New twist to Woolmer investigation as inquest postponed
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): The inquest into Bob
Woolmer's death, scheduled to get underway on
Monday, has been
postponed due to "new and
significant developments". A statement from the
Jamaican justice ministry said the decision
was taken
following advice from the coroner.
Young Jamaicans in the UK urged to join Diaspora movement
LONDON, England (JIS): Jamaican High
Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Burchell
Whiteman has charged young
people of Jamaican
heritage in the UK to become part of the process to
develop the Diaspora movement.
IACHR encouraged by efforts to improve human rights situation in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: The Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has
concluded a visit to the Republic
of Haiti at the
invitation of the government of that country. This visit
took place between April 16 and 20, 2007.
Chinese firm prevented from exporting logs from Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Bai Shan Lin, a Chinese
owned company that has been registered in Guyana
to conduct business
in the forestry sector has been
banned by local authorities from exporting logs after
failing to honour an agreement
of not exporting logs.
Oman contributes to health care delivery in Antigua and Barbuda
NEW YORK, USA: In a brief ceremony at Antigua and
Barbuda's UN Mission in New York, the Government
of the Sultanate
of Oman made a formal financial
contribution to strengthen the national health care
delivery systems in Antigua and
Barbuda. Antigua and
Barbuda and Oman established diplomatic relations
in 2006.
Relatives of airline bombing victims protest in Cuba against Posada release
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Victims' relatives on Friday
staged a vigil outside the US mission in Havana,
expressing
outrage over the US release of ex-CIA
operative Luis Posada Carriles, who is blamed for the
deadly 1976 downing of
a Cuban airliner. About
100,000 people have demonstrated across Cuba
since Posada Carilles was freed.
Top-ranking Chinese official visits Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): A member of China's
Communist Party inner circle arrived in Havana this
week on a mission
to improve cooperation and
friendship with Cuba. Wu Guanzheng, a member of
the Communist Party of China, is the highest-ranking
Chinese government official to visit Cuba since
December 2005
Guyana government mulls ending tariff waiver on cement
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana's Minister of
Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram
Prashad, has indicated that
TCL Guyana's (TGI) state-
of-the-art cement bagging terminal can adequately
supply the cement needs in the Guyana market
and
therefore "the waiver of the Common External Tariff
(CET) can now be lifted.
St Lucians wait longer on China-Taiwan relations
CASTRIES, St Lucia: This week in St Lucia there was
the usual parade and ceremony, following which
Governor General,
Dame Pearlette Louisy inspected
the guard of honour before delivering the Throne
Speech.
Venezuela launches blimp to tackle rampant crime
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Venezuela launched
a blimp on Thursday to patrol Caracas, seeking to
fight crime
in one of Latin America's most dangerous
cities but also raising fears that President Hugo
Chavez could be turning
into Big Brother.
OAS continues negotiating declaration on rights of indigenous peoples
WASHINGTON, USA: Representatives of Organization
of American States (OAS) member countries and of
the hemisphere's
indigenous peoples are set to meet
in La Paz, Bolivia, beginning Monday, to continue
discussing the draft American
Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Spirit Airlines launches new nonstop service to St Maarten
FORT LAUDERDALE, USA: Spirit Airlines has
inaugurated its new nonstop service between Fort
Lauderdale and St
Maarten, Netherlands Antilles.
Service will be offered three times weekly on Fridays,
Saturdays and Sundays.
Commentary: Cricket, the IMF and West Indian pride
Over the last few weeks as the Cricket World Cup
(CWC) tournament has been played in the West
Indies, the chests
of West Indians all over the world
have swelled with pride that their small countries have
successfully hosted the
tournament despite the
enormous challenges involved.
Commentary: The Greater Caribbean This Week: The Garifunas emerging from oblivion
The Garifunas are peoples from the colonial period.
Their distinctiveness lies in the fact that their
establishment
did not respond to metropolitan
initiatives, since their origin was associated first of all,
with the sinking of two
black slave ships along the
coasts of St. Vincent and with the movement of slaves,
Letter: Solar power is no substitute for nuclear energy
In regards to the letter: "Nuclear power plans in
Suriname", March 22. Concentrating Solar Power (or
CSP) is
no substitute for nuclear energy! CSP is
inefficient, expensive, and has notable environmental
impacts.
Letter: I wonder if it's too early for boasting about cricket ticketing revenue?
In the Daily Nation column, Issues and Ideas, Ezra
Alleyne boasts 'that ticket sales of the order of $24
million
have been raked in by the Barbados
Government, before a single ball was bowled at
Kensington Oval'.
Hayden stars as Australia thrash New Zealand
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (AFP): Matthew Hayden's
third century of the tournament helped champions
Australia extend
their unbeaten run at the World Cup
to 27 matches with a 215-run Super Eights thrashing
of fellow semi-finalists New
Zealand at Grenada's
National Stadium here Friday.
West Indies coach King uncertain over future
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Bennett King is
uncertain over his future as West Indies coach in the
wake of his
team's disappointing World Cup
campaign which saw them failing to qualify for the
semi-finals. King, a former Australian
cricket academy
coach who took over as the West Indies coach in 2004,
Lara a troubled genius in mediocre West Indies era
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Will Brian Lara be
remembered as a batting genius in a declining West
Indies cricketing
era who was destined to court
frustration with his team's repeated failures? The
debate will go on, but there is no
denying that he was
one of the best batsmen of the modern era.
Lara seeks farewell win in England match
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): West Indies captain
Brian Lara will be keen to cap his last international
match with
a win against England when the two under-
performing teams clash in the World Cup here on
Saturday.
Cuban journalist imprisoned as 'pre-criminal social danger'
PARIS, France (RSF/IFEX): Reporters Without Borders
has condemned the jailing of Oscar Sánchez Madan,
a correspondent
for the Miami-based Cubanet
website. Arrested on 13 April 2007 and summarily
tried the same day, Sánchez was sentenced
to four
years in prison as a "pre-criminal social danger."
Ireland team supply DNA, fingerprints for Woolmer probe
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Reuters): The Ireland
World Cup cricket team supplied statements,
fingerprints and DNA
samples on Thursday as part of
the police investigation into the murder of the Pakistan
coach Bob Woolmer.
Haiti slum residents enjoy new peace, want more
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): Residents of
Haiti's largest slums are enjoying more undisturbed
nights since
UN peacekeepers cleared out armed
gangs, but they still want to see food, jobs and other
hoped-for benefits of the
new peace.
O'Donnell's cruise to bypass Bermuda
NEW YORK, USA (UPI): Talk show host Rosie
O'Donnell has decided to delete Bermuda's sandy
beaches on her planned
cruise for gay and lesbian
families because of potential protests. News of the
cancellation brought cheers from the
island's
conservative religious community.
US frees convicted bomber wanted by Cuba, Venezuela
EL PASO, USA (AFP): Former CIA operative Luis
Posada Carriles, wanted by Cuba and Venezuela for
the deadly downing
of a Cuban jet, has been freed on
bond in Texas, police said Thursday. Earlier this
month a US judge here said the
Cuban-born
Venezuelan national could be released on bail.
Guyana government's focus shifts
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): With the conclusion
of the 19th Rio Group Summit and Cricket World Cup,
the Guyana
government's attention has returned to the
country's national agenda and fulfilling the promises
made by the Head
of State. President Jagdeo also
noted that added focus will be placed on the capital
budget.
Guyana supports CWC legislative legacy
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: With less than two weeks
remaining for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007,
governments of
the Caribbean Community are already
looking beyond the tournament with regard to security
arrangements for the region.
Caribbean governments
have agreed to retain the Joint Regional
Communication Centre.
Haitian sculptors give British audiences a new perspective
Three artists from the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince,
have been making a big impact during a month-long
visit
to Britain. Jean Herald Celeur, Andre Eugene, and
Frantz Jacques Guyodo were originally invited to the
port city of
Liverpool to help launch their
massive 'Freedom Sculpture'.
Jamaican government moves to increase access to ICT
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): A strategy to increase
computer literacy in the population of Jamaica, while
improving
access to the information communication
technology (ICT) systems at affordable prices, will be
promulgated later this
year.
Cuban energy programme will save Nevis millions
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Despite a minor setback of a
delayed shipment of supplies, a number of visiting
Cuban social
workers began their task of replacing
thousands of incandescent bulbs in households on
Nevis to energy saving bulbs,
a project which will save
a total of US$1.4million annually.
Nevis will do what ever it takes to stem crime, says premier
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: During a televised address
on Nevis Television on Wednesday, Premier of Nevis
Joseph Parry
spoke out vehemently against criminal
activity and stated that his Nevis Reformation Party-led
Nevis Island Administration
(NIA) would do whatever
was necessary to stem any crime on the island.
Cuba sends doctors to work in Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: A number of Cuban doctors
arrived in Suriname this week for a two year's stint to
work
in the remote interior of the country, while at least
five of the medical specialists will work at the
Academic Hospital
and the Bureau of Public Health in
the capital Paramaribo.
Iranian foreign minister visits Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Iranian Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki was in Venezuela Thursday for a
visit aimed
at boosting cooperation between the two
countries whose governments are among the most
critical of the US administration.
The Iranian minister
was scheduled to hold talks with his Venezuelan
counterpart.
Spain appoints first ambassador to CARICOM
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Spain and the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have fortified their
ongoing relationship
with the presentation of
credentials from Spain's first accredited Ambassador
Representative to the CARICOM Secretariat.
International cooperation is hallmark of World Cup security success
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Strong cooperation
between the countries of the Caribbean and their
international partners
has been a hallmark of success
of the security of the Cricket World Cup 2007. A Joint
Regional Task Force brought
together law
enforcement and military assets from all host
countries, Dominica and Bermuda.
Commentary: And now, a final word to my global-warming critics
I am stupefied by the certainty with which otherwise
rational people cite forecasts about global warming.
The
irony seems completely lost on them that their
belief in predictions about the looming catastrophes
of global warming
is no more sound than the faith
Christians have about the Armageddon of Judgment
Day
Commentary: Facts and evidence
There are crime/science programmes on television
where we are shown how the facts of a crime can be
discovered
through the smallest sorts of evidence.
Programmes like these are designed to convince
viewers as well as entertain
them. In this context, a
fact discovered might more properly be perceived as a
theory.
Sarwan leads West Indies to emphatic win over Bangladesh
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Ramnaresh Sarwan
missed a hundred but still guided the West Indies to a
resounding
99-run World Cup win over Bangladesh at
Kensington Oval here on Thursday to ensure they
would not finish in the bottom
two of the Super Eights
table.
Lara quits international cricket
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): West Indies captain
Brian Lara will bring the curtain down on his 17-year,
record-breaking,
international career on Saturday. "I
have given this extensive consideration. I just want
everybody to know that on
Saturday I am bidding
farewell to international cricket as a player," Lara said
Powell, Simpson and Sinclair in Jamaica's team for Penn relays
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Sprinters Asafa Powell and
Sherone Simpson, as well as middle distance runner
Kenia Sinclair,
were named in Jamaica's squad to
represent the country at the 113th Penn Relays
scheduled to take place in Philadelphia,
on 26-27-28
April 2007.
More attention will be paid to Venezuela, says former Caribbean diplomat
LONDON, England: As part of the Caribbean-Britain
Business Council Seminar Series 2007, former
Antigua and Barbuda
ambassador and frequent
Caribbean Net News contributor, Sir Ronald Sanders,
delivered a lecture at Chatham House in
London,
dealing with the expanding influence of Venezuela in
the Caribbean.
Suriname parliament to debate controversial amnesty bill
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The National Democratic
Party (NDP), Suriname's main opposition party, is
calling for amnesty
for the 1982 massacre of 15
opponents by the then ruling military dictatorship. The
party's chairman and former army
chief, Desi
Bouterse, is the main suspect in the murder trial.
Fairtrade producing results for Windward Islands banana producers
BELFAST, Northern Ireland: Banana producers in the
Windward Islands (St Lucia, St Vincent, Dominica and
Grenada)
are beginning to reap the benefits of
Fairtrade, according to Dr Christopher Stange,
Caribbean industry analyst and
committee member of
Fairtrade Belfast.
Ethanol plant for Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana's move to
find innovative ways of meeting the nation's energy
demands and agricultural
diversification, has received
a boost with an ethanol plant to be constructed by
Global Energy Ventures. This disclosure
stemmed
from a meeting at the Office of the President.
Work starts on new British Virgin Islands hospital
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Excavation work to build a new
hospital in the British Virgin Islands is in full swing as
the
contractor makes room for the sub-level space to
connect the Accident and Emergency Unit to the new
hospital.
Haitians face discrimination in Dominican Republic, says rights activist
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: Haitian
rights activist Sonia Pierre has repeated her
allegations that the
Dominican Republic population
discriminates against Haitians residing here. She
also accused the State of having "double
standards"
on how to face what they call a peaceful invasion of
Haitians.
More than US$1.5b in foreign investment headed to Dominican Republic in 2008
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: The
Dominican Republic will receive more than 1.5 billion
dollars in direct
foreign investment next year, from the
effects of the Free Trade Agreement with the United
States and Central America
(DR-CAFTA).
Electoral reform continues in St Kitts-Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The Electoral
Reform process in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis
continues
with the appointment of a Boundaries
Technical Committee. The Cabinet received an
update on the electoral reform process
and is
confident that it will be completed in good time.
St Lucia's unemployed line up for jobs in Canada
CASTRIES, St Lucia: As early as 7.30 am, hundreds of
St Lucians gathered at the Labour Department in
Castries
on Wednesday, hoping to obtain
employment in Canada. Registration began at about
8.30 am and will continue until 20th
April 2007.
Suriname authorities puzzled over cause of failed crops
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Authorities here will launch
a thorough investigation into the cause of failed crops
in
the southern parts of Suriname close to the border
with Brazil, officials have confirmed. Over 3,000
Amerindians are
being threatened with serious food
shortages.
US power producer to sell Caribbean assets to Japanese company
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Mirant Corp., the US
power producer that this month said it may put itself
up for
sale, has agreed to sell its Caribbean assets to
Japan's Marubeni Corp. for $579 million to complete
its exit from
overseas businesses.
Caribbean Diaspora prepares for summit with Bush
MIAMI, USA (JIS): As the Caribbean Diaspora in the
United States prepares for a June summit with
President George
Bush, the region's Ambassadors
and Consuls General in South Florida met with their
constituents on April 13, to discuss
issues relevant to
the upcoming meeting in Washington, DC.
Cuban scientist discovers healing properties of mango tree bark
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuban pharmaceutical
sciences graduate, Gilberto Pardo Andreu has
discovered that Vimang,
a drug obtained from the bark
of mango trees, protects the body cells from the
damage caused by iron accumulation
in them.
Letter: Mr Hall's final word on global warming
Mr Hall, I've just read your "Final Word on Global
Warming". Like a lot of people these days, I'm trying to
get
a grasp of this whole "global warming/climate
change" issue. Unfortunately, for us lay people, it can
be very difficult
trying to decipher all the scientific
information (and misinformation).
Cricket World Cup will make three times more money than 2003 event, says Dehring
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Bloomberg): The 2007
Cricket World Cup will generate three times as much
ticket revenue
as the 2003 edition, tournament chief
executive Chris Dehring said as he defended the
event against criticism. The
nine Caribbean host
nations will recoup more than $30 million
Huge debt hampers West Indies' growth, says WICB
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (AFP): A debt of 15 million
dollars is hampering West Indies cricket
development, the president
of the West Indies Cricket
Board (WICB) Ken Gordon has admitted. The WICB
has blamed their cash-strapped state for
being
unable to launch their long-awaited regional
development plan.
Sarwan emerges front-runner for West Indies captaincy
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Middle-order
batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan is all set to be named
as the West Indies captain
for their next month's tour
of England replacing the under-fire Brian Lara.
Sarwan has been Lara's deputy since 2003
and many
believe he is the right choice to carry the West Indies
team forward.
West Indies ready to blood new boys to restore pride
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Reuters): World Cup hosts
West Indies, already eliminated from the competition,
may blood
new players as they aim to restore some
pride when they face Bangladesh. West Indies captain
Brian Lara says his team
wants to end the tournament
with some morale-boosting displays.
Maharoof and Murali run through Ireland
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (AFP): Sri Lanka's Farveez
Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan took four wickets
each to set
up an eight-wicket win against Ireland,
who bowed out of the World Cup by making 77 -- the
sixth lowest total in the
competition's history -- here on
Wednesday.
Puerto Rico's unbeaten Cotto set to defend crown
NEW YORK, USA (AFP): Undefeated Miguel Cotto of
Puerto Rico and US challenger Zab Judah began their
verbal sparring
here ahead of their June 9 showdown
for Cotto's World Boxing Association welterweight
crown. Cotto will make his third
consecutive
appearance at Madison Square Garden.
Cuban migrants hold protest march in the Cayman Islands
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: A group of Cuban
refugees escaped from a detention facility in Grand
Cayman on Saturday
and took their protests to the
streets of George Town, the capital of the Cayman
Islands. After forcing a gate at
the facility, the 29-strong
group marched into town, shouting, "No Cuba, No
Castro!"
Thirty Jamaican police officers working full-time on Woolmer case
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Some 30 members of the
Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have been working
full-time
on the investigation into the murder of
Pakistan cricket coach, Bob Woolmer, in addition to
two officers from the
Pakistani police who arrived in
the island last week.
Former Surinamese trade minister challenges prosecution
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Prosecutors are to respond
to several motions filed in court by attorneys for former
minister
of trade and industry, Siegfried Gilds,
challenging his prosecution for alleged criminal
offences. In the previous
government from 2000-2005,
Gilds held the position of Minister of Justice and
Police.
Dominican Republic president has a wide lead, according to latest polls
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: Some 45
percent of the country's voters feel that incumbent
president Leonel
Fernandez should be the Dominican
Republic ruling party's (PLD) presidential candidate,
Cuban migrants walk ashore in Florida
MIAMI, USA (UPI): Nearly two dozen Cubans survived
rough waters off Florida to walk ashore near Miami on
Monday.
The 21 Cubans reportedly started sailing
Friday morning and encountered cold winds and
choppy water before reaching
Florida, The Miami
Herald and WFOR-TV said.
Book Review: Havana tour takes in Hemingway's bar, mysterious bronze shoes
The Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti (1853-1895), who
spent much of his life outside his homeland, once
said that
living in exile is like "sculpting clouds." "It's a
sublime metaphor for the power of imagination, and
many Havanas
have been built in the skies over
Miami," writes Alfredo Jose Estrada,
Court sides with jailed Cuban exile in bail dispute
EL PASO, USA (Reuters): An appeals court on
Tuesday denied a US government motion to keep anti-
Castro Cuban exile
Luis Posada Carriles in jail on
immigration charges but he was not immediately
released.
Major US retailers coming to Dominican Republic cities
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: At least two
United States retail chains have announced the start
of operations
in the Dominican Republic before the
end of this year or in the first quarter in 2008.
Project to secure E-transactions to be implemented this year in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The government of
Jamaica's Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) project,
which is designed
to secure commercial transactions
over the internet, is scheduled to be implemented
later this year.
St Kitts cruise arrivals to increase to over 400,000 passengers in 2008
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The St Kitts and
Nevis government Labour says cruise arrivals will
increase by
over 70 percent next year. According to the
St Kitts Tourism Authority, the Carnival Destiny will
bring 130,000 passengers
next year to St Kitts,
beginning with its first call on January 10, 2008.
Cabinet discusses privatisation of assets in St Kitts
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): Privatisation of
government assets and the approval of concessions
in the manufacturing
sector were among issues
discussed at Monday's weekly Cabinet Meeting in St
Kitts. The Cabinet approved concessions
for two
small local manufacturing companies.
Revised Cotonou Agreement gets greenlight from St Kitts-Nevis Cabinet
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The Government of
the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has approved the
ratification
of the Cotonou Agreement, which defines
the trade and development relationship between the
European Union and the
African, Caribbean and
Pacific (ACP) countries.
Harmful pesticides banned in Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The government in
Suriname has imposed a ban on several pesticides
in order to safeguard
vegetable exports and promote
food safety and health. The Ministry of Agriculture,
Animal Husbandry and Fisheries
released a list
containing 15 pesticides that are being banned.
Work starts on new natural gas plant in Trinidad
OVERLAND PARK, USA: Black & Veatch, a leading
global engineering, consulting and construction
company, has
begun initial work on a contract to
construct a cryogenic natural gas liquids (NGL)
recovery train at the Phoenix
Park Gas Processors
Limited (PPGPL) Point Lisas facility in Trinidad.
USVI Department of Tourism embraces new management practices
ST THOMAS, USVI: Members of the USVI Department
of Tourism sales and marketing management team
convened in St
Croix over the weekend to participate in
training sessions, tour hotel properties and meet with
private sector representatives.
Chavez plays down clash on biofuel at South American energy summit
PORLAMAR, Venezuela (AFP): Addressing a South
American energy summit he hopes will boost regional
integration,
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on
Tuesday tempered his criticism of Brazil's plans to
promote ethanol.
Royal Bank of Canada agrees to buy half of Bahamas-based bank
TORONTO, Canada (Bloomberg): Royal Bank of
Canada, the country's biggest lender, has agreed to
buy 50 percent
of the Bahamas-based banking unit of
Fidelity Bank & Trust International Ltd. to expand its
corporate banking
business in the Caribbean.
Caribbean trade ministers assert position on WTO negotiations
CHRIST CHURCH, Barbados: "This meeting was
timely and useful. We heard Director General Lamy's
perspectives on
the current status of the negotiations,
the obstacles that impede real progress and the way
forward in the negotiations.
Hall and Smith fire South Africa into semi-finals
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): South Africa rode on
Andrew Hall's maiden five-wicket burst to storm into
the World
Cup semi-finals with an emphatic nine-
wicket win which humiliated England here on Tuesday.
Powell targeting world title not world record
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Asafa Powell, the world's
fastest man will be focusing more on winning his first
global gold
medal, rather than lowering his own world
record this outdoor season. The 24-year-old
speedster has set his sights
on claiming the World
Championships title in Osaka, Japan.
Partial toxicology results received in Woolmer murder investigation
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Jamaican police have
now received partial toxicology results in the Woolmer
murder
case. "They will require further investigation
and analysis and it will be totally inappropriate for me
to elaborate
any further on that," Deputy of
Commissioner for Crime, Mark Shields told
journalists.
Chavez, Lula clash over ethanol at energy summit
PORLAMAR, Venezuela (Reuters): South America's
political heavyweights clashed over ethanol, exposing
a rift at
an energy summit that host Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez hoped would cement anti-US
unity. Brazilian President
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
swiped at Chavez, rejecting his leftist's criticism of
their plan.
CARICOM visa proving successful
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: More than 37,000 visas
have been issued to persons who now enjoy the
privilege of relatively
hassle free travel throughout the
CARICOM Single Domestic Space. Recipients of the
visa are entitled to move freely
through the 10
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries
Guyana's President Jagdeo and First Lady agree to divorce
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: President Bharrat Jagdeo
and First Lady Varshnie have agreed to a divorce.
According to statements
issued separately by the
Office of the President and the Office of the First Lady,
the two have decided to end the
marriage because
they have "grown apart over the years".
Hollywood actor to visit Montserrat
BRADES, Montserrat: The "Lethal Weapon" star,
Danny Glover, will visit Montserrat later this year to
host a major
event on the island. Pageant founder for
the Miss CARICOM International Pageant, Monica
Sanchez, says the American
actor will be on island as
a guest of the event's organisers, which will be held
on July 21.
St Kitts-Nevis economy likely to be among best performers, says IMF
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The Washington-
based International Monetary Fund, while predicting
lower economic
growth in the Caribbean this year and
next, says St Kitts and Nevis will be among the best
performers in 2007.
Canadian recruitment officials to visit St Lucia
BELFAST, Northern Ireland: Representatives of
different Canadian businesses in Calgary, Alberta will
be visiting
St Lucia from April 23-27, 2007. The
purpose is to recruit and select interested individuals
required for the transport,
manufacturing, culinary, and
administrative sectors in Calgary.
Digicel and Intelsur receive mobile licences in Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Digicel and Intelsur
received GSM mobile licences from the Suriname
authorities Monday,
effectively ending the monopoly of
state-owned telecommunications provider Telesur.
The handing over of the licenses
formally marked the
liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in
Suriname.
Commentary: Law and Politics: The excuses and denials not unexpected
Who would have ever thought, that the fun and party
game of cricket that we in the Caribbean took so much
for
granted for all those decades would, at its highest
level of exposure for worldwide viewing, have come to
our shores
and caused so much division, and
discussion, and heated debate and dissention,
Commentary: My fellow Americans
Up until now, I refrained on commenting on Anna
Nicole Smith and all the craziness surrounding her
death. However,
after reading all the letters to the
editor of Caribbean Net News, I have only one thing to
say: Get over it and move
on with your lives. Your
letters are hypocritical and quite frankly ridiculous.
Letter: Reward offered - Lost or stolen: 73,135 cruise ship passengers
According to moderator Dennis Johnson on the
popular Barbadian Down to Brass Tacks programme,
the six cruise
ships currently berthed in the
Bridgetown Port accommodated a total of 1,865
passengers. Sea Dream - 38, Galaxy -
682, Blue
Moon - 675, Carnival Destiny - 350 and Silver Wind -
120!
Letter: How many visas?
We have been told that the reason, prior to offering
free entrance to Kensington Oval, why the attendance
to
the CWC matches so far have been so low is due to
the elimination of India and Pakistan.
West Indies coach demands changes
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): West Indies coach
Bennett King believes Caribbean cricket needs to
introduce fundamental
changes if there is to be a
return to the team's glory days. Only a series of freak
results can save them from World
Cup elimination
after a dire Super Eights campaign
Ponting follows up Hogg double in win over Lankans
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (AFP): Australia captain Ricky
Ponting scored an unbeaten 66 as the champions
stretched
their unbeaten run at the World Cup to 26
games and 20 consecutive wins with a seven-wicket
Super Eights victory against
an under-strength Sri
Lanka here Monday.
Powell planning for World Championships gold medal
CALIFORNIA, USA: Jamaican world record holder
Asafa Powell has said that he will limit his racing
schedule this
season in an attempt to be ready for the
IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, this
summer. He had to withdraw
from the last
championships two years ago because of a groin
injury.
Jamaica's Facey runs world leading 200m time
MIAMI, USA: Jamaica's 2002 World Junior
Championships silver medalist Simone Facey
clocked a world leading 22.77
seconds to win the
women's 200-metres dash at the Miami Elite
Invitational in Florida on Saturday.
Cuba's Castro taking back reins of government, says Chavez
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Venezuela's president
fed speculation that Cuban leader Fidel Castro might
return to
power soon, stating that his ailing friend has
informally taken back many duties. "Fidel has nearly
completely recovered,"
said Chavez who has become
a sort of spokesman on Castro's health,
Jamaican police deny Pakistan players treated like criminals
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): Police investigating
the death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer in
Jamaica
have dismissed accusations by cricketer
Younis Khan that the team was treated like criminals
during questioning.
Suriname government considers lobbying for Alcoa smelter
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The current administration
is prepared to negotiate with multinational Alcoa to
build an
aluminum smelter in Suriname, if plans to
construct a smelter in Trinidad & Tobago are
cancelled, a government
minister here disclosed.
Murder suspect held on $1 million dollar bail in the USVI
ST THOMAS, USVI: A St Thomas man suspected of
killing a 12-year-old girl was held on a $1 million
dollar bail
after a court hearing on Friday. The body of
the child, Laquina Hennis, was found stuffed into a
plastic bin in an
abandoned home in the Sugar Estate
area.
US congressional delegation visits Grenada
ST GEORGE'S Grenada: A five member
congressional delegation from the United States has
visited Grenada with the
aim of strengthening
relations between the two countries. While in
Grenada, the visitors held discussions with Prime
Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, and Leader of the
Opposition Tillman Thomas.
Put people at the centre of trade negotiations, says Jamaica's prime minist
