The fiscal and debt problem in the region has been engendered in part by weak fiscal institutions and frameworks that have perpetuated chronic fiscal procyclicality. Without binding rules geared towards budgetary discipline, can Caribbean countries successfully overcome their fiscal and debt challenges? In a recent working paper, issues surrounding the applicability, design … [Read more...] about Are Governments Wasting Your Tax Money?
sustainability
Greening Suriname : A Promising Opportunity
Suriname is located within the Guiana Shield, a region that encompasses one of the areas with the highest biodiversity in the world and contains large extensions of uninterrupted and intact primary tropical forest. Due to its huge capacity to absorb CO2, the region plays an important role in global climate stability. More than 94% of the country’s surface is covered by … [Read more...] about Greening Suriname : A Promising Opportunity
3 Reasons why you should stop eating Parrotfish
Image source: Wikicommons After living in Jamaica for five years, every time I visit for work, I try to squeeze in whatever time I have to say hello to friends. On my last visit, I was very fortunate to have meetings on both sides of the weekend allowing me to spend my off days in a familiar place with familiar people. My friends and I decided to take advantage of this rare … [Read more...] about 3 Reasons why you should stop eating Parrotfish
How the Caribbean Sea Can Help Improve Lives Financially
Montego Bay, Jamaica – Photo by Ramon Zamora Did you know that the Caribbean is a place where 70 percent of those who fish or work on the waters do not even know how to swim? In fact, some in the Caribbean see the Sea as more foe than friend. Over the past few years, the term “Blue Economy” has gained traction. For some, it refers to any economic activity in the maritime … [Read more...] about How the Caribbean Sea Can Help Improve Lives Financially
Moments Can Last Forever
by Steven Hofwijks & Nathalie Hofwijks-Powel On June 14th, 2015 the foundation “Stichting Parels in Zijn Hand” or SPiZH (English translation, Pearls in His hand), organized a father’s day celebration in Ashiana, a home for the aged, in Paramaribo, Suriname. The goal of organizing this day was to especially give the neglected men/fathers (men that do not get regular … [Read more...] about Moments Can Last Forever