UNITED NATIONS - The UN has issued an urgent call for international support as Cuba grapples with a ‘worsening’ humanitarian crisis fuelled by a prolonged energy blockade and the lingering devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last October.

ABUJA, Nigeria – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) chairman, Dr. Terrance Drew Wednesday called for bold, action-oriented engagement to strengthen ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

NASSAU, Bahamas – The former chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, Dr. June Soomer, is urging Caribbean countries to intensify their efforts for reparatory justice, noting that sustainable development cannot occur without confronting the legacies of slavery and colonialism.

ROSEAU, Dominica – Dominica says it participation in the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project is aimed at creating the enabling environment to encourage growth, development and digital transformation,  calling also for developing countries to be involved in the greater adoption of emerging technologies, including advancements in telecommunications.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM)  Secretariat Tuesday announced that regional governments are preparing to dispatch humanitarian aid to Cuba, which has been rocked by repeated and extensive blackouts as the United States has sought to cut off the supply of oil to the country.

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations has said it remains “deeply concerned” at the deteriorating situation in Cuba driven by the inability to import fuel, adding that this has triggered an energy crisis.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname – Caribbean Community (CCARICOM) Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett, Tuesday said the increased involvement of the global energy community in the region underscores the fact that energy in the Caribbean is no longer viewed solely as a sector of economic activity.

HAMILTON, Bermuda – Bermuda's government Friday said it was pleased to have contributed to the reconstruction efforts in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa slammed into the country leaving damage estimated at more than US$9.9 million and killing at least 45 people.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Friday said it has launched an innovative Gender Toolkit,  marking a pivotal step forward in strengthening gender-responsive community development across the Caribbean.

BASSETERRE,  St. Kitts – Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew says he is encouraged by the first ever Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit held in Nigeria last week and saying it St. Kitts and Nevis’ participation was “deliberate, strategic, and results-driven.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator,  Alexander De Croo, has reaffirmed the UNDP’s support for Jamaica’s hurricane recovery and reconstruction priorities and called for more strategic partnerships with the private sector to help drive full recovery and the broader development agenda.

GEORGETOWN , Guyana - President Mohamed Irfaan Ali says the security climate in the Caribbean and Latin America has improved in recent weeks following major political developments in neighbouring Venezuela.