Bridgetown._ In the face of a slowing industry, the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) is investing more than $40 million in an aggressive marketing thrust in a bid to establish niche markets in the United States, Britain and wider Europe, a BTA report indicates. Chairman of the BTA’s marketing committee, Ralph Taylor, said that between $40 million to $42 million of its overall budget would be devoted to marketing, with more than $1 million going to a program with US Airways.

Nassau._ The Independent candidate for St. Margarets, Pierre Dupuch, stated that "the only way to strengthen the Bahamian economy is to stop the hemorrhage of dollars out of the country." Mr. Dupuch who left the Free National Movement (FNM) because of disagreements between him and the party, has been campaigning for the seat he has held for the FNM, reported The Nassau Guardian newspaper.

Cozumel._ A total of 104 cruises are expected to dock in at Mexico’s Cozumel this April, with as many as 25 arrivals in the ongoing week in keeping with the Southeast Maritime Travel Agency’s schedule. According to the agency’s yearly timetable, 104 cruise liners will sail this April into the different piers available on the island of Cozumel, penciled in as a 35% increase over the results clicked in April 2001 when a final tally of 77 recreational vessels anchored there.

Santo Domingo._ 65% of the people in the Dominican Republic feel the country’s economy will worsen in the remaining two years and four months of President Hipolito Mejias’ government, according to a poll conducted by the firm Hamilton Beattie & Staff and published in Hoy, a local newspaper, on April 1. 61% of those polled believe their own finances will be worse off a year from now, whereas a meager 21% thinks the country is moving ahead on the right track.

Santo Domingo._ Listin Diaro reports that Brugal sales last year were 3.4 million boxes, up 8% over the previous year. Brugal has an unprecedented 80% of the domestic rum market. Franklin Baez Brugal, spokesman for the company, said that the company will export some 340,000 boxes of rum in 2002, or approximately 10% of their production. He explained their main markets are in Spain and Italy.

Bridgetown._ Authorities in Barbados will set aside $300,000 to foster tourism in some of the Caribbean island’s rural areas. Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch asserted that after a heated debate at the country’s General Assembly, the commencement of building projects for the localities of St. Joseph, St. Thomas, St. John –north of the capital- and Bridgetown itself finally won passage.