CARICOM questions Ecuador challenge to EU banana tariffs
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): The 15-nation
Caribbean Community on Friday questioned Ecuador's
challenge before the
World Trade Organization to
European banana tariffs Quito calls unfair. Ecuador
on Thursday revived a long-running
challenge to EU
regimes.
Chavez warns Venezuelan TV not to support coup
EL ESPINAL, Venezuela (Reuters): Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez on Friday warned private
media he would shut
them down if they promote a
bid to topple him he says is planned after his
expected December 3 re-election. Chavez
has
accused the opposition of planning to oust him if he
wins.
Cuba TV leaves Castro birthday plans up in air
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): An influential programme,
on state-run Cuban television on Thursday, described
plans
for ailing Fidel Castro's 80th birthday
celebration but did not mention whether he would
attend and said his ideas
were more important than
his presence.
St Lucia to go to the polls next month
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The ruling Saint Lucia Labour
Party held a massive political meeting at the Castries
market
steps on Thursday to announce the date of
the country's General Election.
Weakest hurricane season in years defies predictions
DALLAS, USA (Bloomberg): The Atlantic Ocean
produced nine hurricanes and tropical storms this
year, the fewest
in almost a decade, defying
predictions it would approach last year's record
season, Colorado State University forecasters
said.
This year's storms were the fewest since 1997.
IDB to cancel debt of Guyana and Haiti, says US Treasury
WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): The Inter-American
Development Bank plans to forgive as much as $3.5
billion of
debt owed by the five poorest countries in
the Caribbean and Latin America, including Guyana
and Haiti, the US Treasury
said.
Regional interest must be priority, says Belize Foreign Minister
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Free movement of Caribbean
nationals and other issues relating to the Caribbean
Single Market
and Economy (CSME) are foremost on
the agenda of the Twenty-Second meeting of the
Council for Trade and Economic Development.
Guyana sugar workers receive favourable wage offer
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Guyana Sugar
Corporation (Guysuco) and the Guyana Agricultural
Workers Union (GAWU),
which represents some 70
percent of sugar workers in Guyana, this week signed
an agreement for a 5.5 per cent pay
package for
sugar workers for 2006.
Cuba patents new treatment for cervical cancer
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba has patented a new
treatment for cervical cancer with less harmful side
effects than
conventional therapies, a group of
researchers said. The treatment involves a peptide
that inhibits and kills the
CK2 enzyme.
Contracts signed to commence infrastructural works in Grenada
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: Contracts to commence the
infrastructural works for Human Settlements at
Soubise and Mt
Gay in Grenada were signed
Wednesday at the offices of the Agency for
Reconstruction and Development (ARD).
ICC praises Guyana for substantial Cricket World Cup preparations
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana has been
commended for the hard work in preparation for
Cricket World Cup (CWC)
2007. However, works in a
few areas need to be fast-tracked to meet the
December 31 deadline.
Dominica's PM calls on international community to honour pledges to Haiti
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica's Prime Minister
Roosevelt Skerrit has called on the international
donor community
to honour the pledges it has made
to Haiti. The Dominican Leader issued the call at a
press conference held recently
in the aftermath of a
Prime Ministerial Mission to Haiti.
Virgin Atlantic 747 to bring 300 players to St Kitts for Third Caribbean Poker Classic
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: It will be history in the making
when a Virgin Atlantic 747 aircraft touches down
next
Friday at the Robert L. Bradshaw International
Airport.in St Kitts, with 300 passengers on board to
attend the 3rd
Caribbean Poker Classic at the St
Kitts Marriott Resort.
Caribbean concepts emerge from food and rum festival
NEW YORK, USA: "Boutique, premium and gourmet"
are three priceless concepts which emerged from the
first Food
and Rum Festival, held last month on the
island of St Lucia, according to organiser Allen
Chastanet, who said the
event will develop into a
major "linkages" event in years to come.
Spirit Airlines brings back Turks & Caicos service in time for peak season
FORT LAUDERDALE, USA: Spirit Airlines has
announced the return of service to Providenciales
and Grand Turk in
the Turks and Caicos Islands
beginning December 8, 2006. Spirit will offer special
flights to Grand Turk and Providenciales
for the
holiday season on December 8, 11 and 17, 2006.
Young St Lucians commended for participation in elections campaign
LONDON, England: Speaking in London following a
recent visit to St Lucia, Henry Charles, Regional
Director of
the Commonwealth Youth Programme
Caribbean Centre described as encouraging the level
of youth participation in the
current General Elections
campaign.
Commentary: A US-Caribbean free trade area?
Should Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries
enter a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United
States? A few
readers interpreted an observation
that I made to mean that I was advocating such an
agreement.
Commentary: The Greater Caribbean This Week: Making tourism sustainability work
The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) convened
its first Meeting of Ministers of Tourism of the
Greater Caribbean
in response to a mandate issued
by the ACS Heads of States and/or Government at
the 4th ACS Summit in Panama, in July
2005.
Inzamam wary of Lara-led West Indies backlash
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters): Pakistan skipper
Inzamam-ul-Haq believes his counterpart Brian Lara
has the charisma
and batting form to inspire West
Indies to a series levelling win in the second test in
Multan from Sunday.
West Indies determined to fight back in second Pakistan Test
MULTAN, Pakistan (AFP): West Indian vice captain
Ramnaresh Sarwan said his team was determined to
win the second
Test against Pakistan to keep their
chances alive in the three-match series.
UN Security Council deeply regrets deaths of Jordanian UN troops in Haiti
UNITED NATIONS, (AFP): The Security Council on
Thursday voiced deep regret over the deaths of two
Jordanian UN
peacekeepers last week and reiterated
its support for the Haitian government and the UN
mission there.
Suriname to introduce alternative punishment
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The Ministry of Justice and
Police in Suriname is preparing amendments to the
Criminal
Code in order to introduce alternative
punishment for criminal youths.
US aid to dissidents breeds corruption, says Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Havana charged Thursday that
US aid to dissidents in Cuba invites corruption,
pointing to
a recent US congressional probe, which
showed that the funds have been used to buy luxury
items.
Ecuador revives 'banana war' against EU at WTO
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP): Ecuador launched an
attack on the European Union's banana import regime
at the World
Trade Organization on Thursday,
complaining it was unfair to Latin American
producers, diplomatic sources said.
Haiti not exempt from visa for Cricket World Cup 2007
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Haiti is the lone
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nation not exempt
from a common visa
for cricket fans to travel in the
region for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, officials said
Wednesday.
Cuba wins six-year copyright battle over 'Buena Vista' songs
LONDON, England (AFP): A six-year legal battle over
vintage Latin music made famous by the "Buena Vista
Social
Club" album ended in London Thursday with
victory for Cuba over the United States.
Cuba blasts Swiss banks for cutting off business
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba's central bank
blasted Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse on
Thursday for cutting
off business dealings with Cuba,
saying they had bowed to US pressure.
Puerto Rico textile plant to close
WINSTON-SALEM, USA: Hanesbrands Inc. announced
on Wednesday that it will close its Ponce, Puerto
Rico, textile
manufacturing plant and move
production to existing lower-cost production capacity
in the Caribbean basin.
Trinidad and Tobago telecoms company pushes ahead with IP-based upgrade
PETALUMA, USA: Calix announced on Wednesday
that Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and
Tobago (TSTT) has
selected solutions from Calix to
upgrade access lines spread over 125 locations on
two islands.
Challenges faced by regional prison systems continue to increase
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Chief Minister of the British Virgin
Islands Dr Orlando Smith told regional prison officers
attending
a conference here this week that the
challenges facing the prison systems today continue
to increase.
St Kitts-Nevis hopes benefits of mutual co-operation will continue with new US appointment
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: St Kitts and Nevis Prime
Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas, hopes that the spirit of
co-operation
that brings mutual benefits to the twin-
island Caribbean Federation and the United States of
America will continue
with the appointment of a new
Ambassador to St Kitts and Nevis.
Public smoking ban enacted in the BVI
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The Legislative Council in the
British Virgin Islands has passed the Tobacco Control
Act banning
smoking in public places in the BVI. The
new Act will also regulate the promotion, distribution
and use of tobacco
products in the Territory.
Elton John and Al Green to headline Tobago Jazz Festival
SCARBOROUGH, Tobago: Musical icon Sir Elton John,
recording legend Al Green, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
inductee
Gladys Knight, and Grammy winner LL Cool J
are scheduled to perform at the 3rd Annual Plymouth
Jazz Festival in Tobago.
Venezuela seeks stake in Curacao refinery
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Petroleos de
Venezuela SA, South America's largest oil company,
has offered to
buy a 49 percent stake in Curacao's
Isla refinery for $1.5 billion, Curacao-based Amigoe
newspaper has reported.
Venezuela to sell oil products to St Vincent
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Petroleos de
Venezuela SA, South America's largest oil company,
will sell petroleum
products to the Caribbean island
nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines as part of
Venezuela's PetroCaribe initiative.
Internet gaming and criminal deportees discussed with new US ambassador during visit to Antigua
ST JOHN'S, Antigua: Prime Minister of Antigua and
Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, has said that the recent
changes
in the United States Congress during mid-
term elections present an opportunity for dialogue
with the US on the internet
gaming dispute at the
World Trade Organisation.
Nevis impresses new US Ambassador
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Mrs Mary Martin Ourisman,
United States of America Ambassador to the Eastern
Caribbean, paid
a courtesy call on Premier of Nevis
Joseph Parry on Wednesday, during an official visit to
the Federation. The Ambassador
described Nevis as
being a part of paradise.
Commentary: Whaling to save tourism? Rubbish!
Caribbean Net News reported here on Wednesday
that St Kitts and Nevis Fisheries Minister Cedric
Liburd has asserted
the: ”need for the Caribbean to
engage in the whaling industry for the development
and benefit of its tourism sector.”
Milutinovic signs four-year deal to coach Reggae Boyz
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Bora Milutinovic has
signed a four-year contract to coach Jamaica's
national football
team and try to lift the "Reggae
Boyz" back to the World Cup, Radio Jamaica reported
Wednesday.
West Indies spinner Mohammed seeks more opportunities
LAHORE, Pakastan (Reuters): West Indies spinner
Dave Mohammed is hoping to be given more
opportunities in test
cricket after struggling to force
his way into the side since his debut two years ago.
Chavez losing influence in Latin America, says US
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Venezuela's firebrand
leader, Hugo Chavez, is "losing influence" across Latin
America
despite the recent election of ally Daniel
Ortega as president of Nicaragua, the US State
Department's number two
diplomat, Nicholas Burns,
said Wednesday.
France seizes 4 tonnes of cocaine in Caribbean
PARIS, France (Reuters): France said on Wednesday
it had seized four tonnes of cocaine from a boat that
was intercepted
last week off the Caribbean island of
Martinique. The French navy boarded and took over
the Panama-registered cargo
ship on Saturday.
Trinidad reporters come under scrutiny for communicating with prisoners
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: There is a controversy
brewing in Trinidad and Tobago about a reporter's
right to accept
cell phone calls from prisoners. The
issue stems from a reported prison riot last week at
the Trinidad maximum state
prison in Arouca.
Cuban dissident barred from Germany trip
BERLIN, Germany (AFP): Cuba has barred leading
dissident Guillermo Farinas from travelling to Germany
to receive
a human rights prize awarded by the city
of Weimar, a human rights group said. Cuban
authorities had cited medical
grounds for refusing
Farinas permission to travel.
EU to send observers for Venezuelan presidential vote
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): The European
Union has agreed to send observers to monitor
Venezuela's December
3 presidential election after
the South American country gave in to EU demands
that the head of its delegation be
allowed to speak
to the press and release his report to the public.
US aid to Cuban dissidents bought chocolates, PlayStations
MIAMI, USA (AFP): Poor monitoring of millions of
dollars intended to support Cuban dissidents has led
to such
excesses as the purchase of Godiva
chocolates and Sony PlayStations at US taxpayers'
expense, according to an official
audit released on
Wednesday.
Chavez rival tries to embolden Venezuela voters
RIO CARIBE, Venezuela (Reuters): Manuel Rosales
reckons he can only defeat Venezuela's anti-US
President Hugo
Chavez on December 3 if the
electorate dares to defy a culture of political
intimidation. The odds do not look promising.
Rosales
has trailed Chavez by 18 to 35 points in most opinion
polls.
BET J, Barbados partner to promote January jazz
NEW YORK, USA: The New Year will see Barbados in
an island-wide musical ferment when Grammy award-
winning artist
Anita Baker and a cast of other
regional and international artistes gather for the 14th
edition of the Barbados Jazz
Festival.
UVI seeking stories about Caribbean life
ST JOHN, USVI: University of the Virgin Islands Editor
and Professor Marvin E. Williams is currently seeking
submissions
for inclusion in the 21st Volume of the
annual publication, Caribbean Writer.
Dominica continues its steelband resurgence
ROSEAU, Dominica: It has been less than six months
since Dominica pulled off one of the best steelband
events
for 2006. Last Spring Dominica served as the
host for the 2006 OECS Junior Steelband competition.
Capacity magazine launches inaugural Caribbean wholesale telecoms conference
LONDON, England: Capacity magazine is to launch its
inaugural Capacity Caribbean 2007 congress on 31st
January
and 1st February in Barbados, which will
provide information on the latest developments in the
Caribbean wholesale
telecoms market.
Commentary: Haiti - USA soccer diplomacy
Every morning on or around 6:00 am, I walk in Marine
Park for my soul and my health. Watching the sun
come through
the majestic trees as day breaks is
enough to say, Amen, Alleluia!
Letter: CARICOM should not rush into a Free Trade Agreement with the US
While I agree with much of what Sir Ronald Sanders
had to say regarding a possible shift in US foreign
policy
in the wake of the recent elections, I do not
agree that CARICOM should be rushing to signing a
Free Trade Agreement
with the US.
Letter: Castro's Marxist-Leninist influence
Pyotr Romanov’s view of Cuba is certainly interesting,
but I can’t agree with his assertion that “Marxist-
Leninist
ideas have never had any deep influence on
Castro or his associates.”
Umpire Doctrove keen to move on from Oval controversy
MUMBAI, India (Reuters): Umpire Billy Doctrove, from
Dominica, is keen to put the Oval test controversy
behind
him after admitting it was the most difficult
moment of his career. Doctrove partnered Australian,
Darrell Hair, in
the August test match that was
forfeited by the touring Pakistan side.
Pakistan's Kaneria goes back to drawing board for Lara
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters): Pakistan leg-spinner
Danish Kaneria will go back to the drawing board to
restrict
master batsman Brian Lara after the West
Indies skipper reeled off his third successive hundred
against Pakistan in
the first test.
Powell, Simpson and Richards receive local congratulations
KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Jamaica Teachers'
Association has extended their applause to the
world's fastest man,
Asafa Powell, after the sprinter
was named International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF) Male Athlete
of the Year on
Sunday.
Aufhauser hat-trick as Austria thump Trinidad 4-1
VIENNA, Austria (Reuters): Midfielder Rene Aufhauser
notched a hat-trick in Austria's 4-1 victory over
Trinidad
and Tobago in a friendly on Wednesday,
helping coach Josef Hickersberger to his third straight
win.
Suriname prison guards detained for killing inmate
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Police in Suriname have
detained eight prison guards for allegedly beating a
prisoner to
death. A press release from the Suriname
Police Force indicates that the suspects were
arrested and subsequently incarcerated
last
Saturday.
St Kitts-Nevis supports development of whaling industry
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: St Kitts and Nevis Fisheries
Minister, Cedric Liburd has said he supports fully the
need
for the Caribbean to engage in the whaling
industry for the development and benefit of its
tourism sector. IWC officials
and Caribbean fisheries
ministers have been meeting in Dominica.
As birthday homage looms, Castro's role a question mark
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Just two weeks ahead of
belated celebrations for Fidel Castro's 80th birthday,
it remains
unclear whether the ailing guest of honour
will take part.
Anna Nicole Smith stirs up Bahamas
NASSAU, Bahamas (Reuters): Actress Anna Nicole
Smith is shaping up as a major political
embarrassment for the
government of the Bahamas
with one minister under pressure to resign for giving
her special treatment. Since arriving
in Nassau the
former reality TV star has sparked a Cabinet crisis.
Japan to compensate emigrants to Dominican Republic
TOKYO, Japan (AFP): Japan's parliament Tuesday
approved payouts of up to two million yen (17,000
dollars) each
to Japanese who suffered hardship in
the Dominican Republic after emigrating in the 1950s.
Cuban activist jailed for four years in Florida
FORT LAUDERDALE, USA (AFP): A wealthy activist
opposed to Cuba's communist government was
sentenced to almost
four years in jail by a Florida
court Tuesday for conspiring to stow military
weapons.
Wyclef Jean, New York Red Bulls to go to Haiti on six-day service trip
SECAUCUS, USA: With most players heading home
this offseason to recover from a rigorous Major
League Soccer season
full of ups and downs, a
handful of the New York Red Bulls soccer team will be
utilising their time in a truly unique
and philanthropic
manner.
Faith tourism leaders join forces in Bahamas
FREEPORT, Bahamas: Two international faith tourism
leaders, Bahamian Dr Miles Munroe and American
Andria Hall
have joined forces to help strengthen the
faith of men and women when two character building
meetings intersect on
Grand Bahama Island from
November 30 to December 3, 2006.
Intensive care unit opened in Dominica hospital
ROSEAU, Dominica: The services at the Princess
Margaret Hospital are “expanding slowly but surely”,
with the
official opening last week of an Intensive
Care Unit at Dominica’s principal medical institution.
Antigua-Barbuda 'dollar barrel' initiative to commence this week
ST JOHN'S, Antigua: Antigua and Barbuda's Minister
of Finance and the Economy, Dr Errol Cort has
announced that
the Dollar Barrel initiative of the
Government will commence on 15th November 2006
and will continue through to 31st
December 2006.
Chinese planning team learns about housing in Grenada
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: A seven-member planning
team from China are learning about the most common
characteristics
of house designs in Grenada and the
country’s new approach to Human Settlement.
Jamaican government introduces national literacy strategy
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The government of
Jamaica has introduced a national literacy strategy,
through which
it will significantly reduce, and
ultimately eliminate the problem of students leaving
secondary school without the
ability to read and
write.
New US ambassador visits St Kitts-Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: St Kitts and Nevis is the first
Eastern Caribbean nation to be visited by newly-
appointed
United States ambassador to the Eastern
Caribbean, Mary Ourisman. The new US diplomat
arrived in St Kitts on Monday
afternoon and began a
hectic round of engagements Tuesday.
Commentary: Outside View - Cuba on the eve of change
Having spent two weeks in Havana, I saw for myself
what seemed quite obvious: after Fidel's departure,
which
is not far off, Cuba is in for serious change.
The Cubans themselves are well aware of this.
Commentary: Caribbean Health - Focus on obesity and chronic diseases
Have you checked your weight lately? The Caribbean
Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) has reminded us
that overweight
and obesity are major risk factors for
chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Pakistan outclass West Indies despite Lara century
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP): Pakistan overcame Brian
Lara's defiant 33rd Test century to record an easy
nine-wicket
victory over the West Indies in the first
Test at the Gaddafi stadium here Tuesday.
Lara tells his players to shrug off 'one-day fever'
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters): West Indies captain
Brian Lara has urged his players to shake off
their "one-day
fever" and knuckle down to playing
five days of test cricket after Pakistan crushed them
by nine wickets in the first
test on Tuesday.
Grenada PM condemns racism in cricket
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Grenada’s Prime Minister and
Chairman of CARICOM's Prime Ministerial Sub
Committee on Cricket,
Dr Keith Mitchell, has called on
the West Indies Cricket Board to make a strong
statement against the recent racial
abuse of England
player Monty Panesar by Australian fans.
Kenya complete series win over Bermuda
MOMBASA, Kenya (AFP): Kenya captain Steve Tikolo
scored his second career century to lead his side to
a comfortable
105-run win over Bermuda in the third
and final one-day international at the Mombasa
Sports Club on Tuesday.
Castro unlikely to re-emerge as robust self, says US
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): Cuban President Fidel
Castro is not likely to return to power as his usual
robust
self because of lingering health problems that
could include cancer, US officials said on Monday.
EU diplomat says Cayman Islands will receive emergency aid
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: The Head of the
European Commission Delegation in Jamaica, Gerd
Jarchow, recently
met with top officials in the
Cayman Islands for farewell courtesy calls and to
reassure that emergency aid from the
European
Commission would be delivered to the Cayman Islands.
CARICOM wants to mark 200th anniversary of the abolition of trans-Atlantic slave trade
ROSEAU, Dominica: The Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) is to present a resolution at the United
Nations calling
for a special event to be
commemorated in 2007 marking the 200th
anniversary of the abolition of the trans-Atlantic
slave trade.
New resort has potential to become model for future Caribbean development, says St Kitts-Nevis PM
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: St Kitts and Nevis Prime
Minister and Minister of Tourism, Dr Denzil Douglas
says the million-dollar
Kittitian Heights Resort, Spa
and Golf Course to be built in St Kitts has the
potential to become "the model" of future
Caribbean
resort development.
Former Caribbean executive reinvents himself
CASTRIES, St Lucia: It was two years ago that Rudy
Gurley, a former high-flying Cable & Wireless
executive
abruptly disappeared from the spotlight
amid a cloud of mystery and controversy. Now he
has resurfaced, a different
man, but still shrouded in
mystery, and not without a little controversy.
Guyana to host 2007 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): President Bharrat
Jagdeo on Saturday disclosed that official approval
has been granted
for Guyana to host the
Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting in 2007.
BVI to host regional environmental meetings
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The British Virgin Islands will be
hosting two Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS)
environmental meetings, starting Wednesday.
US Coast Guard takes fingerprints of illegal immigrants
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The US Coast Guard is
taking pictures and fingerprints of all illegal
immigrants it stops
between Dominican Republic and
Puerto Rico to better identify unwanted people, the
Department of Homeland Security
said Monday.
Son of ailing Castro says father is recovering
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): The eldest son of Cuban
leader Fidel Castro said on Monday his father is
recovering from
an unspecified illness that has forced
him to temporarily give up power he held since a
1959 communist revolution.
Commentary: Law and Politics: More heavy legal costs on our people!
As we continue to review the happenings and the
results surrounding the mid-term election in the US
last week,
one cannot help wishing for and envying,
the type of solution the American people
democratically opted for.
Pakistan scent victory against West Indies
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP): Mohammad Yousuf missed a
masterly double century by eight runs but guided
Pakistan to
a winning position against the West
Indies in the third Test here on Monday.
Powell camp regrets impact of Gatlin drug test
MONTE CARLO, Monaco: The camp of Jamaican world
record holder, Asafa Powell, feels that Justin Gatlin's
failed
doping test has been a major blow to the sport
in general, but also believes that the Jamaican
sprinter missed out
on a major payday.
Powell to miss indoor season in 2007
MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AFP): Jamaican world 100m
record holder Asafa Powell has said he will not
compete in the
coming indoor season, because it is
too dangerous.
Walsh urges support for West Indies cricket team
LONDON, England (JIS): Jamaica's Ambassador-at-
Large and West Indies cricket legend, Courtney
Walsh, has urged
Jamaicans in the United Kingdom to
support the West Indies team during next year's ICC
Cricket World Cup, noting that
their backing would
determine the fortunes of the region's players.
Castro said to be recovering, return to power expected
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Ailing Cuban leader Fidel
Castro is recovering and expected to return to
power, but he
may not be well enough to attend his
80th birthday celebration on December 2, the head
of Cuba's National Assembly,
Ricardo Alarcon, said
last week.
Haiti gunmen kill two Jordanian UN soldiers
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): Gunmen killed two
UN peacekeepers from Jordan in an ambush amid a
rise in violence
in the Haitian capital, the UN envoy
to Haiti, said on Saturday.
Indian vice president visits Trinidad
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Vice President of
India, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has paid a
courtesy call on
Trinidad and Tobago. He arrived in
Trinidad on November 9 for the official visit and
departed on November 11. During
his stay,
Shekhawat visited the Eric Williams Memorial
Collection.
Lights tested at new stadium in Antigua
NORTH SOUND, Antigua: On Friday night Prime
Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer,
Ambassador David
Shoul and Chinese Ambassador
Ren Xioping joined Chinese workers at the Sir Vivian
Richards Cricket Stadium to witness
the testing of
the lights at the facility.
Swiss banks stop dealings with Cuba
ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters): Swiss banks Credit
Suisse and UBS said they have severed relations with
Cuba and
are not conducting any business dealings
with the country.
New tool in fight against money laundering in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: The director of Haiti's
Financial Information Central Unit (FICU) has
announced the implementation
of a new reporting
system in the fight against money laundering.
St Lucia to be represented at Miss Earth pageant
CASTRIES, St Lucia: On Sunday, November 26, 2006,
the gorgeous Cathy Daniel will be Saint Lucia's
representative
at the Miss Earth Pageant. Ever since
Cathy won the local leg of the contest in July of this
year, she has been going
through some rigorous
training sessions.
Dominican Republic president urges help for Haiti
WASHINGTON, USA: Noting the importance of
stability on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, the
president of the
Dominican Republic has called
international attention to the problems of Haiti, and
has urged US President George
W. Bush to "help Haiti
in any way you can."
Clowns Without Borders in Haiti
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (WFP): As the stereo blasts
out music, the clowns enter the schoolyard. Some of
the children
have never seen such a sight and run to
the nuns for comfort.
Haiti's vicious circle of violence and poverty
LONDON, England (Reuters): "They like to shoot
people in the hips so they will never walk again. They
like to
shoot people in the eyes so they can never
see again," says Brian Moller, an Australian working
at an emergency hospital
run by Medecins Sans
Frontieres in Haiti.
