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Territory added to EU ‘grey list’

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 17:50:01 +0000

Territory added to EU ‘grey list’

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 17:50

Thursday, March 17, 2022

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Business - The BVI Beacon

Original Article

Territory added to EU ‘grey list’

The Virgin Islands has been added to the European Union’s “grey list” along with nine other jurisdictions in the Caribbean and elsewhere, the EU Council announced after its meeting on Feb. 24.

Besides the VI, the EU added the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Israel, Montserrat, Russia, Tunisia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Vietnam, bringing the total list up to 25 jurisdictions.

Although the inclusion does not mean that any penalties or sanctions will be levied against the territory, according to the EU, the move represents a significant setback after the territory rushed through economic substance legislation at the end of 2019 in order to meet EU requirements on tax reform.

In a Feb. 24 press release, the EU Council said that the list reflects “ongoing EU cooperation with its international partners and the commitments of these countries to reform their legislation to adhere to agreed tax good governance standards.”

The countries on the grey list are working toward meeting the EU’s tax standards, the release stated.

According to the EU, criteria for the list cover tax transparency, fair taxation and preventing tax base erosion and profit shifting. The organisation called implementation of the list a “dynamic process,” and noted that the next revision is scheduled for October of this year.

Anguilla, Botswana, Costa Rica, Dominica, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Qatar, the Seychelles, Thailand, Turkey and Uruguay were previously added and remain on the grey list.

The blacklist, which remained unchanged after last month’s announcement, currently includes American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States Virgin Islands, and Vanuatu.

VI response

At a press conference late last month, Premier Andrew Fahie urged onlookers not to view the move as a censure of the territory.

He said the grey-listing meant the VI has “substantially met all international tax standards set out by the EU, but that ongoing improvements are being made to implementing tax good governance.”

As a result, he said, it has been grey-listed while it implements policies and procedures in the territory’s Country-by-Country Reporting framework.

“No defensive measures flow from being on such list and the BVI is still a cooperative jurisdiction,” he said. “Once the BVI meets these commitments, it will be removed from the annex.”

He added that the territory “takes its international obligations seriously” and had already been finalising the necessary steps to ensure successful implementation of the recommendations.

This week, BVI Finance CEO Elise Donovan directed queries to the Premier’s Office. Director of Communications Dr. Arliene Penn said, “BVI’s addition to EU’s Annex II is a positive rating for us because it acknowledges that BVI is a cooperative jurisdiction that has implemented measures (in the case of the Country-by-Country Reporting) in accordance with the high international standards prescribed. The BVI remains highly committed to the transparency and international cooperation agenda.”

The EU has hinted for some time that it would seek to modify its requirements for the list, the latest iteration of which was announced last October.

In February 2021, the European parliament passed a resolution calling for a measure that would automatically blacklist British territories like the VI, the Cayman Islands and the Channel Islands that have a zero percent corporate tax rate — and that now have a weakened voice in the EU in the wake of the United Kingdom’s split from the organisation.

The resolution did not mention the VI at the time, but it came before the revelation that nearly two-thirds of companies named in the far-reaching Pandora Papers investigation last year were based in the VI.

Panama, which is already on the EU blacklist, was host to the second highest number.

World response

Meanwhile, the EU Observer reported late last month that tax-reform campaigners are already applauding the news.

Chiara Putaturo, a campaigner with the non-profit Oxfam, praised the move, but complained that the Cayman Islands was not included.

“If the [new] grey-listing … is confirmed, we will see some real tax havens finally at risk to be blacklisted [in the future],” she said. “However, there are still other tax havens that are left off the hook, … such as the Cayman Islands, because the criteria remain weak.”

History

As in other OTs, leaders in the VI have long criticised the EU’s blacklists as arbitrary and misleading, maintaining that the territory’s financial services industry is tightly regulated in keeping with international standards.

Nevertheless, the VI was grey-listed along with other jurisdictions in 2017. In March 2018, the EU concluded that the VI, the Bahamas and Cayman needed further technical guidance from the EU and had until the end of 2019 to adapt local legislation, which resulted in the Economic Substance Act being rushed through the House of Assembly in late 2018.

Thanks to this move, the VI was white-listed, alongside 16 other jurisdictions, in February 2020.

The post Territory added to EU ‘grey list’ first appeared on The BVI Beacon.

The post Territory added to EU ‘grey list’ appeared first on The BVI Beacon.

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Sue over blacklist, says economist

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 17:40:01 +0000

Sue over blacklist, says economist

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 17:40

Thursday, April 28, 2022

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Business - The BVI Beacon

Original Article

Sue over blacklist, says economist

Caribbean countries that live in fear of being blacklisted by the European Union should band together and take legal action, according to Barbados-based economist and Caribbean policy expert Marla Dukharan.

“I felt like there should be some legal recourse that should be pursued collectively,” Ms. Dukharan said on Feb. 23 on the regional livestreamed show “Territories Talk,” hosted by Shaina Smith-Archer, chairwoman of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.

The EU blacklist often comes under fire in the VI for being a moving target.

Ms. Dukharan said it is also unfair. EU member states such as the Netherlands and Ireland are “well known for their extensive money laundering and tax evading activities,” but have never been included on any EU blacklist, she said.

To her, this suggests Eurocentrism or even racism, and perhaps an effort to undermine countries that are “eating part of their pie,” she said of the EU.

Grey-listed

In February, the territory was added to the EU’s “grey list,” along with nine other jurisdictions in the Caribbean and elsewhere.

Besides the VI, the EU added the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Israel, Montserrat, Russia, Tunisia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Vietnam, bringing the total on the list up to 25 jurisdictions.

Although the February inclusion does not mean that any penalties or sanctions will be levied against the territory, the move represents a significant setback after the VI rushed through economic substance legislation at the end of 2019 in order to meet EU requirements on tax reform.

The standards for inclusion on the EU lists have frequently changed, and Ms. Dukharan pointed out that the European Parliament itself has noted problems with the selection process.

In 2021, the legislative body proposed that the tax regimes of EU member states be scrutinised along with the rest of the world and subject to blacklisting if they don’t measure up.

“That tells you that you have a legal leg to stand on, because they, the policymakers, have acknowledged that we are not applying our own standards to our own member states, and that’s not fair,” she said. “Why is it that our countries have not come together, found a law firm that will represent us collectively, and taken them to court over this action?”

Fighting back

She added that even a statement from the Caribbean Community condemning the actions of the EU is simply “not strong enough.”

“I think if all of the countries came together from the Pacific and the Caribbean and agitated and protested, I think that there is a chance,” she said. “For example, if you appeal to the United Nations, you appeal to the World Trade Organisation, somebody is going to hear you. But when each individual little tiny micro state appeals individually, it is just white noise.”

She also recommended that countries that object to the blacklist expel EU ambassadors.

“The second thing I think we need to do is take diplomatic action,” she said.

With changing criteria, she noted, even countries that have satisfied the Financial Action Task Force and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development standards still run the risk of being blacklisted.

“But we don’t have the courage to do these things because we are small and we are insecure maybe,” she said.

Current list

In a Feb. 24 press release, the EU Council said that the grey list reflects “ongoing EU cooperation with its international partners and the commitments of these countries to reform their legislation to adhere to agreed tax good governance standards.”

The countries on the grey list are working toward meeting the EU’s tax standards, the release stated.

According to the EU, criteriafor the list cover tax transparency, fair taxation and preventing tax base erosion and profit shifting. The next revision is scheduled for October.

Anguilla, Botswana, Costa Rica, Dominica, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Qatar, the Seychelles, Thailand, Turkey and Uruguay were previously added and remain on the grey list.

The blacklist for “non-cooperative” tax jurisdictions, which remained unchanged after the February announcement, currently includes American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States VI, and Vanuatu.

The post Sue over blacklist, says economist first appeared on The BVI Beacon.

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Comissiong cops Presidents’ Award St Martin Book Fair

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:50:01 +0000

Comissiong cops Presidents’ Award St Martin Book Fair

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 14:50

Friday, June 17, 2022

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Barbados Today

Original Article

Comissiong cops Presidents’ Award St Martin Book Fair

MARIGOT, St. Martin — His Excellency David Comissiong, Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, recently received The Presidents’ Award from the St. Martin Book Fair. The annual Award is the final highlight of the three-day St. Martin Literary Festival, said book fair coordinator Shujah Reiph.

“The Presidents’ Award is presented to individuals and institutions whose work is noted for its excellence and for combining literary, cultural, and liberation components in the service of progress, of their people or nation, and of humanity,” said Lasana M. Sekou, House of Nehesi Publishers’ consultant to the festival.

“This is an unexpected gift,” said Comissiong while accepting the ebony statute award before the 120 plus guests that filled the literary big tent.

The festival’s main book launch and closing ceremony — dedicated to noted Bajan novelist and political thinker George Lamming (8 June 1927 – 4 June 2022) — was held at the Port of Galis Bay, overlooking Marigot Harbour with the night lights of Anguilla in view across the channel.

The theme of book fair 2022, “The Rebirth” had already been elaborated on by Comissiong in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the festival in the garden of the Government administration building in Philipsburg.

Over the three book fest days, some 38 guest authors from Canada to Australia, the St. Martin public, and visitors to the island at book fair activities, had come to know David Comissiong as Barbados’ Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and to the Association of Caribbean States.

“Few knew that he was a former senator in the government of Barbados and that he was born in St. Vincent,” said Reiph. Comissiong is also a founder-member of the Caribbean Pan-African Network; the Clement Payne Movement of Barbados; the Caribbean Chapter of the International Network in Defence of Humanity; and the Global Afrikan Congress.

Comissiong was an architect and the first director of the Barbados Government’s Commission for Pan-African Affairs. He also represented the Caribbean region at the 7th Pan-African Congress in Uganda (1994).

Comissiong played a key role in the United Nations’ World Conference Against Racism in South Africa (2001) and has represented the Diaspora on the African Union’s Economic Social and Cultural Council.

Since 2012, the alumnus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) has served as a member of Barbados’ National Task Force on Reparations.

An attorney-at-Law since 1984, Comissiong is the author of The Wide Streets of Tomorrow: Essays and Speeches, It’s the Healing of the Nation: The Case for Reparations, The Pan-African Love Story of Arnold and Mignon Ford; and The Year 1953 and The Shaping of the Soul of Guyana (pamphlet, 2022).

Among past recipients of the St. Martin Book Fair Presidents Award are Edwidge Danticat (USA/Haiti), Computech (St. Martin), Benny Wenda (West Papua), Norman Girvan (Jamaica), Casa de las Americas (Cuba), George Lamming (Barbados), Quince Duncan (Costa Rica), Nicole Cage (Martinique), Kamau Brathwaite (Barbados), Will Johnson (Saba), Drisana Deborah Jack (St. Martin), and Derek Walcott (St. Lucia).

The Presidents’ Award is named after the presidents of Conscious Lyrics Foundation (CLF), House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP), and the University of St. Martin (USM), said Reiph. (PR)

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Expert warns of Ransomware menace

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 14:30:01 +0000

Expert warns of Ransomware menace

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 14:30

Thursday, June 9, 2022

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Business Archives - Barbados Today

Original Article

Expert warns of Ransomware menace

by Marlon Madden

With increases in ransomware attacks globally over the past two years, one cybersecurity professional is expressing concern that too many governments and businesses continue to operate with less-than ideal cyber networks, making it easier for attackers to infiltrate their organisations.

Andrew Houchin, partner systems engineer with data center and cloud computing security company Illumio, warned that having the right systems in place to fight off these threats should be a top priority of firms. Outlining how ransomware attacks spread within an organisation and some possible solutions, Houchin warned that not having the right systems could be devastating to governments, businesses and their customers.

“It is very frustrating not having the proper tools [and] procedures in place to be able to combat these threats and it can be very devastating,” he cautioned. “Attackers can lurk for weeks [or] months. They can spend a lot of time doing a research within an organisation trying to see what they can get hold of,” he said.

The cybersecurity official was addressing a recent webinar on the topic See Your Risk: Protect from Ransomware. The webinar was hosted by cybersecurity products and services firm DigitalEra and Illumio.

Houchin said many organisations were operating on flat networks that in turn allowed for the free movement of ransomware attacks, ranging from the stealing of data, locking of systems and rendering systems unavailable.

He informed that once a breach was made within an organisation by a ransomware attacker then their ability to steal data or block systems “is almost guaranteed”.

“It is not just ‘hey, a machine was compromised’. That machine’s breach is just the opening of the door. It is just their first step within an organisation and they make every attempt to move laterally – to move over to other work stations, to move into servers to see what files they can access – so that lateral movement is really where the problem becomes huge within organisations,” he explained. In recent times, Costa Rica has been battling the issue of ransomware, which is said to have caused major disruption to IT systems of numerous government ministries there. Last year, a number of businesses were also targeted with ransomware attacks. m

Houchin cautioned companies to better manage their network file-sharing protocols, warning that “they are the avenue that ransomware takes to move around in your environment”. “At that point you get your ransomware note and you are at the mercy at whatever existing technology you have to recover or the ability to pay the ransomware fines,” he said. Pointing to what he said were solutions from illumio to guard against ransomware attacks, he said “It is very important to an organisation to make sure you still have patching to make sure you are addressing vulnerabilities”.

He warned that some industries should pay even closer attention to their network systems protection. “In the financial industry, in the health care industry, in manufacturing and more of the core infrastructure industries, these are all becoming some very similar threats at this point,” he said. He added in order to keep ransomware attacks at bay firms should develop the ability to isolate different parts of their operations and “make sure individuals may not have this higher level access than maybe required to access some of the sensitive servers or core operations of your business”.

“So being able to put in rules and policies that prevent that level of access is proactive to making sure that threats do not move around in an environment,” he said.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

The post Expert warns of Ransomware menace appeared first on Barbados Today.

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Dominican Republic’s basic food basket is one of the cheapest in the region, according to study

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 15:30:01 +0000

Dominican Republic’s basic food basket is one of the cheapest in the region, according to study

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 15:30

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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Economy – Dominican Today

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Dominican Republic’s basic food basket is one of the cheapest in the region, ac…

Santo Domingo, DR.
According to a study recently carried out by the Central American Consumer Protection Council (Concadeco), an organization that belongs to the Central American Integration System (SICA), the Dominican Republic is one of the countries with the cheapest basic food basket,

The president of the regional body, the Honduran Mario Castejon, said in a press release that the country has the staple products with the lowest prices than Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, and other Caribbean countries.

The head of the General Directorate of Consumer Protection of Tegucigalpa also highlighted that according to the comparative study, the basic food basket in El Salvador is US$223.86; Dominican Republic US$275.38.

He said that for this study, the 26 essential food products marketed in rural and urban areas of these countries were taken as a fundamental sample, “where it was determined that El Salvador is the first country with the cheapest basic products, followed by the Dominican Republic.”

Food
Among the foods included in the price monitoring study are chicken, eggs, pasta, legumes, sausages, cereals and derivatives, powdered and liquid milk, dairy products, vegetables, roots and tubers, seafood and fish, fruits, canned goods, as well as rice and oils have more affordable prices in the Dominican Republic.

Castejón said that the consumer protection agencies permanently carry out these studies to maintain a consultation among all the member states of the Consumer Protection Council of Central America.

He explained that the importance of the fact that the country has one of the cheapest basic food baskets in the region benefits the pockets of Dominican consumers, mainly low-income families.

He took the opportunity to inform us that next September, the executive director of the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights, Dr. Eddy Alcántara, will assume the pro tempore presidency of Concadeco in an event to be held in Santo Domingo with the presence of his counterparts from Central America.

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Dominican Republic in top 10 best places to retire

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 10:20:01 +0000

Dominican Republic in top 10 best places to retire

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admin Thu, 02/24/2022 - 10:20

Sunday, February 13, 2022

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Local – Dominican Today

Original Article

Dominican Republic in top 10 best places to retire

According to Travel + Leisure Magazine

The travel magazine Travel + Leisure published a list of the best destinations after retirement, considering factors such as the ease of obtaining residence, the health system, the climate, and the cost of living, among others.

As global travel has increased over the years, many seniors want to continue the adventure of exploring the world by retiring abroad. Others move to new places to stretch their retirement income or enjoy new experiences.

According to recent data from the United States Social Security Administration, more than 700,000 Americans receive their payments abroad.

Medical care, visa requirements, local culture, taxes, and living costs are all part of the decision to retire to another country. With so many considerations, it’s a good idea to get professional advice, and advisers recommend spending at least several months in a potential retirement destination before you make a move,” said the magazine’s travel specialists.

In that sense, 10 of the best places to retire in the world, according to Travel + Leisure, are:

1- Panama

2- Portugal

3- The Dominican Republic because it is considered one of the least expensive Latin American countries for retirees, according to data from the magazine. In Santo Domingo, the capital, the cost of rent is 90% lower than in New York, and the cost of living is 55% lower. Its location is another advantage for some retirees.

Most retirees purchase private health insurance as they are not eligible for government programs, and quality medical care at private hospitals is available at reasonable prices. Retirees can enter the country on a tourist visa and then apply for a retirement visa, which takes several months.

Most ex-pats live in the cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago, and there are beautiful resort towns like Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and Boca Chica. However, certain areas are not considered safe, so do your research before moving.

The list continues with:

4- Spain

5- Costa Rica

6- Malt

7- Ecuador

8- Mexico

9- Colombia

10- United States

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Costa Rica hungry for JA acts

admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 18:20:01 +0000

Costa Rica hungry for JA acts

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admin Tue, 02/22/2022 - 18:20

Saturday, February 12, 2022

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Jamaica Observer

Original Article

Costa Rica hungry for JA acts

COSTA Rican dancehall promoter Fire Don is hoping that the two-year-old shutdown of reggae shows due to COVID-19 in that Central American country will soon end.

"Right now Costa Ricans are hungry for Jamaican music. They love reggae because this is the music their foreparents played when they came here as part of the railway workers in the latter part of 1880s. They never left, so we have some three generations of music lovers here in Costa Rica," said Fire Don, who has Jamaican parents.

"I can't wait to see the back of COVID-19 because this is how I have been making money by promoting shows which are mainly for the most part very successful," he continued.

According to the promoter, Jamaican acts Chuck Fenda, Anthony B, and Christopher Martin has graced his stage.

"These shows are usually well attended, attracting thousands of fans. The last show I had was December 2017," he said.

Costa Rica, which has a population of just over 5,000,000, has so far recorded close to 8,000 deaths from COVID-19.

Fire Don, given name Ricardo Waddell Lewis, was born in Puerto Limon in Puerto Rico to Jamaican parents Vincent Waddel and Claudia Lewis-Hylton. In 2007, he formed the harmony group Black Rose which comprised Tiny B, Daddy Tarzan and Little P. They enjoyed fair airplay with Poorness.

The group disbanned in 2012 but Fire Don continued as a solo artiste, with tracks appearing on several albums. These include Mr Fire Don (Radical 11), My Dear Friend (Total Beat), Big Fire Burn (Basic Element), and War (Natural Lyrics).

His acquisition of the Internet-based Voice Over Radio TV in 2015 is expected to give him a bigger platform as he works to expose new acts.

For the past 17 years, he has been promoter for the Puro Roots stage shows in Puerto Rico.

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Entertainment

NACAC dominates World Athletics Awards

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 04:30:01 +0000

NACAC dominates World Athletics Awards

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admin Sat, 12/11/2021 - 04:30

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

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Searchlight

Original Article

NACAC dominates World Athletics Awards

The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) was the dominant confederation when World Athletics staged its awards in Monaco, last week.

Topping the list was Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah, who was adjudged Female Athlete of the Year.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Thompson-Herah, won both the 100m and 200m, respectively, repeating her 2016 Olympic victories in Rio, 2016. The gold medal victory in the 4 x 100m in Tokyo was a bonus to her achievements.

At last week’s ceremony, NACAC was also in winner’s row, as the Female Rising Star Award for 2021 went to Athing Mu of the USA.

Additionally, NACAC and USA’s Erriyon Knighton captured the World Athletics Male Rising Star Award.

Meanwhile, long-serving US coach, Bobby Kersee, captured the World Athletics Coach of The Year award, and the President’s Award went to Peter Diamond, NBC’s Executive Vice President of Olympic Programming.

And, NACAC member federation, Costa Rica, copped the top award for Member Federation of the Year.

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Bitcoin city for El Salvador as it boosts its digital economy

admin — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 14:20:01 +0000

Bitcoin city for El Salvador as it boosts its digital economy

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admin Thu, 12/09/2021 - 14:20

Friday, December 3, 2021

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Jamaica Observer

Original Article

Bitcoin city for El Salvador as it boosts its digital economy

El Salvador is again revolutionising the financial services sector with the announcement of the construction of a Bitcoin city to add another first in the world.

The concept of this unique city is duly backed by Bitcoin, the world's largest crypto player in terms of market capitalisation, instead of regular fiat currencies. In September this year, El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, despite warnings from influential players like the International Monetary Fund.

The construction of the Bitcoin city will further boost the Central American country's digital economy and would give added legitimacy to the use of Bitcoins on a global scale. Based on the concept of the Bitcoin city, which has been articulated by the Salvadorian authorities, the Central American country is seeking to introduce a new lifestyle for residents, free of payroll, property and income taxes.

With the Bitcoin city, the Economic Times of India is reporting that El Salvador plans to usher in a new era of digital education, sustainable energy reserves, and green mining. When the city becomes a reality, it will aim to achieve zero CO2 emissions and become a Bitcoin mining ecosystem driven by geothermal energy.

The timeline of setting up this fabled city is still under the wraps but based on discussions, the Bitcoin city will simplify the concept of foreign investments by eliminating cross-border delinquencies and bottlenecks. According to the Indian Economic Times, "Once investors across the globe can contribute towards the development of this city via Bitcoin bonds, the crypto space will transform into something more comprehensive."

It is expected that the city will eventually attract bond-issued funding, allowing investors to get hold of tokenised Bitcoin bonds at face value. These bonds, it has been reported, will be available at prices as low as US$100 and will initially pay 6.5 per cent interest annually.

El Salvador plans to raise US$1 billion with these bonds to make way for a greener mining infrastructure and more Bitcoins. The purchased Bitcoins will be sold in bits after the five-year lock-in period, which will generate higher dividends for the investors. All in all, the entire set-up will aim to incentivise the proponents of the Bitcoin city.

As a forerunner to the development of the Bitcoin city, El Salvador is building a technology park to advance its digital economy. Local real estate firm Grupo Aristos reports that the tech park will be constructed on the outskirts of the capital San Salvador and will have eight office buildings with a total floor space of 46,000 square metres.

All the buildings in the park will be powered from a solar farm. In addition, there will be recreational centres, bus stations and playgrounds. Grupo Aristos says once completed, the tech park will house workstations for as many as 5,000 professionals.

El Economista quoted José Escobar, president of Grupo Aristos, as saying, "We want to create a technological ecosystem that has never been seen before in the country, with corporate offices for BPOs, call centres, data centres, and software development firms."

Meanwhile, a Costa Rican firm called Codisa has agreed to build a data centre nearby the park. Estimated to cost US$30 million, the data centre will carry Tier III certification from the Uptime Institute.

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Business

SVG U-20 men in Group C of Concacaf qualifiers

admin — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 18:20:01 +0000

SVG U-20 men in Group C of Concacaf qualifiers admin Mon, 10/04/2021 - 18:20

Friday, October 1, 2021

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Searchlight

Original Article

SVG U-20 men in Group C of Concacaf qualifiers

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ male Under-20 footballers have been drawn in Group C of the CONCACAF qualifiers, set for the Dominican Republic, November 5 to 14.

The Vincentians will contest the group, alongside Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Barbados and Montserrat.

St Vincent and the Grenadines will open their quest on November 8 versus Puerto Rico and face Barbados on November 10. On November 12, St Vincent and the Grenadines entertain Bermuda and close off against Montserrat on November 14.

The other groups are Group A, which involves Curacao, Grenada, Dominica, Saint Maarten and the British Virgin Islands, while the Dominican Republic, Belize, St Lucia, Saint Martin and Anguilla are lodged in Group B. Occupying Group D are Nicaragua, Guyana, Cayman Islands and the US Virgin Islands.

The four group winners will advance to the 2022 CONCACAF Under-20 championships, joining the top 16 ranked teams.

The ranked teams are the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, Honduras, Panama, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis, Aruba, Suriname, Cuba, Antigua and Barbuda, El Salvador and Guatemala.

They will be divided into four groups of four, with the three top teams in each group making it to the elimination stage. All knock-out stage matches will be played in a single match direct elimination format.

The two finalists will qualify for the FIFA Men’s Under-20 World Cup Indonesia 2023 and the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. The two losing semi-finalists will also guarantee their participation in the FIFA Men’s Under-20 World Cup Indonesia 2023

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