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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 28 - Friday, September 13, 2002 |
CARICOM Supports Stabilization Efforts
by Thomson Fontaine
 Finance ministers of the Caribbean community (CARICOM) met in Dominica on Friday, September 13, to hammer out details of an economic package for Dominica. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago pledged $25 million between them while offers of varying amounts were made by other countries.
In attendance at the meeting were the Prime Minister of St. Kitts Dr. Denzil Douglas, St. Lucia's Dr. Kenny Anthony, and Barbados Owen Arthur. The leaders vowed to assist Dominica in its recovery efforts as the country battled with its worsening economic problems.
Just last week, the country signed on to a $4.3 million Stand-by credit facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As part of the agreement with the IMF, the government earlier imposed a series of measures aimed at stabilizing the economy and restoring economic growth.
Meanwhile, in protest over the imposition of a 4 percent stabilization levy and other austerity measures, the Public Service Union (PSU), staged a two day sick out. Their actions resulted in the temporary closure of the Melville Hall and Canefield airports.
A scheduled flight of American Eagle into Melville Hall was canceled on Monday as fire personnel stayed home. Other commercial flights were however able to land. During Monday and Tuesday, the Customs were also adversely affected by the protest action.
Also on Monday, the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), led by former Prime Minister Edison James staged a one day protest action in the streets of Roseau. Hundreds of party supporters turned out and chanted slogans and displayed signs as they made their way across Roseau, the Nations capital.
They called on the government to remove the 4 percent Stabilization levy, which they claimed was causing undue hardships to the people of Dominica. The protest was largely peaceful with the police moving in to disperse the crowd when several veered from the scheduled route and attempted to disrupt a meeting of Parliament, which was in session.
The government of Prime Minister Pierre Charles have however vowed to continue with its program to restore the country to a path of sustained growth. The meeting of the Finance ministers was been viewed as a show of support by the rest of the Region for the strategy being adopted by government.

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