March 5, 2010

United States Congressman Charles Rangel's fall is a significant loss for CARICOM


by TONY BEST

"CARIBBEAN NATIONS, including Barbados, may be losing a reliable friend on Capitol Hill. What a pity!"

A former Caribbean ambassador in Washington was referring to United States Congressman Charles Rangel, who on Wednesday morning asked Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, to relieve him for the time being of the chairmanship of the chamber's powerful Ways and Means Committee.

"He has been there for the Caribbean for decades, always willing to stand up and represent its interests," said the former diplomat.

Rangel's decision to step down from the much coveted position followed last week's ruling by the House Ethics Committee that he broke the chamber's rules by accepting two trips to the Caribbean Multinational Business Conference in Antigua and Barbuda in 2007 and 2008.

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