Montserrat

As the latest step in the Caribbean Development Bank’s efforts to help Caribbean governments get better value for money, the bank has launched a new phase of its public procurement reform programme with a workshop in the Virgin Islands.

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.

CDB’s Head of Procurement, Douglas Fraser.

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.

The maritime shipping giant Crowley has pulled out of parts of the Leeward Islands, but it will continue to serve the Virgin Islands, a company spokesman told the Beacon this week.

On Oct. 9, Crowley announced that it would cease shipping to much of the LeewardIslands at the end of that month.

Ministers of Health of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States(OECS) examined strategies to strengthen Ministries of Health at the 7th Annual meeting of the OECS Council of Ministers of Health convened virtually on Wednesday, November 24.

St Vincent and the Grenadines(SVG), was among states present at the meeting that was convened under the theme: Health System Strengthening and Laboratory Advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, chaired by Anguilla’s Premier and Minister of Health,Dr. Ellis Webster, a release states.

THE EASTERN Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is celebrating 38 years of service to the governments and people of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union(ECCU).

A release notes that the agreement establishing the ECCB as the monetary authority for the eight participating governments, was signed on July 5,1983 in Trinidad and Tobago and the ECCB was officially commissioned on 1st October 1983, replacing the Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority (ECCA) which was established in March 1965.

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.

In an effort to keep the COVID-19 virus out the country while maintaining some tourist revenue, Montserrat opened its borders in April this year to only the wealthiest holidaymakers who make at least US$70,000 a year.

Not only do they have to pass the financial background check but visitors have to commit to staying for at least two months. In exchange, they get an almost 'COVID-19 free' exclusive access to beaches and the island.

Civil society organisations in St Vincent and the Grenadines are among others in the OECS and wider Caribbean which can apply for a grant through UN Women.