Caribbean & Central America - January 2014 (ISSN 1741-4458)

*** TRINIDAD PROJECTIONS SEEN TO BE REALISTIC. The Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago is forecasting economic growth of 2.5% for 2014. Local economists believe this to be realistic, although some have said that the estimate of 1.5% growth for 2013 may have been affected by flooding in Eastern Caribbean countries in late December and a spate of Petrotrin oil spills which began on 17 December and which may have been the result of sabotage.

Agreeing with the 2.5% projection for 2014, Dr Roger Hosein from the Trade and Economic Unit at the University of the West Indies (UWI) notes: “The natural gas maintenance by the major companies has been completed. Our trading partners have been returning to something close to a more stable level of growth, even if at a new lower level. The price of oil is expected to average around US$95.”

During 2012 (when growth was 1.2%) and 2013, growth was affected by large-scale maintenance programmes in the energy sector. Output in both upstream and downstream industries is expected to return to normal levels in 2014.

*** ST KITTS & NEVIS OPPOSITION TAKES TO THE STREETS. Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, head of the St Kitts & Nevis Labour Party (SKLP) is still hanging on to power and refusing to grant parliamentary time for a no-confidence motion that the opposition has been trying to table since December 2012. There are 11 elected seats in the National Assembly, and the opposition now controls six of these. However, there are also three appointed Senators and the Attorney-General who take the total number of members to 15 in all. It is the unelected element that has enabled Douglas to cling to power, but it is a controversial manoeuvre as only elected members are entitled to vote in a no-confidence motion.

Back in July, Douglas said he would hold on to power until constituency boundary changes had been implemented. Then he would call an election. However, at the end of November the High Court upheld an injunction preventing the implementation of the boundary changes and called for a judicial review.

The three-party opposition grouping known as Team Unity has taken to the streets to try to force Douglas’s hand. Following a street demonstration on 10 January Sam Condor, Douglas’s former deputy and now Team Unity member, warned: “We will not come off the streets until he [Douglas] does what is right – either bring the motion of no confidence or call the election, that is what the country demands.” Condor added: “We want our democracy back.”

People’s Action Movement (PAM) leader Shawn Richards agreed, saying: “We are going to continue to agitate from now until the general election is called in this country.”

*** GOOD NEWS ON ST LUCIA TOURISM. Last year was a record for tourism in St Lucia, with stay-over arrivals hitting a record 315,000 visitors. Overall arrivals in 2013 were up 3.4% on 2012, with the largest increase (11%) coming from the US. Minister of Tourism Lorne Theophilus said: “Several factors played an integral part in the success…from increased airlift accessibility and strategic marketing initiatives to the enhancements made by our hotel partners.” According to the St Lucia Tourist Board, a further US$230m is due to be spent by the industry on upgrades and refurbishment during 2014.