US and Haiti at odds over deported criminals
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): Washington has
threatened to punish Haiti if the troubled Caribbean
country
refuses to accept criminals deported from
the United States, Haiti's prime minister said on
Friday.
Cuban dissidents urge real power transfer to Raul Castro
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): A leading dissident group
Thursday called for an urgent and definitive transfer
of power
to Raul Castro to better deal with the
transition period in Cuban politics opened by Fidel
Castro's absence.
Malaria not spreading, says Jamaican health official
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Dr Marion Bullock Ducasse,
Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and
Special Services
at Jamaica's Ministry of Health
stressed on Thursday that the malaria disease was
not spreading.
Forecasters expect three major hurricanes in 2007
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): The Atlantic Basin may
next year spawn 14 storms, including three so-called
major
hurricanes, Colorado State University
forecasters said today, a week after a quieter-than-
expected hurricane season
ended. Seven of the
storms expected will become hurricanes.
US summit to fight malaria
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The recent outbreak of
malaria in Jamaica has reminded people that malaria,
though largely
a preventable disease, continues to
claim a million lives a year in Africa alone, including
nearly 3,000 children
every day.
Fomer Jamaican PM chairs meeting on Commonwealth membership
LONDON, England (JIS): Former Prime Minister of
Jamaica, P. J. Patterson chaired a meeting on
Commonwealth membership,
in London. Patterson
chaired the Committee on Commonwealth membership
that focuses on issues concerning membership
of the
organisation.
BVI hosts workshop on planning for mass fatality disasters
ROAD TOWN, BVI: A three-day workshop
on "Contingency Planning for Mass Fatality Disasters
in the Caribbean" concluded
Friday in the British
Virgin Islands, with delegates from some 21 countries
in the region attending the event.
Air Jamaica introduces affordable luxury
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Effective January 1, 2007, Air
Jamaica introduces Executive Business Class, offering
customers
the highest level of comfort at exceptional
value. The new Executive Business Class, which
replaces First Class on
all routes, offers a wide range
of services.
Digicel acquires mobile business in Bonaire
KRALENDIJK, Bonaire: Caribbean mobile
telecommunications operator Digicel has announced
that it has acquired
the mobile business from Bonaire
telecom provider, TELBO. Under the terms of the
deal, Digicel has acquired TELBO's
existing mobile
subscriber base, spectrum and base station.
Former Barbadian police commissioner begins inquiry in St Kitts-Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: St Kitts and Nevis Attorney
General, Dennis Merchant has given an assurance
that a Commission
of Inquiry into the failure of an
unusual number of Police Officers to report for duty
immediately before 30th September
2006, must not
be seen or viewed negatively.
Leftist talk cannot deter Venezuela's big spenders
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Sleek Maseratis
grace car showrooms, maids take pampered poodles
for walks past
high-walled mansions and women
decked out in Prada nibble on delicate pastries at
street-side cafes.
Commentary: A weak US dollar benefits the Caribbean
The weakening of the US dollar over the last two
years and its recent dramatic plunge against major
currencies
offer the Caribbean tourism industry and
Caribbean governments a window of opportunity to
prepare for tougher times
ahead.
Commentary: International Anti-corruption Day - Time for Caribbean governments to seize the initiative
Last year, the United Nations Convention against
Corruption became the first legally binding, global
anti-corruption
agreement, marking an historic
milestone in the fight against corruption.
Former major leaguer Jose Uribe dies in Dominican Republic road accident
NEW YORK, USA (AFP): Jose Uribe, who played 10
seasons in Major League Baseball, died Friday in a
road accident
in his native Dominican Republic,
MLB.com reported. According to the website, 47-
year-old Uribe was driving on the
Nizao-San Cristobal
Highway when he crashed.
Another homicide in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Saint Lucia has recorded yet
another homicide, which brings the total number of
murders to
35. The lifeless body of French national,
Chef Laurent Mouyaton, was found outside the gate
of the Coalpot Restaurant.
OAS assistant secretary general calls for new development paradigm
MIAMI, USA: The Assistant Secretary General of the
Organization of American States (OAS), Albert R.
Ramdin, has
called for a new and holistic
development paradigm that combines democracy,
integral development and multidimensional
security.
Red Cross to seek access to Cuban prisons
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP): The International
Committee of the Red Cross said on Thursday it
would seek access
to prisons in Cuba, one of the few
countries to deny it permission to visit political
detainees.
Jamaican health ministry implements malaria action plan
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Health Minister, Horace
Dalley, said Tuesday that the Ministry has put an
emergency
action plan in place to effectively prevent
the spread of malaria in Jamaica. The aim of the
Ministry’s strategy,
he said, was to maintain
Jamaica’s non-endemic status.
Belize foreign currency rating cut
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Belize's foreign
currency rating was lowered to selective default by
Standard &
Poor's following a bond exchange
proposed Wednesday by the Central American
country.
Caribbean whale watching operators jump-start CARIBwhale
ROSEAU, Dominica: More than 15 Caribbean whale
watching organisations, in partnership with the
International
Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), met
this week to formalise CARIBwhale, an association
committed to conserving cetaceans
and their habitat.
Jamaicans overseas urged to invest in country
TORONTO, Canada (JIS): Ambassador to the United
States, Professor Gordon Shirley, has called on
Jamaicans in
the Diaspora to invest in their homeland
and, in so doing, contribute to the country’s
development.
Cuba updates report on Caribbean Sea contamination
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuba is one of the first Latin
American countries to have finished a report on the
Caribbean
Sea pollution affecting national coasts.
The conclusions of this research will be the basis for
the development of
a regional project against
contamination.
Montserrat could host one of the events for Miss CARICOM International Pageant 2007
BRADES, Montserrat: The organisers of the Miss
CARICOM International Beauty Pageant are looking at
Montserrat
as a host venue for one of the pre-show
events for next year’s pageant. Founder of the
pageant, Monica Sanchez, has
been visiting
Montserrat.
NFL's Miami Dolphins draft the Bahamas to sponsorship team
NASSAU, Bahamas: Die-hard Miami Dolphins fans are
getting an extended season this year with a series of
events
sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of
Tourism and the Miami Dolphins football team that
includes hosting the "Dol-Fan
Fest" on Grand Bahama
Island.
Forecaster predicts busy 2007 hurricane season
LONDON, England (Reuters): The Caribbean and the
United States, which emerged from this year's
hurricane season
largely unscathed, should brace for
a potentially devastating hurricane season in 2007, a
leading windstorm forecaster
warned.
Dissident says Cuba banned him from German trip
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters): Cuban authorities have
banned dissident Guillermo Farinas from travelling to
Germany
to collect a human rights award because he
is in a wheelchair, a German newspaper quoted him
as saying on Thursday.
Countdown to elections in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The political campaign in St
Lucia is heating up as the election date draws
nearer. Amidst
all the campaign hype, the Chief
Elections Officer says the electoral office will be
closed until after the election.
Commentary: Viva Chávez...?
After President Hugo Chávez won a landslide re-
election victory last Sunday, he reassured the people
of Venezuela
that he will now take even bolder steps
to create the socialist paradise he promised them, 6
years ago.
Letter: Loss of BWIA in Barbados
BWIA was described 'as a key player in developing
the (Barbados) tourism industry'. Yet in a Caribbean
Broadcast
Corporation news item, the latest
statement is the loss of 'BWIA will not affect
Barbados'.
Letter: Referring to dollars
I believe that it would be helpful to your readers if,
when referring to "dollars " "$" in your articles, you
were
to make it clear whether the reference is to EC
Dollars, Trinidad Dollars, US Dollars, or whatever.
Letter: Trinidad is too small for aluminum smelting
Some special interest groups are determined that
Trinidad should serve as a site for ALCOA aluminium-
smelting.
This is extremely unwise and short-sighted
in a small country with a quickly-growing population.
Letter: Simply another feminist wannabe
Ms Betty appears to be under the illusion that her
qualifications to address issues of friendship, dating,
sex
and marriage is simply the fact that she has lived.
Inzamam anchors Pakistan's hard-earned win against West Indies
FAISALABAD, Pakistan (AFP): Pakistan skipper
Inzamam-ul-Haq capped his return with an
uncharacteristic unbeaten
42 to help his side beat
the West Indies by two wickets in the second one-
day international here on Thursday.
British actor charged with rape in Barbados
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: A British actor has been
charged with raping a 16-year-old girl in Barbados.
But Benedict
Paul Freeman was allowed to return
home to continue his work in front the cameras after
providing $100,000 bail.
Another court victory for Grenada MP in citizenship case
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: Parliamentary Representative
for the Town of St George in Grenada and his legal
team have
won their fourth legal victory in defending
an action claiming that MP Peter David's dual
citizenship disqualifies
him from standing for election.
St Lucia opposition launches election manifesto
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The William Peter Boulevard in
St Lucia's capital Castries was a sea of yellow on
Sunday
as thousands gathered to witness the launch
of the United Workers Party (UWP) election
manifesto.
Trinidad official escapes sanction over World Cup tickets
ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP): FIFA's executive
committee on Wednesday reprimanded its vice-
president Jack Warner,
but decided not to impose
any sanctions following the illicit resale of tickets at
the 2006 World Cup.
Aluminum smelter debate begins in Trinidad
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: A major aluminum smelter
symposium has begun in Port of Spain, Trinidad. This
comes
at the same time as a raging debate over the
setting up of smelter plants in the country
announced by Prime Minister
Patrick Manning.
Cuban dissidents want UN to monitor march on Human Rights Day
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuban dissident groups have
written to UN chief Kofi Annan asking that he monitor
a march
in Havana on Human Rights Day, Sunday, to
see how police and authorities react.
Legacies bind Castro, Pinochet in their twilight
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Fighting serious illnesses in
their old age, Cold War icons Fidel Castro of Cuba
and
Augusto Pinochet of Chile are united in stubborn
adherence to their opposing and now largely
unfashionable ideologies.
OECS countries prepare for WTO trade policy review
CASTRIES, St Lucia: OECS Member states on
Tuesday commenced preparation for their second
World Trade Organisation
(WTO) Trade Policy Review
scheduled for December 2007.
Dominica launches new tourism website
ROSEAU, Dominica: The Dominican Ministry of
Tourism, Industry and Private Sector Relations
through the National
Development Corporation (NDC)
has launched a new tourism website:
www.discoverdominica.com.
Jamaica 85 per cent ready for cricket World Cup, says minister
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Minister of Information and
Development, Donald Buchanan, has said that
Jamaica is 85
per cent ready for the staging of the
Cricket World Cup 2007.
Jamaican Cabinet approves $30.2m to fight malaria
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Jamaican Cabinet on
Monday approved an allocation of $30.2 million, to
provide an
emergency response to the outbreak of
malaria in certain parts of the country.
Britain’s FCO appoints former Caribbean diplomat to advisory board
LONDON, England: Former Caribbean diplomat, Sir
Ronald Sanders, has been appointed by the British
government’s
Foreign and Commonwealth Office to
its Caribbean Board.
USVI property tax law passes
ST JOHN, USVI: A bill that affirms the right of the US
Virgin Islands to set its own tax policy was passed by
the
US House of Representatives late Wednesday.
The bill, S.1829, will repeal a 1936 federal law.
Commentary: The Greater Caribbean This Week: Regionalism and the Golden Elephant
In the 90's, Greater Caribbean Integration was dealt
severe blows when the "Banana Wars" and talks
regarding
a future, though ill fated (in
retrospect) "Free Trade Area of the Americas"
(FTAA) drew our gaze towards far-off
shores.
West Indies to launch World Cup campaign with Pakistan one-dayer
FAISALABAD, Pakistan (AFP): West Indies captain
Brian Lara said his well-rested team was eager to
launch their
World Cup campaign in the one-day
international against Pakistan here on Thursday.
Bermuda to host 2007 PGA Grand Slam of Golf
MIAMI, USA (Reuters): The end-of-season PGA Grand
Slam of Golf, which brings together the winners of
the year's
four majors, will move to the island of
Bermuda for the first time next year.
Bradshaw seeks improvement from Pakistan series
FAISALABAD, Pakistan (Reuters): West Indies
paceman Ian Bradshaw believes the five-match one-
day series against
Pakistan is a key part of the
team's preparations for next year's World Cup being
held in the Caribbean.
Final Qualification Group J of the Digicel Caribbean Cup moves from Bermuda to Trinidad
KINGSTON, Jamaica: The final qualification Group J of
the Digicel Caribbean Cup has had to be moved from
the
originally proposed venue of Bermuda from
December 12 -16 to now being held in Trinidad from
January 5-7, 2007.
Former Jamaican national champion Simpson hunts Asian titles in Doha
DOHA, Qatar: Former Jamaican champion Brandon
Simpson has been tipped as one of the stars to
complete a sprint
double when the athletics
programme at the 15th Asian Games gets under way
in Doha, Qatar on Thursday 7 December.
Venezuela may have to devalue currency
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez may have to devalue the
currency by 2008 should
he fail to curb a surge in
government spending, Citigroup Inc. has said.
Jamaica battles first malaria outbreak in decades
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): Jamaican health
authorities are battling an outbreak of malaria that
has infected
15 people in the Kingston area but has
so far not spread to other parts of the Caribbean
island.
Haiti floods kills three, says Red Cross
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (UPI): At least three people
have been killed in western Haiti during the last two
weeks
of heavy rains and flooding, the Red Cross
said in a statement Tuesday. The international aid
organisation said it
has aided hundreds of Haitians
affected by the flooding.
Cubans kept in the dark about Castro's condition
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Government posters
say "Fidel Castro for ever" and "80 years more," but
Cubans now doubt
their bearded leader will again
govern their country. More and more suspect he is
close to death, even though they
have been told
little about his condition.
BP Trinidad takes one-year break in exploration
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters): BP Trinidad and
Tobago will take a one-year break from its
exploration programme
in 2007 after failing to find
new hydrocarbons in the deepest well ever drilled in
the Caribbean country, the company's
chief
executive said on Monday.
Trinidad bank moves to close takeover of Jamaican company
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Bank of Nova Scotia
Trinidad and Tobago Limited and the Bank of Nova
Scotia Jamaica
Limited have stated that the offer to
purchase shares in Dehring Bunting and Golding
(DB&G) was declared unconditional
on November 27,
2006.
Region must now deliver democracy's benefits, says OAS secretary general
WASHINGTON, USA: Now that the countries of the
Americas have “mastered the holding of democratic
elections,”
they must continue the difficult but much
more important task of “delivering the benefits of
democracy to a deserving
people,” OAS Secretary
General José Miguel Insulza said.
New immigration cards for BVI
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The Immigration Department
introduced new Embarkation and Disembarkation (ED)
Cards at all ports
of entry in the British Virgin Islands
this week. The new cards will allow the Territory to
collect more information
about visitors.
BVI establishes Youth Court
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The Youth Court in the British
Virgin Islands will begin sittings in January to hear
cases involving
children and young people under the
age of 18 who come into conflict with the criminal
justice system.
Trinidad and Tobago to host major world conferences in 2009
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Preparations are underway
in Trinidad and Tobago for the staging of two major
world
conferences to be hosted by the Trinidad and
Tobago government in 2009.
Millions for housing in Dominica
ROSEAU, Dominica: The Roosevelt Skerrit
Administration this week disbursed over four million
dollars to the Government
Loans Board to lend out,
at 4% interest rates, to public officers earning less
that $30,000 a year for home construction.
Former OAS assistant secretary general to lead election monitors to St Lucia
WASHINGTON, USA: As Saint Lucians go to the polls
in general elections next Monday, the vote will be
observed
by a team of 12 Organization of American
States (OAS) election monitors, to be led by a former
OAS Assistant Secretary
General, Christopher
Thomas.
Guyana hotel industry booming in anticipation of CWC 2007
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): The private sector in
Guyana has invested millions in the establishment of
internationally
recognised hotels to facilitate suitable
accommodation for the thousands of visitors
anticipated for Cricket World
Cup (CWC) 2007.
Agreement reached to end strike at Aruba refinery
HOUSTON, USA (Bloomberg): Valero Energy Corp.,
the largest US refiner, has reached agreement with
workers at
its Aruba plant on a five-year labour
contract, ending a strike that lasted six days.
Consumer protection law for St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Louis Lewis, Permanent
Secretary in St Lucia's Ministry of Commerce,
Investment and Consumer
Affairs has announced
that a Consumer Protection Bill is being developed.
Fidel Castro congratulates Venezuela's Chavez on re-election
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuban leader Fidel Castro on
Tuesday congratulated his ally Hugo Chavez on being
re-elected
president of Venezuela, but official silence
about Castro's absence at celebrations in his honour
cast fresh doubts
on his health. Castro has not
appeared in public since late July.
Commentary: No CSME: Let's get our houses in order
A cascade of experienced commentators – some with
agendas, some talking to be heard, others somewhat
misguided,
and others still, ill-informed – have called
again for the nations of the Caribbean to sign up to
the CSME.
Pakistan-West Indies one-dayer abandoned due to rain
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AFP): The first of five one-
day internationals between Pakistan and the West
Indies was
abandoned here on Tuesday due to heavy
rain.
Jamaica head to Trinidad with qualifying spot in mind
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Following their convincing 2-0
win over Trinidad and Tobago in the first leg of their
CONCACAF
Under-20 qualifiers in Kingston on
Sunday, Jamaica left the island full of confidence
going into Wednesday's return
leg in the twin islands.
Jamaican Campbell to sit out 2007 indoor season
OKLAHOMA, USA: Caribbean Net News has learned
that 2004 Athens Olympic 200m champion Veronica
Campbell of Jamaica
will not compete in the 2007
indoor season. Campbell was forced to sit out a
majority of the last outdoor season because
of a leg
injury.
Four killed as Haiti elects local leaders under UN watch
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Four Haitians were
killed during voting in municipal elections Sunday,
while UN
peacekeepers fired tear gas to quell a
disturbance at one polling station.
Venezuela's Chavez seen threatening regional unity
BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters): Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez will make little progress in exporting his
self-styled
socialist revolution in South America but
his nationalist foreign policy could hamper regional
integration efforts,
analysts said on Monday.
Guyana taking maximum security measures against chemical threat to airlines
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana has classified an
email warning of a chemical attack against airlines
operating out
of the South American nation as 'Alert
Condition 3' which means additional screening of
passengers, more stringent
access control measures
and additional security checks.
Cuban exiles say now is the time to ease US embargo on Cuba
MIAMI, USA (AFP): More than 20 Cuban exile groups
on Monday asked Washington to ease its decades-
old embargo
on Cuba to facilitate a political
transition, now that Fidel Castro appears to have
dropped out of public life.
Trinidad Muslim leader freed of charges of conspiracy to murder
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Leader of the Jamaat-Al-
Muslimeen in Trinidad, Yasin Abu Bakr, has been freed
of all
charges of conspiracy to murder two expelled
members of his organisation. The judgment was
handed down on Monday by
Justice Mustapha
Ibrimam.
Common CARICOM visas for CWC 2007 may be applied for this month
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Visitors requiring the
common CARICOM visas to attend matches in host
countries during
the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC)
West Indies 2007, may commence applying at various
locations come December 15.
Assistance for children victims of human trafficking in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: After the death of his
father, Daniel was torn from his sobbing mother to
work in Port-au-Prince
to alleviate the family's
extreme poverty.
Washington should extend olive branch to Cuba, say analysts
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States should
bury the hatchet with Cuba and accept conciliatory
overtures
of its acting leader Raul Castro, who has
called for an end to more than 40 years of hostile
relations with Washington,
some Latin American
analysts said.
UN turns spotlight on sexual abuse by peacekeepers
NEW YORK, USA (AFP): UN chief Kofi Annan on
Monday recommitted the world body to "zero
tolerance" of sexual exploitation
and abuse by a
minority of UN peacekeepers as he opened a high-
level conference on the festering issue.
US praises Venezuela's democracy after Chavez win
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): The White House on
Monday commended the Venezuelan public for
participating in democracy,
but did not mention the
re-election of President Hugo Chavez who has
described President George W. Bush as the devil.
Chavez's Castro ties risk alienating Venezuela base
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez dedicated his landslide re-
election on Sunday
to Cuban President Fidel Castro
but he is also keen to convince his supporters that
he is not a leader in Castro's
communist mold.
Venezuela's anti-Chavez opposition wins by losing
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): After five years of
striking, plotting coups and crying fraud against
leftist President
Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's opposition
leaders on Sunday may have scored their first
victory - by accepting defeat.
Hundreds fall sick on Caribbean cruise
MIAMI, USA (Reuters): Nearly 400 passengers and
crew were sickened by a common stomach virus on a
Caribbean cruise
aboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom
of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, the
company said on Sunday.
Montserrat's constitutional revision process criticised
BRADES, Montserrat: Last month in Montserrat
revealed signs of problematic governance and an
unsatisfactory constitutional
revision process,
deemed by some members of the Chief Minister’s
(CM) Constitutional Advisory Committee and members
of the public as dysfunctional and unconstitutional.
Commentary: Law and Politics: Integrity in public office and preventing corruption
Corruption makes the poor poorer, because part of
their already meager earnings, and their non-existent
disposable
income, must pay for basic services which
otherwise should be free. So said the chairperson
of “Transparency International”.
Weather threatens first Pakistan-West Indies one-dayer
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AFP): Torrential rain
threatens the first of game of the five-match one-
day series between
Pakistan and the West Indies
scheduled for Tuesday.
West Indies will cope without Bravo, Sarwan, says King
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Reuters): West Indies coach
Bennet King believes his side will rise to the occasion
in
the five-match one-day series in Pakistan despite
losing key men Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Jamaica turns back Trinidad 2-0 in U-20 qualifier
KINGSTON, Jamaica: A goal in each half from Joel
Grant guided Jamaica to a 2-0 win over Trinidad and
Tobago in
the first leg of their CONCACAF Under-20
qualifiers at the Harbour View mini-stadium in
Kingston on Sunday.
Cubans astonished by Castro no-show
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cubans were astonished by
ailing Fidel Castro's absence from his birthday parade
on Saturday,
but many believe the only leader they
have known for 47 years will survive his health crisis
and return to public
life. Few thought he would fail to
turn up on Saturday.
Venezuelan president Chavez wins re-election
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Venezuelan
president Hugo Chavez has won re-election, giving
him six more years
to use the country's oil wealth to
help the poor and stir up anti-US sentiment in Latin
America. Chavez took 61 percent
of the vote while
opponent Manuel Rosales took 38 percent.
US and Guyana probe chemical threat to airlines
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (Reuters): American and
Guyanese authorities said they were investigating on
Saturday a threatened
chemical attack against US
airlines flying out of the tiny Caribbean country.
UN official admits abuse of Haitians by peacekeepers 'is going on'
LONDON, England (AFP): The abuse of citizens of
countries, including Haiti, where United Nations
peacekeepers
are stationed "is going on", the UN
Assistant Secretary General for peacekeeping
operations said on the BBC last week.
Haiti votes for local leaders under UN watch
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Haitians went to the
polls Sunday to elect mayors and local
representatives as UN
peacekeepers sought to
maintain order, firing tear gas to quell a disturbance
at one polling station.
Raul Castro seeks negotiations with US
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): At Cuba's first military parade
in a decade, Cuba's communist interim leader Raul
Castro,
in a shift from the tack of his ailing brother
Fidel Castro, on Saturday pushed for negotiations
with the United States
to end decades of tense ties.
US says no talks with Cuba until regime moves toward democracy
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States said
Saturday that the Cuban regime must take steps
toward democracy
before Washington would consider
any "deepening" of bilateral relations, responding to
Raul Castro's invitation to
come to the negotiating
table.
Air Jamaica promotes corporate social responsibility
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The national flag carrier of
Jamaica says while its primary role is to transport
passengers
from one point to another, it has a
development agenda which is just as important.
Montserrat receives a message of hope
BRADES, Montserrat: In the midst of Montserrat’s
current economic stalemate, Chief Minister Lowell
Lewis has
delivered a message of hope that follows
new evidence of increased interest in the country’s
yachting and cruise tourism
sector.
World Cup Cricket to promote HIV/AIDS prevention
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana will join with
the other International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Cricket
World
Cup (CWC) host venues to demonstrate to the
world its support for HIV/AIDS prevention and care,
during the hosting
of the world mega event next year.
Ten percent pay rise for public servants in Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Some 40,000 public servants
in Suriname will receive a ten per cent salary hike
retroactive
to October 1, 2006. The main public
servant’s union CLO, the Fire Fighter’s Union and the
Federation of Teacher’s
Unions reluctantly accepted
the offer.
Commentary: Slavery and the rise of Caribbean unity
The Caribbean Community is presently building the
foundation and infrastructure, to put in place what is
undoubtedly
the most significant joint regional effort
in years, that is the history being created by the
hosting of the Cricket
World Cup.
Comment
