Guards foil escape plot at Guyana's main prison
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Three inmates, including one
on remand facing three murder charges, made a
daring attempt
to escape from Guyana’s main prison
late Tuesday evening after they ripped apart the
concrete and ventilation grilles
in their cells.
However, their plan was short-lived.
Poor nations wary of EU development deals, says Jamaican minister
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters): Developing countries
fear the EU is too focused on opening up their
economies in
new deals between Brussels and
Europe's former colonies that are intended to ease
poverty, Jamaica's Foreign Affairs
and Trade Minister
Anthony Hylton said on Thursday.
Castro missed chance for democratic opening, says Brazilian president
BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP): Brazil's leftist President Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday he was
disappointed
that Fidel Castro, the ailing leader of
communist Cuba, had missed his chance to implement
a "democratic opening."
Lula, a former union leader,
visited Cuba in September 2004.
Haitian leaders want to end human rights abuses, says top UN rights official
UNITED NATIONS, New York: Although the human
rights situation in Haiti is cause for concern, there is
room for
optimism in light of the Government’s will to
confront and resolve these problems, according to
the top United Nations
rights official, Louise Arbour.
Bureau recommends institutionalisation of meetings between Parliamentary Opposition and CARICOM Heads
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Recommendations from the
CARICOM Secretariat on the relationship between
Heads of Government
and the Leaders of the
Opposition have been endorsed by the Bureau of the
Conference of Heads of Government.
Maya archaeologist turns to ecotourism to make a difference in Belize
BELMOPAN, Belize: There is a serious trend among
the traveling public to ‘give back’ and aid in
sustainable tourism
efforts. One woman, who holds a
graduate degree in Maya archaeology, is attempting
to give eco travelers to Belize
this chance.
Guyana president confident stadium will be ready on time
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Following an
inspection tour of the Providence stadium and
Buddy’s International Hotel
at Providence, East Bank
Demerara, President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed
confidence that Guyana’s commitments to the
International Cricket Council (ICC) will be met.
Puerto Rico leads tax-exempt borrowers with 9-month note sale
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Puerto Rico led
borrowers in the US municipal debt market on
Wednesday as it sold
notes maturing in nine months
to fund operations and augment cash flow.
New York investment firm to purchase WAPA-TV in Puerto Rico
NEW YORK, USA: InterMedia Partners, L.P., a New
York-based private equity firm, announced on
Thursday that it
has agreed to purchase WAPA-TV, a
full-power independent television station located in
San Juan, Puerto Rico.
China, Cuba to launch biotech venture
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba and China have agreed
to launch a biotechnology venture to develop
neurotechnology products
in China, official Cuban
media announced Thursday.
World's most expensive smoke, but is it the best?
MADRID, Spain (Reuters): It's the world's most
expensive cigar -- $440 each and it only comes in
boxes of 40
-- but is it the best? Nobody knows
because no one has smoked one. The Cuban havanas
from the Cohiba brand are so
precious that no one
has actually lit one yet.
Montserrat welcomes new air service
BRADES, Montserrat: The Emerald Isle of the
Caribbean has announced new charter flights from
Montserrat to Antigua.
Air Montserrat is scheduled to
begin service in mid-October operating daily flights
between the two islands.
Jamaican economy on track to meet fiscal target, says minister
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Minister of Finance and
Planning, Dr Omar Davies, has said that although
there were
challenges in meeting Jamaica's fiscal
target, “we are still within the projections for this
point of the year”. Davies
noted that “the deficit
remains our major challenge."
Outgoing US ambassador congratulates Dominica for putting ‘financial house in order’
ROSEAU, Dominica: Outgoing United States
Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean,
Mary Kramer, has congratulated
the Government and
people of Dominica for “putting their financial house
in order”. The US Ambassador made the comments
as
she concluded her final visit to Dominica.
Media watchdog criticises Cuba for controlling Web
PARIS, France (Reuters): A press freedom watchdog
accused Cuba on Thursday of trying to prevent
people from reading
independent media, saying less
than 2 percent of Cubans connect to the Web at
closely monitored Internet access points.
Commentary: Madonna and (black) child: Why all the fuss?
Notwithstanding the suspenseful balloting at the UN
between Venezuela and Guatemala for a seat on the
Security
Council, the no less dramatic No Confidence
motion against Jamaican Prime Minister Portia
Simpson’s administration,
Commentary: UN delegations: Consider St Lucia for the Security Council’s Latin American seat
Guatemala and Venezuela have persistently fallen
short of the two thirds majority needed to secure
GRULAC’s (the
UN’s Latin American and Caribbean
caucus) seat in the UN Security Council after more
than two days of voting.
Chappell praises Lara's strategic batting move
MUMBAI, India: Former Australian captain Ian
Chappell was full praise for West Indies captain Brian
Lara, after
the batting star adjusted well to batting
later in the order and guided the defending
champions to an upset victory
over Australia.
Gayle fined 30 percent of match fee
NEW DELHI, India (Reuters): West Indies all rounder
Chris Gayle was fined 30 percent of his match fee on
Wednesday
for a code of conduct breach during the
narrow Champions Trophy victory over Australia.
CARICOM mission will assess Haiti’s re-entry into integration movement and return to democracy
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: St Kitts and Nevis Prime
Minister and current Chairman of CARICOM, Dr Denzil
Douglas, said
the Prime Ministerial Mission to Haiti is
aimed at consolidating that country’s re-entry into
the integration movement
and to assess its return to
democracy.
Father and son charged with racial beating in Barbados
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The father and son charged
in connection with the beating of a 15-year-old boy,
in a case
that involved accusations of racism, have
been released on bail.
Suriname seeks solution for butter dispute with Jamaica
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Suriname is seeking a
solution for a year-long butter dispute with Jamaica.
At the upcoming
meeting of CARICOM’s Council for
Trade and Economic Development next month in
Guyana, Suriname will raise this issue
again.
Trinidad government aims at poverty eradication by 2015
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Government of
Trinidad and Tobago is aiming to eradicate poverty
among sections
of the population by the year 2015.
Bahamas Supreme Court rules for new development in environmental battle
NASSAU, Bahamas: Last week, the Baker's Bay Golf
and Ocean Club won its legal battle in the Bahamas
against opponents
of the development. As a result,
the new marina and golf community will immediately
resume development in the Abacos
on Great Guana
Cay.
Dominica records growth in production, tourism and construction sectors
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica has recorded growth in
the production, construction and tourism sectors in
the second
quarter of 2006, according to a report by
the Central Statistical Office Quarterly Economic
Indicator for the second
quarter of 2006 (April-June).
US rules may impact Caribbean
WASHINGTON, USA (UPI): Caribbean countries fear
their tourism industry would be seriously affected by
the new
US passport requirements for Americans.
US missionary kidnapped in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (UPI): A US missionary has
been kidnapped in northern Haiti, UN officials in the
troubled
Caribbean nation said Tuesday.
Bureau recommends re-examination of Dominican Republic's proposed membership in CARICOM
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The Bureau of the Conference
of Heads of Government of CARICOM has agreed to
recommend
the re-examination of the admittance of
the Dominican Republic as a full member of the
regional integration movement.
Grenada government says no more free housing material
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: Getting free assistance from
the Grenada government’s building material
distribution scheme
will soon be a thing of the past.
Region must move to establish energy policy, says Jamaican minister
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaican Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Anthony
Hylton, has
said that in light of the geo-political
climate and rising energy bills, the Caribbean region
should move to establish
a regional energy policy.
Jamaican senators support call for legislation to govern party financing
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): A motion brought by
Senator Trevor Munroe, calling for urgent legislation
to govern
political party funding and reform in
election campaign financing regulations, was
supported in the Jamaican Senate
last Friday.
Deuss to leave Bermuda for questioning in Holland
HAMILTON, Bermuda (Reuters): John Deuss, wanted
in Europe for questioning about money laundering and
other illicit
activities, will leave his exile home in
Bermuda and hand himself over to authorities in
Holland,
Cuban student leader sees socialist future
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): He likes the sound of
Queen, leads 300,000 Cuban university students and
is the son of
Cuba's third most powerful man after
the Castro brothers.
Graham Greene back in Havana as character in novel
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Graham Greene returns to
a Havana of spies, cigar-chomping gangsters and
prostitutes
as the main character in a novel by
internationally acclaimed Cuban author Pedro Juan
Gutierrez.
Commentary: The Greater Caribbean This Week: The ACP countries unite the cultural roots of the Caribbean
The countries belonging to the African, Caribbean
and Pacific (ACP) Group assembled in the Dominican
Republic,
where the 2nd Forum of Ministers of Culture
of this vast group of countries was held, giving
continuity to the first
meeting of that kind held in
2003, in Dakar.
West Indies stun Australia
MUMBAI, India (AFP): Paceman Jerome Taylor
became the first West Indian to take a hat-trick in
limited-overs
cricket as favourites Australia went
down by 10 runs in a dramatic Champions Trophy
match here on Wednesday.
Ponting praises West Indies' spinners
MUMBAI, India (Reuters): Australia captain Ricky
Ponting praised the performance of West Indies'
finger spinners
Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels after
the world champions were defeated by 10 runs in the
Champions Trophy on Wednesday.
Milutinovic already impressed with Jamaican local players
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica: Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic,
the world-renowned coach most likely to fill the
vacant slot
as Jamaica's technical director, is already
impressed with the agility of the locally-based
players.
Jamaica's Lorraine Fenton hangs up her spikes
PARIS, France (AFP): Jamaica's Lorraine Fenton, one
of the leading women's 400 metres runners in the last
decade,
announced her retirement on Wednesday.
Venezuela, Guatemala deadlocked over UN Security Council seat
UNITED NATIONS, (AFP): Venezuela and Guatemala
were deadlocked Tuesday in their bid for a UN
Security Council
seat, with the United States pushing
hard to keep Caracas's Hugo Chavez from securing a
new platform.
Anti-drug trafficking agreement signed in Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Caribbean, South American,
European countries and the US signed an agreement
in Suriname
on Friday to work closely together to
combat drug trafficking through the Caribbean and
dismantle trafficking organisations.
OECS opens new office in Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Member countries of the
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
now have an office,
with consular attributes, at their
disposal in Puerto Rico to be used as a base for
stimulating trade, tourism and
investment promotion.
Antigua-Barbuda consults with other parties to WTO Internet gaming case against the US
GENEVA, Switzerland: Antigua and Barbuda's
delegation to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
held consultations
in Geneva on Tuesday with
representatives from the European Commission,
Japan and China, who are third parties to
its Internet
gaming case against the United States.
BVI makes waves at the Annapolis Boat Show
TORTOLA, BVI: The 37th Annual Annapolis Sailboat
Show in Annapolis, MD from October 5- 9 welcomed
more than 27,000
boating and sailing enthusiasts,
including a strong British Virgin Islands presence.
Contract signed, ground broken for multi-million dollar by-pass road in St Kitts
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The start of construction of
the multi-million dollar West Basseterre By-Pass Road
will
have significant impact on the social and
economic development of St Kitts and Nevis, and
comes at a time when the
national economy is being
transformed.
Card-format passport mulled for US citizens for Caribbean sea travel
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): A card-format passport
for American citizens has been proposed for travel
through land
and sea ports of entry between the
United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean
and Bermuda.
French crooner Charles Aznavour taps Cuban rhythms
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): At the age of 82, French
crooner Charles Aznavour is still looking for new ways
to capture
an audience and has turned to the hot
rhythms of Cuban music to convey his songs.
Aznavour teamed up with Latin jazz
piano virtuoso,
Chucho Valdes, to record 11 songs.
USVI assigned 'BBB-' credit rating
NEW YORK, USA: Credit rating agency Fitch has
assigned a 'BBB-' rating to the general obligation
(GO) bonds of
the United States Virgin Islands
(USVI). The rating applies to $593 million in
outstanding GO bonds.
US corporation acquires BVI resort
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, USA: US-based Victor
International Corporation has announced its
acquisition of Biras Creek
Resort in the British Virgin
Islands – one of the Caribbean’s premier resorts.
Plans include an immediate renovation
of all guest
room suites.
Stage set for 4th Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival
NEW YORK, USA: The stage is set for the fourth
annual Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival to return to
the 35
square mile British territory, from November 9-
12, 2006 with an exciting collection of jazz greats.
Puerto Rico could host Americas hoop qualifier for Beijing
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AFP): The FIBA Americas
executive committee will decide on Thursday
between San Juan and
Las Vegas, Nevada, as host
for the 2007 tournament to decide qualifiers for the
2008 Beijing Olympics.
All Test-playing nations should conduct dope tests, says ICC
JAIPUR, India (AFP): The International Cricket Council
(ICC) has urged all Test-playing nations to conduct
regular
drug tests to make the game better and
stronger, a top official said here on Tuesday. Doping
tests will be conducted
in six matches of the ongoing
Champions Trophy tournament.
Mumbai willing to forego Champions Trophy final over dusty wicket
MUMBAI, India (AFP): The International Cricket
Council will be requested to shift the Champions
Trophy final
from the Brabourne stadium here if the
wicket does not improve, a senior official said on
Tuesday.
Dehring says West Indies will be more than just underdogs at CWC 2007
NEW YORK, USA: Chris Dehring, Chief Executive
Officer of Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007, believes
the West Indies
will be more than just underdogs
when the high-status tournament bowls off in their
back yard next year.
Hall backing the Caribbean to host 'best ever' Cricket World Cup
NEW YORK, USA: Former West Indies fast bowler,
Wes Hall, is backing the Caribbean to produce "the
best ever"
Cricket World Cup tournament next year.
Cuba to host 11th World Sport for All Congress
HAVANA, Cuba: The 11th World Sport for All
Congress will be held in Havana, Cuba, from 31
October to 3 November
at the Havana International
Conference Centre. It will be the first time that the
Cuban Olympic Committee will host
the Congress.
Venezuela drops behind in race for UN Security Council
UNITED NATIONS, (AFP): Venezuela, after coming
neck and neck with Guatemala for Latin America's
open seat on
the UN Security Council, fell behind
again Monday under intense lobbying from the United
States.
High-level CARICOM mission to visit Haiti
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): The Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) will Wednesday mount a high-
level good-will mission
to Haiti, the hemisphere's
poorest nation, the Guyana-based CARICOM
headquarters said Monday.
Kittitian family in mourning following fatal shooting in Miami
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The Queeley family in St Kitts
has been plunged into mourning following the fatal
shooting
of a mother and 7-year-old son in Miami.
Kittitian-born Carla Queeley, 34, and her son,
Shaquon Watson, died from
several gunshot wounds
Saturday afternoon.
Antigua-based gaming company strikes tentative accord to end US lawsuit
CHICAGO, USA (Bloomberg): Betonsports Plc., the
Antigua-based online bookmaker under indictment in
the US, reached
a preliminary accord to end litigation
in which the government seeks to stop it from doing
business in the US.
EU's Mandelson urges progress in trade talks with ACP countries
LUXEMBOURG, (AFP): EU trade chief, Peter
Mandelson, called on Monday for progress in
negotiating new preferential
trade accords with poor
countries, amid criticism that he is putting
commercial interests ahead of development.
Nevis Department of Agriculture plans to recapture lost production
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Director of Agriculture in
Nevis, Dr Kelvin Daly, announced on Monday that the
Department
of Agriculture on Nevis had declared war
on complacency, and intends to recapture the lost
production of locally produced
food crops and dairy
produce.
St Kitts to host meeting of the Bureau of CARICOM Heads of Government
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Proposals from the Dominican
Republic on CARICOM-CARIFORUM relations are
among matters
on the agenda when the 21st
Meeting of the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of
Government of the Caribbean Community
convenes in
St Kitts on Tuesday.
Ross Library in Dominica to exhibit local artists
ROSEAU, Dominica: The Ross University School of
Medicine Library in Dominica will begin exhibiting
paintings
of local artists beginning the week of
October 16. Each artist exhibiting will show his
paintings for a period of
approximately six weeks.
AES seeks $40m from Alstom over Puerto Rico power plant
WILMINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): AES Corp., a power
producer in 26 countries, is seeking $40 million from
France's
Alstom SA in a trial of a warranty dispute
that began Monday in federal court in Delaware.
Chavez's one-party dream faces fight in Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Impervious to a
drenching from a tropical downpour, President Hugo
Chavez last
month told an election rally 90 percent
of Venezuelans would one day back a socialist
revolution, that he wants a
single party to steer.
Cuba and Antigua-Barbuda to sign anti-drug trafficking accord
HAVANA, Cuba: Cuba and Antigua & Barbuda explored
ways in Havana on Monday to fight drug trafficking,
which
will be controlled by an accord that both
nations will sign on October 20.
Antigua-Barbuda hospitality institute diversifies student population
DUTCHMAN'S BAY, Antigua: Antigua and Barbuda
officially welcomed eight Grenadian students to the
Hospitality
Training Institute last Friday. The
students are recipients of scholarships offered by the
Government of Antigua and
Barbuda as a form of
goodwill to the Grenadian Government.
Commentary: Law and Politics: Twenty-three years thereafter - what else is new?
Except for the fact that those of us who were
released from detention at Richmond Hill Prison, and
Hope Vale
Camp, on the 26th October 1983 are now
twenty-three years older come next week, the
question begs itself... what else
is new?
Commentary: Cuba’s leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement: Challenge to US hegemony?
Cuba’s ascension to leadership of the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM), at its 14th meeting held
September 11-16 in
Havana, signaled a heightening
of diplomatic tensions between a growing number of
assertive developing nations and
their main target,
an increasingly assailed United States.
Venezuela runs for UN Council seat; US opposed
UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters): Armed with
petrodollars, Venezuela has made a major push to
defeat Guatemala in Monday's
elections for five open
UN Security Council seats. Venezuela is expected to
get a majority in secret balloting in
the UN General
Assembly.
Dutch businessman Deuss arrested in Bermuda
HAMILTON, Bermuda (Reuters): A Dutch businessman
and oil tycoon wanted in Europe for questioning
about money
laundering and other illegal activities
has been arrested in Bermuda, authorities said on
Saturday. Police took John
Deuss, 64, into custody
on Friday.
CARICOM tells US that the Internet-gaming issue is a regional one
WASHINGTON, USA: CARICOM Assistant Secretary-
General Ambassador Irwin La Rocque told a multi-
agency US delegation
that the region viewed with
concern the US’ response to the WTO rulings and
recommendations in the Internet gaming
case.
Drugs and ammunition seized at Trinidad prison
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: A parcel containing a gun,
marijuana, cigarettes and a knife have been seized
by the
prison authorities in Trinidad. The seizure
comes in light of several appeals by prison officers,
who continue to
stay away from the facility.
Curacao cares about the situation in Darfur
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao: Darfur, Sudan is the world’s
worst humanitarian crisis, yet many are not
expressing their
outrage about this situation. State
Secretary of Finance, Alex Rosaria, is of the opinion
that Curacao cannot close
its eyes anymore. He has
therefore initiated a campaign to raise awareness.
Trinidad's murder rate climbs to 301
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago’s
murder rate has now jumped to 301. Among the
recent murder victims
was 27-year-old Keston
Peters, who was said to have been killed outside the
Penal police station in south Trinidad
on Friday.
The Netherlands Antilles establishes double taxation task force
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao: The Government of the
Netherlands Antilles last week approved a new task
force which will
be in charge of negotiating double
taxation agreements (DTAs) with third countries.
St Kitts-Nevis PM announces formation of Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The Government of St Kitts
and Nevis has launched the Sugar Industry
Diversification Foundation
(SIDF), to generate
additional resources to assist in improving the welfare
of the displaced sugar workers. and also
to conduct
research.
Cuban state services rife with theft, says official paper
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Theft and negligence are
rife in Cuba's state-run services, with employees
often making
money on the side by changing prices
or portions in places such as cafeterias, appliance
repair shops and beauty salons,
an official newspaper
reported on Sunday.
Lack of health insurance and cultural differences impact USVI medical services
ST THOMAS, USVI: A two day conference, the
second annual "Cultural Diversity and Health
Disparities in the Virgin
Islands: Challenges for the
Health Care System," was held in Charlotte Amalie.
While attendance was comprised of mostly
islanders,
a few stateside medical providers were also present.
MTV presenter and professional footballer set up Belize jungle lodge
BELMOPAN, Belize: Ex-MTV presenter, Simone Angel,
and professional footballer, Andy Hunt, have set up a
unique
jungle lodge and tour operator in Belize, in the
heart of the Central American jungle.
Digicel appoints new country manager for Bermuda
HAMILTON, Bermuda: Caribbean mobile
telecommunications operator, Digicel, has announced
that David Hunter, a
ten-year telecommunications
expert, has been appointed as Country Manager for
Digicel Bermuda.
Cuban found guilty of human trafficking
MIAMI, USA (UPI): A Cuban national has been
convicted of conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens into
Florida and
lying to federal authorities, the South
Florida Sun-Sentinel has reported.
Cuban santeria finds more faithful from afar
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Geraldine Correa kneels
reverently before a multicolored altar to orishas, or
deities: like
a growing number of foreigners, the
Swiss woman has embraced Cuban santeria. Correa
first became interested in the
religion as a research
subject.
Commentary: The splendour of Divali: Highlights of the festival
Trinidad and Tobago, land of Carnival, steel band,
tassa, calypso and chutney, is the same country
that gives
the world its unique brand of Divali.
Indeed, the Hindu Festival of Lights has become
Trinidad’s second largest national
open-air festival
after Carnival.
West Indies paceman Collymore to miss Australia match
MUMBAI, India (Reuters): West Indies fast bowler
Corey Collymore will miss Wednesday's Champions
Trophy Group
A match against Australia after leaving
for home to be with his wife Dionne for the birth of
their first child.
Powell’s coach calls for action against drug cheats
OKLAHOMA, USA: Stephen Francis, coach of 100-
metre co-world record holder Asafa Powell of
Jamaica, has called
on the International Association
of Athletics Federation (IAAF) to formulate methods
of dealing with the ongoing issues
of drug cheating in
the sports.
Record-breaking Maharoof destroys the West Indies
MUMBAI, India (AFP): Farveez Maharoof returned the
best figures in Champions Trophy history as Sri Lanka
decimated
the West Indies by nine wickets in the
final qualifying match here on Saturday.
