BBC Caribbean News in Brief

22 rescued in Haiti boat accident
Authorities in Haiti have warned that there was “little hope” of finding more survivors from a boat accident on Saturday.

Five bodies were recovered and 22 people were rescued and taken to hospital, according to the latest press statement from Haiti’s civil protection agency. As many as 60 people were believed to be on board when the boat capsized.

Dominica requests IMF funding
Dominica is the latest eastern Caribbean nation to announce that it is seeking low-interest funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

But it has sought to point out, that like St Vincent and St Lucia, the funds are coming from a concessional IMF facility for countries hit by financial turbulence that was largely out of their control.

Dominica said it had made a formal request for US5 million from the Fund’s Exogenous Shock Facility to help meet a shortfall in export earnings.

Minister explains absence from IMF talks
Jamaica’s finance minister, Audley Shaw, has been explaining his absence from a delegation that has opened discussions with the IMF on traditionally more onerous standby agreement for balance of payment support.
He said that the minister was not involved in the preliminary stage of the talks.
The opposition had called on Mr Shaw to explain his absence from the talks.