WASHINGTON, DC – The World Bank on Tuesday said global growth is slowing sharply in the face of elevated inflation, higher interest rates, reduced investment, and disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

SANTIGO, Chile - The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is estimating that the growth in the value of regional exports at 20 percent last year, driven by a 14 percent rise in prices and an expansion of six percent in exported volumes.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) – the island’s Central Bank says that during December 2022, the overall amount of currency in circulation totaled J$238.8 billion (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) , representing an annual nominal growth of three percent, compared to 19.1 percent at the end of December 2021.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says the value of goods exports from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) increased at an estimated rate of 18.8 percent last year.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) is denying allegations that it had directed the failed crypto-exchange, FTX, to mint US$300m tokens prior to its collapse.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – The St. Lucia Hospitality & Tourism Association (SLHTA) says it intends to remain robust and buoyant this year having recorded several notable achievements over the past year including supporting policy that led to the launch of the Community Tourism Agency (CTA), and collaborating with Citizens for Peace and Prosperity and other key stakeholders on matters relating to crime and security.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Consumers here will get a Value Added Tax (VAT) holiday on Wednesday, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Ryan Straughn has announced.

Kingston, Jamaica – For the second consecutive year, the GraceKennedy (GK) Group was the proud winner of the Governor General’s Award for Excellence at the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Best Practices Awards for 2021. The prestigious award honors the listed company which consistently upholds international best practices to be declared the overall winner of the annual JSE Best Practices Awards. GK also received the coveted award for 2004, 2018 and 2020.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Government has partnered with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to launch the Guyana Coders Initiative (GCI), as the administration moves to transform the nation into a hub for Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana has signed a contract with the US-owned LINDSAYCA/CH4, for the construction of the integrated Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant and the 300-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant at Wales, West Coast Demerara (WCD)

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, says participants in the Tourism Innovation Incubator will have access to J$100 million (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) to transform the ideas that have been for implementation into profitable projects.

HAMILTON, Bermuda — The House of Assembly has passed legislation which will implement a minimum wage for employees, set at US$16.40 per hour , from June next year.