Daily Archives: March 4, 2017

Unless the sugar industry in Caricom can develop in the coming months a co-ordinated and concerted plan of action, it is quite possible that in a few years time there will be little left of an industry which, for evil and good, has played a central role in the making of the Caribbean. This is because this year will see two tsunami-like events occur, both of which threaten the survival of the industry in its present form. The first relates to the changes that will take place this October in the European Unions sugar regime. Then, as a long planned domestic measure, the EU will abolish national sugar production quotas in Europe. This will have the effect of reducing the price paid for sugar from the African Caribbean Pacific group of nations (ACP), while also causing the overall volume of EU sugar imports to fall as Europe becomes self-sufficient. The measure, according to the European Commissions late 2015 report, EU Agricultural Outlook 2015 - 2025, is likely to see the EU sugar price declining to something approaching the already low world market price, forcing the EU sugar sector to become more competitive, and reducing the incentive for trade partners to export to the EU. For high-cost Caribbean producers Guyana, Barbados, Belize and Jamaica and almost all smaller cane producers in the ACP, this potentially spells the end of the EU market, as previously quota-restrained EU beet farmers expand production, taking advantage of much improved yields and industry consolidation, to sell without restriction across Europe and to export. The second challenge arises out of Brexit which will trigger years of uncertainty for all of Britains trade partners as they negotiate new arrangements. For the region, which still exports much of its sugar to the UK for refining, the timing is complicated. Not only will the new EU sugar regime apply to the UK until it formally separates in 2019 at the earliest, but this means Britain is unlikely for some time yet, to be able to reconcile politically, how it will address the sugar issue. This arises because any UK government is going to have to determine how to balance and resolve the competing post-Brexit interests of its domestic sugar producers; its cane sugar refiners; desired trade deals with major cane sugar and by-product producers like Brazil; and ACP development, probably in that order. Unfortunately, the industry in Caricom must address both challenges at a time when the sugar sector still has many fundamental, unresolved issues. While progress is being made in Belize and Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic has a viable privatised industry, there remain problems across Caricom arising from the persistently high cost of production, poor labour relations, and inefficiencies. More significantly, despite years of discussion and external support, governments and the industry have not so far been able to undertake the type of reforms underway elsewhere in the ACP that could viably link sugar production to sugar refining, to the rum and ethanol industries, and to power generation and food production. What is now happening in Europe, however, goes further, raising existential questions requiring a regional consensus and response. In this context, a High Level Caribbean Sugar Policy Workshop planned for Kingston, Jamaica, on March 23-24, is of potentially great importance. Organised jointly by the Sugar Association of the Caribbean, Caricom and other partners from inside and beyond the region, it involves ministers, officials and most importantly a wide range of industry partners, whose future governments now hold in their hands. Some possible approaches to the discussion were contained in an ACP-endorsed study produced last year by Cardno/LMC International. This set out the risks facing ACP sugar producers from changes to the EU sugar regime, reviewed the situation in each ACP sugar-producing nation, and suggested possible mitigating actions. It recommended, in part, that the regional integration of ACP sugar industries should be a priority. In this context, it noted that while governments were free to support their industries by raising tariffs, co-ordination within free trade areas would be required if producers were to gain. Even if the industry now only accounts for less than two per cent of regional GDP a figure that pales in comparison to tourism it is still a significant employer of labour; supports rural communities; provides a range of social services; preserves the environment and contributes to carbon reduction; and indirectly halts urban drift and the associated problems of crime. Within ten years the EU market for raw sugar from the Caribbean will most likely be all but a matter of history. While sugar production in Caricom is unlikely to cease, hopefully by then what is left will be very different, reoriented, efficient and a part of a broader cane-based industrial sector. David Jessop is a consultant to the Caribbean Council

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Has Caribbean sugar a future? - Trinidad & Tobago Express

The problem with political jokes, as is so evident in the Caribbean, is that they very often get elected. The problem with banker jokes, as frequent these days as complaints about the sudden, unexpected and astronomical rise in bank charges, is that bankers dont think theyre funny and we ordinary people dont think theyre jokes. If I used the classic definition that bankers are people that help you with problems you would not have had without them, you would agree, nod your head sagely and perhaps add Mark Twains observation that a banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining and wants it back the minute it begins to rain. Even central bankers. One who is giving away our countrys savings to the politicians, has glibly explained the rise in bank charges, which he can do nothing about, is caused by competition among the banks. It is the first time I ever saw competition increasing instead of decreasing prices. There are three Canadian banks in the region. According to the prestigious Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, By 2008, the three Canadian banks had $42 billion in assets across the English Caribbean2.5 per cent of their combined total assets, but more than four times those held by the 40-odd locally owned banks. With such a dominant footprint, RBC, Scotiabank and CIBC hardly had to spend to build brand awarenessthey could milk money just by being there. Six years later, in 2014, CIBC, based in Barbados, made profits of $593 million in the Caribbean and an overall $13.48 billion. Scotiabank made $1.2 billion in the region and $23.6 billion globally. RBC, based in Trinidad, made $861 million regionally and a total of $34.1 billion, almost $11 billion more than Scotiabank and $21 billion more than CIBC. These big profits have not gone unnoticed or ignored. On June 14, 2016, a CBC News headline read: Canadas major banks hiking fees while pulling in big profits: banks are raising fees on select personal banking services even as many are seeing revenue increases. The CBC revealed that in 2015 Royal Bank added some new transaction fees for payments on their loans, mortgages and credit cards but these sparked such a huge public and political outcry that the company axed them. At the time, RBC said it had changed its policies because it was listening to customers. But CBC went on to say: Royal Bank is the only big Canadian bank that hasnt announced any personal banking fee hikes in this country this year. But its still facing the wrath of customersin the Caribbean. Some RBC Caribbean clients are so upset over new monthly charges, they lined up for hours to close their accounts. The article by Sophia Harris stated: RBC wouldnt confirm details to CBC News, but it appears that customers in at least seven Eastern Caribbean countriesincluding Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadinesare now facing a monthly charge of 25 East Caribbean dollars ($11.75 Cdn) for some personal bank accounts. Seniors with an RBC Sixty Plus account will be charged a $12.50 XCD ($5.88 Cdn) monthly fee... The bank rolled out the new charges between May 23 and June 20 at a time when its enjoying multi-billion-dollar profits. Numbers released at the end of May showed RBC boosted its second-quarter profit by three per cent to $2.57 billion Cdn... So many people chose to close their accounts, police in St Kitts and Nevis even sent out an alert, urging RBC customers to use caution when withdrawing their money. While RBC is not alone in its massive fee increases and the other two Canadian big banks are doing the same, the different strokes for different folks is my major concern. Even though it backed down under public pressure in Canada, RBCs behaviour in the Caribbean seems to be vindictive, uncaring and an attempt to make up for its potential losses in its home country. What I found out is its image in Canada is also really bad and its overall satisfaction rating on the Consumer Affairs website is one out of five stars. Additionally, RBC has chosen not participate in the Consumer Affairs accreditation programme. The site features the top 196 complaints about the bank. Scotiabank does not fare much better. One customer said it is the worst institution to deal with. A complaint about CIBC, which has been repeated by one of my Trinidad-based Facebook friends is: When CIBC raised my line of credit interest rate from 7-11% for no apparent reason and refused to do anything about it, I tried calling and also made an appointment to meet with them, but all they would do is blame the computer and offered no explanation as to why the rate would suddenly jump. The message was Im not a customer at all, but rather someone theyre doing a favour for. The banks are claiming they are suffering from impairment losses from bad loans and suchlike. The Globe and Mail pointed out something with which we are all too familiarthe bankers and their cronies did very well. The paper stated: Much of this mess dates back to practices put in place years agoin some cases, before the Canadian banks made their Caribbean acquisitions... If, for example, a client had a good relationship with a branch manager, he or she could simply call up and get extra credit, regardless of their banking profile. For me, the biggest impairment is their lack of concern for the people of the region. As Peter James Hudson pointed out in Imperial designs: the Royal Bank of Canada in the Caribbean, the ideologies of Canadian Anglo-Saxonism shaped the Canadian financial elites vision of its role in maintaining the integrity of the British empire. The sun has now set on that empire and is getting dimmer for its camp followers. This is perhaps why RBC and the other Canadian banks are, to quote The Globe and Mail, behaving like someone who wants to sell a house (and) is renovating simply in hopes of fetching a better price. Tony Deyal was last seen asking if the banks are so rich and so customer friendly how come they chain down their pens in their Caribbean branches?

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High rates of the Caribbean - Trinidad & Tobago Express

The new trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales features some onscreen text that feels like a threat to Disney shareholders and a promise to everyone who wishes Johnny Depp would just go way. The final adventure begins the trailer declares in-between shots of Captain Jack Sparrow prancing across dangerous ground and Javier Bardem doingwhatever the hell Javier Bardem is doing in this movie (and whatever it is, I think I dig it).

So, its time to ask the big question: is Disney actually planning to cap off the Pirates of the Caribbean series with the fifth movie? Are they doing this,for the lack of a more eloquent term, for realsies?

First of all,CinemaBlend has already brought this question toJoachim Rnning, who directed the film alongside Espen Sandberg.Rnning may be a relative Hollywood newcomer, but his answer suggests that he has a long and fruitful career in this business:

Its difficult to ever know. I think that theres alwaysthis is the beginning of the finale. [laughs] It depends on how you look at it. But I never take anything for granted, and I love the franchise. These kinds of movies, they remind me of the kind of movies I grew up with, those kind of adventure movies that made me want to become a filmmaker. So for me to be able to be a part of this and direct aPirates of the Caribbeanis a dream come true. But I dont know if its the last one, or if theyll make another ten of them I dont know! But I hope so!

I say this without snark or condescension: it takes a lot of skill to say that much without saying anything all, to create the illusion of an answer without providing a real answer. My hat is off to you, Mr.Rnning.

Honestly, this wouldnt be the first time a marketing campaign has been built around a grand finale, only foranother sequel to materialize afterward. Its especially common in horror movies, where titles like The Final Chapter, Freddys Dead, and The Final Destination were all proven to be lies soon enough. Its why no onecompletelybelieves Hugh Jackman when he says hes done playing Wolverine after Logan. Would he still say no if Fox filled his swimming pool with golden coins and built him a throne out of Lamborghini parts?

And because we dont have a clear answer on this Pirates of the Caribbean matter, lets consider the fork in the road for moment.

Welcome to timeline number one, where Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is the final movie in the series. It felt like a safe bet after the fourth movie underperformed in the United States. It also felt like a safe bet because audiences really do seem like theyve had it up toherewith Johnny Depp as both an actor and as a human being.

In this timeline, Disney is able to cap off the series and work on preserving its legacy rather than totally driving it into the ground. They can work on reminding people how much they loved the first one (because its still very good!), leaning on that warm nostalgia for future theme park endeavors and the like. In this timeline, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies are, for better or for worse, the story of Captain Jack Sparrow, whose tale has a definitive beginning, middle, and end. With a little bit of a luck and elbow grease, audiences reward the film as a grand finale, making it a hit. Who knows? Maybe itll actually bea good movie! Theres some pretty nifty stuff in the trailer.

Welcome to timeline number two, where Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is not the final movie in the series. And from here, this timeline splits into two additional branching paths.

In Path A, Disney continues to make Pirates of the Caribbean movies starring Johnny Depp. They do this until Depp dies or until he goes to prison for killing someone. This is the future where we have to live with Jack Sparrow until 2030 or so. This is the darkest timeline.

But look to Path B and find something intriguing. Note how the teaser trailer for Dead Men Tell No Tales deliberately kept Johnny Depp offscreen. Note how the Super Bowl spot barely featured Jack Sparrow at all. Ponder how that new trailer emphasizes grand, supernatural spectacle just as much as it does the antics of its leading man. This is the pathwhere Disney keeps the Pirates series alive, but decides to let Jack Sparrow sail into the sunset, taking Depps increasingly tired performance and personal baggage with him. This is the the path where the Pirates series continues to exist and tell stories of horror and adventure on the high seas, but with new actors who arent Johnny Depp. After all, theworld on display in these movies offers limitless possibilities. Maybe its time to drop Jack Sparrow on a desert island for good and focus on the fact that people would enjoy watching someone else battle undead pirates for a change.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales opens on May 26, 2017. It may or may not be the last movie in the series. Who knows?

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Is This Really the Final Pirates of the Caribbean Movie? - Slash Film - /FILM

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Five things you can do on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas ... - Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)

This photo gallery highlights some of the top news images made by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and Caribbean that were published in the last week.

Andean rainfall filled living rooms in Chile with sludge as rivers overflowed, triggering landslides, cutting roads and isolating thousands of people.

Families in Peru living around Lake Titicaca are eating fish likely contaminated with heavy metals. Lake Titicaca was once worshipped by Incas who proclaimed its deep blue waters the birthplace of the sun, but today high levels of mercury, cadmium, zinc and copper are found in some fish, according to a 2014 study.

In Mexico, a diabolical version of Uncle Sam joined a protest at the U.S. border fence, mocking the relationship between Presidents Donald Trump and Enrique Pena Nieto.

A bulldog named "Chuleta," or "Pork Chop," rolled in a baby stroller instead of walking at the Mexico Bulldog Club's attempt at a Guinness World Record for the most English Bulldogs walking 1 kilometer together.

Austria's Dominic Thiem defeated Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta to win the Rio Open tennis tournament.

As Carnival came to a close and the Catholic Lenten season started, Rio de Janeiro looked back at several accidents this year, with collapsing and out of control floats injuring dozens, some seriously. One of the samba school directors whose float collapsed lamented that the show was "not blessed" this year.

This photo gallery was curated by photo editor Leslie Mazoch in Mexico City

Mazoch is on Twitter at @LeslieMazoch

AP photographers and photo editors on Twitter: http://apne.ws/150o6jo

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AP PHOTOS: Editor selections from Latin America, Caribbean - ABC ... - ABC News