Trinidad shaken by 4.7 magnitude earthquake
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Seismic Research
Unit of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad, the
agency
responsible for monitoring earthquakes and
volcanoes for the English-speaking islands of the
Eastern Caribbean, recorded
an earthquake at
approximately 10:48 am local time on Friday.
BVI to begin fourth round of constitutional negotiations
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Chief Minister and head of the
British Virgin Islands Constitutional Negotiating Team,
Dr Orlando
Smith, will lead a local delegation to the
fourth and possibly final round of constitutional
negotiations with the
UK government from February
26-28 in London.
Vincentian national found dead in Trinidad
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad police are
investigating the circumstances surrounding the
discovery of a St
Vincent resident who has been found
dead at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain.
The victim was found on Wednesday
by a jogger.
Bahamian judge mulls Anna Nicole Smith custody issues
NASSAU, Bahamas (UPI): A Bahamian judge kept in
place an injunction prohibiting Anna Nicole Smith's 5-
month-old
daughter, Dannielynn, from leaving the
country. Judge Stephen Isaacs also ordered attorneys
in the custody case to
be in his courtroom Monday.
Mining company profit soars on Cuba nickel output
CHICAGO, USA (Bloomberg): Sherritt International
Corp., a miner of nickel in Cuba, said fourth-quarter
profit
rose more than eightfold to a record because of
surging metals prices. Net income rose to C$78.6
million ($67.8 million),
or 47 cents a share.
Cuba expels two foreign reporters, says media
CHICAGO, USA (AFP): Cuba has told two foreign
journalists, one from the United States and one from
Mexico, that
they can no longer report from the country,
their respective newspapers said Thursday.
Visitor arrivals increase in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The final figures for
January indicate that total visitor arrivals to Jamaica by
cruise
ship and airline combined is up by 3.2 per cent
over last year. "The preliminary figures showed that
we would have
seen a decline, but we realized that we
are up," Minister of Tourism, Aloun Assamba has
reported.
Air Jamaica makes it easy for cricket fans to get to and from the matches
MIAMI, USA: With the region set to host the world’s
third largest sporting event, the ICC Cricket World
Cup,
Air Jamaica has implemented a special
schedule designed to benefit cricket fans. These
rescheduled flights will make
it possible to fly in and
out of Jamaica on the same day.
Ex-Puerto Rico governor wins another court victory
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters): A Puerto Rican
judge on Thursday ruled there was insufficient
evidence for criminal
charges against former
governor, Pedro Rossello, who was accused of
falsifying documents to obtain a higher government
pension.
Nevis Premier welcomes members of diplomatic corps
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Premier of Nevis, Joseph
Parry, hosted persons who were accredited to St Kitts
and Nevis
from over 25 countries. The diplomatic
corps comprised high commissioners, honorary
consuls, heads of embassies and
missions, all of
whom came together for the inaugural Diplomatic
Week.
Japan signs 15-year oil deal with Venezuela
TOKYO, Japan (AFP): Japan on Friday signed a 15-
year, 3.5 billion-dollar oil deal with Venezuela in a bid
to
ease the Asian power's dependence on imports
from the turbulent Middle East, companies said.
Commentary: A devilish problem: The Caribbean between Bush and Chavez
Battle lines appear to be firmly drawn between
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the George
W Bush administration
in Washington. It is a battle
from which small Caribbean countries would do well
to distance themselves. President
Bush is not a
favoured person in many Caribbean societies.
Letter: Child endangerment - Dannielynn
If ever there was a baby in ‘crisis’, it is the daughter of
the late Anna Nicole Smith, Dannielynn. With more
alleged
‘fathers’ coming out of the woodwork from one
moment to the next, now that Ms Smith is not alive to
dispute their
claims, Dannielynn is in danger.
Letter: Custody battle over Anna Nicole's baby
Don't know what publicity the Anna Nicole Smith trials
get in the Bahamas but hope you will be covering the
custody
battle between Howard Stern and between
another man she lived with in Califormia at the time of
conception, who was
told by Anna that he was that
father.
Letter: I implore the law and people of the Bahamas to do the right thing
Having experienced the circus of the life of Anna
Nicole Smith and the subsequent aftermath, I implore
the law
and people of the Bahamas to do the right
thing. Let a child know who her father is. She can't
speak for herself but
I am sure if she could she'd want
to know.
Letter: 'Dharma' and the issue of racism in Guyana!
Guyana is in the middle of a silent, deadly, social
upheaval, referred to by one leading Caribbean
economist
as the “insertion of criminal enterprise into
the interstices of the state”, and the recent
extraordinary outbursts
against Christianity by two
government ministers in Parliament.
World Cup wide open, says legend Sobers
MUMBAI, India (AFP): West Indian Garfield Sobers
said the World Cup starting on his home turf next
month would
be a thriller, the winner difficult to predict.
Sobers, widely regarded as the greatest allround
cricketer in history,
told reporters that the top six or
seven teams were good enough to win the sport's
biggest prize.
West Indies Pollard seeks to be great unknown
LONDON, England (AFP): West Indies rookie Kieron
Pollard believes his position as an unknown quantity
could help
propel his country to the World Cup title. "I
know the whole Caribbean is backing us to win - and
win in style," said
the 6ft 3in all-rounder.
Lara has final chance to win renown as captain
MIAMI, USA (Reuters): West Indies' hopes of
becoming the first full host nation to win the cricket
World Cup
depend a large extent on the form of their
captain and leading batsman Brian Lara. At 37 years
of age, this is likely
to be Lara's last chance to win the
competition and end a mixed career as captain.
Fast bowler Taylor the answer to West Indies' prayers
MIAMIA, USA (Reuters): West Indies' long search for
an opening bowler of genuine pace and ability may
have been
rewarded by the appearance of 22-year-old
Jerome Taylor. Taylor was given his first call-up into
the West Indies side
at the age of just 18 and with little
experience of first class cricket.
Cuba expels US journalist
CHICAGO, USA (AFP): Cuba has told a Chicago
Tribune correspondent that his stories were
too "negative" and that
he can no longer report from
the country, the paper said Thursday. Correspondent
Gary Marx, who has been based in
Havana since
2002, was told Wednesday that his press credentials
will not be renewed.
Security preparations heightened in Guyana as CWC obligations met
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Preparations are
hastening for Guyana's hosting of the super eight
matches of the
Cricket World Cup, as security aspects
moved a step further with 124 officers participating in
special exercises.
President Jagdeo said hosting
CWC does not only mean having a stadium.
IDB pledges assistance to CARICOM integration process
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB) has approved a new strategy
for support to the
Caribbean Community's
(CARICOM's) regional integration process in the
period 2007-2010, the bank said in a statement.
Hotel bookings up following implementation of CARICOM visa, says Jamaican minister
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaica's Minister of
Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Aloun Ndombet
Assamba, said
hotel bookings have picked up
steadily since last week, following a slowdown after
the implementation of the CARICOM
Special Visa on
February 1. Assamba defended the implementation of
the visa regime.
Anna Nicole to be buried in Bahamas
FORT LAUDERDALE, USA (UPI): Anna Nicole Smith
will be buried in the Bahamas, the three people who
had been battling
in a Florida courtroom for her
remains said. The attorney for Anna Nicole Smith's
estranged mother had earlier collapsed
in the
courtroom during a hearing on where Smith should be
buried.
BVI publishes guidelines regarding new visa requirement for Jamaicans
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The Civil Registry and Passport
Office in the British Virgin Islands has published
guidelines
regarding the implementation of the BVI’s
new visa requirement for Jamaican nationals, which
takes effect on April
1.
US charges two in Cuba travel licence scam
MIAMI, USA (Reuters): Two men were charged on
Thursday with violating US sanctions against Cuba by
using nonexistent
churches to get religious travel
licences that allowed thousands, posing as devout
churchgoers, to visit the communist-ruled
island.
US denies visas to three champion Cuban boxers
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): The US State
Department said on Thursday it had denied visas to
three Olympic gold
medal-winning Cuban boxers, all
of whom defected from Cuba, because of concerns
they might settle in the United States.
Cuba develops artificial skin for burn patients
Havana, Cuba (ACN): Cuban specialists are
developing polymeric membranes that could be used
as artificial skin
for patients with third-degree burns.
The project is being carried out by specialists from the
laboratory of the National
Center for Animal and Plant
Health.
British court clamps down on phony Jamaican shrink
MANCHESTER, England (UPI): A British court has
convicted a Jamaican-born man on deception
charges after he falsely
gave sworn testimony as a
forensic psychologist for nearly three decades.
Despite having no formal training, 48-year-old
Gene
Morrison offered his opinion in hundreds of criminal
cases in Britain.
Spirit Airlines continues expansion with new nonstop service to Puerto Rico
FORT LAUDERDALE, USA: Spirit Airlines has
announced seasonal nonstop service between
Atlantic City and San Juan,
Puerto Rico beginning May
3, 2007. The flight will operate Thursdays through
Sundays during the peak summer season
until
August 12, 2007.
St Kitts-Nevis gets EC$9 million EU assistance for sugar industry closure
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The St. Kitts-Nevis
Government has received the first installment of EC$9
million from
the European Union (EU) in support of
the closure of the 350-year-old sugar industry. The
Agreement for the annual
financing until 2013 was
signed Wednesday by visiting European
Commissioner, Amos Tincanni.
Assessing disasters in the Caribbean
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Senator Martin Joseph,
Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of National Security,
will deliver
the feature address at a meeting hosted by
the Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean to review available
disaster assessment
tools and methodologies.
Digicel sells $1.4 billion of bonds at lower rate than expected
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Digicel Group Ltd., a
holding company of Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien,
sold $1.4
billion of senior fixed-rated bonds due in
2015 at a lower yield than initially planned, according
to data compiled
by Bloomberg.
OAS-IDEA cooperate to bolster political parties in the Americas
WASHINGTON, USA: Secretary General José Miguel
Insulza, signing a cooperation agreement between
the Organization
of American States (OAS) and the
Sweden-based International Institute for Democracy
and Electoral Assistance (IDEA),
said he believes the
two organisations can work together.
Update on the political and legal mess Anna Nicole left behind
Last week, after pictures showing Bahamian Minister
of Immigration Shane Gibson in compromising
positions with
the late Anna Nicole Smith were
published all over the world, I was not at all surprised
on Sunday night when Gibson
appeared on national
television to announce that he had tendered his
resignation.
Commentary: Planes, leadership and a traveller's rights
How many times while flying in the Caribbean skies
have you experienced the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde effect
of service
treatment on one airline or another? Just
recently I had to change my flight at the last minute but
the excellence
of how efficiently my new itinerary was
made gave me a sense of satisfaction.
Letter: Human security, legitimacy, and the use of force: A note to Mr Kerick
News reports (Caribbean Net News, January 29)
indicate that Mr Bernard Kerick will indeed assume
the position
of a national security adviser to the
Government of Guyana. Readers may recall that I
supported the President’s decision
to make this
appointment.
Powell tells Greene to rethink his record plan
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Jamaican sprinter Asafa
Powell told US star Maurice Greene to rethink his idea
of a
run at the 100m world record, declaring he will be
the one to lower the mark he shares with Justin Gatlin.
The American
also is eying the world record of 9.77
seconds Powell shares with Justin Gatlin,
Bermuda first team to arrive for ICC Cricket World Cup 2007
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (JIS): A tired but happy Bermuda
Team touched down on Wednesday night in Antigua,
where they
were met by Minister with responsibility for
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and Chairman of the
Board of World Cup Antigua
Inc., Local Organising
Committee, John Maginley.
Top US official says US won't change policy toward Cuba
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): A top US administration
official insisted on Wednesday Washington had no
intention of
changing its policy toward communist
Cuba, whose centerpiece is a 45-year-old, unilateral
trade embargo. "We believe
passionately that our
policy is correct," said Commerce Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez,
USVI governor announces new anti-crime initiative
ST THOMAS, USVI: US Virgin Islands Governor John
deJongh has announced plans for a sweeping
territory-wide, anti-crime
initiative. Attorney General
nominee Vincent Frazer was at the Governor's side
during the press conference. The Governor
appointed
James McCall as the new USVI Police Commissioner.
Chavez sends Brazil sulfur for 'devil' Bush visit
AYACUCHO BLOCK 6, Venezuela (Reuters):
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who mocked
George W. Bush as the devil
in a UN speech, said on
Wednesday he was sending sulfur to Brazil for the US
president's visit there next month.
Hemispheric commission wants more effort towards women’s rights
WASHINGTON, USA: Minister Jacqui Quinn-Leandro
of Antigua and Barbuda, addressing the Organization
of American
States (OAS) on Wednesday as President
of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM),
urged relentless effort to
achieve “more tangible
results than ever for women"
Public service workers in BVI to be transfered
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Qualified non-established public
service workers in the British Virgin Islands wishing to
be
transferred to the Permanent and Pensionable
Establishment will have that wish come true later this
year.
US judge dismisses Cuban militant Posada's claims
HOUSTON, USA (Reuters): A US judge in El Paso on
Wednesday dismissed demands that US immigration
authorities
release an anti-Fidel Castro militant
accused of bombing a Cuban airliner in 1976.
Why Guadeloupe Carnival is unique in the Caribbean
POINTE À PITRE, Guadeloupe: When you travel all
through the Caribbean, you realise all the islands --
including
the largest, such as Cuba, Jamaica or the
Dominican Republic -- have something in common --
Carnival fever. Most of
these islands celebrate
Carnival in the same state of mind.
'One Step at a Time': An interview with Jean-Bertrand Aristide - Part II
PRETORIA, South Africa: Part two of the interview with
Jean-Bertrand Aristide conducted in French in Pretoria
on
20 July 2006 and translated by Peter Hallward,
professor of philosophy at Middlesex University. The
text of the complete
interview will appear as an
appendix to Hallward's forthcoming book.
Suriname’s Rosebel mine resumes gold production
PARAMARIBO, Suriname; Operations at the Canadian-
owned Rosebel Gold Mines (RGM) in Suriname are
returning to
normal and areexpected to be running at
full capacity this week, company officials have
confirmed.
IRS sets new tax rules for some US Virgin Islands residents
WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): The IRS has said
that the tax status of 8,500 residents of the US Virgin
Islands
who earn more than $75,000, including
employees of hedge funds, would face renewed
scrutiny as the agency steps up
efforts to root out tax
evaders.
Arbitration centre accepts compensation claim against Venezuela
MILAN, Italy (Reuters): The World Bank's International
Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
said
it will consider a case brought by Italy's Eni
seeking compensation from Venezuela for seizure of
an oil field.
Peanut butter recalled in the Caribbean for possible salmonella contamination
OMAHA, USA: ConAgra Foods has announced that it
has taken the precautionary measure of voluntarily
recalling
all varieties of Peter Pan Peanut Butter
beginning with product code 2111 imprinted on the lid.
ConAgra Foods is working
to investigate a report that
these products may be linked to the food borne illness
salmonella.
Commentary: Paradigms of Justice - Part 1
Throughout the Caribbean and abroad, debates
continue on the best way to hold juvenile offenders
responsible
and accountable for the harms and
impacts of their behavior. Usually it falls into two
categories: those who believe
that juvenile offenders
should be punished through the retributive judicial
system
Letter: Elected politicians have done this
Oh, sweet Sint Maarten Land, what happened to you? I
immediately thought of rape when I went to Dawn
Beach for
the first time in many years. I saw a horrible
tourist factory replica of a big US city car parking in
cheap concrete
building style.
Letter: Homosexual abuse
The letter concerning homosexual (gay, lesbian,
bisexual) abuse in Jamaica is an ongoing saga of
injustice that
affects the fiber of Jamaican society. As a
fellow Jamaican and lover of Jesus Christ, injustice in
our country is
at a level that calls for some sober
reality checks.
Hope springs afresh in the West Indies
LONDON (Reuters): Appraising West Indies' cricket,
even in its present depressed state, induces a sense
of awe
that so much talent has flowed from a
scattering of small, mostly impoverished tropical
islands. The disproportionate
contribution from the
Caribbean islands, which host the World Cup for the
first time this year,
Pen pix of the West Indies, Bermuda World Cup squads
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP): As the buildup begins to
the ninth cricket World Cup starting in the West Indies
on
March 13, here are some pen pix of the West
Indies and Bermuda squads:.
Spot-on Jamaica lift Lunar New Year Cup
HONG KONG, China (AFP): Jamaica's Olympic team
beat their Chinese counterparts 5-4 on penalties to lift
the Lunar
New Year Cup after a goalless 120 minutes
in the final on Wednesday. In a lacklustre final China
had the better game,
but failed to find the back of the
net against a stubborn Jamaican defence.
Grenada MP to step down from party executive after domestic violence allegation
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: Member of Parliament for
Grenada's St Andrew South East constituency is
stepping down from
the National Democratic
Congress executive. Kenrick Fullerton was recently
accused of being involved in domestic
violence and
the party says it will not support behaviour of this type.
UN troops apprehend Haitian gang leader
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (UPI): UN peacekeepers
have apprehended a known Haitian gang leader in an
effort to bring
order to the capital's worst slum, UN
officials said Tuesday. Johnny Pierre Louis, known as
Ti Bazil, was arrested
earlier this week in Cite Soleil.
JetBlue strands Californians in Bermuda
LOS ANGELES, USA (UPI): The troubled JetBlue
airline has vowed to reimburse a Valencia, Calif.,
company for $83,000
in expenses in returning
stranded employees from Bermuda. Some 255
employees of Landscape Development Inc., were on
a corporate retreat last week when the airline began
canceling its flights
Illegal immigrants apprehended in BVI
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Acting Chief Immigration Officer in
the British Virgin Islands, Malvern Brathwaite, said 49
illegal
immigrants have been repatriated to their
countries of origin after they were recently
apprehended on Norman Island.
IDB governors discuss debt cancellation for Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): The Committee of
the Board of Governors of the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB)
met last month to discuss
terms for granting debt relief to Guyana, Bolivia, Haiti,
Honduras and Nicaragua.
'One Step at a Time': An interview with Jean-Bertrand Aristide - Part I
PRETORIA, South Africa: In the mid 1980s, Jean-
Bertrand Aristide was a young parish priest working in
an impoverished
and embattled district of Haiti's
capital city Port-au-Prince. A champion of the rights
and dignity of the poor, he
became the spokesman of
a growing popular movement.
Suriname discusses cooperation with Indonesian province
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The Indonesian province
Yogyakarta is exploring possibilities of exporting its
handicraft
products through Suriname to the
Caribbean and Latin-America, officials in Indonesia
disclosed Tuesday.
Suriname and Venezuela sign fisheries agreement
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Venezuela and Suriname
have signed a new agreement allowing Venezuelan
companies to fish
in Suriname’s territorial fishing
grounds. Under the agreement, all of the catch should
be delivered to a designated
harbour in Paramaribo.
Trinidad struggles with crime amid prosperity
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters): Energy riches
have vaulted Trinidad and Tobago up the economic
rankings, making
it a rare Caribbean country that does
not depend on tourism, but the good times are being
soured by a surge in murders
and gun violence
Turks & Caicos government acquires helicopter fleet
GRAND TURK, Turks & Caicos Islands: The
Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands recently
acquired a
fleet of helicopters aimed at assisting in
the fight against crime, illegal immigration and
mosquito abatement. The
fleet will be operated by
Silver State Helicopters, the largest helicopter
company in the United States.
London, Venezuela sign oil-for-environment expertise deal
LONDON, England (AFP): The city of London signed
an agreement with Venezuela here Tuesday to import
cut-price
petrol for its buses in return for offering its
expertise on protecting the environment. The deal is
aimed at benefiting
Londoners on welfare payments,
such as single parents and carers.
Belfast Zoo goes ape for Caribbean bananas
BELFAST, England: Bananas from the Caribbean
were the dish of the day this week for some very lucky
animals in
Belfast Zoo, Northern Ireland. A donation of
Windwards bananas brought some much-needed
Caribbean sunshine to a misty
Monday morning in
Belfast during the annual Fairtrade Fortnight launch.
OAS and European Commission join forces to address drug dependency
WASHINGTON, USA: The Organization of American
States (OAS) and the European Commission are
launching an initiative
to pair up cities from Europe
with counterparts in Latin America and the Caribbean,
forming partnerships to improve
the treatment and
rehabilitation of problematic drug users, and address
other aspects of drug dependency at the municipal
level.
Letter: Outrage over attacks on gays in Jamaica
A series of escalating attacks against gays and
lesbians in Jamaica has prompted our call today for
island officials
to guarantee the human rights and
safety of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
persons across Jamaica.
Slumping West Indies look for home boost
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP): Ever since their stunning
capture of the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time
three
years ago in England, there has been
widespread optimism in the Caribbean that West
Indies could be the first host
nation to win the World
Cup.
West Indies legend Holding hits out at World Cup no-hopers
HAMILTON, Bermuda (AFP): Former West Indies Test
star Michael Holding believes the World Cup will be
devalued
by the number of non-Test playing nations
taking part. The fast bowling legend insists that only
the top-ranked
Associate country in the world should
be allowed to take part.
Kenya signals return to the top in the Carribean
NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP): Kenya, World Cup semi-
finalists in 2003, believe they are ready to return to the
world
stage after their success in the ICC World
Cricket League tournament they hosted in January
and February. Cricket
standards in the country had
fallen to the lowest level following three years of
internal strife.
Five great West Indies cricketers
LONDON, England (Reuters): Reuters begins its
buildup to the ninth cricket World Cup starting in the
West Indies
on March 13 with an overall preview, a
feature on Caribbean cricket, brief profiles of five great
West Indian cricketers
and a factbox on the nine host
countries and venues. Here is the history behind five
of the greatest West Indies cricket
players of all time.
Carnival and cricket combine in Caribbean
LONDON, England (Reuters): Carnival and cricket will
combine next month for the ninth World Cup spread
over as
many Caribbean nations and climaxing with
the final in Barbados on April 28. "There’s so many
different things in
the Caribbean that we can enjoy,"
former West Indies captain Viv Richard told Reuters.
Powell, Simpson impress over 400m
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica's world 100-metre
record holder Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson,
who established
the fastest times over the 100m and
200m on the women's side in 2006, recorded
personal bests on their way to winning
their respective
400m race at the University of West Indies (UWI)
Invitational at the National Stadium East complex
on
Saturday.
Bahamas immigration minister resigns over pictures with Anna Nicole Smith
MIAMI, USA (AFP): The Bahamian immigration
minister has resigned after pictures showed him
embracing Anna Nicole
Smith, but he angrily denied
he had any sexual relationship with the Playboy
model before her death.
Constitutional review starts in the Cayman Islands
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Calling it a fresh
start towards constitutional modernisation for the
Cayman Islands,
the administration has ushered in a
Constitutional Review Secretariat to begin the
progress. Leader of Government
Business Kurt
Tibbetts said the new secretariat will begin work on 1
March.
Press organisation concerned about health of jailed Cuban journalist
NEW YORK, USA: The Committee to Protect
Journalists has expressed concern about a report of
deteriorating health
of independent journalist Alfredo
Pulido López, who has been imprisoned in Cuba for
almost four years.
Antigua-Barbuda regulator to oversee BETonSPORTS settlement with creditors
ST JOHN'S, Antigua: The Antigua and Barbuda
Financial Services Regulatory Commission has
announced that it is
assisting and supervising BoS
(Antigua) Ltd (BOS), the operator of the BetonSports
family of remote gaming products,
in a process for
the collection of funds and the onward, payment to
BOS creditors and employees.
Offshore ‘watchdog’ criticises Bermuda
MIAMI, USA: Two months before the fifth
OffshoreAlert’s Financial Due Diligence Conference,
organisers said they
expect a favourable turn-out
from the Cayman Islands, but not necessarily from its
rival, Bermuda. “I am expecting
a healthy turn-out
from Cayman’s financial services sector,” said David
Marchant.
Cuba worries about theft of steel, cable from power grid
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuban authorities on Monday
expressed concern over the theft of power cables
and steel from
high-tension towers, which they said
was causing significant economic losses.
UK wastes millions in aid for failed water privatisation in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: After the Guyanese
government cancelled a five-year water management
contract with Severn
Trent Water International,
citing the company’s failure to meet five out of the
seven objectives in the contract,
campaigners in the
UK expressed shock at the waste of money.
Guyana open for business, says Digicel CEO
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana has been
declared by its Office for Investment (Go-Invest) as
open for business
and Chief Executive Officer of
Digicel Guyana, Tim Bahrani attested to this fact at
the Caribbean’s leading mobile
service provider’s
launch last Wednesday.
Focus continues on heightening security in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): The government of
Guyana continues to work to improve security in the
country and
towards this end, it will in a matter of
months be joining other Caribbean countries in
implementing the Crime Stoppers
Programme.
Regional trade negotiations to focus on concessions for small economies
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaican prime minister
Portia Simpson Miller has said that the region's trade
negotiations
would be guided by the imperative of
securing fundamental development objectives and
concessions for small vulnerable
economies, rather
than the Doha Development Agenda.
Puerto Rico: Enhancing culture and protecting ecology through tourism
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: "Enhancing culture and
conserving the environment are initiatives which
Puerto Rico does
extremely well and we want to see
how the lessons can be spread to other parts of the
Caribbean," said the head of
an international
development agency.
South Korea and Suriname to enhance cooperation
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Officials from South Korea
and Suriname met in Paramaribo, Suriname, Monday
to discuss,
among other matters, enhancing
cooperation in the development of oil, gas and other
minerals in this CARICOM member
state.
Turks & Caicos launches environmental awareness campaign
GRAND TURK, Turks & Caicos Islands: The
Department of Environment and Coastal Resources in
the Turks &
Caicos is launching a new awareness
campaign to remind the public that protecting and
conserving the environment is
“everyone’s business”.
A new Environmental Education Officer has been
employed.
USVI police officer killed in St Thomas shoot-out
ST THOMAS, USVI: Officer Ariel A. Frett, a 52-year-
old US Virgin Islands police officer, who would have
logged
25 years of service the day after his shooting
death, will be laid to rest next week. Funeral services
for Frett,
who was killed in a Charlotte Amalie shoot
out on the afternoon of February 8, will be held
Tuesday.
Commentary: Law and Politics: The judiciary - necessity - the way ahead!
In these shortening days as we are heading up to
CWC 2007 in our Caribbean region, it seems that
nothing else
matters, and or everything else can, or
should be put aside or sacrificed, on the altar of
Cricket World Cup. There
are many other just as
significant national and regional issues on the front
burners
Struggling Bermuda heading for wooden spoon
HAMILTON, Bermuda (AFP): Bermuda collected the
wooden spoon at the World Cricket League in Kenya
and the signs
are that the World Cup debutants will
be in the same miserable position in the Caribbean.
Trump to build $2 billion luxury resort in Dominican Republic
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Bloomberg):
Real Estate investor Donald Trump and Cap Cana SA
will spend more
than $2 billion to develop a luxury
resort in the Dominican Republic. Cap Cana
spokeswoman Melanie Brandman said the
project will
involve 68 estates built on 1.5 acres of land each.
Cuba honors American who made Castro a legend
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba unveiled a marble
plaque on Saturday commemorating the interview 50
years ago by
New York Times reporter Herbert
Matthews that helped build the legend of Fidel
Castro, the state news agency Prensa
Latina
reported.
Venezuela, Trinidad agree on gas field split
CARACAS, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Venezuela and Trinidad
and Tobago have agreed that nearly 75 percent of
the natural
gas in the Loran field straddling their
maritime border belongs to Venezuela, that nation's
authorities said on Saturday.
Surinamese prisoner found hanging in Guyana jail
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Prison officials in Guyana
have launched an investigation into the discovery of
a Surinamese
man found hanging in the New
Amsterdam prison, east of the country’s capital on
Saturday.
Guyana government terminates water contract of UK firm
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Government of Guyana
and Severn Trent, a British company, have amicably
agreed to terminate
a management contract after
the company failed to meet its targets for the supply
of water. The contract should have
ended at the
start of 2008 but is being terminated nearly one year
early.
Britain's Caribbean territories focus on child protection
BRADES, Montserrat: Britain's Caribbean territories
are getting help in developing action plans for the
protection
of their children, and to identify those
children most at risk. This starts with a situational
analysis on each island,
involving interviews and
focus group discussions with a variety of
professionals and representatives of voluntary
groups.
OECS governments sign ALBA memorandum
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: Three Member-states of
the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
have
signed a memorandum of understanding with
Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, supporting the
principles of the Bolivarian
Alternative for Latin
America, ALBA.
Scotiabank to acquire 10pct
