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US wants Guyana to show more results for millions received to fight narco-crime
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana stands to receive
more aid from the United States government to help
wage war against
narco-criminals, but only if the
CARICOM country shows improvement in tackling
narco-crime. Outgoing US Ambassador
to Guyana Mr
Roland Bullen made this disclosure on Tuesday.
CARICOM Heads discuss security and catastrophic risk insurance
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Crime and security were
among the critical subjects that concentrated the
minds of the
CARICOM Heads of Government on the
second day of the Twenty-Seventh meeting of the
Conference in St Kitts and Nevis.
US House plans vote on bill to stifle offshore gambling sites
WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): The U.S. House of
Representatives is likely to pass a bill next week that
would
prevent people from using credit cards for
transactions with offshore online gambling sites,
which are illegal in
the U.S.
Joint law enforcement operation in Anguilla
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Law enforcement officers in
Anguilla have praised the customs department in the
British Virgin
Islands for its involvement in a series of
joint law enforcement operations in that Territory
last weekend.
US commission recommends tightening embargo on Cuba
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): A US Cabinet-led panel
recommended tightening an embargo against Cuba
and boosting opposition
financing, warning that Cuba
is teamed with Venezuela in a bid to thwart regional
democracy.
Social Caribbean Forum: A step towards unity in the Caribbean?
BASSE-TERRE, Guadeloupe: The first Social
Caribbean Forum began on July 5 in Fort-de-France
in Martinique and
will last until July 9. During the
event, hundreds of Caribbean men and women will
discuss what is currently referred
to as ‘another
world’.
Caribbean and African countries should share ICT experiences, suggests CTO
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic: Caribbean
countries that are seeking to develop a regional
broadband backbone
could benefit from learning
about the experiences of Eastern and Southern
African countries.
FirstCaribbean eclipses US$5b loan mark
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: At the end of the second
quarter of the 2006 fiscal year, FirstCaribbean
International
Bank achieved a record-breaking
US$5.2 billion in loans and advances to customers,
breaking the $5bn mark for the
first time.
USVI's St John hosts Independence Day Parade
ST JOHN, USVI: The tiny island of St John in the US
Virgin wound down its annual, week-long Carnival
activities
with a July 4th, Independence Day
Celebration in Cruz Bay. Parade participants, tourists
and island residents finished
the traditional J'ouvert
(street dancing).
Commentary: Hey, my little sister is now a doctor!
A few weeks ago, I hobbled out of my sick bed to
join my siblings in New York City for the graduation
ceremony
of our sister Maureen at Radio City Music
Hall. And, such was our pride and joy that - when
her name was called...
Letter: Domestic tourism - its value.
In a recently released United Kingdom Tourism
Survey, it was revealed that UK residents took a
staggering 138
million overnight domestic stays in
2005.
Letter: My further response to Mr Hall
Thanks Mr Hall: If the Bahamian government was not
such a closed shop on the issue of trade, I might
agree. However,
they believe that we are stupid and
cannot make decisions for ourselves.
Jamaica's Simpson to face Jones in Lausanne
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP): Jamaica's Sherone
Simpson will go head-to-head with American Marion
Jones at the
Athletissima meeting in the Swiss city of
Lausanne next week, the organisers announced
Thursday.
Jamaican FA play down Eriksson link
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Jamaica's football bosses
insisted on Thursday they have not opened talks
with Sven
Goran Eriksson over their vacant national
coaching position.
Poland may name Trinidad manager Beenhakker as coach
WARSAW, Poland (Bloomberg): Poland may appoint a
new coach for its national soccer team next week,
with Trinidad
& Tobago manager Leo Beenhakker
among the candidates.
Guadeloupe under World Cup spell
POINTE À PITRE, Guadeloupe: Early on Wednesday afternoon, the main streets of Pointe à Pitre, (the economic
capital of the French island) were deserted. The match between the French national soccer team and Portugal stopped all economic
and social life in the city.
Powell hunts second Golden League win in Paris
PARIS, France: Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, the
joint world record holder over 100-metres, headlines
a star-studded
line-up in the event as his hunt for a
million dollars in the IAAF Golden League continues in
Paris.
Cricket World Cup chief admits hotel shortage fear
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): The 2007 Cricket
World Cup is facing an accommodation shortage, the
managing director
of the tournament admitted on
Wednesday.
US National Security Council examines Cuba situation
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US President George W.
Bush on Wednesday met with members of the
National Security Council
to discuss prospects for
bringing democracy to communist-ruled Cuba.
SEC, Justice Dept probes Bermuda company
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Bermuda-based Marvell
Technology Group Ltd., a maker of chips for laptop
computers,
has said the U.S. Justice Department and
Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating
the company's stock
option plan.
Trinidad Bureau of Standards employees stage protest against management
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Over two hundred workers
at the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, a
state agency
in Macoya, east Trinidad, have
embarked on a series of protests against what they
say are improper management practices.
'NatWest Three' facing extradition from Britain in Cayman Islands fraud case
LONDON, England (AFP): The British government
rejected pleas Wednesday to block the extradition to
the United
States of three former NatWest bankers
on Enron-related fraud charges involving the sale of
a Cayman Islands company.
Cuban officials charge US planning regime change
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Two senior Cuban officials
charged on Wednesday that a report on the
communist nation
delivered to the Bush
administration's National Security Council amounted
to a blueprint for an Iraq-style regime
change in the
Caribbean.
Cuban jailings dip, harassment up, dissidents say
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): The number of Cubans
political prisoners dropped to 316 from 333 in the first
six months
of this year, but the government stepped
up extrajudicial harassment of opponents, the island's
main rights group
said on Wednesday.
Powell wants fastest-man tag all to himself
PARIS, France (AFP): Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell
on Wednesday said he was determined to go faster
than any
man has ever gone to reclaim the 100m
title he grudgingly shares with American Justin Gatlin.
Trinidad's Hislop signs for Dallas
DALLAS, USA (AFP): Trinidad and Tobago's
goalkeeping hero from the World Cup Shaka Hislop
signed for MLS club
Dallas from English Premiership
outfit West Ham on Wednesday. The 37-year-old
joins the MLS West Division leaders
after an
outstanding World Cup.
Bahamian Knowles creates Wimbledon history
LONDON, England (AFP): Bahamian Mark Knowles and
Canadian Daniel Nestor won the longest match in
Wimbledon history
on Wednesday when they beat
Simon Aspelin and Todd Perry in a men's doubles
quarter-final clash which lasted six hours
and nine
minutes. Knowles said they were proud to set a new
record.
OECS Economic Union will give recognition to CARICOM treaty
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: As the OECS moves towards
the creation of a Economic Union, St Kitts and Nevis
Prime Minister
Dr Denzil Douglas has given the
assurance that the sub-regional integration
movement would not run counter to the
similar path
being pursued by the Caribbean Community.
CARICOM must improve quality of life of Caribbean people, says St Kitts PM
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: No economic or social
grouping can be morally justified unless it brings
about qualitative
improvements in the lives of the
ordinary people, said St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister
and Chairman of the 27th
Regular Meeting of the
Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM.
Nevis premier expresses concern over CARICOM meeting
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Nevis Premier, Vance Amory,
has expressed concern over the possible outcome of
the Meeting
of Heads of Government of CARICOM,
currently taking place in St Kitts. The meeting is
discussing a packed agenda,
which includes the
transition into the CSME.
Préval's European tour provides hope for Haiti’s future
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: President Rene Préval's visit
to Paris has encouraged support for Haitian political
parties.
President Préval's delegates included several
former presidential candidates, which many hope will
enhance international
cooperation and support.
FirstCaribbean to invest US$9m in new Barbados business centre
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: FirstCaribbean is investing
US$9m in building a new state of the art Regional
Business
Centre in Barbados. This new building will
house regional Operations, IT and Cards teams
serving the Bank’s pan-Caribbean
footprint from their
location in Barbados.
New fund provides major boost for businesses in St Kitts-Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: St Kitts and Nevis Prime
Minister Dr Denzil Douglas says last Friday’s launching
of the
EC$10 million “Empowerment for Ownership”
Fund should prove to be a major boost to the micro,
small and medium-size
enterprises in the twin-island
Federation.
Technology: Guadeloupe fights the digital divide
POINTE-À-PITRE, Guadeloupe: In France and in the
French territories of the Caribbean (Guadeloupe,
Martinique
and French Guiana), “digital divide” is like
an obsession for French President Chirac. That
means that the French
Government would like
citizens to have access to high speed Internet.
Commentary: The Nassau Institute has a ‘Plan’
The Bahamas government campaign for Universal
Healthcare is on a fast track to implementation,
judging by the
Health Minister’s remarks to the
Chamber of Commerce recently.
Letter: An interesting observation
Mr Hall makes an interesting observation. However,
for him to call the Bahamas "imperious" on the CSME
issue
is not correct in my view.
Letter: Deeply distressed by sweeping generalities
I read Andrew Brown's contribution expecting to find
some golden nugget or an uplifting point but was left
deeply
distressed by his sweeping generalities
ascribed to "Grenadians" and to "Grenadians raised in
the UK".
Letter: I read Ms Adams article with great interest and delight
I read Ms Adams article, with great interest and
delight. Her concerns about Caribbean people in the
Diaspora
are very well founded.
Letter: This view is shared by a number of individuals
Thank you for Ms Adams' well written commentary
regarding the collective state of mind of our
Caribbean and Caribbean-American
Diaspora.
Letter: West Indian Week in Hartford not mere lawn parties and back-yard barbecues
I am writing to comment on the June 30th
commentary written by Ann-Marie Adams. I realize
that this is her own
opinions, but I am frankly
bothered by her subjective campaign to put the
organization and its members in a bad light.
Three second place finishers for the Caribbean in Athens
ATHENS, Greece: Jamaica's Delloreen Ennis-London,
Bahamian Debbie Ferguson McKenzie and Trinidad and
Tobago's
Marc Burns were the best Caribbean
finishers at the "Tsiklitiria 2006" IAAF Athens Super
Grand Prix on Monday.
Powell to race in Stockholm Grand Prix
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Jamaica's joint 100-metre
world record holder Asafa Powell, has agreed to run
at this year's
DN Galan - IAAF Super Grand Prix, in
Stockholm on Tuesday July 25.
Powell not injured, says camp
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Following reports suggesting
that Jamaica's super-star sprinter Asafa Powell is
currently
nursing a hamstring strain, his camp has
played down the injury rumours but made it clear
that Powell will not replace
any athlete in a meeting.
Montserrat’s volcano blows but stays at level 4
BRADES, Montserrat: On Friday, June 30, 2006,
Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) scientists
reported that there
had been a dome collapse with
an associated ash plume of over 12,000 feet.
Inquiry into criminal network could lead to Guyanese Cabinet officials
BROOKLYN, USA: The arrest and arraignment in New
York of indicted alleged drug baron and death squad
mastermind
Roger Khan could lead to the exposure of
a criminal network involving Guyanese Cabinet
officials, says the New York
based Caribbean Guyana
Institute for Democracy (CGID).
Recommendations made to adjust salaries of Dominican MPs
ROSEAU, Dominica: A committee put in place to
review the salaries of Dominican parliamentarians
believes that
their take-home pay should be adjusted.
Humanitarian group says new Cuba report would prevent relief aid
NEW YORK, USA: Humanitarian agency Church World
Service (CWS) is protesting the recommendations in
an advance
draft it has received of a new report by
the Bush Administration's Commission for Assistance
to a Free Cuba.
Parle praised as Caribbean tourism champion
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Berthia Parle, outgoing president
of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), is a "stand-
up
leader" for whom the Caribbean region should be
extremely proud, declares Lelei LeLaulu, President of
the Counterpart
International.
USVI celebrates 158th anniversary of emancipation
ST CROIX, USVI: The US Virgin Islands is celebrating
the 158th anniversary of their emancipation from
slavery
on St Croix with art exhibits, re-enactments
and other cultural and historical activities. It was on
July 3, 1848
when more than 8,000 enslaved Africans
incapacitated the occupying army.
Commentary: Law and Politics: Is it just political football?
It sounds very strange, in my view, to hear a
Minister in our Parliament last week in the process of
upbraiding
another MP, who was quoting the St
Vincent Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonzales, for
expressing concerns.
Angry Lara to reconsider captaincy
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): A fuming Brian Lara
revealed he was informed on the eve of the just-
ended fourth and
final Test against India that he had
been made a member of the West Indies selection
committee one month earlier.
The 37-year-old
batting superstar made the announcement on
Sunday.
We played the better cricket says Dravid
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Indian captain Rahul
Dravid feels his side won the four-Test series against
West Indies
since they played the better cricket.
Having set West Indies a target of 269, India won
the fourth and final Test
at Sabina Park by 49 runs
to win the series 1-0.
Grenadian Roberts joins Blackburn from Wigan
LONDON, England: Grenadian international Jason
Roberts has signed a four-year transfer deal to join
another Premiership
side, Blackburn Rovers from his
old club Wigan Athletic.
Ballantyne wins CARICOM 10K run
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The CARICOM 10K Run held on
Sunday to commemorate the 27th Summit of
CARICOM Heads of Government
in St Kitts was won
by Pamenos Ballantyne of St Vincent and the
Grenadines.
'Forgotten' Cubans want to be at next football feast
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Football is suffering in Cuba
because it comes low on the priority list way behind
the Caribbean
island's top sport of baseball,
according to respected coach Roberto Hernandez.
US gears up for post-Castro era in Cuba
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): The United States
should act fast to boost a transitional government in
Cuba when
President Fidel Castro's rule ends and get
advisers on the ground within weeks, a U.S.
government report recommends.
Aristide said to be focus of drug investigation
MIAMI, USA (UPI): Jean-Bertrand Aristide, former
priest and exiled former president of Haiti, is the
target of
a major U.S. drug investigation, The Miami-
Herald said.
Baseball-legend Sosa boosts Dominican Republic's image in Asia
SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters): The Dominican
Republic has turned to baseball legend Sammy Sosa
in a bid to lift
its economic and marketing image in
Asia.
Chirac backs new Haitian President
PARIS, France (Reuters): French President Jacques
Chirac said on Friday United Nations forces should
remain in
Haiti to continue their mission to help
preserve order and pledged support for the
impoverished Caribbean country.
American actor Andy Garcia calls for rapid transformation in Cuba
KARLOVY VARY, Czech Republic (AFP): American
actor Andy Garcia said he hoped for "a rapid
transformation" in
Cuba, the country where he was
born, when he presented his first film as director at
the Karlovy Vary international
film festival on
Saturday.
Haiti to return to Caribbean trade group at summit
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Haiti will mark its
return to the Caribbean trade and development bloc
CARICOM on Monday
at a summit of the
organization's member states in St Kitts and Nevis.
Castro's niece fights for new revolution
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Mariela Castro is leading a
Cuban revolution less well known than her Uncle
Fidel's:
one in favour of sexual tolerance within the
island's macho society.
Commentary: Power-sharing in Guyana
General elections in Guyana to elect the President
and government of the country will most probably be
held in
early September. At the time of writing, the
Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) appears ready
to publish a voters’
list.
Historic Caribbean win for India
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Leg-spin bowler Anil
Kumble captured six wickets to bowl India to a
historic win inside
three days in the fourth and final
Test on Sunday at Sabina Park.
Smith, Menendez leads Caribbean party for Athens Grand Prix
ATHENS, Greece: A host of Caribbean stars, including
world champions Trecia Smith of Jamaica and Cuba's
Osleidys
Menendez, will be part of the largest
contingent ever at the Athens Super Grand Prix,
scheduled for Monday 3 July
2006.
USA beat Barbados 91-0 in Rugby World Cup qualifier
SANTA CLARA, USA (AFP): The United States
pounded Barbados 91-0 here Saturday in a 2007
Rugby World Cup qualifier.
The USA will meet Canada
in the final match of the Americas qualifying group 3b.
