Category: BusinessDayTest

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the second review of Haiti’s Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP), including a request for a nine-month extension of the SMP through September 19, next year.

SMPs are informal agreements between countries and the IMF to monitor the implementation of their economic programme and build a track record of policy implementation that could pave the way for financial assistance from the IMF’s upper credit tranche (UCT).

Haiti’s SMP is tailored to its context of acute security challenges, institutional fragility, and capacity constraints and the Washington-based financial institution said that it supports Haiti’s priorities of economic stabilisation, improved governance, anticorruption, and strengthening the social safety net.

According to the IMF, the economic conditions in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country remain fragile amid persistent domestic and external shocks, and rising uncertainty.

It said against the backdrop of intensifying gang violence, real gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in the 2025 financial year for the seventh consecutive year, while annual inflation remained high at around 32 per cent.

The IMF said that the expiration of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians in the United States in February 2026, the non-renewal of the HOPE/HELP preferential trade agreement which ended in September 2025, and the impact of Hurricane Melissa in late October 2025, which caused significant loss of life and widespread damage to infrastructure and agricultural areas, exacerbating humanitarian needs and further constraining resources, are expected to further strain the Haitian economy.

But the IMF said despite the challenging conditions, programme implementation has been encouraging and that all quantitative and indicative targets for the end-June test date were met.

‘Monetary financing of the fiscal deficit has been maintained at zero, social spending reached the programme’s targets, and revenue performance stayed on track. International reserves continued to accumulate, supported by strong remittance inflows and foreign exchange purchases.

‘Net international reserves reached almost US$1.5 billion by end July 2025. The reform agenda, covering governance, public financial management, safeguards, and data provision, continues to advance, although with delays in some areas. The authorities continue to demonstrate strong ownership and engagement, including through the high-level SMP Monitoring Committee. ‘

The IMF said that the nine-month extension of the SMP will help support macroeconomic stability, preserve reform momentum, and allow for political and security conditions to stabilize.

It said the extension will consolidate recent achievements and advance key priorities, including strengthening governance and institutional safeguards, enhancing revenue mobilization, and improving the efficiency of public financial management.

‘The additional time will also allow for a more thorough assessment of the impact of ongoing international initiatives, including the United Nations’ Gang Suppression Force and the Organization of American States” Haitian Led Roadmap for Recovery and Peace’.

The IMF said that while security remains the top priority, the SMP will continue to focus on key policy areas and reforms critical to Haiti.

The Washington-based financial institution said that reform efforts should be coordinated and anchored in the Governance Diagnostic Report, including enhancing transparency and accountability in public financial management; mitigating corruption risks in revenue administration; and ensuring accountability for serious corruption, organised crime, and money laundering.

‘The authorities are encouraged to complete the national assessment for money laundering and terrorist financing, and to continue addressing strategic deficiencies in Haiti’s anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) framework to support its exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. ‘

The IMF said that fiscal policy remains constrained by institutional weaknesses that hinder revenue mobilization and spending efficiency.

It said immediate priorities include operationalizing automated monthly data exchanges between the tax and customs systems and completing the rollout of tax declarations and payments services for all large taxpayers across all commercial banks.

‘Strengthening budget execution-especially for social and security spending-is essential to adequately support vulnerable populations and advance critical infrastructure. This requires improved treasury cash management and robust project appraisal and budget prioritization, in line with the 2022 IMF Public Investment Management Assessment.’

The IMF said monetary policy credibility has improved with the elimination of monetary financing of the budget deficit.

‘Given the challenging and uncertain environment, foreign exchange interventions should remain focused on supporting the accumulation of international reserves and preserving exchange rate stability. Advancing the financial system’s regulatory and supervisory reform is essential, particularly by enhancing both on-site and off-site supervision.’

But the IMF said, despite the authorities’ continued efforts, Haiti requires international financial support to address its significant development needs.

‘To safeguard debt sustainability and build on progress under the SMP, this support should come as grants rather than non-concessional loans. Grant financing is essential to meet immediate humanitarian, social, and economic needs, and to place the economy on a steady and sustainable medium- and long-term growth path, which is essential for improving living conditions for the Haitian people.’

The IMF said that in line with its ‘Strategy for Fragile and Conflicted-Affected States,’ the the IMF staff will maintain close collaboration with Haiti’s main development partners, particularly on governance and capacity development.

Barbados says it is no longer regarded as a low tax jurisdiction after having put in place the global minimum taxes giving foreign investors the confidence that the island has undertaken the necessary reform.

Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, addressing the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes 21st Automatic Exchange of Information Peer Review Group (APRG) meeting, said the peer review would look at Barbados’ status in 2026

Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, speaking at the 21st Automatic Exchange of Information Peer Review Group (APRG) Meeting

The meeting brought together delegates from across the world working collaboratively to strengthen international cooperation, combat tax evasion, and advance global tax transparency.

Straughn said that the Mia Mottley government has been participating in reform under the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme, initiated in 2018, to restore macroeconomic stability and drive inclusive growth.

The programme involved a comprehensive debt restructuring and fiscal measures, supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and a Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

‘Barbados is no longer a low tax jurisdiction because we have the global minimum tax in place., that validation is important to give investors confidence that Barbados has done all the reform.

‘We, as small states, attempt to ensure that we can deliver on our development objectives, that the commitments that we’ve made with respect to tax transparency, as well as exchange of information on the Common Reporting Standards are key for us to be able to unlock investment.’

Straughn said that although Barbados is a small country from a capacity perspective, it is important to recognise that small states have peculiarities with being able to effectively monitor and maintain global standards.

‘How does a country ensure that it has enough resources to not just sustain its development effort, but as we have committed, to building climate resilience?

‘It means that our fiscal circumstance, our tax circumstance, must be relatively certain, given all that’s happening across the world, and therefore events like these help us to.share and understand the circumstances and the impact that these reforms will have on small states like Barbados’ Straughn said.

He said that there are ‘aggressive’ plans regarding the government’s intention to meet the BERT programme, which is hinged on the country’s ability to attract additional businesses in key sectors, and build an export-driven economy.

‘We are engaging in that particular space, that means collaboration with international companies and agencies to be able to help unlock those unique opportunities that help us to build resilience,’

Straughn reaffirmed Barbados’ dedication to the journey and stated that there have been significant improvements to metrics like improving transparency, better governance, investor confidence, better business and consumer confidence.

‘We remain committed to this process simply because the long-term sustainable viability of Barbados relies on us having a clean bill of health, because when disruption occurs you must be able to have a policy buffer within which to be capable of operating,’ he added.

The APRG comprises 30 members and is responsible for drawing conclusions on the legal frameworks of the Global Forum members who have committed to implementing the Common Reporting Standard and assessing the effectiveness of its implementation.

The leader of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) Dr. Godwin Friday, comfortable won his Northern Grenadines seat for the sixth consecutive time in Thursday’s general election as his party seems heading towards ending 25 years in the political wilderness.

Friday polled 2,183 votes as against for the Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) candidate, Carlos Williams, who could only muster 339 votes, and in the processing losing his deposit, according to the preliminary results announced here.

The NDP is seeking to prevent the ULP, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves from winning an unprecedented sixth consecutive term in office, and according to the preliminary results so far, the NDP is heading towards forming the government, leading in as many as 12 seats.

Gonsalves is leading comfortably in his Windward seat, polling 1815 to 791 for the NDP’s Cheftain Neptune with the results of one polling station yet to come in.

Among the NDP candidates leading is the President of Cricket West Indies, who is enjoying a comfortable lead over the Minister of Tourism, Carlos James by more than 200 votes with two polling stations yet to declare.

In the 2020 general election, the ULP won nine of the 15 seats.

More than 103,000 voters are going to the 250 polling stations here on Thursday to elect a new government in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in an election that political observers say could signal the end of the political career of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

Gonsalves, 79, the longest serving head of government in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), is leading his ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) into the election, hoping for a sixth consecutive victory, but he faces an uphill task as the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) seeks to end their 25 years in the political wilderness under the 66-year-old attorney Dr. Godwin Friday.

Both the ULP and the NDP are fielding candidates in all 15 constituencies.

The National Liberation Movement (NLM) is being represented by its leader, Dr. Doris Charles, who is contesting the South Leeward seat, while another female candidate, Kenna Questelles, the lone independent in the race is contesting the West St George.

In the last general election, the ULP won nine of the 15 seats.

New York Attorney General, Letitia James, is leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from unlawfully cutting off Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for tens of thousands of lawful Caribbean and other permanent residents.

James said the coalition is seeking to block new guidance from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) that ‘wrongly declares several groups of legal immigrants ineligible for food assistance, including permanent residents who were granted asylum or admitted as refugees’.

The attorneys general warn that the guidance would ‘saddle states with catastrophic financial penalties unless they immediately implement the unlawful restrictions’ and are urging the court to strike down the guidance ‘before it can cause lasting harm’.

Letitia James

‘The federal government’s shameful quest to take food away from children and families continues,’ James told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

‘USDA has no authority to arbitrarily cut entire groups of people out of the SNAP programme, and no one should go hungry because of the circumstances of their arrival to this country. My office will always fight to protect Americans’ SNAP benefits, and I will do everything in my power to shield New Yorkers from this unlawful policy,’ she added.

James said that, on October 31, USDA issued new guidance to state SNAP agencies describing changes under the so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ which narrowed SNAP eligibility for certain non-citizen groups, including refugees, asylum recipients, and others admitted under humanitarian protection programs.

The New York Attorney General said the memo went far beyond the statute Congress enacted, asserting that anyone who entered through these humanitarian pathways would remain permanently ineligible for SNAP, even after becoming lawful permanent residents.

James and the coalition emphasise that nothing in the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ or any other federal law supports USDA’s new position.

‘Federal law is clear that refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, individuals whose deportation has been withheld, and other humanitarian entrants become eligible for SNAP once they obtain their green cards and meet standard program requirements,’ they said, adding ‘USDA’s memo attempts to rewrite those rules, ignoring Congress and threatening to cut off food assistance for people who are fully eligible under the law’.

The attorneys general argue that USDA’s guidance also ‘blatantly misapplies the agency’s own regulations’ and that federal rules guarantee states a 120-day grace period after new guidance is issued to update their systems without facing severe financial penalties.

The attorneys general say USDA now claims that this period expired on November 1, just one day after the memo was released, over a weekend, and in the middle of a federal shutdown.

‘This reading is impossible to implement under USDA’s regulations. it renders the guidance unlawful on its face.

‘States have already begun implementing the statutory changes enacted earlier this year, but USDA’s abrupt and incorrect directive now forces them to overhaul eligibility systems overnight,’ the coalition say, warning that the directive threatens to destabilise SNAP nationwide, increase the risk of wrongful terminations, and create widespread confusion and distrust among families who rely on the program.

‘Even more alarming, under the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ penalty scheme, USDA’s interpretation could saddle states with fines so extreme that some warn they could be forced to shut down their SNAP programs entirely – a disastrous outcome that would leave millions of Americans without access to the nation’s most essential anti-hunger program,’ the coalition adds.

In New York alone, James said compliance with USDA’s ‘unlawful guidance would force the state to cut off SNAP benefits for as many as 35,000 lawful permanent residents, leaving families without food and pushing thousands into immediate crisis.

‘The sudden loss of benefits would deepen hardship across the state and place monumental strain on other safety-net and emergency food assistance programs,’ she said.

Last week, James and 20 other attorneys general formally called on the Trump administration to withdraw and correct the memo. They said the USDA did not respond.

The leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Dr. Godwin Friday, Thursday ended 25 years of being in the political wilderness after voters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines gave his party an overwhelming victory in the general election and in the process prevented the longest serving government leader of extending his hold on power.

Preliminary results show that the NDP won at least 11 of the 15 seats in the general election putting a halt to outgoing Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’ desire of leading the Unity Labour Party (ULP) to a sixth consecutive victory.

Gonsalves was among the ULP candidates to have retained their seats, but among the casualties were his son and Finance Minister, Camillo Gonsalves, who lost to to the NDP’s Laverine Gibson-Velox.

‘I believe the voter is always right and the voice of the people is the voice of God and even inmy disappointment today, I hold fast to those beliefs as the foundation of our democracy,’ the outgoing Finance Minister said, congratulating Gibson-Velox on her victory

‘They said sometimes you win and sometimes you lose and I am definitely learning a lot tonight,’ he added.

The leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Dr. Godwin Friday, Thursday ended 25 years of being in the political wilderness after voters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines gave his party an overwhelming victory in the general election and in the process prevented the longest serving government leader of extending his hold on power.

‘Thank you to everyone who voted today,’ the NDP said in a statement on its Facebook page.

Friday , 66, will become the seventh head of government in this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, after preliminary results show that the NDP won at least 11 of the 15 seats in the general election putting a halt to outgoing Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’ desire of leading the Unity Labour Party (ULP) to a sixth consecutive victory.

‘This election is too important. Don’t leave it up to someone else, make your vote count and join your friends, family and neighbours who are voting NDP for a better future in SVG,’ Friday had urged voters a a few hours ahead of the opening of the polls.

Gonsalves, 79, was among the ULP candidates to have retained their seats, polling 2,577 to regain the Windward seat as against 926 for the NDP’s Cheftain Neptune.

But among the causalities were his son and Finance Minister, Camillo Gonsalves, who lost to to the NDP’s Laverine Gibson-Velox.

‘I believe the voter is always right and the voice of the people is the voice of God and even inmy disappointment today, I hold fast to those beliefs as the foundation of our democracy,’ the outgoing Finance Minister said, congratulating Gibson-Velox on her victory

‘They said sometimes you win and sometimes you lose and I am definitely learning a lot tonight,’ he added.

NDP public relations officer, Lavern King said she has since been instructed by Friday to announce tomorrow, a public holiday, adding ‘we celebrate from Kingstown wharf at 12 noon’.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the ULP told supporters ‘We love you, SVG and we will keep working and advocating for you. This is not the end, it is the beginning,’ over a ‘Thank You’ picture of Gonsalves and the other candidates.

Among the successful NDP candidates is the president of Cricket West Indies, Dr. Kishore Shallow, who easily defeated the Tourism Minister Carlos James in the North Leeward constituency.

Barbados-based regional political pollster and analyst,bPeter Wickham said that there had been an average five per cent swing away from the ULP, noting also that the party had been experiencing dwindling support since the last two general elections.

Former NDP chairman, Dr. Linton Lewis, said the party had ‘skillfully’ avoided a number of issues during the campaign, including the NDP’s breaking relationship with Taiwan in preference to China and the controversial Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme that would allow for foreign investors to receive citizenship of the island in return for making a substantial investment in the island’s socio-economic development.

‘The time for a change is a very powerful slogan especially when you have been in office for 25 years,’ Linton added.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, who in September led his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to an unprecedented third consecutive term in office, extended ‘warm congratulations’ to Friday, saying ‘this is an important moment for the Vincentian people, who have participated in a peaceful and democratic process to shape the future of their nation.

‘I wish Dr. Friday every success as he undertakes the responsibility of national leadership, and I pray God’s guidance and wisdom upon him in the work ahead.

‘Jamaica values its close friendship with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and we look forward to strengthening our cooperation as we continue to build a more resilient and prosperous Caribbean region together,’ Holness said, adding ‘may this new chapter bring hope, unity, and progress for all Vincentians at home and across the diaspora’.

St. Lucia’s Opposition Leader, Allen Chastanet, who is hoping to win the government in the December 1 general election, also extended congratulations to Friday, saying ‘this victory is a testament to your perseverance, your integrity and the trust the people have placed in your leadership.

‘May your tenure be guided by wisdom, progress and an unwavering commitment to the people you now serve,’ he added.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in a statement said that she wanted to congratulate the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines ‘where a resounding democratic mandate was given to the New Democratic Party and Dr. Godwin Friday.

‘I commend the citizens of St., Vincent and the Grenadines for upholding the highest ideals of democracy’.

During the campaign for the election, Prime Minister Gonsalves had criticised the ruling United National Congress (UNC) in Trinidad and Tobago for sending activists and others to campaign alongside the NDP, an accusation Persad-Bissessar denied.

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew says his government remains committed transparency, accountability, and good governance under the Special Sustainability Zone Authorisation Act (SSZ), describing it as a landmark legislation that strengthens democratic oversight and responsible national development.

‘This legislation was set up to ensure that any major developments that can affect us here in Saint Kitts and Nevis must pass through Parliament,’ he told reporters on ‘The RoundTable’ programme.

Earlier this month, the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce suggested that the SSZ be repealed with the government undertaking ‘extensive’ public discussions on ‘the exact nature and extent of special economic zones’.

Prime Minister Terrance Drew

In an 11 page letter to Prime Minister Drew, the private sector group said that the public discussions will also allow for the ‘potential advantages and disadvantages’ of the zones, as well as outlining the ‘protections, parameters and guardrails that would be required to promote economic development.

‘Alternatively, if repeal is not considered advisable, Government should suspend the authorisation of any zone under the SSZ Act, pending the outcome of the recommended public consultations following which the legislation should be amended to provide the necessary protections and guardrails,’ according to the letter signed by the Chamber’s president, Trevor E Blake.

The private sector group said it recognises the importance of foreign direct investment for national development and acknowledges the use of special economic zones in other countries.

‘The Chamber also recognises the disadvantages of this system and the negative experience from which some countries have suffered in using this form of economic development,’ it said, noting that having reviewed the SSZ and the proposed Destiny Project in Nevis, it ‘has serious concerns about the structure and implications of this legislation and its immediate application.

‘We are very aware that our country is unique given its size, economy, population, challenges and culture. We also hold the view that the will of the people of our country is a critical factor in the adoption of this system, especially as the first zone proposed contemplates almost doubling the population of Nevis without any genuine debate on the implications,’ the Chamber said in the November 12 letter, a copy of which has been obtained by the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

But, the government says the legislation establishes a clear and accountable framework for attracting high-quality Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), diversifying the national economy, and generating long-term employment opportunities, while safeguarding the twin island Federation’s environment and sovereignty.

Drew told The Roundtable programme that the legislation represents a significant advancement in the Federation’s governance architecture, ensuring that any major development project with national impact must be brought before Parliament for open discussion and approval.

He said that this would promote openness, transparency, and public accountability ‘values that lie at the heart of our democracy’.

He noted that in previous years, major development agreements were often finalised without sufficient parliamentary debate or disclosure to the public.

He said that the SSZ legislation corrects this by requiring that every major project be presented to Parliament, ensuring that the people and their representatives can review and discuss its implications before implementation.

‘If there are opportunities to tighten the Act, we will tighten it. If I see areas to make it stronger, I will go to parliament, amend it, and make it stronger. But to repeal a law that guarantees transparency and public oversight would be irresponsible.’

Prime Minister Drew also reiterated that the sovereignty and independence of Saint Kitts and Nevis are not negotiable, telling reporters that no development agreement can compromise national security or Constitutional authority.

‘Our independence can never be threatened. If there is any space in there where that is questioned, we will tighten it. There’s only one immigration here, one customs here, one police organisation, and one court system, so nothing at all that affects any of those would be tolerated in any development,’ Prime Minister Drew said.

He reiterated that the SSZ is a ‘forward-looking, transparent, and participatory tool’ for responsible development, empowering citizens to engage meaningfully in shaping the nation’s sustainable future.

In its letter, the Chamber it is of the view that ‘certain key guardrails should not be crossed in any development agreement,’ noting that ‘these guardrails should be set out in the enabling legislation and not left to the discretion of the Government’.

The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has conducted a Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) and a Country Engagement Strategy (CES) mission with Dominica culminating in an agreement to develop a joint action plan to guide future collaboration.

The CPPR and CES meetings, which brought together senior government officials, CDB representatives, and key national stakeholders, reviewed project progress, address implementation challenges, and identify new opportunities to advance Dominica’s sustainable development agenda.

CDB Vice-President (Operations), Dr. Isaac Solomon, joins Dominica’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Irving McIntyre, for a photo during the recent Country Portfolio Review and Country Engagement Strategy meetings.

Discussions also focused on key sectors including infrastructure, water, agriculture, climate resilience, energy, and education. Featured initiatives included the Dominica Geothermal Project, the Basics Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) and the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF).

The CDB said that insights from these discussions directly informed the focus of the joint action plan, a multi-year framework designed to support Dominica’s ambition of building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economy.

It said that during the meetings, the Roosevelt Skerrit government also presented its medium-term priorities and outlined areas for support under CDB’s Special Development Fund (SDF) 11.

CDB Vice-President (Operations), Dr. Isaac Solomon, highlighted the significance of the action plan as a milestone in the ongoing partnership between the CDB and Dominica.

He also underscored the importance of strategic planning and adaptive implementation to strengthen institutional capacity, enhance economic competitiveness, and foster inclusive growth.

‘Theaction plan captures the collective vision of CDB and the Government to deliver tangible, lasting results that improve lives and strengthen resilience. It represents not just a plan of action, but a shared commitment to innovation, accountability, and the sustainable transformation of Dominica’s economy,’ said Solomon.

The action plan will outline priority areas for CDB financing over the next three years, with a focus on youth, MSME development, improving water and sewage systems, and support for expanding the utilisation of geothermal resources. In addition, the Plan integrates key actions to promote more effective project implementation.

Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre, emphasised the importance of collaboration in advancing Dominica’s Sustainable Development Goals, noting that CDB-supported projects are driving progress across key sectors. He commended the constructive dialogue between the Bank’s team and national stakeholders.

‘The government of Dominica deeply values CDB’s consistent partnership and its confidence in our development agenda as, together, we build stronger institutions, enhance capacity and improve the lives of our citizens,’ said McIntyre.

The CDB statement said that the new action plan reflects a renewed commitment by CDB and the Government to build a stronger future, ensuring that every investment delivers meaningful and lasting benefits for the people of Dominica.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Thursday, November 27,2025.

KINGSTOWN – More than 103,000 voters are going to the 250 polling stations here on Thursday to elect a new government in St. Vincent and the Grenadies, in an election that political observers say could signal the end of the political career of Prime MInister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

PORT OF SPAIN – Prime MInister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has welcomed the passage of the stand your ground legislation even as oppositionlegislators last night voted against the legislation.

HAMILTON – The Bermuda governmment says it remains committed to collaborative planning, continued dialogue, and strategic action to ensure that Bermudians are equipped, supported, and positioned to take full advantage of the emerging opportunities across the economy.

WASHINGTON – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the second review of Haiti’s Staff-Monitored Program (SMP), including a request for a nine-month extension of the SMP through September 19, next year.

BRIDGETOWN – Barbados has signed a partnership agreement with Nigeria to advance local pharmaceutical production, strengthen regulatory cooperation, and expand regional market access across the Caribbean, Latin America, as well as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

SPORTS:

LINCOLN – Fast bowler Johann Layne bowled impressively to snare three wickets as the West Indies’ two-day warmup match against a New Zealand XI petered out into a tame, predictable draw here at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval on Thursday.

NEW DELHI – West Indies Women’s explosive all-rounder Chinelle Henry was bought by the Delhi Capitals for US$150 000 during the first round of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) mega auction here on Thursday.