BRIDGETOWN--The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), forced to close over three weeks ago due to a serious cash flow problem, is seeking an aid package of US$2M from the Caribbean Community's governments to restart operations as soon as possible.

The merged enterprise of the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) and Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) has proposed that the heads of government, who meet next week in Belize, consider "a mix of grants/loans and guarantees equivalent to US$2M".

A "business plan", including pledges of more efficient management of resources and improved print, radio and television services to the Caribbean region and the Caribbean diaspora, is contained in a position paper submitted by CMC for today's emergency meeting in Antigua and Barbuda to deal with the future of the regional media institution.

According to the position paper, obtained by the 'Chronicle' for the one-day emergency meeting in St. John's of Ministers responsible for Information and representatives of the CMC, the Corporation has pointed to a range of proposals for restructuring but stressed the importance of urgent and positive responses for a "rescue" aid package.

Over the past three weeks, it said, the CMC had received "many gracious offers of support from regional governments and the CARICOM Secretariat, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and other institutions and organisations

"As implementation of the phases of the recovery programme moves forward, it is vitally important", said the CMC, "that the dialogue initiated with these potential partners continues and intensifies..."

Among confirmed Ministers of Information for today's meeting, which will be addressed by host Prime Minister, Lester Bird, will be Barbados' Mia Mottley and Grenada's Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, whose responsibilities include Information.

Optimism of RNM's Bernal
BRIDGETOWN---The Director General of the Caribbean Community's Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), Dr Richard Bernal, has expressed his "optimism" for good working relationship with the CARICOM Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED), having made his debut attendance at its just-concluded meeting in Georgetown. Bernal assumed his office last month.

Yesterday, on his way to Jamaica, where the RNM is now headquartered as its restructuring process continues, Bernal said that he was pleased by the response of the ministers attending the COTED to the technical brief submitted by the RNM.

The brief covered negotiating issues pertaining to the World Trade Organisation, European Union-African, Caribbean and Pacific relations and the emerging Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

However, in keeping with an established policy of direct reporting to the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on External Trade Negotiations, the RNM Director General will be attending the forthcoming two-day Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM leaders to present a progress report on the "implementation process" of a restructured RNM.

The restructuring, involving primarily offices in Kingston and Bridgetown, is being pursued in accordance with recommendations identified in a report to CARICOM leaders by Jamaica’s Prime Minister P.J. Patterson who heads the Prime Ministerial Subcommittee on External Negotiations.

Jamaica's former ambassador to Washington, the experienced diplomat and economist confirmed that some of the defaulting member states had started to honour debt obligations to the RNM. He is currently working on plans for wider involvement of the private sector and civil society as part of a "new culture of consultation" he chose to introduce and that was evident at the RNM's delegation participation at the just-concluded COTED meeting.

PNM gives top jobs for ex-coup leaders
PORT-OF-SPAIN--There is unease and fears of likely "conflict" over the surprise appointments by Prime Minister Patrick Manning's administration to a government programme of former leading activists of the 1990 abortive coup led by Abu Bakr's Jamaat-al-Muslimeen.

Among those appointed is Bilaal Abdullah, a major figure in the coup that caused many deaths, injuries and millions of dollars in destruction while then Prime Minister and current President ANR Robinson and others were held as hostages at parliament building, 'Red House', in Port-of-Spain.

According to a report in yesterday's 'Express' newspaper, the PNM-restructured state-funded Unemployment Relief Programme (URP’s) new management line-up now includes Bilaal Abdullah was given the job of carrying out the "restructuring".

And among those hired are former insurrectionist colleagues Kewsi Atiba, Adnan Abdul-Bari and Adnan Abdal Adil.

This development, according to the paper, has already led to warnings of "PNM double standard and possible conflict".

Arnim Smith, former executive director of the programme that existed under the previous United National Congress government as Employment Training Programme (ETP) warned of the real prospect of conflict arising from the appointments of the ex-coup activists of the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen.

Labour Minister Lawrence Achong has denied claims by the UNC of mass dismissals at the URP as part of a political victimisation campaign by the PNM

Smith was among those whose services were suddenly terminated by the PNM's one-month-old government, established following the December 10 general election that resulted in an 18-18 seat deadlock with the UNC.

Jamaica's rising suicide cases blamed on depression
KINGSTON--Depression has been identified as a major cause of the rising suicide cases in Jamaica, according to data from the Constabulary Communication Network.

The suicide rate has doubled within the past six years and it involves people of varying ages including the very elderly.

The Police have reported 73 cases of suicide last year and explained that the rate has been climbing steadily from 1996 when it stood at 37.

Psychiatrist Dr Bailey Davidson said that "depression is the main reason why so many people are taking their own lives".

She also quoted a report from the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), which states that within the next 10-15 years depression will be the commonest cause of ill health in persons.