PARAMARIBO, Suriname - President Jennifer Greelings-Simons has sought to clarify reports that the Suriname government has been holding talks with the Chinese multinational Chinalco, insisting that her administration is not holding discussions with Chinalco.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Agriculture Minister Floyd Green has described the damage to the agricultural sector as “catastrophic” , noting that it has delivered a crippling blow to farmers, fishers and rural communities whose livelihoods are now at extreme risk.

WASHINGTON, DC – The World Bank says the Government of Jamaica will receive a full payout of US$150 million under its catastrophe insurance coverage .

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The total estimated damage to some local manufacturers following the passage of Hurricane Melissa has been placed at J$250 billion.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana's government says the global environment is impacting the revenue of the oil and rice industries, but remain confident that the country’s economic projections would be met.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The St. Lucia government says it will formalize new pathways for cooperation with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), marking what it termed “the start of a deeper partnership focused on unlocking investment and strengthening regional collaboration to advance St. Lucia’s national development agenda”.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – President Irfaan Ali has welcomed the US$1 billion pledge by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) to support development in Suriname and Guyana over the next five years, and signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Barbados economy, which expanded steadily during the first nine months of this year, is expected to strengthen with economic growth projected at 2.7 per cent at the end of 2025,” the Central bank of Barbados (CBB) reported on Wednesday.

SANTIAGO, Chile - The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has updated its growth projections for the region, estimating that gross domestic product (GDP) will rise 2.4 per cent this year and slightly reduced to 2.3 per cent next year.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago says it has received a commitment from the President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Kathy Smith, to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of the private sector in both countries.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana -The Guyana government says it inviting Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) proposals for the establishment of the Guyana Ammonia and Urea Plant (GAUP).

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Canadian-based world’s top potash producer, Nutrien,  shut down its operations here on Thursday, even as last-minute negotiations to prevent the action failed, resulting in 600 workers being sent home.