PM fears collapse
The Prime Minister of Haiti said he fears the government could collapse because of the criticism of his government’s response to last month’s earthquake. Jean-Max Bellerive became Prime Minister only last November, the sixth person to hold the post in five years. Bellerive told the Associated Press news agency that everyone was trying to create conflict when Haiti had one enemy right now: “It’s misery, it’s disaster”.
He said he understood the criticism but noted that services were hurt because thousands of public servants lost their lives and many buildings were damaged or destroyed.
Suriname gets good IMF marks
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Suriname has weathered the global economic crisis “relatively well”.
In a statement, the IMF said Suriname had experienced a strong performance in the gold and construction sectors, and international reserves remained at a comfortable level.
The Fund’s Directors praised the government’s policies, which have helped reduce the level of public debt to among the lowest in the Caribbean, while providing room to implement stimulus packages during the slowdown. Suriname’s economy is estimated to have grown by 2.5% last year.
Robinson resting comfortably after collapse
(Trinidad Express) – Former president Arthur NR Robinson was resting comfortably at a medical facility on Thursday night, after collapsing yesterday morning during a funeral service in Maraval.
Robinson was at the Church of the Assumption attending the funeral ceremony for Charles Alleyne, son of Doddridge Alleyne, former head of the Public Service and adviser to late prime minister Dr Eric Williams.
Officiating priest Fr Garfield Rochard, told the Express that Robinson collapsed around 10 am and an ambulance arrived about five minutes later. He recalled that while the former president was being carried out on the stretcher to the ambulance, he had regained consciousness and was in “happy spirits”, clapping and joining in a praise hymn.
