Reversing Brexit would boost economy, says OECD
Reversing the Brexit process would boost the UK economy, the international economic body, the OECD has said.
A new referendum or a change of government leading to the UK staying within the EU would have a "significant" positive impact on growth, the OECD said.
It also warned "no deal" would see investment seize up, the pound hit new lows and the UK's credit rating cut.
It said the outcome of the Brexit negotiations was hard to predict.
The Chancellor, Philip Hammond, said the UK would consider the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s report and act where it could.
At a press conference following the release of the report, Mr Hammond reiterated that companies in the UK and the European Union would benefit from the certainty of a limited transition period after Brexit.
He said: "[By] delivering a time-limited transition period, avoiding a disruptive cliff-edge exit from the EU, we can provide greater certainty for businesses up and down the UK, and across the European Union."
The OECD's secretary general, Angel Gurria, said that any future relationship with the European Union should be close: "It will be crucial the EU and the UK maintain the closest economic relationship possible."
The organisation's report highlights other challenges for the UK, including productivity and the growth of zero-hours contracts.
It says rules should be tightened to restrict self employment to "truly independent entrepreneurs".
It also says the current account deficit could be harder to finance, as a fall in the UK's credit rating could lead to higher interest rates to attract lenders from other countries.
The group also commented that UK productivity growth had come to a "standstill", adding that the picture was weakest outside Greater London and the south east of England. It said that pattern "may lead to, or be the result of, important differences among people in terms of income and wealth, jobs and earnings, and education and skills".
It said these "may have been one of the causes of Brexit, as less-educated workers in remote regions might have perceived to benefit less from the European project".
Among its recommendations for boosting productivity are increasing policies that give more power to the regions.
A Treasury spokesperson responded to the OECD's recommendations on productivity.
"Increasing productivity is a key priority for this government, so that we can build on our record employment levels and improve people's quality of life," the spokesperson said.
"Today, the OECD has recognised the importance of our £23bn National Productivity Investment Fund which will improve our country's infrastructure, increase research and development and build more houses."
The OECD suggests the growing use of what it calls "non standard" forms of employment, including self-employment and zero-hours contracts, can be "detrimental" to the acquisition of skills and the job quality of low-skilled workers.
Source-BBC
Flow Turks and Caicos restores Services throughout the Turks and Caicos after two Hurricanes
Delleriece Hall, Country Manager of Cable & Wireless Communications, operators of the brand Flow, today confirmed that the majority of Flow’s mobile and fixed network has been restored to customers throughout the Islands, following the significant devastation of Hurricane Irma.
“Connectivity to family, friends and loved ones is essential, especially during times of crisis, and as providers of core communication services in the region, we knew we had a tremendous responsibility to restore services as quickly as possible” said Delleriece Hall, country manager of C&W. “I am happy to report that Flow was the FIRST to restore mobile services in North and Middle Caicos, South Caicos, and Grand Turk. While there are restoration delays in some areas, due largely to the unavailability of electricity, our teams continue to work around the clock to restore services as quickly as possible,” the Country Manager said.
Speaking on C&W/Flow broader hurricane recovery efforts in the TCI, Hall outlined the Company’s support during the hurricane. For customers, Flow waived bill payments for fixed services as well as broadband and TV Rentals for September. The Company also set up free Wi-Fi hotspot and established a charging station at the central office in Providenciales. Flow provided critical office space to 911 services at the Head Office and partnered with the Red Cross in a “Restoring Family Links” exercise while supporting the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) by providing cell phones with SIM cards, data and voice service for first responders, and shelter managers. “We remain committed to the people of the region and are focused on our mission of connecting communities and transforming lives. We are equally proud of our network performance, which in several markets, including the Turks and Caicos Islands, was the only operational mobile network immediately after the hurricanes,” said Hall.
Flow further advises that customers should refrain from cutting low lying cables. Customers are asked to contact our office on 946-4499 to report any low lying cables, and 611 to report faults for broadband and TV in areas where commercial power has been restored.
The Department of Immigration Confirms Arrival of Illegal Migrants in West Caicos
The Department of Immigration in the Ministry of Border Control and Employment, following reports of a possible landing of illegal migrants, can confirm that more than 150 men, women and children of Haitian nationality, were found in and around the waters and island of West Caicos.
The Task Force in the Department of Immigration, along with Police Officials, responded to reports received mid-morning, and while details remain sketchy, as a result some 81 persons have been apprehended and ferried to Providenciales for processing and what is estimated to be possibly some further 80+ persons are still on West Caicos awaiting transportation to the processing unit in Providenciales.
The Department of Immigration in the Ministry of Border Control and Employment again reminds the public that harboring illegal migrants is a crime and such persons can now face a fine of $20,000 on summary conviction or to a term of imprisonment of four years, or to both. In addition, persons acquiring status other than by birth that are convicted of such an offense, face the possibility of having their status in the Islands revoked, thereby making them liable to deportation.
The migrants of this latest incident will be processed for repatriation to their native home, the Republic of Haiti.
Trump open to a bilateral Canada-US trade deal
President Trump says if talks to reform Nafta fail, he could envisage a US-Canada trade pact, excluding Mexico.
The US president said if there was no deal on the North American Free Trade Agreement, it would be terminated.
He was speaking at the White House with visiting Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.
Replying to a question, Mr Trump said he said he would consider a trade pact with Canada minus Mexico, adding that both the US and Canada wanted to protect their workers.
The current round of talks on renegotiating the trade bloc is reported to be stalling, with Mexico opposing a US move to increase the percentage of US-made components in car manufacturing.
Mr Trump's stance has however been criticised by US businesses,
And Mexican foreign minister Luis Videgaray, speaking ahead of the latest round of talks, said terminating Nafta could harm US-Mexico relations and damage co-operation on issues like fighting drug-trafficking.
Mr Trudeau said he believed the Nafta talks could still end in a "win, win, win".
But he said that Canada had to "be ready for anything" if the attempts to modernise the 23-year-old deal faltered.
Overall trade between the three Nafta partners reached $1.1 trillion (£832bn) in 2016.
American and Mexican officials say they want a renegotiated deal by December.
This week the influential US Chamber of Commerce warned it was time to "ring alarm bells" over the Nafta talks.
The business lobby group said there were "several poison pill proposals" put on the table by the US that could tank the renegotiations.
Those include US demands to adjust the rules of origin, which would increase the percentage of the content of car parts and other materials that would come from Nafta countries in order for a good to qualify as duty free - a specific concern for the North American auto industry.
Canada and the UK are sparring with the US over Canadian aerospace giant Bombardier.
The Trump administration has imposed hefty duties on Bombardier's C-Series jetliner.
American aerospace firm Boeing claims Bombardier received unfair government subsidies to produce its showcase passenger jet.
Bombardier is a significant employer in Northern Ireland and Canada.
Mr Trudeau said he "highlighted to the president how much we disagree vehemently" on the decision to impose anti-dumping duties.
Source-BBC
Thousands flee as wildfires ravage California; at least 15 killed
Massive wildfires sweeping through parts of California have killed at least 15 people and damaged more than 1,500 residences and other buildings, according to authorities.
Firefighters were battling 17 fires across multiple counties in the state as of late Monday, authorities said. Intensified by strong winds, the fires charred about 115,000 acres of land, destroyed at least 1,500 buildings and forced nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate.
St. Joseph Health said about 170 patients have been treated, many for burns and smoke inhalation, at three of its hospitals, including two in Sonoma County, where at least seven people died of fire-related injuries. Authorities have 183 unresolved missing person reports, according to one Sonoma County official.
Officials with the California Highway Patrol described one of the dead as an elderly woman who was blind and hard of hearing, according to ABC's San Francisco station, KGO. The woman was found dead in the driveway of her home in Santa Rosa, according to the officials, who suspected that she was trying to escape the flames when she died.
Details on the other victims have not been released yet.
Two of the largest fires, dubbed the Tubbs and Atlas fires by authorities, burned a combined 52,000 acres of land in Sonoma and Napa counties.
In Anaheim, 1,000 firefighters were mobilized to fight a blaze that burned an estimated 6,000 acres and destroyed at least 24 homes and businesses. At least 3,000 residents were evacuated in and around Anaheim, and more than 5,000 structures were threatened by the flames.
California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties.
With the flames sweeping through communities, some area hospitals have been evacuated. Evacuations were also issued for surrounding counties that are under threat, according to the Napa Valley Sheriff's Office.
Many residents have been warned not to return to their homes until further notice.
Source-ABC
Jennifer Lopez, Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Chris Martin, Gwen Stefani & more set for disaster relief telethon this Saturday
A massive collection of stars will participate in a new telethon for disaster relief, airing this Saturday on Telemundo, Univision and, in part, NBC.
The telethon, called One Voice: Somos Live! A Concert for Disaster Relief, will air live from Miami's Marlins Park stadium and from an NBC soundstage in L.A. The latter portion will be will be hosted by Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. JLo will also perform from L.A., as will Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Ricky Martin, Gwen Stefani, Stevie Wonder, Coldplay's Chris Martin, Mary J. Blige, Julia Michaels and more.
In Miami, there will be performances by Marc Anthony, DJ Khaled, MAGIC!, Daddy Yankee, and a slew of top Latin stars.
Other stars who'll be appearing during the telethon include Christina Aguilera, Babyface, The Chainsmokers, Ciara, Vanessa Hudgens, Seth Green, Howie Dorough of Backstreet Boys, Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashaian, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ryan Seacrest, Jimmy Smits, Zoe Saldana, Heidi Klum, Vin Diesel, John Leguizamo, Sofia Vergara and many more.
Tickets to the Miami portion of the event are on sale now at Marlins.com/somos.
The One Voice telethon will air on Telemundo and Univision starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Saturday, and the third hour will be broadcast on NBC starting at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Other stations will be announced soon.
The money raised will benefit Feeding Amercia, Save the Children, Habitat for Humanity, Unidos for Puerto Rico, United Way and UNICEF, all to help the victims of hurricanes and earthquakes in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Ministry of Health Agriculture and Human Services (MOHAHS) receives technical assistance from Public Health England
This past week (2-6 October, 2017) the MOHAHS received consultants from Public Health England (PHE) to assist and provide support to the Public Health team in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Through this visit, plans are being made to address immediate, medium and long term needs for additional support in relation to supplies, developing action plans and capacity building using novel techniques.
Dr. Thomas Waite has been working with the National Epidemiology and Research Unit (NERU) in the Turks and Caicos Islands to strengthen existing disease surveillance and identify immediate additional needs as well as future planning. He has met with key stakeholders focusing on building capacity to rapidly identify clusters of gastroenteritis and vector borne disease because the risks of these are higher after natural disasters.
Dr. Waite is a Medical Epidemiologist with the Extreme Events and Health Protection Team at (PHE), the focal point for evidence-based health protection advice for planning, response and recovery from extreme weather events and other natural hazards. He has extensive experience responding to incidents and outbreaks in the UK, Africa and south-east Asia.
Alexander Vaux, a Medical Entomologist at Public Health England focusing particularly on the ecology of mosquitoes also visited the TCI. The medical entomology group at PHE is responsible for advising government on the public health risks from endemic and emerging vector-borne diseases in the UK and abroad. During his stay in TCI, he worked closely with the Environmental Health Department, particularly the vector control unit, visiting the islands and conducting a needs assessment.
Alex has nine years of experience in the medical entomology team and advises on invasive mosquitoes. He has worked extensively in the Caribbean, providing training and developing mosquito surveillance and control plans with Environmental Health and vector control teams across the region.
Dr Autilia Newton, a Consultant in Communicable Disease Control with PHE and a specialist in Infectious Disease, has also joined the Ministry of Health team and will provide additional technical assistance over the coming weeks.
The Ministry of Health Agriculture and Human Services is grateful to the team at PHE for providing assistance at this critical time. Additional details of this visit will be provided in subsequent Press Releases as the Ministry keeps the public informed of new developments.
Coping with the Stress of Natural Disasters
When a community has been hit by a natural disaster, many persons usually find themselves trying to make sense of what happened and deal with the stress of the situation. These events create a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety for those directly and indirectly affected. In the days and weeks following the disaster, you may begin to experience some of the following reactions:
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Disbelief and shock
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Fear and anxiety about the future
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Disorientation; difficulty making decisions or concentrating
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Apathy and emotional numbing
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Nightmares and reoccurring thoughts about the event
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Irritability and anger
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Sadness and depression
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Feeling powerless
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Changes in eating patterns; loss of appetite or overeating
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Crying for "no apparent reason"
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Headaches, back pains and stomach problems
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Difficulty sleeping or falling asleep
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Increased use of alcohol and drugs
Tips for Coping
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Talk about it. By talking with others about the event, you can relieve stress and realize that others share your feelings.
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Spend time with friends and family. They can help you through this tough time. If your family lives outside the area, stay in touch by phone. If you have any children, encourage them to share their concerns and feelings about the disaster with you.
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Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest and exercise, and eat properly. If you smoke or drink coffee, try to limit your intake, since nicotine and caffeine can also add to your stress.
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Find time for activities you enjoy. Read a book, go for a walk, catch a movie or do something else you find enjoyable. These healthy activities can help you get your mind off the disaster and keep the stress in check.
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Ask for help when you need it. If your feelings do not go away or are so intense that they interfere with your ability to function in daily life, talk with a trusted relative, friend, doctor or spiritual advisor about getting help. Make an appointment with a mental health professional to discuss how well you are coping with the recent events. Don't try to cope alone. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
For help in coping with stress following a natural disaster contact the Department of Mental Health on the following numbers:
Windies arrive in Zimbabwe for two-Test series
West Indies touched down in Zimbabwe Wednesday afternoon for their two-Test tour against Zimbabwe, as they chase their first series win in three years.
The confident Caribbean side arrived on a flight from South Africa, after leaving the Caribbean for London on Monday.
West Indies will waste little time in getting preparations underway, as they stage their first training session on Thursday afternoon.
They open the tour with a three-day match against Zimbabwe A starting Sunday at the Bulawayo Athletic Club before taking on the hosts in the opening Test at Queens Sports Club bowling off October 21.
The second Test is also scheduled for Queens Sports Club starting October 29.
West Indies boast a stellar record against the Zimbabweans, having never lost a Test in eight previous meetings.
And though the former World champions have won just three of their last 20 matches, they will be fancied to get the better of the African side, who are without a Test win in six years.
However, the hosts have been boosted by the return of Kyle Jarvis and Brendan Taylor who have not represented the country in recent years.
A 17-man Zimbabwe squad has been chosen to prepare for the series and are currently in camp here.
Source-CMC
STATE OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY CONFERENCE (SOTIC) 2017 BEGINS IN GRENADA
With the 2017 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), scheduled to officially open tonight 10 October at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort, a number of member countries of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) have been speaking with the media in a specially arranged day of destinations briefings yesterday.
Overall, they spoke in detail about the impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria, at and the recovery process.
Each affected destination recounted its losses, acknowledging the countries that have extended support and also explaining how they are forging ahead with the much costly rebuilding process.
The following is a summary in the order in which the countries appeared.
Grenada
Chief executive officer of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) Patricia Maher highlighted some of the major achievements of the tourism sector in Grenada during the past year, including a significant surge in visitor arrival, because of an increase in the number of cruise calls and flights to the Spice Island.
Ms. Maher also alluded to bright prospects for the Grenada tourism sector, with an increase in room stock, through the construction of the first luxury resort, Silversands, on Grand Anse Beach; the Kimpton Kawana Bay Resort to be constructed in the near future, and the refurbishment of the Spice Island Beach Resort, among other projects, aimed at boosting the tourism product.
Nevis
Devon Liburd, the director of tourism for Nevis, said the island escaped the worse of the storms and was open for business. Mr. Liburd also indicated that St. Kitts and Nevis had contributed US$1.5 million to some of the affected countries.
Barbados
In his address, William "Billy" Griffith, the chief executive officer of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) spoke of the state of the Barbados all-time high cruise arrivals of more than 800, 000 visitors in 2017 and increased development of the hotel product, such as the opening of a new Sandals Royal Hotel in December, 2017, doubling the hotel's capacity, and the US$200 million-dollar Sam Lord's Castle Resort - expected to be the biggest hotel project on the island - which will add 400 new rooms in 2020. He noted that air capacity has been growing due to increased demand for the destination.
St. Maarten
Rolando Brison, the director of tourism for Dutch Sint Maarten, who joined remotely, said his country lost at least 70 per cent of the hotel inventory, leaving much work to be done to restore the tourism industry there.
He announced that the Princess Juliana International Airport would resume operations today (10 October), and that a Royal Caribbean cruise line is return to the destination in November, 2017, when the cruise port reopens for cruise arrivals.
St. Martin
Valarie Damaseau, president of the St. Martin Tourist Office, in French St. Martin, who also addressed the media via Google Hangout, said her country's focus will be on preparing for the 2018-2019 tourist season.
Ms. Damaseau said roads and beaches had been cleared and cleaned; grocery stores and petrol stations are well provisioned; many bars and restaurants have reopened; electricity has been restored to 88 percent of the households and a full recovery, including restoration of water and telecommunications, is expected by the end of October 2017.
Bahamas
Joy Jibrilu, director general of the Bahamas ministry of tourism, spoke of the growth in that country's tourism industry and also some of the challenges being faced. The growth, however, was largely attributed to the massive Baha Mar resort. She also noted an increase in airlift to the Bahamas, independently initiated by carriers.
Martinique
Karine Mosseau, Martinique's commissioner of tourism, commenced her country's presentation by expressing her deep regret at the damage caused by the recent hurricanes, and shared a message of support and togetherness. She also was thankful that Martinique had been spared.
Valerie Vulcan, deputy director of the Martinique Promotion Bureau, noted that Martinique was voted as one of the safest islands in the Caribbean in 2016. She detailed Martinique's growth as a tourism destination, particularly as a cruise destination, while stating that stayover guest arrivals were increasing, in areas such as the yachting sector.
Anguilla
Cardigan Connor, Anguilla's parliamentary secretary with responsibility for tourism, sports and culture, noted that up until the passage of Hurricane Irma, on September 6, 2017, Anguilla had recorded strong growth in the tourism sector for the year.
Mr. Connor said the island had been ranked as the top island in the Caribbean by Travel and Leisure Magazine for 2017. He said despite hurricane damage, which could exceed the annual budget of EC $200 million, cleanup across the island was progressing well. Basic utility services are being restored, the airport in Anguilla has reopened, with restored access to the Princess Juliana Airport on neighbouring St. Maarten, as of October 10, 2017, and that many hotel properties were planning to reopen for Christmas.
Hotels that have already reopened have been mainly accommodating hurricane relief workers. However, Anguilla is now officially open for business, with plans for significant development of their current airport facilities in the near future.
British Virgin Islands
Sharon Flax-Brutus, director of tourism for the British Virgin Islands (BVI), also joined remotely and said that pre-Hurricane Irma the BVI was poised to have a record-breaking year.
She said progress was being made in restoring communication, basic utilities and airport services.
Ms. Flax-Brutus said most luxury properties may take up to two years to complete refurbishment, properties like the Nanny Cay - a top resort and marina - will be the first to reopen to guests, with other smaller hotels and places of accommodation soon to follow.
The BVI will not be open for business during the month of October 2017, during which time assessments will be completed; yachts repaired; accommodations, beaches and tourist attractions restored and the integrity of access ports repaired. Like Anguilla, available room stock is currently being utilized by hurricane relief workers. The BVI will begin to welcome guests to the islands on November 1, 2017.
St. Eustatius
Charles Lindo, director of tourism at the St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation, made a brief presentation about his island, which is a short flight from St. Maarten. The island currently has a room stock of approximately 175 rooms, which is expected to increase to 250 by 2018. The island, known for its diving and nature, boasts a tranquil, environment, he said. Lindo said the island is actively seeking suitable investors.
SOTIC, which has as its theme Supercharging the Caribbean Brand: Meeting the Needs of the New Explorers, is the preeminent educational forum for Caribbean hospitality and tourism professionals. This year's conference is being organised by the CTO in collaboration with the Grenada Tourism Authority and Grenada's ministry of tourism, and will be held from 10-13 October at the Radisson Grenada Beach Resort. The conference will be preceded by business meetings on 9 and 10 October.
Key conference sessions include Infusing Dynamism in Caribbean Tourism, Who are the New Explorers, Business Models that Rock, Turning Our Waters Into Goldmines - Investing in the Blue Economy, and Spicing Up the Caribbean Brand.
The highly anticipated tourism youth congress and a Stakeholders Speak Out session are also part of the programme.
For further details on the conference, including how to register, please visit http://sotic.onecaribbean.org/.
SOTIC sponsors include C&W Business, LIAT, JetBlue, Radisson Grenada Beach Resort, Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, Silver Sands Grenada, Grenada Airports Authority, Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association, Kimpton Kawana Bay, St. George's University, Caribbean Airlines, British Airways, Netherlands Insurance, Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenlec, National Lottery Authority, Port Louis Grenada, FLOW, Mt. Cinnamon, Le Phare Bleu, Sandals La Source, Coyaba, Bryden & Minors, Real Value, Waggy T Rentals, Belmont Estate, Prickly Bay Marina, Clarkes Court, the Marketing & National Importing Board, Grenada Marine, the Grenada Industrial Development Corporation, River Antoine, Huggins, Independence Agencies, Grenada Breweries and Glenelg.