US expects Cuba's power transfer to fail
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): Cuba's Communist
government may redouble its efforts to assert control
and assure
the successful transition from Fidel to
Raul Castro, but the plan won't work in the end, a
senior U.S. official said
on Friday.
Former Trinidad Energy Minister to go on trial
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: A date has been set for
the trial of Trinidad and Tobago's former Government
Minister
of Energy, Finbar Gangar on charges of failing
to declare his financial assets, contrary to the
country's Integrity
in Public Life Act of 1987.
USVI utility struggling with mounting debt and rising fuel costs
ST CROIX, USVI: The US Virgin Islands' only electric
power producer, the Virgin Islands Water and Power
Authority,
has instituted a fuel hedging program and
cut excess power to the islands.
Anti-Castro movement weakened over years
MIAMI, USA (UPI): The once-prosperous movement
against Cuban President Fidel Castro among Cuban
exiles in Miami
has weakened in recent years, the Los
Angeles Times said.
Trinidad Business Chamber responds to inflation indicators
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Trinidad and Tobago
Chamber of Industry and Commerce is calling for
government to
take immediate measures to ensure
that citizens maintain an adequate standard of living
in light of reports of worrying
inflation indicators.
Trinidad airport remains on high security alert following London terror plot
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Passengers now traveling
through Trinidad's Piarco International Airport are now
subject
to tighter security regulations following the
discovery of a plot to blow up aircraft enroute from
the UK to the US.
Japanese government delegation visits Trinidad
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Minister of State for
Gender Equality and Social Affairs in Japan is on an
official
visit to Trinidad and Tobago from August 9-
12. Dr Kuniko Inoguchi and a 6-member delegation
arrived in Trinidad on
Wednesday.
Winds of change may sweep few exiles back to Cuba
MIAMI, USA (Reuters): A lot more than the
treacherous Florida Straits separates Miami's Cuban
exiles from their
homeland just 90 miles (145 km) off
the southern tip of Florida.
Chavez reveals recipe for Castro's 'tsunami' antacid
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): The stomach
condition of Cuban leader Fidel Castro is a classified
secret, but
his close ally Hugo Chavez openly
suggests the communist try a dose of his own
medicine for his intestinal woes.
Cubans plan Castro birthday with or without leader
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Supporters of Cuban leader
Fidel Castro, anxious to see him reappear almost two
weeks
after undergoing surgery, are preparing to
celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday with or
without him.
Commentary: Vacancy - A catalyst to make global trade fair
The Commonwealth is a multinational organisation
that is little known outside of its 53 member States.
Yet, it
has the potential to fill a big vacancy in
today’s world: the need for a catalyst to restart the
suspended global
trade negotiations.
Letter: Why doesn’t anyone question the figures?
It was reported recently that the Barbados Tourism
Authority is resurrecting the Best of Barbados
programme in
Britain. Each person booking one of the
packages will be given a £150 (US$283) subsidy.
West Indies meet Australia in SE Asia tri-series opener
MUMBAI, India (Reuters): West Indies will meet
Australia in the opening match of a triangular series,
involving
India as the third team, to be played in
Singapore and Malaysia from September 12 to 24.
Puerto Rico to host first NHL game
TORONTO, Canada (Reuters): The NHL will make its
first visit to the Caribbean and last year's rookie
sensation
Sidney Crosby and the Phoenix Coyotes will
return home for pre-season games, the league said
on Thursday.
Death toll in Guyana shootings now eight
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The number of people killed
in Tuesday’s shootings in Guyana is now reported to
be eight,
including four pressmen from one of
Guyana's largest newspapers, the Kaieteur News, as
gunmen opened fire simultaneously
in Bagotstown and
the press room of the local paper.
Enhanced aviation security for the Caribbean
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Enhanced security
measures have been implemented at most, if not all,
of the region’s
airports following Thursday's news of a
foiled bomb plot in Britain.
Haiti tells gangs to disarm or face death
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): Haiti's government
threw down the gauntlet to the impoverished and
violent Caribbean
nation's armed gangs on Thursday,
telling them to lay down their weapons or be killed.
US court upholds Miami conviction of Cuban spies
MIAMI, USA (Reuters): A US appeals court has upheld
the convictions of five Cuban men for spying on
behalf of
Fidel Castro's government, ruling a lower
court was right not to move their trial out of Miami
despite claims of a
biased jury pool.
Venezuela oil reserves to soar, boosted by heavy oil
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Venezuela's oil
reserves may almost triple in two years as oil
companies develop
the country's Faja, or heavy-oil
belt, President Hugo Chavez said.
Grenada still hurting, says PM
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Grenada's Prime Minister Dr
Keith Mitchell has said that the problems many young
people
are facing today have been magnified because
of the effects of Hurricanes Ivan and Emily.
NorthWest Airlines launches new non-stop service to St Thomas
ST THOMAS, USVI: The US Virgin Islands Department
of Tourism has welcomed the introduction of new non-
stop service
on Northwest Airlines from Detroit to St
Thomas, scheduled to begin January 6, 2007.
Caribbean media reflect on faith tourism tactics
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Among the issues under review
at the forthcoming Caribbean Media Exchange on
Sustainable
Tourism in St Lucia is the call to
Caribbean tourism authorities to have the faith to
pursue travelers who place a
premium on their
spiritual heritage.
Face-to-face with Fidel Castro
NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters): Most people drink a
mojito, jump in the sea or head for a salsa bar when
they arrive
in Cuba. I got a two-hour tirade from Fidel
Castro.
Venezuelan, Cuban presidents exchange letters
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez said on Thursday he had exchanged
letters with
his friend and ally Fidel Castro, who is
recovering from abdominal surgery.
Commentary: AIDS prevention: To briss, or not to briss: that is the question...
Last year, I wrote an article extolling the findings of
scientific studies that established a positive link
between
male circumcision (briss) and substantial
reduction in the incidence of HIV infections.
Letter: Some Holloway hoaxsters unravelled
Thank you for your recent coverage of the two
recent court decisions, one awarding damages to Mr
Paulus van der
Sloot for unwarranted detention, and
another dismissing a Holloway-family suit initiated in
New York State against
Paulus and Joran van der
Sloot.
Simpson could cut down Campbell in the 100m ranking
FLORIDA, USA : With only 28-points separating her
from the Sherone Simpson, this campaign's current in-
form sprinter,
Olympic champion Veronica Campbell is
likely to lose her top spot in IAAF World 100-metres
event rankings.
Superbowl of sportfishing underway in USVI
ST THOMAS, USVI: The anglers and crew of the
Bandolera, hailing from Puerto Rico and Venezuela,
were clearly
elated to hoist five marlin flags signifying
a winning designation on the third day of the highly
competitive US Virgin
Islands Open/Atlantic Blue
Marlin Tournament.
IAAF investigating Gatlin's Jamaican-born coach
RALEIGH, USA (Reuters): The International
Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said on
Thursday it was
investigating Justin Gatlin's coach,
Jamaican-born Trevor Graham, for possible doping
violations.
9:00 am edt
Five print workers murdered execution-style in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Gunmen shot five
newspaper printing press workers in the back of the
head late Tuesday
in a suburb south of here, in what
police suspected was a gang-related crime.
Castro's health a state secret due to US threats, Cuba says
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba on Wednesday justified
the dearth of news on ailing President Fidel Castro's
health,
arguing that the country faces a clear and
imminent threat from the United States.
Belize bonds tumble on default concern
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Belize's international
bonds have tumbled 25 percent this year on
concerns the government
will default on $960 million
of foreign currency debt.
Stronger hurricanes spawn bigger storm surges
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): Stronger hurricanes
forecast for the next few decades could flood major
cities including
Miami and New Orleans, environmental
scientists said on Wednesday.
Integrity Bill tops Nevis Administration's agenda
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: An Integrity Bill and another
regarding the establishment and functions of parish
councils
on Nevis are the first two pieces of
legislation planned to go before the Nevis Island
Assembly by year end or early
in 2007.
Costa Rica's Arias presses for elections when Castro dies
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AFP): Costa Rica's President
Oscar Arias became the first Latin American leader
Wednesday
to demand free elections for Cuba when
ailing President Fidel Castro dies.
New battle lines drawn in Cuban rum wars
MIAMI, USA (Reuters): With the cocktail-drinking
classes thirsty for mojitos and daiquiris, a new front
has opened
up in a Cuban rum war that has its roots
in the ailing Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution.
Venezuela opens bidding on Caribbean gas blocks
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Venezuela has launched
international bidding for licenses to explore and
operate four
potentially gas-rich offshore blocks in
the Caribbean identified by the state energy group,
Energy Minister Rafael
Ramirez said.
Letter: Proposed Nevis Integrity Bill
Good. Now can Premier Parry tell the people if he's
one of the directors of the Bank of Nevis, and if so,
what
steps he has taken to relinquish that post?
Letter: Terror begets terror
Please allow me some space to answer letter writer
Nida G. Cline. Let me tell you first that I am against
all
and any form of violence. I practice the teachings
of Jesus and Gautama and other Enlightened Masters.
Making the final would be good enough for me, says Guadeloupe-born athlete
GOTHENBURG, Sweden (Reuters): Defending
European 200 metres champion, Guadeloupe-born
Muriel Hurtis, struggling
to recapture her best form
after becoming a mother, said she would be happy
just to make Friday's final.
Olympic 200m champion Campbell done for year with injury
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Reigning Olympic 200m
champion Veronica Campbell of Jamaica will miss the
remainder
of the 2006 athletics season because of a
quad injury, Campbell's manager Claude Bryan told
AFP Wednesday.
Santos double powers Japan to Trinidad victory
TOKYO, Japan (AFP): Japan won their first game
under new coach Ivica Osim on Wednesday, with
Brazilian-born Alessandro
Santos scoring twice early
to sink Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 in a friendly here.
Ottey gave her best, but failed to medal at Euro Championships
GOTHENBURG, Sweden: After just failing to make it
into the deciding race in the women's 100-metres at
the European
Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden
on Wednesday, Jamaican-born Slovenian sprinter
Merlene Ottey says she gave her
all.
Jamaican sprinter Thomas not affected by coach’s European ban
FLORIDA, USA: Former Jamaican sprint double
national champion Dwight Thomas says he will
continue to compete
in Europe for the remainder of
the season, despite several debates about the
honesty of his coach, Trevor Graham.
Downswell quits as Jamaica national senior football coach
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica national senior and
Olympic football coach, Windell Downswell has
resigned from his
post, reports from the island stated
on Wednesday.
Three or four 'major' hurricanes forecast for 2006
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The Atlantic hurricane
season has been less active than anticipated so far
this year but
US government forecasters warned on
Tuesday that three or four major hurricanes could
strike in coming months.
Belize spending increases may lead to debt default
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Belize's increased
spending on infrastructure and on recovery efforts
after hurricane
damage may lead the Central
American country to default on its debt, according to
Standard & Poor's.
Dissidents play down chances of imminent change in Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuban dissidents Tuesday
played down chances of imminent change, as
authorities insisted
the communist leadership is alive
and well after the ailing President Fidel Castro
temporarily ceded power.
US speeds up plans for post-Castro Cuba
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States said
Tuesday it had stepped up planning for a Cuba
without President
Fidel Castro, steering a careful
political course as intrigue deepened over the
communist icon's fate.
Dean of Cuban opposition Gustavo Arcos dead at 79
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Gustavo Arcos Bergnes, a
comrade of Fidel Castro in the early days of the
revolution but
later imprisoned for criticizing the
regime, died of a heart attack here Tuesday,
opposition activists told AFP. He
was 79.
Commentary: Law and Politics: The lessons we are learning have a price!
In this "global village" we are occupying for sometime
now we seem to be always doing things, taking
decisions,
treating others (whether individuals or
countries), and generally going about our business as
though no one else matters.
Letter: A very biased attitude
The letter from Alexander Baldal, dated 8/5/06, once
again displays his very biased attitude towards the
US and
Israel. Either he totally lacks understanding of
the situation or he deliberately sides with the
terrorists.
Letter: Wonders never cease here in the Caribbean
Well, well, well, wonders never cease here in the
Caribbean. Prime Minister Kenny Anthony can take
time out of
his "busy" schedule to criticize Americans
for allegedly making fun of President Fidel Castro's
recent operation.
Lara calls for a resolution
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: West Indies cricket skipper
and world batting maestro Brian Lara has called on
the West
Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the
West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to come to some
form of agreement.
Mullings a two-time sprint winner in Switzerland
FRIBOURG, Switzerland: Former Jamaican national
champion Steve Mullings returned to winning ways
following a
doping suspension when he won a short
sprint double in Fribourg, Switzerland, on Saturday.
Haitian businessman assassinated and wife kidnapped
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti: A well-known Haitian
businessman was assassinated Monday morning, in
Port-au-Prince. Guy
Vitiello, originally from Italy, was
beaten to death by bandits inside his residence in
Musseau, east of the Haitian
capital.
Cuba's ailing Castro back at helm within weeks, say officials
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba's vice president said
Monday Fidel Castro should be back at the helm
within weeks, but
another top official spoke of
months, reflecting the secrecy surrounding the ailing
president's condition.
OAS Assistant Secretary General optimistic about elections in Guyana
WASHINGTON, USA: With three weeks remaining until
elections in Guyana, the Assistant Secretary General
of the
Organization of American States (OAS), Albert
Ramdin, said on Monday he is optimistic that
government authorities
are committed to ensuring a
democratic electoral process.
Cuban military controls weapons, economy
HAVANA, Cuba (UPI): The Cuban military is not a
repressive apparatus, it's a money machine that runs
the tourism
sector, sugar, naval and retail industries,
a report says.
Spice Mas 2006 is on with a bang in Grenada
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Spice Mas 2006 is off to a
good start in Grenada and the Children’s Carnival
Frolic on
Saturday is living proof of what can be
expected this year.
Chalk’s International Airlines introduces new service to Bimini and Nassau
FORT LAUDERDALE, USA: Chalk’s International
Airlines, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, announced
Monday that
it will begin flying new, land-based
aircraft with flights to Bimini and Nassau/Paradise
Island, Bahamas.
Life goes on in Cuba village, despite Fidel illness
ISABELA DE SAGUA, Cuba (Reuters): While the world
waits to see if Cuban leader Fidel Castro recovers
from surgery
and returns to power in the island nation
he has run for 47 years, life in this remote fishing
village goes on as
before, almost untouched by the
news.
Commentary: Can the Diaspora unite the Caribbean?
While I've been publicly lamenting our paltry efforts
at uniting the Caribbean and our governments' failure
to
cut costs collectively in marketplace, Caribbean
compatriots have been pointing out solid ways that
our Diaspora can
foster Caribbean unity.
Commentary: Cuba to suffer after Fidel
(UPI) Cuba is in for some major changes soon. Its
octogenarian ruler, Fidel Castro, and his younger
brother Raul,
the number two man in the Cuban
Council of State, cannot withstand change, and
there is no younger leader on the Cuban
political
scene.
Commentary: Salvaging Washington’s Cuban train wreck
With Fidel Castro temporarily transferring his
authority to his brother Raúl a number of days ago,
the instability
that could accompany any significant
shift in the Castro regime is now under close review
in Washington.
Letter: Fidel still the master
Condoleezza Rice sure has her plate full and Fidel
Castro is providing the fitness center for her so that
she
will be well enough to continue her globe trotting.
Burns hunting top five world ranking spot this season
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's
current leading sprinter, Marc Burns, is hoping for a
fruitful
finish on the circuit this season, which would
likely see him breaking into to the top five list of
performers on
the IAAF World Event Ranking.
Lara and Ganga win awards at T&TCB ceremony
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: West Indies captain and
triple world record holder with the bat, Brian Lara has
been
named Trinidad and Tobago's 'International
Cricketer of the Year'.
Martinique-born Pognon the quickest heading into the 100m semis at Euro Championships
GOTHENBURG, Sweden: Martinique-born Frence
sprinter Ronald Pognon cruised into the semi-finals of
the men's 100-metres
at the European Championships
in the Ullevi Stadium on Monday.
Party reassures Cubans over Castro's health
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Word filtered through the
ranks of the Cuban Communist Party and government
that President
Fidel Castro was recovering from
surgery, but his location and exact condition
remained a mystery on Sunday nearly
a week after
his unprecedented handover of power.
Annan hopes to send team of crime experts to Haiti
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AFP): UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan said he will ask the
United Nations
Security Council to send dozens of
crime experts to Haiti to help quell violence in the
country.
NY judge dismisses Holloway suit
NEW YORK, USA (UPI): A New York judge has
dismissed a lawsuit by the parents of an Alabama
teenager who vanished
in Aruba last year.
Belize promises market-friendly debt restructuring
BELMOPAN, Belize (Reuters): Belize said last week it
was committed to a 'market-friendly' restructuring of
its
nearly $1 billion foreign debt but that negotiations
with creditors would dictate how much lenders stood
to lose.
Life little changed where Castro launched revolution
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): In the foothills of Cuba's
rugged Sierra Maestra mountains, where President
Fidel Castro
launched his armed revolution half a
century ago, life appears frozen in time.
Shipwrecked Cuban boy Elian wishes Castro quick recovery
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy
who became the celebrated object of a 2000 US-
Cuba tug-of-war
wished Cuban leader Fidel Castro a
speedy recovery from surgery.
US not stoking crisis in Cuba, says Rice
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice on Sunday insisted the United
States would not
stoke a political crisis in Cuba as
President Fidel Castro ails, but issued a new call for
democratic change.
Hooked marlin spears Bermuda fisherman
HAMILTON, Bermuda (UPI): A fisherman was lucky to
escape from a 14-foot marlin that impaled him and
knocked him
overboard during a tournament in
Bermuda.
Bermuda-based tycoon told to pay record UK divorce settlement
LONDON , England (Reuters): A British judge has
awarded the ex-wife of a Bermuda-based insurance
magnate 48 million
pounds in what is believed to be
the biggest contested divorce award in British legal
history.
Cubans getting news from satellite dishes
HAVANA, Cuba (UPI): Satellite TV dishes are giving
some Cubans a look at how the rest of the world is
covering
President Fidel Castro's health problems.
Commentary: Business: Guadeloupe offside of the Caribbean!
Some days after the visit to Guadeloupe of Howard
Lovell, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, it
was the
turn of a delegation from Trinidad's Ministry
of Trade and Industry, to gather press and socio
professionals.
Commentary: Thanks Premier Mike
The Turks and Caicos Islands have experienced
tremendous growth and development in the political,
economic and
cultural sectors under the competent
leadership of Premier Michael Missick.
Letter: Nary a word from Caribbean governments
As Israel continues its murderous assault on the
people of Lebanon, to date not a single Caribbean
Government
or Opposition party, with the notable
exception of the Peoples Empowerment Party here in
Barbados, has uttered a word
of protest.
West Indies name squad for September tri-series
MUMBAI, India (Reuters): West Indies Cricket Board
(WICB) bypassed the country's Players Association
and named
a 14-man squad for next month's
triangular series against India and Australia.
Magath offered Puerto Rico post
MUNICH, Germany (AFP): Bayern Munich coach Felix
Magath revealed Sunday that Puerto Rico had
approached him about
becoming the country's team
director in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup in
South Africa.
Jamaican international Burton out for three weeks with hamstring injury
LONDON, England: Former Reggae Boyz hero, Deon
Burton, became the third Jamaican sidelined with an
injury, following
the news out of Sheffield
Wednesday's training camp that the striker will be
out of action for three weeks.
Reggae Boy Davis completes successful knee operation
LONDON, England: Sheffield United's Claude Davis, a
no-nonsense centre-back in the Jamaican Reggae
Boyz line
up, is now resting at his British home,
following successful surgery on his right knee on
Friday.
US Olympic Committee bans Jamaican-born coach Graham from training sites
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): The US Olympic
Committee has permanently banned Jamaican-born
track coach Trevor Graham
from its training centers
and training sites, the first time the organization has
levied such a penalty.
