GM's sales up 4.2% as trucks soar, cars dive
Booming demand for General Motors' pickups and SUVs in February helped ease the sting of a 21 percent drop in car sales.
Overall, GM sold 231,378 light vehicles last month, up 4.2 percent from a year earlier. Sales to individual buyers rose 1 percent while deliveries to fleet customers increased by 12 percent, GM said today.
Combined sales of pickups, SUVs and vans rose 36 percent. Sales of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickups totaled 60,552, up 19 percent and higher than that of Ford's F series (55,236).
Sales of GM's large SUVs -- redesigned for the 2015 model year and launched about a year ago -- continue to surge as GM moves past quality and logistics hiccups at its Arlington, Texas, plant. Combined sales of the SUVs, which include the Chevy Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade, rose 68 percent.
Sales of 9,076 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickups, which hit showrooms in the fall, aided GM's trucks total. That was higher than GM's January total of 8,147.
The outsize truck sales drove GM's average transaction price to $34,700, up $2,700 from a year ago, but the lowest mark since October.
“Our new SUVs and crossovers, combined with the three-pickup strategy we outlined more than a year ago, are dovetailing perfectly with the growing U.S. economy and a stronger job market,” Kurt McNeil, GM's U.S. vice president of sales operations, said in a statement.
GM's overall crossover sales rose 5 percent, led by the company's smallest entries: The Buick Encore, up 60 percent, to 4,921 sales; and the Chevy Trax, which debuted in December and sold 3,821 units in February.
Truck brand GMC led the way with a 19 percent gain, to 42,433 vehicles, the brand's strongest February sales since 2002.
Slumping car sales hurt GM's other three brands though. Chevy’s 3.8 percent gain sales masked sharp drops for its highest-volume cars -- Chevrolet Cruze down 16 percent, Malibu off 20 percent, Impala down 25 percent and Sonic down 62 percent.
After snapping a seven-month skid of flat or lower sales in January, Cadillac reversed course last month with a 13 percent decline. The Escalade was the lone bright spot, outselling every car in Cadillac's lineup.
Sales of the Cadillac ATS compact, down 16 percent, were hurt by a stop-sale order that that took effect Feb. 12 for an eventual recall to fix a problem with the sunroof.
Buick sales fell 9.2 percent amid weak demand across its car lineup. For the first time since it was added to the lineup in early 2013, the Encore was Buick's highest-volume nameplate for the month.
It was Buick's second straight monthly decline after the brand gained market share last year with an 11 percent sales increase.
Source-Automotive News
Caribbean observes World Birth Defects Day
The Caribbean Tuesday joined the international community in observing World Birth Defects Day with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) noting that congenital anomalies, or birth defects, are the second-leading cause of death in children under five in the region.
PAHO said that combined with prematurity, asphyxia and sepsis, birth defects account for 44 per cent of deaths among children. Globally, birth defects affect one in 33 babies and cause 3.2 million disabilities each year.
“The commemoration of this day aims to raise awareness about this common, costly and challenging problem but also to foster the development and implementation of prevention programs and to expand healthcare services for all people with birth defects,” said Suzanne Serruya, Director of PAHO’s Latin American Center for Perinatology (CLAP).
PAHO said congenital anomalies can have genetic, infectious or environmental origins, although in most cases it is difficult to identify a cause.
It said the most common serious birth disorders are heart and neural tube defects and Down syndrome.
Each year, an estimated 270,000 newborn babies die in the first 28 days of life from congenital anomalies, which are the fourth-leading cause of neonatal deaths after complications of premature delivery, neonatal infections and complications of childbirth, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data.
For babies who survive and live with these conditions, birth defects increase their risk of long-term disabilities, which greatly impact the individuals affected, their families, health systems and society, PAHO said.
It said many birth defects can be prevented or treated. Sufficient folic acid and iodine consumption during pregnancy, vaccination against rubella, which can be transmitted to children during pregnancy, and proper prenatal care are all key prevention measures.
“Our vision is for every child to be born with the best health possible and with the potential for a full and productive life.”
Source-CMC
Dominica to formally adopt CCJ on Friday
The Commonwealth of Dominica, will on Friday 6 March 2015, officially recognize the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as its final appellate court.
The historic occasion, scheduled to take place at the State House’s conference room from 10AM in the presence of Sir Denis Byron, the president of the CCJ, will be carried live on Vibes Radio.
The CCJ, headquartered in Port of Spain, Trinidad, was established in 2001, to replace the London-based Privy Council as the region’s final court of appeal.
Dominica signed the agreement establishing the CCJ on 15 February 2003 and in 2014 received the formal go-ahead from Britain to delink from the Privy Council and join the CCJ.
Attorney General Levi Peter said during a radio program on state owned DBS Radio on Monday 2 March, the decision to adopt the CCJ as Dominica’s final appellate court is a significant one as.
“The cost entailed in often paying for an attorney or attorneys to travel from Dominica, in addition to the UK attorneys, who have to be engaged, in addition to the air flights, the class of air flight, to be provided, expenses involved and just the other general cost in relation to legal proceeding,” he said.
Mr Peter explained that the reduction in the cost will also allow more people to take advantage of, or seek to exercise the right that they have than the very small number who currently go to the Privy Council.
“Because for most ordinary people, the Privy Council is beyond their reach for a number of reasons and cost is one of those reasons,” he said.
While Mr Peter noted that the closeness of the court is another benefit of adopting the CCJ, he said there is need to create, develop and advance jurisprudence “that comes from ourselves”.
“We need to further develop our self-confidence and our belief in ourselves as individuals and also our fellow compatriots, men and women from our jurisdiction and from other jurisdictions in the region”.
“We have people who have the intelligence, capacity, ability to sit in judgments over our issues and in-effect take forward laws that are by us and of us, and it is high time that we do so and complete the circle of sovereignty which we have embarked upon initially through associated statehood,” he said.
Dominica joins Belize, Guyana and Barbados, the only three countries of CARICOM which have abolished the Privy Council and made the CCJ their final appellate court.
The CCJ also acts as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member regional integration movement.
THE UK HAS APPROVED THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS’ 2015-16 BUDGET
The Turks and Caicos and UK governments have agreed the Territory’s 2015-16 budget, it was announced today, Monday, 2 March 2015.
The budgeted expenditure of US$224.7m is a 9% increase on the previous year, and proposes tax cuts, significant investment in education and infrastructure as well as delivering a surplus of $13.4m.
Some of the key features of the proposed budget include:
• a 50% reduction in the cost of business licenses in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI)
• the removal of the 7.5% Freight Insurance Tax which is applied to nearly all landed goods that are imported to the Islands
• an additional four staff to expedite the speedier processing of work permits
• an additional $1m for scholarships for Islanders, including $250,000 to help civil servants complete personal and professional development activities
• improved terms and conditions for public sector workers with the implementation of the pay and grading review
• the accelerated $2m completion of the new Long Bay Hills High School
The top ten areas of spending in the budget are (and increase/decrease over 2014/15 budget):
1. $60.7m (3.4% increase) for the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services
2. $33.2m (27% increase) for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Library Services. In addition to the scholarship funding, an additional $500,000 has been allocated to the TCI Community College, and $250,000 for upgrading public sporting facilities
3. $21.8m (32.7% increase) for the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, including $2.9m for the completion of the Caicos Causeway and $1.2m for road repairs and improvements
4. $20.9m (0.8%) for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force
5. $17.3m (-10.3% decrease) for the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment
6. $9.6m (16.2%% increase) for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communications, including an allocation for a new juvenile detention centre
7. $9m (18.1% increase) for the Attorney General’s Chambers
8. $7.8m (15.1% increase) for the Ministry of Border Control and Labour
9. $7m (28.1% increase) for the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture
10. $6.7m (-19% decrease) for the Judiciary
The remainder of the budget consists of statutory charges, including pension and gratuities, contingency fund and debt servicing ($16m), the Governor’s Office ($4m), House of Assembly ($2.8m), the Premier’s Office ($2.3m), the Director of Public Prosecutions ($2.3m), the Deputy Governor’s Office ($2.2m) and other costs, such as the constitutional and statutory bodies.
“This budget has been designed to support further growth in the TCI,” said Minister of Finance Washington Missick. “As an example, we are proposing to allow the airport and ports authorities to retain their surpluses, rather than paying them to government, so that they can invest them in upgrading South Caicos Airport and the South Dock harbour facility in Providenciales, respectively.
“These ambitious measures have only been made possible by my government’s continued fiscal prudence. We have set a course that sees us continue to reduce our debt obligations, while also looking for opportunities to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Although approved in principle by UK Ministers, the TCI budget is still a proposal which will be scrutinised by the House of Assembly’s Appropriation Committee in the next few weeks, before being fully debated by elected representatives before the end of March 2015.
TURKS AND CAICOS AND UK AGREE ISLANDS’ 2015-16 BUDGET
The Turks and Caicos and UK governments have agreed the Territory’s 2015-16 budget, it was announced today, Monday, 2 March 2015.
The budgeted expenditure of US$224.7m is a 9% increase on the previous year, and proposes tax cuts, significant investment in education and infrastructure as well as delivering a surplus of $13.4m.
Some of the key features of the proposed budget include:
• a 50% reduction in the cost of business licenses in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI)
• the removal of the 7.5% Freight Insurance Tax which is applied to nearly all landed goods that are imported to the Islands
• an additional four staff to expedite the speedier processing of work permits
• an additional $1m for scholarships for Islanders, including $250,000 to help civil servants complete personal and professional development activities
• improved terms and conditions for public sector workers with the implementation of the pay and grading review
• the accelerated $2m completion of the new Long Bay Hills High School
The top ten areas of spending in the budget are (and increase/decrease over 2014/15 budget):
1. $60.7m (3.4% increase) for the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services
2. $33.2m (27% increase) for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Library Services. In addition to the scholarship funding, an additional $500,000 has been allocated to the TCI Community College, and $250,000 for upgrading public sporting facilities
3. $21.8m (32.7% increase) for the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, including $2.9m for the completion of the Caicos Causeway and $1.2m for road repairs and improvements
4. $20.9m (0.8%) for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force
5. $17.3m (-10.3% decrease) for the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment
6. $9.6m (16.2%% increase) for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communications, including an allocation for a new juvenile detention centre
7. $9m (18.1% increase) for the Attorney General’s Chambers
8. $7.8m (15.1% increase) for the Ministry of Border Control and Labour
9. $7m (28.1% increase) for the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture
10. $6.7m (-19% decrease) for the Judiciary
The remainder of the budget consists of statutory charges, including pension and gratuities, contingency fund and debt servicing ($16m), the Governor’s Office ($4m), House of Assembly ($2.8m), the Premier’s Office ($2.3m), the Director of Public Prosecutions ($2.3m), the Deputy Governor’s Office ($2.2m) and other costs, such as the constitutional and statutory bodies.
“This budget has been designed to support further growth in the TCI,” said Minister of Finance Washington Missick. “As an example, we are proposing to allow the airport and ports authorities to retain their surpluses, rather than paying them to government, so that they can invest them in upgrading South Caicos Airport and the South Dock harbour facility in Providenciales, respectively.
“These ambitious measures have only been made possible by my government’s continued fiscal prudence. We have set a course that sees us continue to reduce our debt obligations, while also looking for opportunities to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Although approved in principle by UK Ministers, the TCI budget is still a proposal which will be scrutinised by the House of Assembly’s Appropriation Committee in the next few weeks, before being fully debated by elected representatives before the end of March 2015.
CARPHA EXPERT CONSULTATION ON CHIKUNGUNYA IN THE CARIBBEAN
Dr. Shandey Malcolm, Deputy Chief National Epidemiologist, Mr. Leroy Adams, Deputy Director of Environmental Health and Ms. Alrisa Gardiner, Senior Public Health Nurse, will be representing the Ministry of Health and Human Services at the CARPHA Expert Consultation on Chikungunya in the Caribbean in Trinidad, March 3-5, 2015.
The Conference is being held under the theme “Chikungunya in the Caribbean; Meeting Today’s Challenge and Preparing for the Future.”
Chikungunya virus was first detected in the Caribbean in 2013 and has led to more than 800,000 suspected cases in the Caribbean and Latin America and has considerable impact on the health and economics of the entire Caribbean Region.
Cases of Chikungunya were first reported in the Turks and Caicos Islands in May of 2014. Reports of Chikungunya increased during the rainy season when we experienced flooding throughout the TCI. In recent months, reported cases of Chikungunya have decreased. However, we have to remain vigilant.
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The best way to prevent the spread of Chikungunya is to protect yourself from mosquito bites, eliminate mosquito breeding sites and keep your environment clean.
During the three-day meeting, discussions will be held on the long-term impact of Chikungunya surveillance and outbreak response; entomological surveillance, control and management; clinical care and services as well as laboratory services, research and innovation; and communication strategies and experiences.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services is pleased to be represented at this meeting. As stated by the Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. James Hospedales, the meeting is expected to provide a unique opportunity to review efforts to position mosquito-borne diseases as a high priority in the public health agenda, and examine the potential for public-private partnerships as Government alone cannot solve the problem.
Guyana issues warning to Venezuela in oil drilling dispute
Guyana has issued a warning to neighbouring Venezuela to refrain from interfering in offshore oil exploration efforts.
Venezuela has objected to the planned offshore exploration by US company Exxon.
In a press release issued late Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the warning follows communication from Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry to the Country Manager of Esso Exploration and production Guyana Limited, objecting to the dispatch of a rig to proceed with the exploration of an oil well.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela desist from taking any actions that could only result in the stymieing of the development of Guyana and its people and that would be in contravention of international law,” the release stated.
Exxon Mobil plans to invest US$200 million in drilling offshore Guyana in the Liza field, which part of the Stabroek Block.
An oilrig, Deep Water Champion, has already left the United States for Guyana where it would begin work in mid-March.
Guyana says it has since informed the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Organisation of American States (OAS), the Commonwealth and the United Nations Secretary General “about this recent action by Venezuela”.
Source-CMC
Dominican President says, 'no extension to alien regularization plan.'
President Danilo Medina said in a speech Friday that no foreign nation or international body may require the country to make sacrifices outside its constitutional and legal order, neither on migration nor on any other sovereign right.
"We are building a nation together, a country with true equality and social justice. A country without exclusion and without discrimination, but also an organized and tidy country, where law enforcement should prevail," the president highlighted.
During his state of the nation speech, marking the country's independence from Haiti, Medina recalled that for decades, the Dominican government dragged serious institutional and legal deficiencies in this issue, which were accumulating without being solved by previous governments.
He said the government decided to act responsibly and implement the most ambitious alien regularization plan ever seen, not only in the Dominican Republic, but throughout the continent.
Source-Dominican Today
Venezuela imposes limits on US diplomats
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has announced measures to limit the number of US diplomats working in the country.
President Maduro said he wanted a review and reduction of American diplomatic staff.
US citizens visiting the country would also need visas and there would be a list of politicians who would be banned from entry.
Mr Maduro said US meddling had forced him to adopt the new measures.
The preisdent said that the US government had 100 employees working in Venezuela whereas Venezuela had 17 based in the US.
Mr Maduro said Venezuela would be charging Americans the same rates for visa as those levied on Venezuelans wishing to visit the United States.
A list of banned politicians would include George W Bush, Dick Cheney, Bob Menendez and Marco Rubio.
Mr Maduro said these were all men who had violated human rights and encouraged terrorism, particularly in Iraq and Syria.
Earlier this month the United States imposed visa restrictions on unnamed Venezuelan officials it accused of human rights violations and corruption.
The move builds on sanctions imposed last year on Venezuelan officials alleged to have violated the rights of protesters during demonstrations that shook the country in the first six months of 2014.
The list of officials banned from entering the US was extended to include family members.
Huawei and LG unveil round smartwatches
LG and Huawei have unveiled a range of new smartwatches featuring metal-framed circular designs.
LG's Watch Urbane comes in two editions - a basic version powered by Android Wear, and a high-end one with a 4G chip and a new operating system.
The latter can make and answer calls and send texts without needing to be linked to a phone.
The Huawei Watch uses Android Wear, and has a bigger display made out of sapphire crystal.
To date, demand for computer-powered watches has been limited.
Only 720,000 watches powered by Google's Android Wear were shipped in 2014 despite considerable publicity for the launches of the Moto 360, Asus ZenWatch and Samsung Gear Live, according to market research firm Canalys.
But sales are expected to jump in 2015, in part because Apple is releasing its Watch in April alongside a big budget marketing campaign, which may benefit the wider sector.
The Watch Urbane models are LG's third and fourth smartwatches, and the Huawei Watch the Chinese firm's first.
"Huawei's market entry will accelerate price competition, but the increasingly crowded market, differentiation challenges and the looming Apple Watch will limit its opportunity," commented George Jijiashvili, wearables analyst at the tech consultancy CCS Insight.
The announcements were made on the eve of the Mobile World Congress trade fair in Barcelona.
Source-BBC