or political opening in more than four decades since the July 1, 1959 revolution swept Fidel Castro to power, ousting US-backed Fulgencio Batista.

The US Treasury on September 3 eased restrictions on travel and money transfers to Cuba, five months after Obama announced the measures in a bid to improve ties with the communist island.

The changes focus on visits to the island by Cubans living in the United States, remittances by Cuban-Americans to their relatives and telecommunications, but continues to ban travel by most Americans to the island.