Chile (CMC):

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is predicting a 13 per cent decline in the volume of trade in Latin America and the Caribbean this year. In a report launched yesterday, ECLAC said that the decline surpasses the 10 per cent in world trade expected in 2009 and that the situation "confirms that the sector most affected by the global economic crisis in the region is trade, which is suffering an unprecedented contraction".

Ramphal denies ethnic cleansing claims

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Former Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Shridath Ramphal yesterday denied media reports linking him with remarks relating to ethnic cleansing in the Caribbean. In a statement, Sir Shridath said he very much regrets the misleading information that has wrongly attributed remarks to him about "ethnic cleansing" in Barbados. "I make it absolutely clear that I never made even an insinuation about this in relation to Barbados, or any other country in the Caribbean," he said, noting that his only reference to the notion of ethnic cleansing was in a speech made in Trinidad in June.

New US ambassador starts tour of duty

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC):

Newly-appointed United States ambassador Kenneth Merten has started his tour of duty here promising that the Barack Obama administration will base its relationship with this Caribbean country on respect, partnership and responsibility. "This means the United States should always fulfil commitments we have made to Haiti.

It also means the Haitian government must do all it can to meet its own goals of development and good governance," said Merten, who presented his credentials to President Rene Preval on Monday.

Damning indictment

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has delivered a damning indictment on attempts to develop a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME), saying they have "been stuttering at best and stalled at worst". Addressing a symposium organised by the Grenada-Guyana Friendship Society over the weekend, Thomas said that the region has found itself at a crossroad that "forces us to focus on finding concrete solutions (to) traverse this crossroad by using the collective resources within CARICOM".