Santo Domingo._ The Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) reports that unemployment in the Dominican Republic increased to 15%, up from 13.9% in 2000.
In its Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2001, the organization attributes the decline to the slowdown in the Dominican economy and the implementation of a new tax reform package in January.
BASSETERRE._ St. Kitts and Nevis has prepared for tough times in the new year, with a budget which Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas says took into account the uncertainties of the global economic situation.
The EC$357.7 million (US$132.29) budget package presented last month envisaged a lessening in government expenditure.