Democrats seek to ease Cuba embargo as Castro's health fails
WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): Charles Rangel, the
chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means
Committee, is
betting that, with Cuban leader Fidel
Castro in failing health and Democrats in control of
Congress, lawmakers will
scale back trade and travel
embargoes on the communist island.
Trinidad MP calls Ishmael arrest 'politically motivated'
CHAGUANAS, Trinidad: The arrest of broadcaster,
Inshan Ishmael was politically motivated and in fact,
directly
related to the wishes of the Government,
Congress of the People political leader, Winston
Dookeran has said.
US envoy plays down threat from Venezuela's Chavez
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): The US envoy to
Venezuela on Friday played down a warning from
President Hugo Chavez
that he could be expelled and
repeated his demand that US firms affected by
nationalisation be compensated.
Positive future for tourism, says Jamaica PM
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaican Prime Minister,
Portia Simpson Miller, speaking last weekend, sees a
positive
outlook for the country's tourism industry
based on the present levels of visit and stop over
arrivals as well as
the broadening of the
accommodations sector.
Arawak nation to open North American consulate
WASHINGTON, USA: The first peoples to suffer the
consequences of Columbus's arrival in the 'New
World' are boldly
stepping into the 21st century. Next
month, Taino-Arawak Elder Cyril Taylor will become
the Honorary Consul of the
Lokono-Arawak Nation.
Japan finances new fishery facilities in Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Within the framework of
cooperation between Suriname and Japan, the
Japanese government
is financing the construction of
a new fishery centre in this CARICOM member state.
IDB and CDB meet with civil society organisations in the Caribbean
WASHINGTON, USA: The Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean
Development Bank met this week with
more than 80
delegates from 17 Caribbean countries during the
2007 CDB/IDB Civil Society Organisations Dialogue in
St Lucia.
OECS must invest heavily in education, says Dominican minister
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica’s Minister for Education,
Human Resource Development, Sports and Youth
Affairs, Vince
Henderson has called on member
States of the OECS to continue to invest heavily in
education in response to the many
challenges facing
the region.
Cuban salsa star defects to US
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Issac Delgado, one of
Cuba's most popular salsa bandleaders, has defected
to the United
States to pursue an international
career, a former associate said on Friday.
Work stoppage at Suriname gold mine
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Operations at IAMGold’s
Rosebel gold mine in Suriname have been suspended
since Thursday,
after being hit by a strike, company
officials confirmed. Currently only the security
personnel are not on strike.
Cuba offers Montserrat more development assistance
BRADES, Montserrat: The Government of Montserrat
and the Government of Cuba plan to explore ways of
assisting
each other in several areas. CM Dr Lowell
Lewis says Cuba is keen to assist Montserrat with
clearing up its backlog
of 400 persons waiting for
ophthalmology assessment,
Jamaican parliament passes Proceeds of Crime Act
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Jamaican House of
Representatives passed the Proceeds of Crime Act on
Wednesday,
following a suspended debate that
began last year, and simultaneously approved the
report of the joint select committee,
Cuban ambassador holds talks with Barbados Commerce Minister
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The Barbados Commerce,
Consumer Affairs and Business Development Minister,
Senator Lynette
Eastmond, held talks this week with
Cuba’s Ambassador to Barbados, Pedro Garcia Roque.
The two, along with other senior
officials from the
Ministry, discussed many topical issues.
'Energy for Development' the theme for next OAS General Assembly
WASHINGTON, USA: The member countries of the
organization of American States (OAS) have
unanimously endorsed
the Panamanian government's
proposal for energy, a basic resource to fuel
development for the peoples of the Americas,
Dominica launches growth and social protection strategy
ROSEAU, Dominica: Well over 130 persons
representing the Cabinet, the public sector, private
sector, civil society
organisations and non-
governmental organisations were present for the
official launch of Dominica’s Growth and Social
Protection Strategy (GSPS) on Monday.
OECS to hold International Development Conference
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS) will bring together
representatives of
major international and regional
institutions for its first International Development
Conference, to be held at the
Bay Gardens Hotel in
St. Lucia, January 29-30 2007.
Castro out of view for six months but still in international spotlight
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuban President Fidel Castro
last appeared in public six months ago, but the
seclusion forced
upon him by intestinal surgery has
not kept him from the international limelight he
cherishes.
Commentary: Delivering the US government's message: A tough task
It must be a tough job being an Ambassador for the
US in these times when virtually every government in
the world,
with the exception of Israel, feels that it
is a phenomenal error for the US government to try
to commit 21,500 more
troops to Iraq.
Letter: Cricket World Cup visa solution?
For years now, I have maintained that the two best
things to recently happen to the Caribbean are CSME
(Caricom
Single Market & Economy) and the Cricket
World Cup 2007.
Fit-again Yuvraj back for third West Indies game
CHENNAI, India (Reuters): Indian batsman Yuvraj
Singh, who has been sidelined due to injury since
November, will
make a comeback in the third one-
dayer against West Indies on Saturday.
Owner of Islamic TV station in Trinidad released after being held under Terrorism Act
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Owner and broadcaster of
Trinidad and Tobago's lone Islamic television station,
Ishan
Ishmael, has been released after being
arrested for allegedly attempting to lead an illegal
demonstration against
the state.
Jamaica boosts Montego Bay security after killings
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): Jamaican police
cordoned off parts of Montego Bay on Thursday and
called up extra
officers while troops went on alert
after a series of murders rattled the Caribbean
country's premier tourist city.
Clashes in Haiti leave at least five dead and twelve wounded
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Twenty-four hours of
clashes between UN forces and armed gangs in the
Haitian capital's
sprawling slum of Cite Soleil have left
at least five people dead and 12 wounded by gunfire,
the UN mission in Haiti
said Thursday.
Pakistan wants Caribbean visa problems sorted out for Cricket World Cup
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters): The Pakistan Cricket
Board wants World Cup organisers to set up a
satellite visa
office in Pakistan after complaints of
problems obtaining Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
visas for the tournament,
an official said on Thursday.
Mysterious prison ailment in Haiti traced to US rice
NEW YORK, USA: A newly released investigation into
the deadly scourge of beri-beri in Haiti's National
Penitentiary
has uncovered evidence of a clash
between the manufacturing process used in US
processed rice and the traditional
Haitian rice cooking
method.
BVI cracks down on school tardiness
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The main government operated
Secondary School in the British Virgin Islands, the
BVI High School,
is to implement a new policy in
February to address the issue of tardiness among
students.
Castro letter to Chavez answers few health questions
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): A letter from Fidel
Castro to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has
revived the view
that the ailing Cuban leader is
hanging on and attentive to politics. Cuban Vice
President Carlos Lage on Wednesday
delivered the
missive signed by Castro to his close ally Chavez,
Prices not politics slows Cuba tourism
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): The number of tourists
visiting Cuba dropped 3.6 per cent last year due to
high prices
and not political uncertainty over Fidel
Castro's illness, travel industry sources said.
OAS to support legislative strengthening in several countries
WASHINGTON, USA: The Secretary General of the
OAS, José Miguel Insulza, on Thursday noted the
importance of strengthening
legislative integration
among countries and of “providing parliaments with
political and technical capacity to confront
the great
challenges of modern legislation.”
US must keep closer contact with CARICOM and OECS, says Dominica PM
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica’s Prime Minister,
Roosevelt Skerrit told new United States Ambassador
to Barbados
and the Eastern Caribbean, Mary Martin
Ourisman, at a meeting on Wednesday, that the
United States must keep "closer
contact with
CARICOM and the OECS".
CWC host nations to get high-tech security equipment
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Beginning this month, the
Government of Canada, through the Canada Border
Services Agency
(CBSA), will be providing ion-
mobility spectrometry (IMS) technology and related
training to six Caribbean Community
countries.
Raul: Cuba's more pragmatic Castro
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Six months after President
Fidel Castro handed over power to his brother Raul,
Cubans are
coming to appreciate a different and
more pragmatic style of leadership, even though the
siblings have stood side-by-side
since the 1959
revolution.
Construction under way on the new US Virgin Islands Cardiac Center
ST CROIX, USVI: Juan F. Luis Hospital officials
recently showed off the progress of the new Virgin
Islands Cardiac
Center (VICC), located on St Croix,
USVI which is scheduled to be completed in
October."This is an investment by the
community
that goes back into the community," said William
Kantz.
US Virgin Islands soldiers killed in Baghdad identified
ST CROIX, USVI: The identities of two USVI soldiers
killed in Baghdad, have been released by military
officials.
Lt. Col. David C. Canegata III of St Croix
and Sgt. First Class Floyd Everett Lake of St Thomas
died when the US Army
Black Hawk helicopter they
were in went down.
Commentary: Hallelujah! The first Caribbean summit on HIV/AIDS
I was heartened when I read that the first Caribbean
summit on HIV/AIDS was convened in St Croix. Given
that
this virus has been ravaging our people like a
Biblical plague for years now, I could not help
thinking that this
summit was long overdue.
Letter: Education in Grenada for what?
Throughout the ages, people of nations have sought
to clarify and enforce their rights (fair treatment) in
society.
Either the poor retaliate wanting more from
the ‘system’; the outspoken preacher claiming equity
under the umbrella
of unions or human rights; or the
champion call of solidarity from politicians.
Letter: Connecting the dots in Trinidad
It is time for the people of Trinidad and Tobago to
wake up and connect the dots. Yesterday it was me,
today
it is Inshan Ishmael, tomorrow it could very
well be you.
Letter: Firm disapproval over the arrest of Inshan Ishmael
The Hindu Students Council wishes to express its firm
disapproval over the arrest of broadcaster and
businessman,
Inshan Ishmael. The circumstances
surrounding the arrest of Mr Ishmael are extremely
worrying.
Trinidad's Ashby to race at Russian Winter Indoor permit meeting
MOSCOW, Russia: Former Trinidad and Tobago
champion Fana Ashby will make her professional
career debut at the
2007 Russian Winter, an IAAF
Permit Indoor meeting on Sunday January 28, in the
Russian capital of Moscow.
Jamaicans Brooks and Mullings to race in the 60m at Boston Indoor Games
BOSTON, USA: Former Jamaican 200-metre
champion, Steve Mullings, will kick-start his 2007
campaign when he competes
in the men's 60m dash
at this weekend's Boston Indoor Games, the first
major meeting in the North American indoor
season.
UN forces raid gang's house in Haiti leaving six wounded
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): UN forces raided the
Haitian capital's largest shantytown Wednesday to
seize a gang's
house in an operation that left six
people with gunshot wounds, witnesses and UN
officials said.
Bahamian pleads guilty to murder in three migrants' drowning
MIAMI, USA (AFP): A Bahamian man pleaded guilty
Tuesday to murder charges in the deaths of three
illegal migrants
who drowned after he ordered them
to jump off his boat near Florida's shore at night,
prosecutors said.
Bush administration rules out any easing of Cuba embargo
WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): US Commerce
Secretary, Carlos Gutierrez, has ruled out any easing
of the US trade
and travel embargo on Cuba until
after all remnants of the Fidel Castro regime are
removed from power. The US has
restricted trade
since Castro took power in 1959.
Fishing accord talks resume between Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Negotiations on a bilateral
fishing agreement between Barbados and Trinidad
and Tobago
have resumed. After a break of over
three years, officials from the two countries met in
Port-of-Spain this week for
talks aimed at settling
the dispute.
Cuban TV fare mingles education and New York Cops
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): State-run television in
communist Cuba prides itself on its educational
programs and the
social values of its homegrown
soap operas but does not shy away from hits like
New York Cops and CSI. The US series
and the soap
operas, draw a faithful audience.
Trinidad PM and top officials to go to court
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's
embattled Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma, Prime
Minister Patrick
Manning, Attorney General John
Jeremie, as well as Acting Chief Justice Roger Hamel-
Smith, are all set to take the
witness stand in court.
St Lucia executive promises best Cricket World Cup
NEW YORK, USA: Dr Ernest Hilaire, Chief Executive
Officer of Cricket World Cup, St Lucia Inc., leading
the island's
hosting of both the first round and a
semifinal of this year’s ICC Cricket World Cup,
promises the Caribbean will
deliver the best Cricket
World Cup ever.
American Express announces 2007 programmes for Caribbean tourism
ORANJESTAD, Aruba: American Express has
reiterated its support of the Caribbean hospitality
industry through
an ongoing calendar of programmes
and initiatives during 2007.
The Caribbean Gold Book becomes 'Caribbeantravel.com – The Travel Magazine'
ORANJESTAD, Aruba: Gold Book Publishing, publishers
of The Caribbean Gold Book, also known as
the “travel agents’
bible to the Caribbean,” will
undergo a comprehensive renovation under a new
name and image: CaribbeanTravel.com –
The
Magazine.
St Patrick's Day... Caribbean-style
BRADES, Montserrat: The mention of St Patrick’s Day
conjures up images of shamrocks, leprechauns and
everything
green. With a backdrop of secluded dark
sand beaches, world-class diving, and a volcano
starved for attention, the
St Patrick’s Day
celebration on the island of Montserrat is unlike any
other.
Caribbean Sea Commission meets in Guatemala
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala: The Association of
Caribbean States (ACS) Caribbean Sea Commission
held its third
meeting on Tuesday, in Guatemala City,
Guatemala, under the Chairmanship of Ambassador
John Williams of Barbados.
Canadian contribution a major boost to OAS programmes
WASHINGTON, USA: Under an agreement signed on
Tuesday, the government of Canada will provide an
additional (Can.)$2
million for integral development
initiatives carried out by the Organization of
American States (OAS) in the hemisphere.
US House of Representatives passes USVI coin bill once again
WASHINGTON, USA: US Virgin Islands Delegate to
Congress, Donna M. Christensen, has announced the
US House of
Representatives passed a bill to allow
the District of Columbia and US Territories to
participate in the 50 State
Commemorative Quarter
Dollar Coin Program, for the fourth time.
CTO offers tourism scholarships to Caribbean nationals
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Helping to further the
knowledge and skills of young Caribbean Nationals,
the Caribbean
Tourism Organization (CTO) is offering
scholarships to those interested in studying tourism
and hospitality.
Venezuela gives Cuba satellite access
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Venezuela will
grant Cuba access to the South American nation's
first-ever satellite,
due to be launched in September,
as ties between the states deepen and the health of
Cuban President Fidel Castro
grows more uncertain.
New fiber-optic technology introduced in Grenada
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: The latest fiber-optic
submarine cable technology in the Caribbean, which
is intended to
link the OECS countries, was
introduced to Grenada on Wednesday.
Jamaica confident malaria outbreak under control
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Jamaican Ministry of
Health continues to remain confident that the malaria
outbreak
is under control, according to Minister of
Information and Development, Donald Buchanan.
Venezuela to supply bulk of Guyana's oil needs
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Venezuela's energy
ministry announced Wednesday the country would
supply half of Guyana's
oil needs after signing an
energy accord with its neighbour.
No celebrations for US Cubans as Raul Castro holds onto power
MIAMI, USA (AFP): Six months after Fidel Castro
handed power to his brother Raul, the parties
planned by exiled
Cubans in anticipation of the
regime's collapse have been shelved, as the younger
Castro consolidates power, experts
say.
With little known about Castro's condition, Cuba is abuzz with rumours
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): With little known about the
condition of ailing President Fidel Castro over the
past six
months, Cuba has been abuzz with wild
rumours, further fueled by speculation reaching the
island from abroad.
Cuban VP makes surprise visit to Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Cuba's Vice President
Carlos Lage made a surprise visit to Caracas
Wednesday to bolster
his Communist regime's ties
with its principal ally, the government of Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez.
World's oldest person dies in Puerto Rico at 115
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AFP): The world's oldest
person, Emiliano Mercado del Toro, died Wednesday
in his Puerto
Rico home at the age of 115, his family
said.
Commentary: Cuba at the crossroads?
An article on Haiti that appeared in Time magazine in
January 1973 – at the end of the dictatorship
of “Papa
Doc” Duvalier and the commencement of his
son “Baby Doc’s" harsh rule – states: “There is also a
sound on the city
streets that to most urban
Americans is unfamiliar: laughter.”
Commentary: Haiti: Two years since the killing of journalist Abdias Jean
He was murdered on January 14, 2005, shortly after
finishing his lunch near his home in the Village de Dieu
slum.
The killing of Abdias Jean, a young Haitian
journalist who reported from Haiti for WKAT radio in
Florida, was quickly
condemned by Amnesty
International,
Letter: Organised gambling will only create more poverty and crime
7:19 am est
Letter: Love your site
Love the site. Find it has more information than the
newspapers in the various islands that I visit. One
question,
why do you use American spellings in the
text?
India pip depleted West Indies in thriller
CUTTACK, India (AFP): India's spinners stopped a
tense run chase by the depleted West Indies here on
Wednesday
to help the hosts take a 2-0 lead in the
four-match series. India, dismissed for 189, hit back
to bowl out a West
Indian side for 169.
OECS Sports Desk launches website
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS) Sports Desk has launched a
new multi-feature
website, which will provide the sub-
region with an information-sharing and
communication tool for sports associations,
sports
administrators and the sporting public.
Jaggernauth stars in Trinidad's win over the Windwards
COUVA, Trinidad: A superb five-wicket haul from Amit
Jaggernauth led Trinidad and Tobago to an easy 185-
run win
over the Leeward Islands on the fourth and
final day of the third round of the Carib Beer Series
at Couva on Tuesday.
BVI opposition gives constitution ultimatum to chief minister
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Leader of the opposition, Ralph
O'Neal, has given Chief Minister, Dr Orlando Smith,
until the
end of this month to tell the people of the
British Virgin Islands what is expected from the final
round of constitutional
talks.
Haitian gang members gun down freelance photographer
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti: Freelance photographer Jean-
Rémy Badio has been murdered in the southern Port-
au-Prince
district of Martissant. He was reportedly
shot dead in his home on the afternoon of 19 January
by members of a gang
he had photographed a few
days before.
Casino legislation passed in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): A marathon debate
that continued past 11:00 pm Monday evening,
ended with the passage
by the Guyana parliament of
the Gambling Prevention (Amendment) Bill 2006
without any amendment.
With Raul Castro in charge, Cuban dissidents have little hope of major changes
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): With power transferred to Fidel
Castro's brother Raul, Cuban dissidents have begun
testing
the island's political waters after decades of
ironclad rule, but found little hope of fundamental
changes. "I don't
see any light at the end of the
tunnel," said Martha Beatriz Roque,
Social and economic programme launched in Dominica
ROSEAU, Dominica: A programme aimed at achieving
social and economic transformation through fiscal
growth and
poverty reduction in Dominica was
launched by the government on Monday, through the
Growth and Social Protection Strategy.
BVI chief minister welcomes hospital contract signing
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The Chief Minister of the British
Virgin Islands, Dr Orlando Smith, has welcomed this
week's
signing of the contract for the start of
construction work for the new Peebles Hospital.
Trinidad criminologist calls for stronger action against crime
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: One of Trinidad and
Tobago's best-known criminologists, independent
Senator Professor
Remash Desoran, has made a call
for strong and immediate action against persons who
he said are bent on terrorising
society.
Board of Inquiry established to investigate Guyana jail-break
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana's Minister of
Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, has established a
Board of Inquiry
to conduct an official inquiry into the
circumstances surrounding the jail-break at the
Mazaruni Prisons on Friday,
January 13.
Jamaican minister calls for UN reform
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaican Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Anthony
Hylton, said
during the State of the Nation Debate,
that the United Nations system must be reformed to
make it more accountable
and responsive to the
interests and concerns of all its member states.
Cuban army weighs in on economic policy debate
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba's armed forces, which
run the Communist country's most efficient
companies, joined
a nascent public debate on future
economic policy on Tuesday and appeared to take a
stance opposed to full free-market
reforms.
US lawmakers warn Washington losing influence in Cuba
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Two US lawmakers, a
Republican and a Democrat, warned Tuesday that
the United States was
losing influence in Cuba at a
critical time with leader Fidel Castro sidelined by
surgery.
Americans and neighbours must fly with passport to US
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): As of Tuesday, all
Americans, Mexicans, Canadians and Bermudians
traveling by air to the
United States must for the
first time carry a passport, said the Department of
Homeland Security.
OAS welcomes resumption of scholarship program
WASHINGTON, USA: Assistant Secretary General
Albert Ramdin on Tuesday applauded the launch of
the new Organization
of American States (OAS)
scholarship program, noting that this is “an
encouraging development that is of critical
importance to the countries of the hemisphere,
Antigua-Barbuda and India pledge to forge stronger ties
NEW DELHI, India: Antigua and Barbuda and India
have pledged to work more closely on international
issues and
those relating to the development of their
peoples. Discussions were held on a wide range of
areas during a dinner
meeting in New Delhi on
Monday night.
Commentary: Bahamas healthcare entitlement is unsustainable
The Bahamas National Health Insurance program in
its present form is financially unsustainable; and one
can conclude
that the Government must be reckless
and irresponsible in its haste to implement it.
Commentary: Stand up, speak up
My parents immigrated to the United States shortly
after World War II. Both of them were born in Croatia
and
my mother’s family moved to Austria when she
was young. They brought with them a culture that
was different.
Letter: Organised gambling can erase poverty
Citizens of Caribbean countries must learn to accept
changes. The way we were taught to live under
European conlonisers
is not suitable to survive in this
present global world of technology and trade
competition.
Lara ruled out of second India one-dayer
CUTTACK, India (Reuters): West Indies captain Brian
Lara has been ruled out of Wednesday's second one-
day international
against India with a knee problem.
The team physiotherapist said he advised Lara to
miss the second one-dayer because
he was in pain
after the first one-dayer.
Haiti beat Trinidad 2-1 to win Digicel Caribbean Cup
PORT OF SPAIN , Trinidad: After the toughest route
to the final, playing more qualification games than
any other
team, Haiti lifted the Digicel Caribbean Cup
after defeating Trinidad & Tobago 2-1 in a thrilling
final.
Cuba beat Guadeloupe 2-1 to clinch third place in Digicel Caribbean Cup
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Cuba clinched third place
in the 2006/7 Digicel Caribbean Cup and US$50,000
prize money
after a 2-1 win over Guadeloupe that
was more convincing than the scoreline suggests.
USVI governor to fight US Treasury
ST THOMAS, USVI: On Monday, US Virgin Islands
Governor John deJongh gave his first State of the
Territory Speech
to a packed legislative hall on the
Charlotte Amalie waterfront on St Thomas, with a
promise to "stand up" to the
US Treasury's decision
to conduct tax audits.
Chavez decides not to change Venezuela's name
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Venezuela's President
Hugo Chavez said Sunday he would not change the
official name
of his country to "Socialist Republic of
Venezuela," two weeks after he said he would drop
the existing "Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela."
Negotiations resume at OAS on indigenous rights
WASHINGTON, USA: The member countries of the
Organization of American States (OAS) on Monday
resumed negotiations
in Washington on the draft
American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples,
Caribbean summit on HIV/AIDS continues in USVI
ST CROIX, USVI: The Caribbean Summit on HIV/AIDS
presented evidence of the commonalities among
Caribbean countries
dealing with the pandemic of this
often deadly disease. All across the region many
issues are preventing countries
from curbing the
spread of the disease.
Hogs in Havana: Harley aficionados keep American classics on Cuban roads
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Unable to get original parts
because of a 45-year-old US embargo, Harley-
Davidson aficionados
resort to ingenuity and Soviet
truck parts to keep the decades-old US classics on
Cuban roads. Cuban fans, estimate
there are about
100 Harleys left in the communist-run state,
US Virgin Islands soldiers killed in Bagdad
ST CROIX, USVI: Tragedy has again struck the US
Virgin Islands as reports of the unconfirmed death in
a helicopter
crash of two Virgin Islands National
Guard soldiers circulate throughout the territory.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu to address seminar in The Bahamas
CHARLOTTESVILLE, USA: Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Archbishop Desmond Tutu will deliver a keynote
address aboard
the MV Explorer, a 590-foot
passenger ship that serves as a traveling campus for
the Semester at Sea program, when
it is docked in
Freeport, Bahamas on 27 January 2007.
'Castro is dead' spam email infects computers
MADRID, Spain (AFP): A spam e-mail with messages
including "Fidel Castro dead" and "Saddam Hussein
safe and sound"
contains a virus which has infected
thousands of computers, Spain's Association of
Internauts said Monday.
Bahamas law firm sues Anna Nicole Smith
NASSAU, Bahamas (Reuters): A Bahamas law firm is
suing former Playboy Playmate and oil heiress Anna
Nicole Smith
for unpaid legal fees of $113,000.
Callenders secured an injunction from the Bahamas
Supreme Court forbidding Smith
to reduce the
balance in her local bank accounts below $125,000.
Cuban militant pleads not guilty to lying in US
EL PASO, USA (Reuters): An anti-Fidel Castro militant
accused of bombing a Cuban airliner in 1976 pleaded
not
guilty on Monday to US immigration charges, the
latest round in a long fight by the US government to
keep him in jail.
Jamaicans urged to unite for CWC 2007
MANDEVILLE, Jamaica (JIS): With a little over 50
days to go before Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007
begins, Executive
Director of the Local Organising
Committee, Robert Bryan is urging Jamaicans to come
together in a united way, to
ensure the success of
the event.
Grenada to issue CARICOM passports
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: The Government of Grenada
is moving ahead with its regional counterparts in the
issuing
of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
passport.
