Jamaicans outraged over murder of Pakistani coach
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Jamaicans on Friday
expressed outrage over the murder of Pakistani
cricket coach Bob
Woolmer, but the shock and the
tight security failed to dampen their enthusiasm as the
West Indies took on Ireland
in the World Cup contest.
Child hunger at 'emergency' level in Dominican Republic, says UN official
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (AFP): Malnutrition
among Dominican Republic and Central American
children is "a massive
emergency" killing thousands
every day and compromising the region's economic
future, a United Nations World Food
Program official
told AFP.
Termination of Kerik’s contract not ruled out, says Guyanese spokesman
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Guyana Government is
not entirely ruling out the possibility of terminating the
contract
of former New York Commissioner of Police
Bernard Kerik, who recently refused a plea deal in the
United States to
serve a reduced prison sentence on
tax fraud, illegal eavesdropping,
Trinidad sees slight drop in inflation rate
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Recent inflation data
released by the Central Statistical Office in Trinidad
and Tobago
indicate that the rate of inflation has
slowed for the fourth consecutive month. The CSO in
its latest report says
headline inflation measured 8.4
per cent to February 2007.
US sentences Belize drug trafficker with paramilitary links
NEW YORK, USA (AFP): A New York court sentenced a
Belize cocaine trafficker with links to a Colombian
paramilitary
group to 33 years in jail, officials said.
Robert James Hertular was handed the 400-month
term for conspiring to traffic
tonnes of cocaine into the
United States and threatening to kill US federal agents
investigating him in Belize.
CIA agent claims he buried Che Guevara, not Cuba
MIAMI, USA (AFP): A former CIA agent claims he
personally buried leftist revolutionary icon
Ernesto "Che" Guevara,
and challenged Cuba to allow
a DNA test to prove that the remains it interred are
Guevara's, The Miami Herald reported
Friday.
Havana's former grandeur decays and crumbles
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Almost half a century of
communist rule has saved Havana's eclectic
architecture from
the urban developer's bulldozer, but
a lack of repair has taken a ruinous toll on its neo-
Baroque and Art Deco gems.
Dominica observes 200th anniversary of abolition of slave trade
ROSEAU, Dominica: On Sunday, March 25, 2007, on
the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the abolition
of the
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, a ceremony will be
held in Roseau, the capital of Dominca.
Full participation of citizens in justice reform process, says Jamaican senator
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Minister of Justice and Attorney
General, Senator A.J. Nicholson has said that the
review
of the justice system in Jamaica is being
carried out with the full participation of the public so as
to engage a
wide cross section of the society in the
process.
Pakistan sending top diplomat to Jamaica
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AFP): Pakistan said Friday it
was rushing a senior diplomat from Washington to
Jamaica after
Caribbean police said national team
cricket coach Bob Woolmer was strangled. Jamaican
police said Friday Woolmer was
likely strangled by
someone he knew.
Trinidad senior counsel to resign as ICC judge
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: One of Trinidad and
Tobago's top attorneys, Queens Counsel Karl
Hudson-Phillips, is
expected to resign as a judge of
the International Criminal Court (ICC) with effect from
September 30.
Venezuela to sell five billion dollars in bonds through oil giant PDVSA
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Venezuela, the world
number-five oil exporter, plans to issue bonds worth a
total of
as much as five billion dollars through its state
oil giant PDVSA this week, authorities said Friday.
The 10-,
20- and 30-year bonds will go on sale
Monday and be available through Thursday.
BET J to air Machel Montano Trinidad & Tobago special
NEW YORK, USA: Trinidadian soca star Machel
Montano's electric performance on Friday, March 23,
2007 at New York's
Madison Square Garden will be
broadcast on BET J and BET, the leading African
American and multicultural television
networks.
Suggestions sought from Caribbean nationals for upcoming summit in Washington
NEW YORK, USA (JIS): Ambassadors and Consuls
General from member states of CARICOM are to meet
with their constituents
within the next two weeks to get
suggestions that should form part of the discussions
between President George Bush
and Caribbean
Leaders at a Summit in June in Washington, D.C.
Commentary: Africa and Caribbean roots: Fruits of the future?
In the year marking the 200th anniversary of the British
act of parliament abolishing the trade in African
slaves,
African and Caribbean governments will hold
a Conference in South Africa between Africans and
their Diaspora in the
Caribbean. The conference is a
follow-up to an initial conference held in Jamaica
Commentary: Partnership for the Americas
On March 5, the President announced important new
initiatives for the Western Hemisphere. From my point
of view
as the Commander of United States Southern
Command, the President’s initiatives underscore the
vital connection we
share with the wonderful and
diverse nations of the Americas and the Caribbean.
Cricket World Cup match reports
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Shivnarine Chanderpaul
collected his sixth one-day International hundred to
lead West
Indies to a convincing eight-wicket victory
(D/L Method) over Ireland in their rain-affected World
Cup Group D match
on Friday at Sabina Park.
Powell looking towards the future with the new ball
KINGSTON, Jamaica: West Indies' fast bowler Daren
Powell is hoping that he and fellow Jamaican pacer
Jerome Taylor
can switch into another gear and
deliver with the new ball now that the opening
matches of their 2007 ICC Cricket
World Cup
tournament are completed.
CFU congress to map future of Caribbean football development
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Thirty Caribbean Football
Union members and more than 100 delegates from
around the
region will meet in Curaçao next week for
the 30th Annual CFU Congress to map out the future
of Caribbean football
development.
Wild and windy day sets pace for Rolex sailors
ST THOMAS, USVI: Opening day of the International
Rolex Regatta served up fast and furious fun for
some, broken
boats for others when 15-18 knot
breezes whipped up a testing chop on the Caribbean
Sea south of St Thomas. The event
is hosting 87
boats in seven classes.
World Cup to continue despite Woolmer murder
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): The 2007 World Cup will
continue despite the death of Pakistan coach Bob
Woolmer, whom
police in Jamaica say was
murdered, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said
Thursday. Woolmer, who died on Sunday,
was
strangled to death, police said.
Guyana sends salmonella cargo ship back to France
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Guyana on
Wednesday turned back a ship carrying 900 tonnes of
soya believed to be contaminated
with salmonella
and ordered the vessel to return to France, the
agriculture ministry said. French authorities also
want
the cargo, being transported aboard a Bahamian-
registered vessel,
Anna Nicole autopsy results to be released Monday
MIAMI, USA (Reuters): The long-awaited results of an
autopsy on former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole
Smith will
be made public on Monday, possibly ending
the mystery of her sudden death, a Florida medical
examiner's official said
on Thursday.
No more money for marketing, says Dominica's tourism minister
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica’s Tourism Minister
Yvor Nassief does not believe that more money
should be invested
into marketing the island because
the destination is not ready for increased capacity.
Nassief believes that the money
budgeted for
marketing first needs to be spent properly before
more can be considered.
Cuba bets big on black gold in Gulf of Mexico
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba is optimistic it could soon
see a breakthrough in exploiting major oil reserves,
officials
said this week, a potential shift that could
make the cash-strapped communist regime a flush
energy exporter. Cuban
authorities are betting big on
black gold from its waters.
Dominica's NDC to close next month
ROSEAU, Dominica: Two new entities will replace
Dominica's National Development Corporation, which
is set for
closure after legislation is passed in
parliament on April 2. Over 30 employees will receive
redundancy payments and
gratuities.
Jamaica's Governor-General praises bauxite partners
OCHO RIOS, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaica's Governor-
General, Professor Kenneth Hall, has commended
the St Ann Jamaica
Bauxite Partners (SAJBP) for its
contribution to the country's productive sector. "There
is bauxite mining, there
is agriculture, and there is
community development," Professor Hall said,
Jamaican pilot to embark on solo world flight
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaican pilot, Barrington
Irving, will embark on a five-week solo world mission
when he takes
off on March 23 from the Opa-Locka
Airport in South Florida. Irving will use his single
engine plane called Inspiration,
to do the historic
mission around the world as the first black and the
youngest aviator.
Jamaica's anti-corruption division achieves results
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Since its establishment in
2005, the Internal Affairs/Anti-Corruption Division of
the
Professional Standards Branch of the Jamaica
Constabulary Force says it has been successful in
dealing with incidences
of police abuse and
professional misconduct swiftly and transparently.
Montserrat's soca artiste signs major marketing deal
BRADES, Montserrat: Montserrat’s soca star
Garvin “Scrappy” Johnson has signed a major deal
with one of Europe’s
biggest music labels. German
based Faluma Digital will now be responsible for
selling Scrappy’s music via digital
downloads through
the popular Apple website iTunes.
St Kitts-Nevis approves duty-free concessions for small businesses
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The St Kitts-Nevis
government has approved the applications for duty-
free concessions
from a number of small
businesses. "Cabinet considered and approved a
range of applications for duty concessions made
by a
number of small businesses," Sen. Nigel Carty said.
St Kitts-Nevis plans activities to mark anniversary of abolition of slave trade
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The programme of
activities to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the
abolition
of the slave trade was the subject of
extensive discussions during Monday’s Cabinet
Meeting in St Kitts and Nevis.
St Kitts-Nevis to seek UNESCO membership
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: St Kitts and Nevis is to seek
membership on the United Nations Economic and
Social Council
(UNESCO). Government said
membership would “give the country the opportunity to
advance the agenda of Small Island
Developing
States on sustainable development."
Colombia follows Ecuador with challenge on EU banana rules
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP): Colombia on Thursday
became the second country to lodge a complaint at
the WTO against
the European Union's banana import
rules, trade sources said. Colombia formally asked
for bilateral consultations
with the 27-nation European
bloc, the sources added.
Commentary: Something is rotten in the chambers of the Trinidad and Tobago judiciary!
I am acutely aware of the unhinged glee some of my
pathologically-begrudging readers experience when
they have
just cause to make me eat my words.
Therefore, I was not at all surprised this week when
my INBOX was littered with
emails demanding that I
open wide and swallow the news...
Cricket World Cup match reports
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (AFP): Paceman Billy Stelling
returned a career-best 3-12 and Ryan ten Doeshate
hit a half-century
to help the Netherlands race to an
easy eight-wicket World Cup Group A win over
Scotland here on Thursday.
Guyana's Forde among the loners for IAAF World Cross Country
MOMBASA, Kenya: Guyana's Cleveland Forde will be
among the lone rangers carrying their countries'
hopes at the
35th IAAF World Cross Country, which
starts in Mombasa, Kenya, on Saturday. Not only will
Forde be the only Guyanese
athlete at the starting line,
he is also the only Caribbean competitor.
Irish keeper looking forward to Lara rematch
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Ireland's historic place in
the World Cup second round is assured, but Niall
OBrien
can't wait to pit his wits against West Indies
skipper Brian Lara in Friday's final match in Group D.
Both sides have
already guaranteed their Super Eight
slots.
Digicel confirms full schedule for international matches
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Digicel, sponsors of
Caribbean football, has confirmed the schedule of
Digicel international
matches to take place in the
Caribbean next week and arranged by the Caribbean
mobile operator as part of their ongoing
commitment
to the development of sports in the region.
Rolex sailors ready for Caribbean showdown
ST THOMAS, USVI: Blue skies, warm water and
steady trade winds have reserved a presence in St
Thomas, USVI, where
87 teams are preparing for
Friday's opening races of the 34th International Rolex
Regatta, the oldest and most revered
of a string of
popular Caribbean regattas spanning the Spring
racing season.
Jamaican police treating Woolmer death as suspicious
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Pakistan cricket coach
Bob Woolmer may have been murdered at the World
Cup, a team official
said Tuesday, as police in
Jamaica confirmed they were treating the death as
suspicious. The suggestion is the latest
twist in a
shocking series of events.
Venezuela and Trinidad agree on sharing gas reserves
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Venezuela and
Trinidad and Tobago have reached an agreement on
sharing reserves
in the Deltana Platform, South
America's largest natural-gas field, clearing an
obstacle for development of the tract.
Infant drowns after vessel sinks in BVI
ROAD TOWN, BVI: A 17-month-old boy, Nahel Wies,
drowned after a vessel sank near Round Rock in the
British Virgin
Islands. Police say on Saturday March
17 at 7:56 am, they received information that a vessel
sank at Round Rock.
US sees no sign of Castro comeback
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States sees
no sign that convalescing Cuban leader Fidel Castro
may return
to power, a State Department spokesman
said Wednesday. Fidel Castro handed power
temporarily to his brother and regime
number two
Raul Castro, 75, on July 31.
Antigua-Barbuda law enforcement receive training from US counterparts
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Twenty-two Antigua and
Barbuda law enforcement officers are now much
better equipped and
trained in the use of weapons.
The officers, underwent two days of firearms and
tactical training sponsored by the
United States
Embassy in Bridgetown. The instructors and
ammunition were provided by the US DEA.
Cuba to expand oil drilling program
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuba says it will see a
significant increase in the number of oil wells drilled
on land,
off-shore and in deep sea areas included
within an area of the Gulf of Mexico in which the island
has exclusive rights
to drill. The statement was made
by Cuban Basic Industry minister Yadira Garcia.
Sweden and Cuba in diplomatic spat
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP): Diplomatic relations
between Sweden and Cuba were tense on
Wednesday after the Scandinavian
country criticised
comments by a Cuban official as "unacceptable", the
foreign ministry said. Sweden last week summoned
the Cuban ambassador to demand an apology and
explanation.
Dominican hoteliers worried over closures
ROSEAU, Dominica: Hoteliers in Dominica are
concerned that too many hotels are closing down and
have blamed the
financial institutions for pressuring
entrepreneurs in the industry. President of the
Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association
Judith
Pestaina is disturbed about the current situation
facing hoteliers.
Positive trends in Haiti need to be sustained by job creation, says OAS
WASHINGTON, USA: In surveying a series of
developments in Haiti, the Secretary General of the
Organization of
American States (OAS), José Miguel
Insulza, said on Wednesday that the ability to
maintain the generally positive
trend “will depend on
the prospects for job creation,” among other factors.
Haiti gets duty-free treatment for apparel exports to the US
WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): Haiti, the Western
Hemisphere's poorest nation, has earned duty-free
entry into
the US for apparel sewn on the island
nation, President George W. Bush said Wednesday.
Lawmakers passed the measure
late last year over
the objections of textile-state lawmakers.
Former Irish cricket chief dies in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): Former Irish Cricket
Union chairman Bob Kerr died on Wednesday while
in Jamaica
with Ireland closing in on World Cup
Super Eights qualification. He was 68. Kerr was one
of the most prominent officials
in Irish cricket and has
died while Ireland entered the most exciting period in
their history.
New foam packaging factory to boost Suriname agro exports
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: With financial assistance
from the Netherlands, a foam packaging factory
started production
in Suriname on Monday that,
according to officials, could boost the country's export
of fish, fruits and vegetables.
Bill could significantly increase children's health insurance in USVI
WASHINGTON, USA: The US Virgin Islands may have
more money to pay for children's health under a bill
introduced
in the House of Representatives by Energy
and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell
and in the Senate by Sen. Hillary
Clinton. Dingell and
Clinton introduced the legislation last week.
Caribbean tourism aims to become carbon neutral
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Key players from the UK
tourism industry had the opportunity to exchange
views on climate
change with the Caribbean Hotel
Association, its environmental division the Caribbean
Alliance for Sustainable Tourism,
and the Caribbean
Tourism Organization at a meeting held in London
last week.
LIAT merger acquisition of Caribbean Star remains on track
ST JOHN'S, Antigua: Discussions surrounding the
merger acquisition agreement for LIAT (1974) Ltd to
purchase
Caribbean Star Airlines Ltd remain on track,
according to a recent press release. Meanwhile, the
primary shareholders
of LIAT, are currently reviewing
the purchase agreement.
Commentary: The Greater Caribbean This Week: Poverty alleviation through tourism
According to the World Resources Institute, at the
beginning of 1990 tourism was growing at a rate of
4% a year.
Between 1990 and 2002, International
tourist arrivals increased by 54% globally, and the
World Tourism Organization
estimates that tourist
arrivals will exceed 1 billion worldwide by the year
2010.
Letter: Nuclear power plans in Suriname
Greenpeace highlighted some of the reasons why it
would be a dangerous development for Suriname to
build a nuclear
power plant. In fact there is no need
for such a risky and complex system to generate
electricity, when Suriname is
blessed with ample
sunshine.
Cricket World Cup match reports
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Pakistan beat Zimbabwe
by 93 runs on Wednesday to put minnows Ireland
through to the
World Cup Super Eights. Pakistan piled
up 349 before bowling out Zimbabwe for 99 in their
Group D clash at Sabina
Park.
Richards blames West Indies board for decline
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): Former West Indies
great Viv Richards has blamed the region's
administrators for
the decline of Caribbean cricket but
sees hope of a revival in the current World Cup
squad. The West Indies, with
Richards's glorious
stroke-play and a battery of pace bowlers, won the
first two World Cups
Jamaicans Brooks, Williams and others set for Florida meet
OKLAHOMA, USA: Several Caribbean athletes,
including Commonwealth Games 100-metres
champion Sheri Ann Brooks
of Jamaica and
countryman Chris Williams, who won a silver at the
World Championships in 2001, will compete at the
Zion Global Athletic meeting scheduled for Saturday,
April 7, 2007.
Former Trinidad prime minister's conviction quashed on appeal
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Former Trinidad and
Tobago prime minister, Basdeo Panday, has won his
appeal against
conviction and sentence of a two-year
jail term and a TT$60,000 fine. The former prime
minister was tried and found
guilty in April 2006 of
failing to declare monies in a London bank account.
Woolmer autopsy inconclusive, says official
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): The autopsy into the
death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has
proven inconclusive,
police officials said on Tuesday.
Further tests will be carried out, they added, on the
body of Woolmer who
died on Sunday at the age of
58.
US tells Cuba to halt repression on anniversary of crackdown
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States called
on Cuba Tuesday to stop repression and to free
political prisoners,
four years after Havana rounded
up and jailed 75 political dissidents. Cuba is the only
one-party communist regime
in the Americas.
This year's hurricane risk upgraded by forecasters
LONDON, England (AFP): The chances of powerful
Atlantic hurricanes barrelling into the United States
this season
are much greater than usual a British-led
group of scientists said on Tuesday. Tropical Storm
Risk (TSR) also predicted
two tropical storms hitting
the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles, including one
hurricane.
Birkhead says woman followed him to Bahamas
NASSAU, Bahamas (UPI): Hotel security in the
Bahamas detained a woman who allegedly has been
following Larry
Birkhead, Anna Nicole Smith's ex-
lover, a report said Monday. Birkhead said the woman
was detained Sunday night by
security at the Atlantis
hotel where he was staying in the Bahamas.
Morales says Castro might visit Bolivia
LA PAZ, Bolivia (UPI): Bolivian President Evo Morales
said that ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro may visit
his
country in April, La Razon reported Monday.
Morales said that Castro is considering traveling to
Bolivia for the third
anniversary of the alternative trade
agreement for Latin America.
Protest over jailed Cuban dissidents blocked
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Around 70 people in civilian
clothes blocked a group of women trying to march in
downtown
Havana on Tuesday to demand the
release of husbands and other relatives who are
imprisoned Cuban dissidents.
Cuba, Nicaragua renew normal diplomatic ties
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AFP): Nicaragua and Cuba
have renewed normal diplomatic relations after 17
years of strain
following the January election of leftist
President Daniel Ortega.
Fidel Castro could be back at Cuba's helm 'soon', says minister
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Fidel Castro, who has been
recovering since intestinal surgery he underwent
almost eight
months ago, could return to lead
communist Cuba "soon," a top cabinet member said
Tuesday.
US Congress to hold hearings on Puerto Rico self determination
WASHINGTON, USA: The Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Insular Affairs will hold hearings on
two bills regarding
the political status of the people of
Puerto Rico on Thursday. The Subcommittee, chaired
by US VirginIslands Delegate
to Congress Donna
Christensen will hear testimony on the Puerto Rico
Democracy Act.
St Kitts prime minister defends World Cup ticket prices
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (Reuters): St Kitts and Nevis
Prime Minister Denzil Douglas defended World Cup
ticket prices
and predicted a sell-out crowd for
Saturday's Group A fixture between champions
Australia and South Africa at Warner
Park. Douglas
said the minimum price for a ticket was US$25
St Lucia to host musical extravaganza
RODNEY BAY, St. Lucia: St Lucia is mounting a star-
studded three-day Caribbean musical extravaganza,
featuring
the Caribbean's top calypso, soca and
reggae musicians, from April 23 to 25, 2007. The
Rodney Bay Village Music Bash
opens with Trinidad
and Tobago's David Rudder.
WTO to rule whether EU still flouts decisions on banana imports
GENEVA, Switzerland (Bloomberg): The World Trade
Organization has agreed to decide whether the
European Union
ignored rulings in a decade-long
legal fight and is still discriminating against banana
imports from Ecuador. Bananas
are the world's fourth
most-valuable food crop after wheat, rice and corn.
CARICOM special visa troubleshooter visits Trinidad
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The CARICOM Special Visa for
entry into the CARICOM Single Domestic Space came
into effect
from 1st February 2007 and will be valid
until 15th May 2007. Johanna Lewin, Major-in-charge
of CARICOM Visa Issuing
System, was in Trinidad for
one day on Tuesday to discuss troubleshooting and
other issues.
Letter: Low hotel occupancy
"The problem with the empty hotel rooms currently
being experienced in Barbados and the wider region
can only
be blamed on the organisers of Cricket
World Cup (CWC)" -- that’s according to the Barbados
Minister of Tourism, Noel
Lynch.
West Indies coach seeks killer instinct
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): West Indies coach
Bennett King has demanded his team discover a
killer instinct if they
are to win the World Cup. West
Indies became the second side to confirm a place in
the Super Eights of the tournament
with a six wicket
victory over Zimbabwe at Sabina Park on Monday.
Cuba’s Robles opens outdoor season with 13.35
CAMAQUEY, Cuba: World Indoor 60-metres hurdles
silver medallist Dayron Robles made a successful
start to his
2007 outdoor campaign after winning the
men's 110m Hurdles at the Rafael Fortun National
Meeting in Camagüey at the
weekend.
Coach King believes West Indies building World Cup momentum
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Following their back-to-back
victories, which booked them a place in the Super
Eight of the
ICC Cricket World Cup tournament, West
Indies coach Bennett Kings said his team is on the
right track to peak for
the big moment.
Proteas and Black Caps cruise into Super Eights
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): World number one
South Africa and New Zealand both booked their
places in the World
Cup Super Eights with facile wins
over Scotland and Kenya respectively on Tuesday.
So happy I cried, says Bermuda teenager
HAMILTON, Bermuda (AFP): Bermuda teenage
seamer Malachi Jones admitted that he was so
overjoyed with taking a
wicket with his first World Cup
delivery that he couldn't help bursting into tears.
Jones, the third youngest player
to feature in the
World Cup, claimed the wicket of India opener Robin
Uthappa with his very first delivery.
Supersize me: Caribbean ports struggle to cope with mega-cruiseships
MIAMI BEACH, USA (AFP): Growing demand for mega-
cruiseships is causing increasing headaches for port
authorities
in major tourist destinations struggling to
cope with the ever-larger vessels. For one, there's the
cost of
adapting ports to accommodate the floating
giants, according to industry experts.
Remittances to the Caribbean and Latin America to top $100 billion a year by 2010, says IDB
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala: Remittances to the
Caribbean and Latin America will continue to grow in
coming years
and surpass $100 billion a year by
2010, according to the Inter-American Development
Bank’s Multilateral Investment
Fund (MIF).
Chinese spin awkward for Caribbean World Cup hosts
GROS ISLET, St Lucia (AFP): The diplomatic
ambitions of the last remaining Communist
superpower seem a long way
removed from the
Caribbean island of St Lucia, a popular tourist
destination with citizens of that most capitalist
of
nations, the United States of America.
Woolmer's family authorises post mortem in Jamaica
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters): The family of Bob
Woolmer, the Pakistan coach who died on Sunday,
have authorised
local authorities in Kingston,
Jamaica to carry out a post mortem, a Pakistan team
official said on Monday.
Too cold for Antiguan open water swimmers
MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP): The cold waters of Port
Phillip Bay and a lack of preparation proved too much
for
swimmers from Antigua in the 5km men's open
water race at the World Swimming Championships
on Sunday.
Barbados PM meets with Bermudian Premier
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Barbados and Bermuda
share several common interests and should explore
the possibility
of an agreement which would focus on
economic cooperation and technical support. This
observation was made by Prime
Minister Owen Arthur
during a courtesy call from Premier of Bermuda
BVI Spring Regatta follows Volvo Ocean Race lead
TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands: The BVI Spring
Regatta and Sailing Festival, presented by Nanny Cay
and held
this year March 26 – April 1, 2007, is taking a
cue from some of the well-established one design
classes and providing
on the water umpiring for the
very competitive IC24 class.
Customer service training for Grenada airport personnel
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: The Government of
Grenada and Peter de Savary's Savvy Grenada are
collaborating on a major
service quality initiative. Over
the next two weeks nearly 150 employees providing
service at the Point Salines International
Airport will
undergo service quality training.
ACP agrees to retain sugar shortfall from St Kitts-Nevis
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): CARICOM
spokesperson on sugar and Guyana’s Minister of
Foreign Trade and International
Cooperation Dr Henry
Jeffrey, said he was elated with the decision taken by
African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Ministers
to retain the
permanent sugar shortfall from St Kitts and Nevis.
Greenpeace advises against nuclear power plant Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Plans of a group of
investors and businessmen to build a nuclear power
plant in Suriname
are raising concerns with the
environmental organisation Greenpeace. According to
Greenpeace, the country has no expertise
in this field,
while it has a number of other resources to generate
energy.
Commentary: Law and Politics: Is the World Cup bonanza a reality?
Now that the ICC CWC 2007 has in fact been opened
and is ongoing as planned; and the Opening
Ceremony in Jamaica,
could really be classified as
the best ever, from the point of view of show-casing
the history and culture of the
Caribbean as a whole; it
is, perhaps, the appropriate time to pose the above
question.
Commentary: Truth and reconciliation for Desi Bouterse
For the first time, Desi Bouterse publicly apologized to
the surviving relatives of the 15 people who were
brutally
tortured and executed and called for a “truth
seeking” of “...that dark chapter in Suriname’s
history.” (Ivan Cairo,
correspondent for Caribbean Net
News, March 12, 2007 edition)
Commentary: How Havana stole my heart, eyeglasses, camera, shoes, money
(Bloomberg): We had just left a baseball game near
midnight in Havana when a thief made a grab for our
bags.
It might have been a simple snatch and grab,
instead of a mugging, if I hadn't tackled the crook. His
two pals pummeled
me, scampering away as a
sizable crowd looked on with indifference.
West Indies beat Zimbabwe for Super Eight spot
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): West Indies became the
second side to book a place in the Super Eight
quarterfinals
of the World Cup after beating
Zimbabwe by six wickets in their Group D match here
Monday. Chasing 203 runs from their
allocation of 50
overs, West Indies struck gold with 13 balls to spare.
India set twin records in Bermuda thrashing
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP): Virender Sehwag
roared back into form with a blazing century as record-
setting
India thrashed debutants Bermuda by 257
runs in their second World Cup match here on
Monday. India posted the highest
Cup total of 413-5
after being put in to bat.
Third Digicel international match announced
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Digicel have now gone
one further and added a third international friendly
game to the
Digicel International Match series of
football friendlies in the March FIFA football time
frame. The announcement
comes just weeks after
the visiting side Trinidad and Tobago had their
international campaign interrupted due to financial
constraints.
Bermuda's Mukuddem dropped due to indiscipline
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, (Reuters): Bermuda's
experienced seamer Saleem Mukuddem was
dropped for Monday's World
Cup Group B tie against
India as a disciplinary measure, skipper Irvine
Romaine said. India thrashed the Cup debutants
by
the biggest ever one-day victory margin of 257 runs.
Trinidad's Stern John calls on Sunderland teammates to stay focused
LONDON, England: Trinidadian striker Stern John
has warned his Sunderland teammates not to get into
the laid-back
zone, despite their impressive
performances in the English League Championship
this season.
Lloyd hopes West Indies can continue playing like professionals
KINGSTON, Jamaica: West Indies two-time World
Cup winning captain Clive Lloyd is hoping the current
regional
side can build on their impressive showing
at the current tournament as the quest to win another
title. The Guyanese
legend said he was concerned
with the number of inexperienced players
Castro in Cuba presidency April 28, says Bolivia's Morales
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AFP): Fidel Castro will return to
Cuba's presidency on April 28, eight months after
stepping
aside temporarily following an operation,
Bolivia's leader Evo Morales was quoted in media
reports Sunday.
Montserrat authorities prepare for the worst case scenario
BRADES, Monserrat: The Montserrat Scientific
Advisory Committee (SAC) has released its recent
interim risk assessment
report and raised concerns,
with residents living on the border of the safe zone,
about whether a dome collapse could
harm them,
their families, or their property.
