Cuba's Castro is near death, says US intelligence
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Cuban leader Fidel Castro
is very ill and close to death, the US Director of
National
Intelligence John Negroponte told the
Washington Post on Friday. "Everything we see
indicates it will not be much
longer... months, not
years," Negroponte told the Post.
Triple murder at start of Jamaica's tourist season
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): Gunmen killed three
men and wounded two others near some of Montego
Bay's upscale
hotels on Friday, the first day of the
tourist high season in the violence-plagued Jamaican
resort city, police said.
Kidnappers free Haitian children but others abducted
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): Kidnappers freed
seven children snatched two days ago from a school
bus in the
Haitian capital but several other children
were abducted in the latest wave of kidnappings-for-
ransom, police said
on Friday.
Puerto Rican ex-governor accused of pension fraud
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters): The Puerto Rico
Justice Department presented charges to a court on
Friday accusing
former Gov. Pedro Rossello of
falsifying documents to obtain a higher pension.
Universal civil registration initiative touted at OAS
WASHINGTON, USA: In any society, individuals who
do not have an identity are much more vulnerable to
abuse. That
view was expressed by the Secretary
General of the Organization of American States
(OAS).
Montserrat counteracts volcanic damage with innovative agriculture
BRADES, Montserrat: Responding to the assessment
of agricultural damaged caused by repeated exposure
to volcanic
ash fall and acidic rain, Montserrat’s
Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, and the
Environment (MALHE) has implemented
plans to
diversify and modernise agricultural practices.
BVI bans 'immoral and degrading' show
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The government in the British
Virgin Islands has banned a show featuring Tony
Matteron and the
'dutty wine' dancers, which was to
have taken place in the BVI this weekend.
Compton sworn in as new prime minister of St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Sir John Compton was sworn in
Friday as the next prime minister of St Lucia, for the
fifth
time. The swearing in ceremony was held at the
official residence of Governor General Dame Pearlette
Louisy. Sir John
took and signed the oath of
Allegiance and Secrecy.
Cricket brass don't fear malaria outbreak during World Cup
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): A senior officer in the
Jamaican Ministry of Health said the Jamaican leg of
the ICC
World Cup Cricket would not be affected by
the malaria outbreak in the Caribbean island.
US judge tells Cuba to pay $400m for executing US man
MIAMI, USA (AFP): A US judge Thursday ordered
Cuba to pay 400 million dollars to the family of a US
citizen summarily
executed in 1960 for allegedly
heading an invasion force, the family lawyer said.
Washington and Caracas again on talking terms
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Washington and Caracas
are again on talking terms, the US ambassador here
said after
meeting the Venezuelan foreign minister, a
major step aimed at ending years of frosty relations.
Venezuela's Chavez says spoke with ailing Castro
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez said on Friday that he spoke
on Thursday with
ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro,
who temporarily stepped aside in July following
intestinal surgery.
Rice says Cubans will push elections post-Castro
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): The United States
expects the Cuban people to pressure their
government for free elections
and a democratic
transition when ailing leader Fidel Castro dies, US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday.
If at first you don't succeed -- Cubans try again
KEY WEST, USA (Reuters): A group of Cuban boat
people appeared to have made a return odyssey to
the Florida Keys
on Friday, almost a year after they
were found clinging to a bridge piling and sent home
in a deportation later ruled
illegal.
US legislators in Cuba to jump start dialogue
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): The largest delegation from
the US Congress to visit Cuba since 1959 arrived in
Havana
on Friday seeking to open a dialogue with the
communist government of acting President Raul
Castro despite White House
opposition to such
contacts.
Letter: Cuban poll is in vain
Unfortunately the efforts of this poll ("Cubans
unhappy with lack of freedom, poll shows") are in
vain. Anyone
who has taken any basic statistics
course knows that in order for a statistical sample to
valid it must be random.
Coach Davis-Thompson encourages fellow Bahamian Amertil
NASSAU, Bahamas: Veteran sprinter Pauline Davis-
Thompson, the sports ambassador for the Ministry of
Tourism in
Atlanta, Georgia, has told her fellow
Bahamian pupil, Christine Amertil to be patient in her
run towards succeeding
in the women's 400-metre
dash.
Jamaica lifts ban on football matches
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): In a release issued Friday,
the federation said that all parishes, with the
exception
of Kingston and St Andrew and St
Catherine in the south east of the island were free to
resume playing matches.
Jamaican trio heads to Sheffield United for try-out
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Three Jamaican players were
scheduled to depart the island en route to the United
Kingdom
Friday night, where they are slated for trials
with English Premier League side Sheffield United.
US lawmakers head to Cuba after Raul Castro extends olive branch
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Ten lawmakers, believed
to be the largest US legislative group to visit
communist-ruled
Cuba, were to depart for Havana
Friday amid rising uncertainty over ailing Cuban
leader Fidel Castro's health.
Gunmen in Haiti kidnap children, demand ransom
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): Gunmen have
abducted at least seven children in a suburb of
Haiti's capital
Port-au-Prince, the latest in a wave of
kidnappings for ransom in the poor Caribbean nation,
police said on Thursday.
Election result in Venezuela positive, says US official
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): A senior US diplomat said
Wednesday this month's elections in Venezuela were
promising
as the presidential vote produced a clear
winner and an opposition leader who was committed
to democracy. "There was
a clear winner that the
opposition accepted."
Malaria under control says Jamaican Minister
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): With some 61 confirmed
cases of malaria in Jamaica, mostly confined to four
communities
in the corporate area, Minister of
Health, Horace Dalley, has assured that the outbreak
was under control and that
there was no national
health crisis.
Air Jamaica starts non-stop Barbados flights
NEW YORK, USA: Air Jamaica has announced new
daily non-stop service between John F. Kennedy
International Airport
(JFK) in New York and Grantley
Adams International Airport in Barbados, starting
January 10, 2007.
World's largest resort operator opens another Cuban hotel
MADRID, Spain (Bloomberg): Sol Melia SA, the world's
largest resort operator, has opened a 434-room hotel
in
Cuba, strengthening its position in the island
nation. The addition brings to 24 the number of
hotels operated by
Sol Melia in Cuba.
St Lucia election result will not affect CWC 2007, says legal counsel
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The defeat of the ruling St
Lucia Labour Party (SLP), led by Dr Kenny Anthony,
in general
elections on December 11, should not
affect the nation’s commitment to host the ICC
Cricket World Cup (CWC) next year.
Jamaicans urged to obtain licences to sell products under CWC brand
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaicans are being urged
to go the legal route in obtaining a licence to sell
their
products under the International Cricket Council
(ICC) Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 brand, during
the tournament next
year.
Cubans unhappy with lack of freedom, poll shows
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): Cubans are divided on
their country's Communist leadership and frustrated
by the country's
lack of freedom and economic
opportunity, according to a rare outside poll released
on Thursday.
Commentary: Foreign policy implications for CARICOM of John Compton's return
The majority of the electorate of St Lucia has
brought back as their head of government Sir John
Compton, an
81-year old who led the small Caribbean
island to independence from Britain in 1979. Sir John
had retired from office
in 1996.
Commentary: The Greater Caribbean This Week: Social exclusion radicalises the vote
Suffrage is not an end in itself - it is a civic right
which, when exercised, makes it possible for the
public
to participate in the selection of a
government. In that respect, the results tend to
reflect the aspirations of the
voters.
Letter: US is far more corrupt than Suriname
Desi Bouterese is incorrect when he says that
Suriname is one of the most corrupt countries. In
fact, the United
States is far more corrupt and
government officials are masters of the art of deceit.
Letter: A public 'thank you'
My husband, myself, and two friends took an 12 day
cruise on Celebrity Constellation, 27 November - 8
December
to the Panama Canal, with several stops
at different ports along the way. Our first port was
to be George Town, Grand
Cayman on the 29th.
Take it easy, Aries tells Powell over athletes' recognition
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Following a statement made by
world record holder, Asafa Powell, voicing his
disappointment
with level of recognition being given
to other athletes, JAAA president Howard Aries, said
the country recognises
the more superb
performances.
Digicel invests in Bonaire sports
KRALENDIJK, Bonaire: Caribbean telecommunications
company Digicel has announced a partnership with
the government
of Bonaire and the Bonaire Football
Association, which will see the company invest in the
development of sport on
the Dutch Caribbean island.
Powell makes legendaries look like nothing, says Britain’s Lewis-Francis
BIRMINGHAM, England: His disappointment from losing
the 2004 Athens Olympic gold medal is now behind
him and
is now seen as the world's most visible
sprinter. Who is this? Some would dare to ask. Well it
is Jamaica's world-renowned
sprinter, Asafa Powell.
Daren Powell pleased with his performance in Multan
KARCHI, Pakistan: West Indies fast bowler Daren
Powell said he was quite impressed with his own
performance,
which helped the Caribbean side defeat
hosts Pakistan in the fourth One Day International on
Wednesday night.
As Castro ails, US readies for mass influx from Cuba
FORT LAUDERDALE, USA (AFP): With longtime Cuban
president Fidel Castro ailing, the US Coast Guard is
bracing
for a mass migration to US shores from the
Caribbean nation, just 90 miles across the Florida
Straits.
IDB approves $25 million soft loan to Haiti for financial sector reform
WASHINGTON, USA: A $25 million fast-disbursing soft
loan from the Inter-American Development Bank will
support
Haiti’s reforms to strengthen and raise the
efficiency of its financial sector.
Danish brewer buys control of three Caribbean firms
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (Reuters): Denmark's second-
biggest brewer, Royal Unibrew, says it has bought
controlling
stakes in two brewers and a bottle
recycling plant in the Caribbean to strengthen its
position in the region.
Air Jamaica wants travelers to get their passports
MIAMI, USA: Air Jamaica wants travelers to secure
their passports soon for travel in the New Year. From
January
23, 2007, US citizens traveling by air
between the US and the Caribbean will be required to
present a valid passport
to re-enter the United
States.
BVI physicians reminded to comply with practice requirements
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Physicians in the British Virgin
Islands are being reminded to comply with
requirements for practicing
medicine and dentistry
under sections 10, 11 and 18 of the Medical Act,
2000.
First USVI taxi and tour guides gain certification
ST JOHN, USVI: Does basketball great Michael Jordan
really have a home on the north side of the island of
St
Thomas in the US Virgin Islands? Did American
actor and heart throb Johnny Depp buy property
there? Did Black Beard's
castle really belong to him?
Castro gets two awards from North Korea
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Recovering from intestinal
surgery since late July and still convalescing in
hospital, Cuban
leader Fidel Castro on Tuesday was
bestowed two awards from the North Korean
government for his 80th birthday.
US still searching for reformer in Cuban government
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The top US diplomat for
Latin America Wednesday indicated the United
States had yet to
find a reformer in the communist
Cuban government, but did not flatly rule out
dialogue with it in a context of political
opening.
Cubans wonder if they will see Castro again
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cubans are increasingly
talking in the past tense about Fidel Castro, the man
who governed
their lives for 47 years. Castro has not
appeared in public since he underwent emergency
intestinal surgery on July
31.
US declines Cuban talks, says Havana more hard-line
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): The United States on
Wednesday rebuffed a recent offer by Cuba for talks
and said
Havana had become even more hard-line
since Raul Castro stepped in for his ailing brother
Fidel Castro.
CXC to discontinue Basic Proficiency Examination by 2010
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: The year 2009 will be last
time regional students will get the opportunity sit the
Basic
Proficiency Examinations (BPE) offered by the
Council for the Caribbean Secondary Certificate
(CSEC).
Commentary: Final verdict on Diana’s death: I was wrong...
Until Lord Stevens - the former Met Police
Commissioner assigned to re-investigate the
circumstances surrounding
the death of Princess
Diana and Dodi Al Fayed - uttered this intriguing and
suspicious admission last February...
Samuels hits form to help West Indies win fourth ODI
MULTAN, Pakistan (AFP) : Marlon Samuels hit his first
century in four years to help the West Indies beat
Pakistan
by seven wickets in the fourth one-day
international on Wednesday. The 25-year-old
Jamaican was unbeaten on 100 to
help his team
recover from an early wobble.
Lara unlikely to play one-day cricket after World Cup
MULTAN, Pakistan (Reuters): West Indies' captain
Brian Lara said on Wednesday he was unlikely to play
one-day
cricket again after next year's World Cup in
the Caribbean.
Barbados football team hit with goalkeeper injury
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Barbados football team,
currently preparing for the final leg of the 2006
Digicel Caribbean
Cup in Trinidad, have been hit with
a big blow when it was reported that first-string
goalkeeper Alvin Rouse will
be unable to train for the
next two weeks.
Powell calls for more Jamaican athletes to be recognised
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaican world record holder
and IAAF Male Athlete of the Year, Asafa Powell,
voiced his disappointment
at the lack of recognition
given to other athletes who have served the country
well. Powell said that Michael Frater
has not received
as much recognition as he should.
British sprinter hopes Powell is clean
BIRMINGHAM, England: British Olympic and European
sprint relay gold medalist, Mark Lewis-Francis, is
hoping that
Jamaican World record holder, Asafa
Powell, is clean and free from using drugs, following
the suspension of several
top athletes.
Cuba restrictions to be loosened in 2007, says US congressman
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): The US Congress will
pass legislation next year to ease restrictions on
family travel
and financial transfers to Cuba,
Representative William Delahunt, co-chair of a
congressional group seeking to loosen
the US
embargo, has said.
Publicise Jamaica's malaria, says Canada
TORONTO, Canada (UPI): A Canadian tropical disease
expert in Toronto says there should be more publicity
about
Jamaica's malaria outbreak at the beginning of
the winter travel season.
Dominica government supports new St Lucia PM
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica’s Acting Prime Minister,
Matthew Walter, has pledged support to the newly
elected
government in St Lucia, following the general
elections on December 11.
All service sectors in St Kitts-Nevis record positive growth, says PM
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Despite a dramatic reduction
in sugar production in 2005, volatile oil prices, the
continued
implementation of the fiscal stabilisation
programme, and the completion of a number of
capital projects, the economy
of St Kitts and Nevis
grew at a rate of 4.1% during 2005.
Suriname credit rating improved
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Standard & Poor's on
Monday raised its long-term foreign currency
sovereign credit
rating on Suriname to "B" from "B-"
on government efforts to address its payments to
bilateral lenders and solid growth
prospects.
IDB approves $25 million loan to Belize
WASHINGTON, USA: The Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB) last week approved a $25
million fast-disbursing loan
to support Belize’s agenda
of reforms to restore macroeconomic and financial
stability, improve its business climate
and bolster
investor confidence.
BVI electricity company employees to get pay increase
ROAD TOWN, BVI: BVI Electricity Corporation
employees will receive an increase in pay retroactive
to January
1, 2006, and revised salary scales and job
descriptions in January 2007.
Training on special CARICOM CWC visa held in New York
NEW YORK, USA (JIS): More that 15 immigration
officers and members of the Caribbean diplomatic
corps in North
America recently completed a two-day
training session in New York, in preparation for the
implementation of the CARICOM
Special Visa on
December 15.
History in the making in Grenada as construction for luxury hotel begins
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: History was in the making on
Monday as the old Islander Hotel in Grenada was
demolished
to start construction on a high-end luxury
120 room resort. Minister of Tourism, Brenda Hood
says an investment of
this type will have a huge
impact on jobs and economic activity.
Grammy-winning acts for Air Jamaica Jazz Festival
NEW YORK, Jamaica (JIS): Fans of the annual Air
Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival are in for a special
treat,
with a stellar line-up of Grammy winning acts
set to take the stage over the three-day event from
January 25 to 27.
Jamaica's economic outlook positive, says Cabinet Secretary
LONDON, England (JIS): Cabinet Secretary, Dr
Carlton Davis, has said that the outlook for the
Jamaican economy
is positive, with moderate growth
this year, while unemployment was less than 11 per
cent.
St Kitts-Nevis purchases new EC$14m generator
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: With a significant increase in
residences and businesses throughout St Kitts-Nevis
as a
result of growth in the economy, the
administration has taken steps to ensure the
availability of adequate and reliable
electricity to the
growing list of consumers.
Guyana stands ready to assist Jamaica’s malaria fight
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Guyana Ministry of
Health said on Monday it is ready to lend support to
sister CARICOM
nation, Jamaica, to help stop the
spread of malaria. Jamaica is reportedly battling an
outbreak of the parasitic disease.
Paris Club creditors to restructure Haiti's debt
PARIS, France (AFP): Government creditors in the
Paris Club agreed Tuesday with Haitian officials to
restructure
the country's external public debt within
the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative,
the club said.
Commentary: Financial services: The second wave, twice ignored
To begin in the middle of the story, (it actually began
before the following date) in 1998, 2000 and 2001,
The
OECD published – respectively – three reports.
The 2000 publication listed 38 nations as “Tax
Havens”.
Letter: Truth commissions do not bring about forgiveness and reconciliation
Michael Ignatieff has said, “The past is an argument
and the function of truth commissions, like the
function
of honest historians, is simply to purify that
argument, to narrow the range of permissible lies.”
West Indies planning major security for cricket World Cup
MULTAN, Pakistan (AFP): The organisers of next
year's cricket World Cup are taking every possible
step to ensure
security during the event in the
Caribbean next year, a top official said Tuesday.
Caribbean on track with World Cup preparations
ST JAMES, Barbados (Reuters): With just over three
months to go before the start of the 2007 cricket
World Cup,
much of Barbados is scarred by building
cranes, road detours and construction sites.
Bermuda on long, hard road to World Cup
DOHA, Qatar (Reuters): It's 2,500km from Hamilton to
Port-of-Spain where Bermuda will open their debut
World
Cup campaign in March. But it may as well be a
million. Six defeats in a row have cast a deepening
gloom over preparations
for the event.
Jamaica bids to host World Netball Championships
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica has made a bid to host
the 2007 World Netball Championships (WNC), after
Fiji, who
won the right to host the tournament, are
facing safety concerns following a military coup.
Opposition wins in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Preliminary results from
Monday’s general election in St Lucia indicate that
the opposition
United Workers Party has won 11 out
of the 17 seats in the House of Assembly, with the
governing St Lucia Labour Party
winning the
remaining 6.
Former Suriname dictator calls for national cabinet
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Former military ruler, Desi
Bouterse, has called for a national cabinet in
Suriname to
replace the Venetiaan coalition
government. Shortly after his re-election Saturday
night as president of the National
Democratic Party,
Bouterse lashed out at the government.
Czech dissident-turned-president calls on tourists to shun Cuba
WARSAW, Poland (AFP): Former anti-communist
dissident turned Czech president Vaclav Havel on
Monday urged tourists
to shun Cuba as a holiday
destination, in a video message showing solidarity
with Cuban dissidents.
Jamaican Senate passes e-transaction Bill
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Electronic
Transactions Bill, which sets out the legal framework
for electronic
transactions and connected matters,
was approved in the Jamaican Senate on Friday.
Leader of Government Business in
the Upper House,
Senator A. J. Nicholson, piloted the Bill.
BVI introduces internet-based information system
TORTOLA, BVI: The British Virgin Islands Financial
Services Commission (BVIFSC) has announced that it
will be
transitioning to a new internet-based
information system featuring the electronic filing of
documents.
St Lucia bowls over Kiwis in the US
NEW YORK, USA: St Lucia's new director of tourism
Maria Fowell wants New Zealanders in the United
States to come
to the 'Helen of the West' for Cricket
World Cup next March and April.
Region receives international support for hosting CWC 2007
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Caribbean has been
receiving much international co-operation on security
matters
to host the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC)
2007, which is the world’s third largest event. This is
being co-ordinated
through the International Support
and Advisory Group.
Report highlights need for confidence in Guyana’s electoral institutions
WASHINGTON, USA: The Assistant Secretary General
of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert
R. Ramdin,
on Monday delivered the final report of
the OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Guyana,
which monitored that country’s
August 28 general
and regional elections.
Gordon confident of hitting World Cup tickets target
LAHORE, Paistan (Reuters): The Chairman of the
West Indies Cricket Board is confident of meeting a
target of
US$40 million in overall ticket sales for the
2007 World Cup, which begins next March in Jamaica.
OAS promotes cooperation against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
WASHINGTON, USA: The Chairman of the
Organization of American States (OAS) Committee on
Hemispheric Security,
Javier Sancho-Bonilla, has
reaffirmed the membership's collective commitment to
rid the Americas of nuclear, biological
and chemical
weapons.
Initiative to engage Caribbean's best scientific minds endorsed by Grenada PM
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr
Keith Mitchell has given full support to an initiative by
the
CARISCIENCE Network to engage qualified
Caribbean nationals who are living in other parts of
the world on matters
relating to science and
technology.
Commentary: Law and Politics: The wind of change is blowing in our lands
I vividly recall, during my years in England working my
way to get into law school to achieve my boyhood
dreams
of becoming a lawyer, the British Prime
Minister at the time, Harold MacMillan, returning
home from a trip to Africa.
Commentary: Human rights is not just charity in Haiti
Human Rights Day this past Sunday marks a time to
commemorate the UN’s Universal Declaration of
Human Rights,
but also an opportunity to look
towards what challenges lie ahead for realizing
human rights in even the world’s most
difficult of
situations.
King demands consistency from West Indies ahead of World Cup
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP): The West Indies need
consistency ahead of next year's World Cup to keep
up a recent run
of good form, coach Bennett King
said on Monday. "We have had a good year in one-
day internationals but we are still
lacking in
consistency," said the Australian.
West Indies 'A' square series against Sri Lanka
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: A solid all-round team
performance by West Indies 'A' team saw them
defeat Sri Lanka 'A'
by 53 runs in their second
unofficial One-Day International (ODI), cricket match
at Warner Park in St Kitts on Sunday.
'I never felt at home with Jamaica,' says Simpson
DOHA, Qatar: Athens 2004 Olympic 400-metre
finalist, Brandon Simpson, has said he never had the
support representing
Jamaica and revealed that since
his switch to compete for his adopted country
Bahrain he feels at home.
Cuban mob attacks human rights protesters
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): More than 200 Cuban
government supporters attacked 15 human rights
activists on International
Human Rights Day on
Sunday, manhandling the demonstrators as they
drove them from a Havana park.
Dominican Republic rejects criticism of migrant treatment
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Reuters): The
Dominican Republic government on Sunday said it
would not tolerate
foreign interference in its affairs
after a group of visiting US lawmakers criticised the
treatment of Haitians on
Dominican sugar plantations.
Caribbean Airlines makes unexpected first landing in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: An aircraft bearing the
new ‘Humming Bird’ logo of Caribbean Airlines made an
unexpected
landing for the first time at the Cheddi
Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Guyana last
Monday. Its mission was
to fly out dozens of
passengers who were left stranded.
Suriname confident of border dispute settlement
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Authorities in Suriname are
confident about the outcome of the hearings in the
long-standing
border dispute with Guyana. Both
parties began presentations Thursday before an
Arbitration Tribunal established under
the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea.
PAHO and European Commission launch partnership to aid Haiti, Guyana
WASHINGTON, USA (PAHO): The Pan American
Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a
partnership to help alleviate
poverty in Haiti and
Guyana, as part of a partnership between the
European Commission and the World Health
Organization.
New USVI Governor celebrates with supporters
ST JOHN, USVI: US Virgin Islands Governor-elect
John deJongh and Lt Governor-elect Greg Francis
kicked off a
three island "thank you week-end" on St
John Friday night at their campaign headquarters in
Cruz Bay. Party faithful,
supporters, and well wishers,
including tourists, stopped by.
Good and bad news for Barbados tourism
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: There's some good news
and bad news coming out of the tourism sector in
Barbados. Minister
Noel Lynch says while long-stay
visitor arrivals are increasing, the picture in the
cruise industry is not so rosy.
Canadian firm to supply machine-readable passports to Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Guyana Government on
Friday contracted Canadian Bank Note (CBN) to
supply and introduce
machine-readable passports to
the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. The
new passport system will assist in the
fight against
terrorism and trafficking in persons.
Guyana eases ban on air travel carry-on items
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Security officials in Guyana
have eased a ban on items passengers were
restricted from taking
on board planes, but warned
that security at the country’s main port of entry
remains on high alert following an e-mail
waning of a
chemical attack against the airline industry over a
week ago.
Former Polish president Walesa to hold Cuban solidarity rally
WARSAW, Poland (AFP): Former Polish president and
Nobel Peace laureate Lech Walesa will hold a
conference to
show solidarity with Cuban dissidents
on Monday, the Walesa Institute website reported
Sunday.
Temporary CWC 2007 accomodation in Barbados 80 pct sold
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Eighty percent of the
cabins on the cruise ship that will serve as additional
accommodation
in Barbados for Cricket World Cup
have either been sold or pledged to be sold.
US House narrowly passes trade bill for Haiti
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): US Lawmakers
narrowly approved a raft of trade legislation on
Friday, including the
expansion of trade preferences
for dirt-poor Haiti. The House of Representatives
voted 212 to 184 for the trade package.
Tuesday is Budget Day in St Kitts-Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Tuesday is Budget Day in the
Federation of St Kitts and Nevis. Prime Minister and
Minister
of Finance, Dr Denzil Douglas will lay on the
Tab
