Raul Castro calls for more policy debate in Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba's interim leader Raul
Castro, signaling a different style of government from
his
ailing brother Fidel Castro, on Wednesday called
for greater debate on public policies in the
communist-run country.
UN expresses dismay over Haiti abductions
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (UPI): United Nations officials
said on Wednesday that they were alarmed by the
increase
in kidnappings in Haiti, where UN
peacekeepers have been stationed for nearly three
years.
CARICOM assures cricket fans of hassle-free visa process
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Cricket fans from Australia
and New Zealand planning on being in the Caribbean
for Cricket
World Cup (CWC) 2007 can rest assured
that they will be able to apply for the CARICOM
Special Visa which is required
for them and citizens
of several other nations.
Jamaican health ministry allays fears of malaria affecting CWC 2007
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Ministry of Health in
Jamaica is again allaying fears that the current
malaria outbreak
will affect the staging of next year's
ICC Cricket World Cup in Jamaica. The country will
host six group stage matches
and a semi-final at
Sabina Park.
St Lucia wins top Caribbean destination award
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Last week, the island of St
Lucia was awarded the top Caribbean destination in
the 2006 annual
Travel Weekly Readers Choice
Awards. The award recipients were chosen by Travel
Weekly readers, a collection of agents,
industry
marketing executives and CEOs.
Legislation for better governance in Nevis tops 2007 agenda
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: A package of legislation to
improve governance on Nevis will be top on the
agenda for the
Nevis Island Administration (NIA) in
2007, according to Premier Joseph Parry. The
legislation will make ministers
and civil servants more
accountable.
Raul Castro calls his brother, Fidel 'irreplaceable'
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba's interim leader Raul
Castro said Fidel Castro was "irreplaceable" and that
he had never
tried to imitate his ailing brother in the
five months since he was deputised.
Cuba's national assembly meeting could pass the torch
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Interim Cuba leader Raul
Castro could signal a passing of the torch to a newer
generation
of Communist leaders when Cuba's
national legislature opens its annual meeting here
Friday.
Commentary: The Caribbean at the end of 2006 and beyond
As dusk descends on the Year 2006, the countries of
the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) continued to
face daunting
challenges in the global community in
relation to trade, investment and development
assistance.
Commentary: Merry Christmas!
This time last year, despite my apostasy, I joined the
chorus of those remonstrating against the politically-
correct
scrooges who were trying to eXcise all
references to “Christ” in Christmas holiday greetings.
Bahamian Amertil gets married
NASSAU, Bahamas: Bahamian two-time World Indoor
400-metre medallist, Christine Amertil, reportedly tied
the knot
in her home land on Saturday, December 16
to become yet another female lapper from the
Bahamas to get married. The
quarter-mile star got
married to Canadian Spencer Ling.
Digicel Caribbean Cup Group J fixtures announced
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The full details for the
three fixtures of the final qualifying Group J in the
Digicel
Caribbean Cup have now been released. All
games will take place in the home of Trinidad's Soca
Warriors, the Hasley
Crawford Stadium.
Calatayud and Sinclair the highlights of Caribbean 2006 distance year in review
OKLAHOMA, USA: Following a well-judged year in
2005, where she dominated to win the World 800-
metre title in
Helsinki, Finland, Cuban Zulia Calatayud
continued her excellent run on the world circuit in
2006.
Breese withdraws from Jamaica's cricket team
KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Wavel Hinds-led Jamaican
cricket squad will be without the services of former
captain
Gareth Breese, who wrote the chairman of
the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), informing him
of his unavailability.
Castro's absence to dominate national assembly meeting
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Raul Castro's status as Cuba's
leader in the absence of his ailing brother, longtime
President
Fidel Castro, could become clearer as the
communist Caribbean nation's legislature meets
Friday.
US playing 'good cop-bad cop' with Venezuela, says Chavez
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) : President Hugo Chavez
on Wednesday demanded US Ambassador William
Brownsfield withdraw
his "lie" about increased drug
trade in Venezuela if US-Venezuelan relations are to
prosper.
CARICOM officials dispel the Cayman Islands' myth
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Fears about
unwelcome obligations the Cayman Islands could be
compelled to take
on as an associate member of the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) were firmly
removed last week as Dr Edwin Carrington,
Secretary-
General of the regional body, spoke with the media.
First judges of USVI Supreme Court sworn in
ST CROIX, USVI: Virgin Islands Judges Maria Cabret,
Rhys Hodge and Ive Swan made history this week as
they were
sworn in as the first judges of the US
Virgin Islands Supreme Court. All of the new judges
have a distinguished record
of service in the Virgin
Islands judiciary.
IMF commends Dominica’s economic programme
ROSEAU, Dominica: In its seventh and last review of
Dominica’s performance under the three-year Poverty
Reduction
and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement,
the Executive Board of the International Monetary
Fund has commended the government.
Caribbean Arts and Crafts Festival expands in 2007
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The Caribbean Artisan Network
and the British Virgin Islands Chamber of Commerce
and Hotel Association
(BVICCHA) will host the largest
artisan festival of its kind in the British Virgin Islands
next year.
More than 65,000 say no to Caribbean commercial whaling
YARMOUTH, USA: More than 65,000 emails and faxes
urging Caribbean leaders not to consider commercial
whaling
were sent to Ministers of Tourism, after the
International Fund for Animal Welfare called on
supporters worldwide
to encourage whale watching
over commercial whaling.
FirstCaribbean chalks up another strong financial performance
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Another strong financial
performance has been recorded by FirstCaribbean
International
Bank. The region's leading financial
services company has recorded a net income of
USD$170.6 million for the financial
year November
2005 – October 2006
Jamaica reviewing ban on mass gatherings following malaria outbreak
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Ministry of Health in
Jamaica is currently reviewing its ban on mass
gatherings
in the parishes of St Catherine, Kingston
and St Andrew, in the wake of the malaria outbreak.
Nevis to focus on private sector development
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Private sector development is
slated to receive a major shift in focus and strategy
in 2007,
to allow it to become the engine of
economic growth in Nevis. That disclosure came from
Premier of Nevis and Minister
of Finance, Joseph
Parry, when he delivered the 2007 Budget Address.
Grenada government refutes threat to dove habitat
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: In a press statement
Wednesday, the Government of Grenada thanked
conservationist group
Bird Life International for their
interest in the wildlife of Grenada but refutes
allegations that a proposed tourism
development will
threaten the habitat of the Grenada dove.
Commentary: The Greater Caribbean this Week: King Henry I of Haiti - a notable builder
In this article, I am seeking to make brief historical
remarks on the State of Haiti some years after its
independence.
Special attention is placed on the
Monarchy in the north of the country and the
Citadelle Laferrière.
Letter: The best reggae musician
To the very best reggae musician I know. The time is
now. Do not hesitate. Suriname is waiting for you.
Alfons,
this one's for you.
Jamaican Campbell-Ryce and Southend's giant killing run ends
LONDON, England: Jamaican international Jamal
Campbell-Ryce had a busy game for Southend
against a strong Tottenham
Hotspur side, but was
unable to prevent his team from going down 1-0 in
the Carling Cup quarter-finals at White Hart
Lane.
Furore over CARICOM visas erupts in Australia
FORT LAUDERDALE, USA: The stipulation by the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that Australian and
New Zealand citizens
must obtain a visa in order to
visit the region for next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup
has resulted in a storm of protest
from the Australian
public.
US lawmakers doubt 'official' story that Castro is not terminally ill
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US lawmakers back from a
trip to Cuba on Monday cast doubt on officials there
who insisted
Fidel Castro was not dying and would
return to power. Castro has not been seen in public
since July 26 and failed
to show up at a December 2
military parade.
New tourism minister for St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The new St Lucian prime
minister, Sir John Compton, has named hotelier Allan
Chastenet as
the new minister of tourism and civil
aviation. As a result, Chastenet will also assume the
chairmanship of the Caribbean
Tourism Organisation.
Chastenet is owner of Coco Kreole and Coco Palm.
Government of Grenada may sell National Park for new resort development
CAMBRIDGE, England: A 'high-end luxury resort' may
be threatening one of the last remaining refuges for
the Grenada
Dove, a Critically Endangered species
with a global population of just 180 birds.
Denial of voting rights in USVI to be heard by appellate court
BOSTON, USA: United States citizens living in the US
Virgin Islands, unlike Americans living almost any
other
place in the world, are unable to vote in
presidential elections.
Young Nevisians urged to pursue technical studies
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Premier of Nevis and Minister
of Finance in the Nevis Island Administration, Joseph
Parry,
while delivering the 2007 Budget address, has
called on the young people of Nevis to pursue studies
in the technical
field because it was an area of high
priority for the island.
Venezuela starts to construct single ruling party
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): President Hugo
Chavez's dominant political party said on Monday it
was dissolving,
laying the keystone for a single ruling
party that critics fear is Chavez's attempt to turn
Venezuela into Cuba.
New Caribbean Airlines appoints team for January 1 launch
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: As the December 31 date
draws closer for shutting down operations at Trinidad
and Tobago
national airline BWIA, another airline, the
recently established Caribbean Airlines, has now
appointed a new team
aimed at making a smooth
transition from BWIA when it makes its first official
flight on January 1, 2007.
University professor, wife plead guilty in Cuban spying case
MIAMI, USA (AFP): A Cuban-American professor
pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to serve as a
Cuban spy in
the United States, and his wife pleaded
guilty to abetting his activities, leading them to face
up to five and three
years in prison, respectively.
Bermuda makes it easier for funds to set up
BOSTON, USA (Reuters): Bermuda, already a popular
home for hedge funds because of generous tax
breaks, enacted
a new law designed to help the
island become an even more popular investment
center, an industry association said
on Tuesday.
St Lucia swears in new government ministers
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The swearing-in ceremony of
the new government ministers took place in St Lucia
on Tuesday
at the official residence of the Prime
Minister, where they took the Oath of Allegiance, the
Oath of Office and the
Oath of Secrecy.
Commentary: Straight Talk
It’s all about dating, love, sex, friendship, and
marriage - so let's talk. Email your relationship
questions
to my attention. Question from: “Worried
about a wandering eye”. Dear Betty – My boyfriend
has a wandering eye.
Letter: Why did Sir John Compton not explain the role of Chiquita and US influence in the decline of Caribbean banana industry?
If it is true that St Lucians voted in Sir John
Compton's UWP as the new government in the just
recently contested
general election, with the hope of
reviving the banana industry, the majority of voters
will end up like April fools.
UVI swim team debuts in January
ST CROIX, USVI: University of the Virgin Islands
Athletic Director Peter Sauer has announced the
formation of
a swim team as part of the University’s
athletic program as of January 1, 2007.
US lawmakers assured Castro does not have cancer
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US lawmakers back from a
trip to Cuba said Monday officials there had insisted
Fidel Castro
was not dying, and that his brother Raul
Castro is not Havana's new leader.
UN seeks $98m to help Haiti stabilisation efforts
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP): The United Nations
announced Monday a 98-million-dollar appeal to help
Haiti in its
transition to stability after years of
political violence. The appeal, for 2006-2007, aims to
strengthen Haiti's government
in the post-electoral
transition period.
St Lucia’s election peaceful and extremely positive, say OAS observers
WASHINGTON, USA: The Organization of American
States (OAS) on Monday released its preliminary
report on St Lucia’s
December 11 general election,
finding that it was conducted in a positive manner.
OECS Countries to continue World Trade Policy talks in early 2007
CASTRIES, St Lucia: OECS member countries on the
World Trade Organisation are likely to meet in
January 2007
to consider the draft report of an OECS
Trade Policy Review as well as a coordinated
approach regarding a World Trade
Organisation Trade
Policy Review meeting.
Samsung wins $176m Trinidad refinery order
SEOUL, South Korea (Bloomberg): Samsung
Engineering Co., a South Korean construction
company, has said it received
a $176 million order to
build a refinery for Petrotrin, the state oil company of
Trinidad and Tobago.
Heated debate expected on Grenada budget
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: The Grenada parliament is
expected to see some heated debate on the 2007
budget, presented
by the Finance Minister Anthony
Boatswain last Friday. The 2007 estimate provides
for a total expenditure (including
amortisation) of
EC$632.5 million.
Montserrat could get offshore veterinary and nursing school
BRADES, Montserrat: The Government of Montserrat
is currently in negotiations with a US-based
organisation that
has expressed an interest in setting
up two offshore medical schools in Montserrat.
St Kitts-Nevis expects EC$300m from tourism in 2006
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Revenue from tourism in St
Kitts and Nevis is expected to surpass EC$300 million
for the
first time in its history in 2006. This disclosure
came from Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas in his
2007 Budget Address
in the National Assembly.
Nevis premier presents budget
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Premier of Nevis and Minster
of Finance in the Nevis Island Administration Joseph
Parry presented
what he called a budget of
confidence and people empowerment when the Nevis
Island Assembly met at the Assembly Chambers
in
Charlestown on Monday.
Guyana seeking specialist assistance in counter-terrorism for CWC 2007
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Head of Guyana's Security
team for next year's Cricket World Cup (CWC),
Assistant Commissioner
of Police Paul Slowe, said
Guyana is seeking specialist assistance in counter-
terrorism, an expertise that is lacking
throughout the
Caribbean region.
TCL Group cement reaches Guyana market
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The first bags of cement
packed at the TCL Guyana Incorporated (TGI)
cement packaging terminal
have reached local
markets. Last Friday, the first shipment of bulk
cement for the TGI terminal arrived in Georgetown
from CEMEX in Venezuela.
Jamaica preparing for influx of visitors for Cricket World Cup
NEW YORK, USA (JIS): Destination Marketing
Manager for the Jamaica Tourist Board, Janice Allen,
has said that
Jamaica was preparing to deal with the
influx of visitors for next year's ICC Cricket World
Cup, including the upgrading
of airports and the
addition of hotel rooms.
Raft still exit option for Cuban after 18 tries
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): A Cuban rafter who was
sent back to communist Cuba by the United States
11 months ago
said on Monday he would take to the
sea again in a 19th bid to get to Florida if Cuban
authorities do not allow him
to emigrate legally.
Cuba swaps bank notes to stop counterfeiting
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba's Central Bank issued
new bank notes with enhanced security features on
Monday to
prevent growing counterfeiting of
convertible pesos (CUC). The new bills add the
denomination to the watermark.
Commentary: Law and Politics: Too much public melee for Xmas
While carols and parang composers and singers, have
been beseeching us all to put "Christ" back in
Christmas,
our politicians seem to have been doing
their utmost to put more and more scandalous
behaviour in the public pipeline.
Jamaica's Burton ends goal drought
LONDON, England: Jamaican international Deon
Burton is a relieved man after he finally hit the back
of the net
to end his recent goal scoring drought in
an English Coca Cola Championship League match
played on December 11.
US lawmakers set to wrap up visit to Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): The largest US congressional
delegation ever to visit communist-ruled Cuba was to
wrap up
talks here Sunday, following a series of
meetings with senior Cuban officials aimed at easing
bilateral tensions.
The bipartisan delegation arrived
here Friday.
Violence and impunity continue to plague Haiti’s capital
MONTREAL, Canada: The International Centre for
Human Rights and Democratic Development (ICHRDD)
has strongly
condemned last week’s kidnapping of
school children by illegal armed groups in Port-au-
Prince and the escalation in
gang violence in Haiti’s
capital.
Illegal Trinidadian immigrant gets 30 years for shooting British policewoman
LONDON, England (Reuters): An illegal Trinidadian
immigrant who shot a trainee policewoman was jailed
for 30
years last week for her attempted murder.
Trevon Thomas, 24, shot Pc Rachael Bown as he ran
away from police investigating
a burglary.
Cuba says ailing Castro well enough to work the phones
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Ailing Cuban leader Fidel
Castro was in telephone contact with a governors'
meeting, Cuba's
Communist Party newspaper said
Saturday, a day after the top US intelligence official
said Castro could be at death's
door.
Reparations talks continue in USVI
ST CROIX, USVI: A two-day discussion on
reparations, called the "Big Reparations Sit Down",
was held at the University
of the Virgin Islands, St
Croix campus, bringing together local community
leaders to discuss this topic which is experiencing
world-wide resurgence.
Miss USVI contestants sought
ST THOMAS, USVI: The Miss Virgin Islands Executive
Committee has announced the commencement of its
campaign to
recruit contestants for the 2007 Miss
Virgin Islands Pageant. The St Thomas event is
scheduled be held on May 19 at
the Reichhold Center
for the Arts.
Telecoms provider and regulators sued in St Vincent
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: Cariaccess Communications
(St Vincent) Ltd has filed a lawsuit against Cable &
Wireless
(West Indies) Ltd (C&W) and the National
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC).
Commentary: Congress trip to Cuba: A salute to Congressmen Flake, Delahunt and their eight colleagues
A bipartisan delegation of ten members of the US
Congress are now visiting Cuba and represent a ray
of rare hope
that President George W. Bush will
tolerate a modest beginning of a settlement of the
age-old split between the two
ancient foes
Commentary: Kofi Annan sowed good seeds, but will they grow?
As winter settles in on the United Nations
headquarters in New York, the cold weather outside
could not prevail
upon the warmth generated within
the building as resounding applause erupted in tribute
from among the 192 members.
Pakistan win one-day series against West Indies
KARACHI, Pakistan (AFP): Openers Mohammad Hafeez
and Kamran Akmal hit half-centuries to power
Pakistan to a comfortable
seven-wicket win in the
fifth and final one-day international against the West
Indies here on Saturday to take the
series 3-1.
Hafeez scored a career-best 92.
Lara confident about World Cup despite Pakistan defeat
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters): West Indies skipper
Brian Lara still has great hopes for his team at next
year's
World Cup despite losing the test and one-day
series in Pakistan. Lara said that although his team
had not ended the
tour on a good note, it would not
affect their World Cup preparations.
Powell's ray of sunshine in world rocked by doping cheats
PARIS, France (AFP): The world of athletics in 2006
was witness to a battle supreme between two
fantastic sprinters,
Asafa Powell and Justin Gatlin,
which was ruined when the latter tested positive for
doping. The stand-out runner
of the year was
undoubtedly Powell.
Jamaican PM urges those with malaria symptoms to visit health facilities immediately
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaican Prime Minister,
Portia Simpson Miller, has made an appeal to all
persons who
are experiencing symptoms of malaria,
as well as those who have been tested for the
disease to visit their nearest
health facility or face
the consequences of being named publicly.
