Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham is pictured attending a breakfast meeting at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hosted by IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Khan on Sunday, October 12, 2008. Mr. Ingraham attended the meeting in his capacity as Caricom Head delivering the Caribbean Community’s statement to the 2008 annual IMF/World Bank Group Meetings in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, DC – Prime Minister Rt. Hon Hubert Ingraham announced a relief programme for homeowners, following full consultation with mortgage lenders, in Washington, D.C. on Sunday.
Prime Minister identified that due to unemployment, underemployment or other unforeseen circumstance, the relief plan will assist persons who are unable to remain current with their mortgage payments.
Mr. Ingraham, in his capacity as the Caricom Head delivering the Caribbean Community’s statement to this year’s annual International Monetary Fund/World Bank Group meetings, took part in a breakfast meeting with IMF Managing Director Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn where the impact of the global financial crisis on the region was discussed, as was the need to provide social safety nets for the most vulnerable in society.
Of the third element of his Government’s social safety net, the Prime Minister said: “For persons who would have lost their jobs, persons in the hotel sector who would be on short work weeks, and persons who for some other unforeseen circumstance are now unable to keep current in their mortgage payment, but who ordinarily sought to make their mortgage payments for their homes, we would like to ensure that these persons don’t end up losing their homes because of what we consider to be this temporary setback – even though we do not know how long this temporary situation is likely to exist.”
Mr. Ingraham said he expected this new dimension of social assistance to be implemented as early as the beginning of November. In September the Prime Minister announced a major social assistance programme for electricity consumers in the country and followed that announcement with that of new increases in various forms of Department of Social Services aid including food and rental assistance.
As for the nation’s unemployment, the Prime Minister said the Government will accelerate its public infrastructure projects to create jobs and stimulate the housing sector by restarting the Government’s Housing programme currently underway in Nassau, Grand Bahama and Abaco.
Fifteen million of the $75 million bond the Government secured for that housing programme has already been issued for the work in progress, and the Government will also construct 60,000 sq. ft. office buildings in Nassau, Grand Bahama and Abaco.
This week in Washington, world leaders comprising officials of the IMF, the Group of Seven (G7) and Group of 20 (G20) are meeting to find solutions to the ongoing financial crisis sweeping global markets
In discussions with IMF officials the Prime Minister pointed out that evidence of slowed tourism growth and rising levels of unemployment can be seen throughout the region, adding that such trends, if they continue, would lead to less than favourable outcomes in various sectors.
“I raised on behalf of the Caribbean Group a concern that some countries have that they may need IMF assistance for balance of payment support and the Fund responded that it would be prepared to provide support through a rapid access line.”
Prime Minister Ingraham acknowledged that while the region’s economies need increased growth, that growth as well as the securing of private sector capital inflows for its tourism and real estate sectors would be slowed due to current financial events.
Provided that the global financial sector does not deteriorate further, recovery could commence in mid-2009.
“The IMF,” he noted, “continues to project that the price of oil over the medium term is likely to average around $100 per barrel. If that proves to be accurate that is a manageable proposition for the region.
“The IMF is also projecting that economic recovery is likely to take place in the major economies of the world from mid-2009.”
The IMF indicated that the US corporate sector is in reasonable condition and can respond as soon as the financial crisis eases.
“In our case in The Bahamas, the tourism growth up to August had been reasonably aligned with expectations,” he advised. “September was substantially below what we expected. And depending on what continues to happen in the American economy, we are likely to see some part of a continuation of what happened in September.
“So we are putting contingency plans in place to be able to deal with the situation if a worst case scenario arises,” Mr. Ingraham noted. “Should circumstances require it, The Bahamas would be able to make arrangements with the private banking sector to take care of any likely shortfall that we might experience.”
Prime Minister Ingraham will deliver Caricom’s Statement to the annual Joint Discussion on Monday.
Dow plunges 733 on new disheartening economic data
By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP
The economy lurched deeper into the doldrums Wednesday and took the stock market down with it, sending the Dow Jones Industrial to a staggering 733-point loss and erasing any hopes that the convulsions that have shaken Wall Street for a month were over.
The daylong sell-off came as retailers reported the biggest drop in sales in three years and as a Federal Reserve snapshot showed Americans are spending less and manufacturing is slowing around the country.
Kim,
Look at the faces of all those men in the picture. None of them have rights to laugh at the other one….LOL…look at dem faces.
An apology:
I must write this apology to the former minister of works (Bradley Roberts), I wrote a comment on the new Water Holding Tank on the top of Blue Hills, labeling it “the Blue MONSTER.” (Because I thought it was contributing to the RUST in the city water).
I thought it was the tank but I found out it was some pipes that ran to our house. I must also congratulate the present Minister of Works for responding quickly to our aid. Every home through our street was attended to.
In MY opinion; Mr. Bradley Roberts’ contribution in the former PLP administration was “HUGE” compare to others. He seems to be the only member that left a visible track record of accomplishments; the NEW High way, the NEW Blue Water Tower, and he “assisted” with the hundreds of “low cost” homes built for Bahamians.
The steel Water Tank is helping me to save money because I don’t have to use my water heater and now my electricity bill is in the $90 range (that is a miracle).
I know Mr. Roberts had some negative press, which forced him out of front line politics. But he seems to be the only other MAN like Mr. Ingraham who spoke and EVERYBODY listened. I guess Mr. Christie conclude “only one man can be in the House.”
Drama they would have to recruit me for generalcrazy army, cause aint no way I was going to be in that room and see that man with that dead animal on top of his head and did not laugh. They really were going to believe I was crazy. How the hell the Prime Minister and the rest of these gentlemen at this table were able to keep a straight face for this photo is beyond me.
LOL….Kim you joining General Crazy in craziness…lol….the man looks like he is wearing a raccoon on his head. I think its a wig.
Its defintely a freak show, Kim.
generalcrazy I thought that was a skunk on his head. Is that actually a wigs? Jokes!!!
LOL, is that fellow close to the camera there wearing a wig??
Finally! Our prime minister is starring. These men in this picture make our prime minister look like prince charming. He seems to be the best looking man in the room. Is this a freak show or what?
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