Whatever doubts might have existed in the minds of some about the viability of the Twenty20 (T20) cricket franchise model of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL), as far as gaining acceptance in the minds of the fans, have now been comprehensively dissipated. In terms of viability from a financial standpoint, that will be determined after all the dust (and fireworks) have settled, but in the meantime, the franchise owners and other corporate sponsors have held back nothing in their efforts to make the tournament a success. Up to now,…
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Malala’s inspiring story
The words of Malala Yousafzai at a recent United Nations (UN) meeting in New York continue to ring throughout the world: “I speak – not for myself, but for all girls and boys. I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights – their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, and their right to be educated.” Malala Yousafzai…
Read MoreMigration and development
There was a low-profile meeting last week in Georgetown, of the Caribbean Community/ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Caricom/ ECLAC)- sponsored Caribbean Forum on Population, Migration and Development. Linking the issues of migration and development, they issued a raft of proposals titled “The Road Map for Population, Migration and Development beyond 2014”. They included a wide range of development goals: “to reduce poverty and inequality, promote and protect the rights of vulnerable groups, including older persons, adolescents and youth, and persons with disabilities; achieving gender equality, equity…
Read MoreThe debt not paid
At the “recommitment” commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the heads of government decided to establish a “Reparations Commission”. It will pursue compensation for the now acknowledged “crime against humanity” that was committed against millions snatched from Africa and enslaved by the colonial powers from the 16th to the 19th century. We believe that this move is long overdue. Back in March 2007, as British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed “deep regret and sorrow” for his country’s role in the African slave trade,…
Read MoreMercosur and trading blocs
With the inability of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to bring the 2001 Doha (Development) Round of negotiations to a conclusion, there has been a bewildering number of bilateral and multilateral trading platforms launched in the interim. Trading blocs formed earlier have also become more energetic. The recent announcement that Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett will be attending the July11 meeting of Mercosur (Common Market of the South) and, along with Suriname, Guyana will be given “associate” status, suggests we examine the dynamics behind the move. Mercosur has been around since…
Read MoreJagdeo’s call timely
The discourse on the impact of climate change on the world and the need for urgent action by all players is gaining momentum. Our own former president, Bharrat Jagdeo has been a major voice on the international stage, providing global leadership in the climate change battle. Just a few days ago, he was invited by the Commonwealth secretary general to lead an expert group on climate finance to identify solutions to enable small, poor, and climate-vulnerable Commonwealth countries fight climate change. In Jagdeo’s view, a combination of robust analytics, proof…
Read MoreCPL: It’s our time to shine
What is expected to be cricket’s biggest showpiece – the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will bowl off next month, bringing tremendous economic and other benefits to Guyana and the region. The tournament replaces the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament and is somewhat patterned off the Indian Premier League (IPL) model of the game, where money is generated and some of it is pumped back into the development and expansion of the sport. The sheer magnitude of this event will help to strategically align Guyana, as the country will be featured in…
Read MoreTrade war salvos
It appears that we just witnessed the follow-up salvos in what might turn out to be a full-scale trade war between China and the West. Unfortunately, the product at the centre of the fracas is the solar panel, which has the potential to assist in the most crucial global challenge of the century – global warming and climate change. Last October, following up on preliminary penalties set earlier in the year, the U.S. Commerce Department set anti-dumping duties ranging from 18.32 per cent to 249.96 per cent on solar energy…
Read MoreWell-deserved kudos
About 30 years ago, AIDS was terrifying, deadly and spreading at a rapid rate, but today, we have a chance to end this epidemic once and for all. In reviewing the progress made since the 2001 Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the United Nations (UN) had pointed out that new infections had dropped by 20 per cent, and HIV was on a steep decline in some of the most-affected countries, including Ethiopia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which had cut infection rates by one quarter in the last 30 years. Countries…
Read MoreRoad safety
According to World Bank statistics, every year the lives of almost 1.24 million people are cut short as a result of road accidents. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury. The Caribbean is no exception. This region has suffered its fair share of disasters on the road resulting in a number of its citizens losing their lives or becoming disabled at a very young age. Almost every week there is some news that someone was killed…
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