NEW YORK – President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday for crimes including orchestrating hush payments to women in violation of campaign laws before the 2016 election, and he promised to keep cooperating with the U.S. government against his former boss.

The sentence, which capped a stunning about-face by a lawyer who once vowed to “take a bullet” for Trump, was handed down by a judge in New York on the same day as news that the publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid had struck a deal with prosecutors to avoid charges over its role in one of two hush payments involving Trump.

The publisher admitted the payment was aimed at influencing the 2016 election, contradicting Trump’s statements. The twin developments highlighted the growing political and legal risks for Trump from a months-long investigation into the payments by federal prosecutors. Some legal experts said Trump could be charged after leaving office. Justice Department policy is not to indict a sitting president.

“These prosecutors have charged or reached agreement with everyone involved in this process save one notable exception,” said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University. “It seems likely that this effort is directed at building a larger case against Donald Trump.”(Reuters)…[+]

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has made history as the first member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)  to decriminalize marijuana for medical purposes and scientific research.

According to a release yesterday from the OECS, speaking from SVG, Minister for Agriculture, Saboto Caesar said the passing of the Bill in Parliament on the 11th December signified the Caribbean island was now positioned to become a globally leading medicinal cannabis hub not only in terms of high quality production but research.

“The planning of this innovative industry has been carefully conducted over a long period of time in close consultation with the agricultural sector and many different stakeholders to reach the level of maturity we see today.  “There is broad recognition and buy-in of the economic benefits this tightly controlled and regulated industry is expected to bring in terms of direct employment, the creation of support industries and foreign investment.(stabroeknews)…[+]

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis – An energy-efficient street lighting project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is projected to save St. Kitts and Nevis over USD2.2 million a year. Under the Street and Flood Light Retrofitting Project, which was launched last Wednesday at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, 10,650 street lights throughout both St. Kitts and Nevis will be replaced with more energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lamps.

The Board of Directors of CDB approved USD5.8 million in financing for the project in December 2016. The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, the St Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) and the Nevis Electricity Company (NEVLEC) are expected to contribute approximately USD700,000 through supporting implementation and installation of the new street lights. Speaking at the launch, Alexander Augustine, Portfolio Manager, Economic Infrastructure Division, CDB, noted that St. Kitts and Nevis had higher-than-average electricity consumption and like many other Caribbean countries, high dependence on imported fossil fuels for electricity.

In light of this and with approximately 87 percent of the Federation’s energy supply being imported, electricity-related fuel imports are equivalent to approximately 8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Through the project, the Government will also be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the consumption of fossil fuels in electricity generation. The project also includes a grant for the completion of a climate risk screening study. The study will help both St. Kitts Electric Company (SKELEC) and Nevis Electricity Company (NEVLEC) examine their vulnerability to projected climate change impacts. Under the project plan, the new LED street lamps are scheduled for installation by the end of 2019. The project aligns to the Bank’s Strategic Plan 2015-2019 and its Energy Sector Policy and Strategy, which highlights energy efficiency and renewable energy as priority investment areas for CDB. (CDB)…[+]