Two plead guilty in massive Grenada fraud case
PORTLAND, USA: The United States Attorney for the
District of Oregon, Karin Immergut, on Wednesday
announced
guilty pleas by two defendants in an
international investment fraud scam involving the
First International Bank of
Grenada.
Cuba's Castro arrives at Mercosur trade summit
CORDOBA, Argentina (AFP): Cuban leader Fidel
Castro arrived Thursday at a Mercosur trade summit,
a guest of Argentina,
Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and
incoming member, Venezuela.
Two US missionaries kidnapped, released in Haiti
MIAMI, USA (AFP): Two US kidnapped US
missionaries were released on payment of a ransom in
Haiti Thursday, but
a Haitian employee of the US
embassy was still being held, US officials said.
Strike paralyses Suriname harbour
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: For the second straight day,
activities at the Suriname’s main port came to a halt
Thursday
as dockworkers and truckers continued a
strike for better wages and working conditions.
WINAIR’s monopoly blamed for Montserrat’s economic failures
BRADES, Montserrat: One year after the opening of
Montserrat’s Gerald’s Airport, WINAIR is accused of
being a
key factor in the failure of the country’s
economic redevelopment and continues to prohibit
residents from accessing
essential health care.
BVI Customs assist Anguilla law enforcement in marijuana seizure
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Customs officials from the British
Virgin Islands and its K-9 team recently assisted
members
of the police and customs department in
Anguilla in the seizure of hundreds of pounds of
marijuana that were found
in a container.
Barbados 'prohibitively expensive' says EU official
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Barbados is being described
as one of the most prohibitively expensive places in
the world,
even more so than Brussels.
Dominica PM outlines achievements in agricultural
ROSEAU, Dominica: Prime Minister and Minister for
Finance and Planning, Roosevelt Skerrit has outlined
government
achievements in the agricultural sector
in Dominica for the last financial year 2005/2006.
Grenada continues to fight juvenile delinquency
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: The Ministry of Social
Development is continuing to place serious emphasis
on the fight
against juvenile delinquency in Grenada.
Illegal Guyanese jailed in Suriname for assault on fellow-countryman
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Three Guyanese men, who
were residing illegally in Suriname, were sentenced to
jail by
a Surinamese court this week for hacking a
fellow-countryman with cutlasses in January.
US raises stakes with Internet gambling crackdown
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US authorities are raising
the stakes against Internet gambling with their
biggest prosecution
effort to date, but backers of
online wagering are not yet ready to fold.
Chavez, Castro may push Mercosur meeting leftward
CORDOBA, Argentina (Reuters): Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez marked his nation's debut as a member
of South
America's biggest trade bloc on Thursday at
a two-day summit that also drew his friend, Cuban
leader Fidel Castro.
Puerto Rico's debt is spared from possible ratings cut
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Puerto Rico's credit
rating on $17.5 billion debt was spared from a
potential cut
by Standard & Poor's after the
Caribbean island commonwealth approved a $9.5
billion budget with a new sales tax.
Cable & Wireless bids $205m for Bermuda's KeyTech
LONDON, England (Bloomberg): Cable & Wireless Plc,
the U.K.'s second-biggest phone company, offered to
buy
KeyTech Ltd. for about $205 million in cash to
expand in Bermuda.
Commentary: Dénouement: Online gaming in Antigua (and throughout the Americas) is dead!
In a previous article, I criticized the ill-fated odyssey
of the Antiguan government to compel the U.S.
government’s
compliance with a World Trade
Organization directive to cease its restrictive policies
towards online gaming.
Letter: Only Aruba is innocent
Blame the irresponsible parent who allowed her
immature daughter to travel internationally without
appropriate
supervision.
Ottey to run in Celtic Cup as she looks to Euro Championships
FALKIRK, Scotland: One of the world's greatest ever
sprinters, Merlene Ottey, a former Jamaican and
Caribbean
sprint-queen, has confirmed that she will
compete in next month's Celtic Cup at the
Grangemouth Stadium in Falkirk,
Scotland.
Powell withdraws from Vardinoyiannia meeting after spikes refused on board
ATHENS, Greece: Jamaican in-form sprinter Asafa
Powell has pulled out of Friday's Vardinoyiannia track
and field
meeting in Rethymno, on the island of
Crete, after airport officials refused to let him take
his spikes on board as
a hand luggage.
Grenadian Bernard-Thomas victorious in Belgium
NAIMETTE-XHOVEMONT, Belgium: Grenada's 2004
NCAA 800m champion Neisha Bernard-Thomas was
the only Caribbean winner
at Wednesday night's
Meeting de Liège in Naimette-Xhovémont, Belgium.
UN forces and Haiti gangs clash, two reported dead
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): At least two
people were killed when U.N. troops exchanged
gunfire with gangs
in Haiti's capital on Wednesday, a
witness said.
More than 100 injured when Caribbean cruise ship lists at sea
MIAMI, USA (AFP): A cruise ship returning from a
nine-day cruise in the Caribbean listed sharply to the
left
after leaving Florida's Port Canaveral, sending
people and furniture sliding dangerously and injuring
more than 100
people on board.
Antigua wins WTO probe into U.S. gambling rules
GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters): The World Trade
Organisation on Wednesday agreed to investigate
accusations by
Antigua and Barbuda that U.S.
Internet gambling laws violate trade rules.
30 Trinidadians said to be trapped in war-torn Lebanon
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: News reaching Trinidad
indicates that about 30 Trinidadians of Lebanese
descent were
up to Wednesday trying to leave
Lebanon to escape the bombing there.
International conference salutes Tobagonian scholar
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The International Society
for Oral Literature in Africa (ISOLA) will host its 6th
conference
at the University of the West Indies, St.
Augustine Campus, Trinidad from July 20 – 23, 2006.
Amazon deforestation may increase Caribbean hurricanes
MANAUS, Brazil: Studies presented by leading world
scientists forecast dire consequences for the
Caribbean and
southern American regions if
deforestation of the Amazon is not halted, said the
head of a development agency.
OECS looks at establishment of School of Diplomacy, improved tourism statistics
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: A recommendation for the
improvement of tourism statistics in the Eastern
Caribbean from
the sub-regional grouping’s Council
of Tourism Ministers, has been accepted by OECS
Heads of Government.
Low income Dominicans benefit from government squatter policy
ROSEAU, Dominica: Over one hundred and sixty-
seven low income persons in Dominica have benefited
from a decision
made by the Skerrit administration
last year to offer land to eligible squatters at only
EC$1 per square foot.
Several initiatives discussed and endorsed by OECS Heads of Government
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: OECS Heads of Government
have endorsed several initiatives aimed at
strengthening the sub-regional
integration movement.
OECS Director General updates Heads on development programmes
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Member nations of the
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
stand to benefit
from several initiatives between the
sub-regional integration movement and international
development partners.
OECS and OAS to establish work programme at regional level
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The St Lucia-based
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and
the western hemispheric
Organisation of American
States (OAS) are to map out a work programme at
the regional level.
Dominica PM announces completion of Growth and Social Protection Strategy
ROSEAU, Dominica: In his presentation of the
2006/2007 Budget last Tuesday, Dominica’s Prime
Minister, Roosevelt
Skerrit, confirmed the completion
of Government’s Growth and Social Protection
Strategy.
CGID calls on Guyana government to stop defending drug cartel
BROOKLYN, USA: The New York based Caribbean
Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) has dismissed
attempts by Guyana government officials to defend
Guyanese alleged drug-baron and death squad master-
mind, Roger Khan.
Letter: White is bad for you
I read with alarm the article written by Sir Ronald
Sanders about 'Save lives and money' and would like
to take
this opportunity in agreeing with most of
what was written.
Cuban Robles says record holder Xiang is not unbeatable
MADRID, Spain: Cuban teenage sensation Dayron
Robles said he's keen on putting up a fight against
Liu Xiang,
China's newly crowned world record holder
in the men's 110m Hurdles.
Powell leads six Caribbean sprinters vying for DN Galan dash title
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Six Caribbean athletes,
including co-world record Asafa Powell, were
announced for the men's
100-metre dash for the
40th anniversary of the DN Galan - IAAF Super Grand
Prix in Stockholm, Sweden, scheduled for
Tuesday
July 25.
Martina signs professional contract with Nike
FLORIDA, USA: Netherlands Antilles' star sprinter
Churandy Martina has signed a professional contract
with footwear
powerhouse Nike, which means that he
has given up the rest of his collegiate standing,
Caribbean Net News was informed.
Smiling Assassin out to join Akhtar and Lee in 100mph club
LONDON, England (AFP): Fidel Edwards has set his
sight on becoming the first West Indies bowler to
smash the
100mph barrier and admitted he likes
nothing better than spying fear in a batsman's eyes.
Dominican Republic migrants suffocate in shipping container
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Reuters): Four
Dominican Republic migrants died and two were
seriously ill after suffocating in a container on a ship
that they
hoped would smuggle them into the United
States, police said on Tuesday.
Trinidad's Attorney General claims Chief Justice is above the law
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad's Attorney
General, John Jeremie, has claimed that two court
orders to stop
criminal proceedings against the
nation's Chief Justice, Satnarine Sharma, has
virtually put the Chief Justice above the law.
US cracks down on Antigua internet gambling operation
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Eleven people have been
charged in a US crackdown on a multibillion-dollar
Internet sports
betting website with operations in
Antigua and elsewhere, prosecutors said.
India to dispatch flood, disaster experts to Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): India has agreed to
dispatch experts in flood forecasting and disaster
management to
Guyana, where unprecedented
severe flooding within the last two years has killed
more than 40 people.
DOMLEC losing millions in electricity theft
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica’s lone electricity
company DOMLEC is moving to curb electricity theft
which company
officials say cost it about $14 million
in losses during the last financial year.
The Bahamas contributes to OAS programs
WASHINGTON, USA: The government of The
Bahamas on Tuesday presented monetary
contributions towards a variety
of Organization of
American States (OAS) programs.
Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela to sign hydrocarbons agreement
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Governments of
Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela are soon to
conclude an agreement
for the unitizing of any
hydrocarbon reserves that straddle their maritime
boundaries.
USVI native son finds link to Africa
ST CROIX, USVI: St Croix-born lawyer/historian
Wayne James has uncovered several centuries-old
documents that
establish his family’s direct,
unbroken, fully documented connection to his great-
great-great-great-grandmother, Azunta,
born in
Africa in 1785 and sold on St Croix in 1798 at the
age of 13.
Caribbean Star Airlines welcomes new aircraft
ST JOHN’S, Antigua: Caribbean Star Airlines on
Tuesday welcomed its newest aircraft, a state-of-
the-art Bombardier
Q300 Dash 8 Model 315, the
second of four brand-new Q300s that will be added
to the carrier’s fleet in 2006.
Commentary: Save lives and money
Preventable chronic diseases and lack of exercise are
major killers of Caribbean people. And, the cost of
treating
these preventable chronic diseases is
draining the revenues of Caribbean governments and
swallowing foreign exchange.
Commentary: US embargo against Cuba under growing siege
Washington’s embargo against Cuba has been a
longstanding obstacle to U.S.-Cuban relations of any
kind, but the
emergence of economic opportunities
in the Cuban market has prompted a possible thaw in
the historic hostilities.
Letter: Illegal drugs are illogical
I know it is almost useless to write my opinion on
the commentary by Clarence Pilgrim about drugs.
However I see such a stubborn adherence to the
decades-long failed
opposition to drugs that leads
nowhere.
Five Caribbean wins in Madrid
MADRID, Spain: Caribbean athletes continue to excel
on the European circuit this season as they were
once again
among the highlights at an IAAF World
Athletics Tour meeting; this time it was at the
Meeting de Atletismo Madrid
2006, on Monday.
Suriname apologizes for Moiwana massacre
MOENGO, Suriname: In the presence of hundreds of
surviving relatives, Suriname’s president on Saturday, July 15 formally
apologized for the slaying of at least 39 unarmed civilians by an army unit.
Trinidad's radical Muslim leader released on bail
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad's Muslimeen
leader, 64-year-old Imam Yasin Abu Bakr, after
spending almost
eight months in jail on charges of
sedition, has been granted bail in the sum of
TT$400,000.
Haitian Diaspora Reconnection Forum: Expectations and prospects
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: While meeting in Paris with
President Rene Garcia Préval, the French leader
Jacques Chirac
revealed plans to begin a co-
development program in Haiti.
10 men wanted in killing of Guyana's agriculture minister
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Ten men are being
sought in connection with the April killing of
Guyanese agriculture
minister Satyadeow Sawh,
police said Friday.
Tobago sets aside TT$20m for hurricane season
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Tobago House of
Assembly has allocated TT$20 million toward disaster preparedness for
the year 2006. The fund has been
set aside especially for the hurricane season.
Grenada's opposition speaks out on agriculture
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: Grenada's opposition National Democratic Congress has agreed to compile a full report on Sunday’s
agriculture conference within six months, and to meet on a similar basis within three months.
Well-known Grenadian lawyer dies
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: The legal profession in
Grenada is mourning the loss of one of its more senior members. Michael
Sylvester died in the United States on Monday night, where he was receiving treatment.
Petroleos de Venezuela to sell oil products to Antigua-Barbuda
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Petroleos de
Venezuela SA, South America's largest oil company,
has signed a
long-term contract to sell petroleum
products to the Caribbean island-nation of Antigua
and Barbuda as part of Venezuela's
PetroCaribe
initiative.
Commentary: Law and Politics: Is it tradition - change - exchange or reconciliation?
The football World Cup has now come and gone, and
the hopes and dreams and ambitions of all the
participants
have all been laid to rest in that historic
city of Berlin in Germany. The hot favourite Brazil did
not look like
winners.
Spirited performances from Caribbean athletes in Rome
ROME, Italy: Several Caribbean athletes, including
the Jamaican world leading sprint pair of Sherone
Simpson
and Asafa Powell stamped their class on yet
another European meeting in the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy, on Friday
June 14.
Powell to race against Carter at DN Galan
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Jamaica's world-renowned
sprinter Asafa Powell, the co-world record holder
over 100-metres,
at 9.77 seconds will face America's
new young sensation Xavier Carter in the dash at the
DN Galan – IAAF Super Grand
Prix in Stockholm.
Reggae Boy Goodison wins permit appeal
LONDON, England: Reggae Boy Ian Goodison is now
free to join English Coca-Cola Football League One
side Tranmere
Rovers after his request for a work
permit was granted.
Hope dims for new Haiti leader as gangs run wild
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Hope is dimming two
months into Haitian President Rene Preval's term that
new blood can revive the Western Hemisphere's
poorest nation as gang violence retakes the hard-
pressed island in its violent grip.
Remarkable improvement in Dominica's fiscal position
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica's Prime Minister and
Minister for Finance and Planning, Roosevelt Skerrit
has reported
a remarkable improvement in Central
Government’s fiscal operations during last week's
presentation of the 2006 Financial
Statement and
Budgetary Proposals.
BVI to consider participation in CSME
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Chief Minister of the British Virgin
Islands Dr. Orlando Smith says the territory will
continue
to examine the pros and cons of
participating in the Caribbean Single Market and
Economy (CSME).
Trinidad prison officer shot by bandit
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: A prisons officer attached
to the Arouca Golden Grove Maximum State Prison in
Trinidad
has been shot and wounded by a gunman as bandits attempted to stage a robbery at a business
establishment on Thursday.
Trinidad national security officials attend prison reform conference
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Officials from the National
Security Ministry and the Trinidad and Tobago
Prisons, are
currently attending a major conference
in Denver, Colorado on Prison Reform.
Steps announced to reduce crime in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: Hatian president, Rene
Préval, announced the appointment last week of Luc-
Eucher Joseph
as the official Public Security State
Secretary.
Criminal investigations underway into BVI developments
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Criminal charges could be brought against persons involved in two major developments
that took place
in the British Virgin Islands a few
years ago.
BVI government expected to complete legislative agenda
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Chief Minister of the British Virgin
Islands, Dr Orlando Smith, says his Government will
achieve
most of its 2003-2007 Legislative Agenda by
the end of its four-year term.
US Virgin Islanders encouraged to access online forum
ST JOHN, USVI: USVI Congressional Representative
Donna Christensen is encouraging Virgin Islanders of
all ages
to access an online forum, focusing on the
interests of young African-American men, scheduled
for July 18, 2006, at
10:00 am EST.
Columbus was a cruel 'tyrant', new documents show
MADRID, Spain (AFP): Explorer Christopher Columbus was a cruel and greedy tyrant who ruled the first land he annexed
in the New World with a brutal disregard for humanity, according to documents published here Friday.
Thousands of Haitians rally for Aristide's return
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Several thousand
Haitian demonstrated peacefully Saturday under
armed United Nations
escort for the return of their
deposed leader Jean Bertrand Aristide from South
African exile.
Commentary: CSM, CICAD and the fight to keep our society free from drugs
Every year on June 26, the United Nations recognizes
this day as the International Day against illicit drug
trafficking.
This opportunity should be seen as a
reminder to all of us that our society continues to be
plagued by this terrible
scourge.
Commentary: Caribbean wasting resources in the marketplace?
Last year, one of my articles expressed my disgust at
the lip service given to Caribbean-American and Black
professionals in the Diaspora who are eager to play a
constructive role in the development of the
Caribbean region.
Commentary: The PLP and the Bahamian skills shortage
Nicki Kelly in the July 9th edition of The Punch made
the point that Sir Lynden Pindling recognized the
deficiencies
in the Bahamian education system that
he inherited in 1967 and failed to rectify them.
Letter: Cruise subsidies are detrimental to land-based tourism
The dramatic decline in cruise ship passengers
visiting Barbados has largely been blamed on soaring
fuel prices. At first, a seemingly plausible and easily
acceptable explanation, but then look at other major
geographical
areas.
Letter: Why not have absentee voting?
As the husband of a Nevisian citizen, I have been
told that their politicians send free round-trip tickets
to
citizens living abroad to return to Nevis to vote in
General Elections.
Powell fails in new world record bid
ROME, Italy (AFP): Asafa Powell failed in his bid to
reclaim sole ownership of the world 100m record from
American rival Justin Gatlin when he clocked 9.85secs
to win the event at the Golden League meet here on
Friday. The 23-year-old Jamaican lost precious time
out of the blocks.
Jones praises Simpson after Rome defeat
ROME, Italy: American multi-global champion Marion
Jones has praised Jamaica’s young sprinter Sherone
Simpson
for her super performance at the IAAF
Golden League meeting in Rome on Friday. Simpson
defeated Jones in a super race
in Rome and the
American took the time to offer her praises.
Powell to run at Varinoyianna meeting
RETHYMNO, Greece: As he continues to prove to the
world that he's the fastest man on earth, Jamaica’s
world
renowned sprinter Asafa Powell has been
confirmed to take part in the Varinoyianna EAA
Outdoor Meeting in Rethymno,
Greece.
