EU policies may impact Caribbean tourism
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: The Caribbean media should
look at how changing European Union policy on
climate change
impacts the region's principal growth
sector, the tourism industry, urged a development
advocate in Britain. David
Jessop, director of the
Caribbean Council said the region's major tourism
markets...
Michael Moore slams US government over Cuba probe
LOS ANGELES, USA (AFP): Firebrand director Michael
Moore lashed out at the US on Friday following
revelations
he is being investigated over a recent trip
to Cuba for his new film. Moore is the subject of a
probe by the US Treasury
after he took a group of
rescue workers in the September 11, 2001 attacks to
Cuba.
Caribbean, Central American leaders to hold summit in Belize
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Climate change and energy
are high on the agenda of the Caribbean Community
and Central American
Integration System (SICA)
summit Saturday in Belize, the Guyana-based
Caricom said Friday.
Boat hit Haitian vessel says survivors
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (UPI): A patrol boat from the
Turks and Caicos Islands rammed a Haitian vessel
bound for
the United States that sank this week killing
dozens. The migrants' boat was rammed, then
overturned after it was
towed into deep waters off the
coast of the Caribbean islands, Haitian radio reported
Thursday.
Cuba says US broke anti-terrorism treaties
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba accused the United
States on Friday of violating international anti-
terrorism treaties
by failing to prosecute an anti-
Castro militant and former CIA operative wanted for
bomb attacks against the country.
Reunion 2008 opportunity for introspection, says Dominica PM
ROSEAU, Dominica: Reunion Year 2008 is an
opportunity to do some introspection. This sentiment
was articulated
by Dominica's Prime Minister,
Roosevelt Skerrit when he delivered the feature
address at the Official Launch of the
Reunion 2008
Celebrations at the State House Grounds in Roseau
on Monday evening.
ACP Fiji meeting centred around future of sugar
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA):The new European
Union (EU) sugar regime and the future outlook of
sugar amidst the
restructuring process, coupled with
areas pertinent to improved trade relations were the
highlights of the tenth Special
African, Caribbean and
Pacific (ACP) Ministerial Meeting in Fiji.
Jamaica's National Security Minister meets with UK Minister for counter- narcotics and terrorism
KINGSTON, Jamaica (MNSJ): Jamaica's Minister of
National Security, Dr Peter Phillips this week met with
Dr Kim
Howells, Minister of State in Britain's Foreign
and Commonwealth Office (FCO) responsible for
Counter Narcotics, Counter
Terrorism, Counter
Proliferation, Conflict Issues, the Middle East,
Afghanistan and South Asia, and UN Reform.
Minister opens regional health conference in St Kitts
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Minister of State with
responsibility for Sport Richard Skerritt officially
opened the
inaugural Caribbean Conference of the
International Council for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation, Sport and
Dance (ICHPER∙SD) in St Kitts
on Friday. Several presentations were made.
New Democratic Party takes protest to the Grenadines
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: The parliamentary
opposition New Democratic Party took its protest to
the Grenadine island
of Bequia this week as it tried to
bring pressure on the government to make a number
of changes in its policies. One
policy the NDP would
like to see changed is the EC$1 port user-fee
removed.
Venezuela hits Conoco projects with record tax bill
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Venezuela on Friday
slapped the largest tax bill in the nation's history on an
oil
project led by ConocoPhillips, the lone holdout in
President Hugo Chavez's oil nationalization crusade.
Venezuelan military adopts Chavez socialism slogan
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Venezuela's military
has adopted President Hugo Chavez's "Homeland,
Socialism or
Death" slogan as an official salute, a
further sign of politicization of core institutions in the
OPEC nation.
Literature Nobel Walcott: Caribbean a 'tragicomedy'
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Nobel laureate Derek
Walcott on Thursday celebrated the Caribbean as a lot
of cultures
packed into a very small sea. In his talk
Walcott made repeated references to calypso music
and the celebrations and
parties in the English-
speaking Caribbean.
Caribbean airlines soar for Cricket World Cup
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: One of the legacies of the
ICC Cricket World Cup, which ended with the final in
Barbados
last month, was the unprecedented level of
cooperation between the Caribbean region's carriers,
reports Richard Lue,
coordinator of the regional airline
task force for the international competition.
Commentary: China and Taiwan again
The political struggle between China and Taiwan has
once again shown in its head in the Caribbean,
dividing the
loyalties of the countries of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) and delaying a cohesive
policy toward Asia. Now, five
CARICOM countries
recognise Taiwan and nine others have diplomatic
relations with China.
Commentary: Calls to punish the TCI police for the Haitian boat tragedy are premature, if not unwarranted
Evidently, many readers inferred from one sentence in
yesterday's 12-paragraph commentary - entitled The
tragedy
of being Haitian at home and at sea - that I
think TCI police committed a crime for which they
must be prosecuted,
and for which their government
must pay..."millions".
Letter: Concerning the picture of US Navy ship LST-467
I am writing to you concerning the wonderful ariticle
that appeared in your paper on May 8, concerning US
Navy
veteran Bill Schutz and other former crewmen of
LST-467 who will be visiting St Thomas during the
week of May 14 for
their military reunion.
We are trying to win every game, says West Indies coach
TAUNTON, United Kingdom: West Indies coach David
Moore spoke with the media on Thursday before the
West Indies
first practice session. Following are
excerpts from his responses. On whether he is
viewing this tour as a 'development
tour': Two and a
half months, we're trying to win every game we can.
West Indies manager Findlay willing to help Ramdin on tour
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Former West Indies
wicketkeeper Mike Findlay, who is the newly appointed
manager of the
West Indies team, has said he would
be delighted to help the current young team
wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin in any
way possible
during the team's lengthy tour of England.
Manager excited about the progression of Jamaican Brooks
DOHA, Qatar: A bright start to what is expected to be
fruitful season for Jamaican sprinter Sheri-Ann Brooks
has
had her manager Kris Mychasiw broiling with
praises for the Commonwealth Games champion.
Brown, Williams land victories in Qatar Grand Prix
DOHA, Qatar: It was another good run in successive
weekends for Darrel Brown of Trinidad and Tobago's
as he and
Chris Williams of Jamaica led the way for
the Caribbean at the IAAF Super Grand Prix Meeting in
Doha, Qatar.
Bahamas PM promises new Ministry of Grand Bahama Affairs
FREEPORT, Bahamas (BIS): Bahamas Prime
Minister Hubert Ingraham said Wednesday that during
his next Cabinet adjustment
he will create a new
Ministry of Grand Bahama Affairs to bring more focus
to the needs of that island. Ingraham was
in Grand
Bahama participating in an FNM victory celebration.
Sixty-one bodies recovered in Haitian boat sinking
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Search teams have
recovered 61 bodies from the sea after a boat carrying
Haitians
heading to the United States sank near the
Turks and Caicos islands, a Haitian official said.
Authorities had earlier
reported a total of 54 bodies
recovered from the accident.
US government probes Michael Moore over Cuba trip
NEW YORK, USA (AFP): Campaigning documentary
maker Michael Moore is being investigated by the US
over a recent
trip to Cuba as part of a new film about
the US healthcare system. A copy of a letter from the
US treasury to Moore
and seen by AFP gives the
filmmaker 20 working days to explain the purpose of
the trip
French Caribbean islanders of Martinique face slaving past on the web
PARIS, France (AFP): More than 150 years after
France abolished slavery, a website on the French
Caribbean island
of Martinique has given voice to its
slave descendants in a bid to keep the memory of
their ancestors alive.
Singapore's Deputy PM promotes trade in Cuba visit
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Singapore's Deputy Prime
Minister Shanmugam Jayakumar launched a three-
day visit to Cuba
on Thursday focusing on trade in
pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, the official Cuban
news agency reported. Jayakumar
was scheduled to
proceed to Panama after leaving Cuba.
Chinese defence minister visits Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): China's Defence Minister Cao
Gangchuan met with acting president Raul Castro
Thursday at
the start of an international tour, the
government said in a statement. Cao is the second
senior Chinese figure to
visit Cuba in less than a
month.
Cuba's Fidel Castro publishes new article against biofuels
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba late Wednesday released
an advance copy of an article by convalescing
President Fidel
Castro on the evils of biofuels. In the
article, Castro chastises biofuel proponents for being
ignorant or indifferent
to the fact that people will go
hungry in order for fuel to be produced
Dominica PM warns of renewed challenges facing banana industry
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica's Prime Minister,
Roosevelt Skerrit has sounded a warning of the
renewed challenges
facing the banana industry in the
Windward Islands and the ACP grouping as a whole.
He was at the time addressing
the 5th Annual General
Meeting of the Dominica National Fair Trade
Organisation.
UK interested in tax treaty with Netherlands Antilles
WILLAMSTED, Curacao: The government of the
Netherlands Antilles has recently received a request
from the government
of the United Kingdom to start
the negotiation process of a 'mini' tax treaty. According
to the State Secretary of
Finance, Alex Rosaria, his
policy is to cooperate with important jurisdictions.
Energy saving programme in Nevis to benefit all households, says minister
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: According to Minister of
Social Transformation in the Nevis Island
Administration, Hensley
Daniel, all households will
benefit from the energy saving bulbs programme
currently ongoing in Nevis. The programme
commenced on April 13, 2007, with 25 Cuban social
workers.
Health conference opens in St Kitts
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: The inaugural Caribbean
Conference of the International Council for Health,
Physical Education,
Recreation, Sport and Dance
(ICHPER∙SD) opens Friday in St Kitts, bringing
delegates from around the region.
The two-day event
is being hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and
Culture.
Mud bank threatens to block Suriname's main river, expert warns
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: If the Suriname government
fails to take precautionary steps a vast mud bank
within 20
years will block the mouth of the country's
most important river, the Suriname River, a coastal
zone expert here has
warned.
Turks and Caicos hosts Caribbean fisheries meeting
GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands (GIS): More
than twenty delegates from fourteen countries met in
the Turks
and Caicos Islands for the Fifth Meeting of
the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism.
Minister McAllister Hanchell.
noted that the Turks &
Caicos recognises the importance of its fishing
industry.
Venezuela vows to press for extradition of anti-Castro terrorist
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Venezuela has no
intention of abandoning efforts to extradite convicted
anti-Castro
terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, who on
Tuesday won dismissal of immigration fraud charges
in a US court.
Top airlines increase flights to Caribbean
NEW YORK, USA: As an exotic Caribbean getaway
becomes more attractive with off-season reduced
rates throughout
the region, major US carriers and
regional airlines have taken notice and added new
flights and frequencies to make
visiting the region
easier for summer travelers.
Commentary: The tragedy of being Haitian at home and at sea
I sympathize with the efforts of Coast Guard agents
throughout the Caribbean who patrol night and day
trying
to stem the tides of Haitian refugees washing
up on our shores. But my sympathy does not extend to
enforcement methods
in this respect that are more
suited for interdicting and incarcerating drug traffickers.
Letter: Domestic violence issue
Today's domestic violence industry, worldwide,
follows (or advocates) a biased, gender feminist,
domestic violence
methodology, that systematically
works to marginalize and exclude males. "Misandrist"
most precisely characterizes
the junk science
positions presented by them.
I'm looking for us to compete, says West Indies captain
TAUNTON, United Kingdom: Newly appointed West
Indies captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan spoke with the
media prior to
the first training session at the
Somerset County Cricket Club ground on Thursday
afternoon.
Brown, Foster-Hylton head Caribbean entries in Qatar
DOHA, Qatar: Trinidad and Tobago's Darrel Brown
and club mate Jamaica's Brigitte Foster-Hylton, will go
in search
of win number two in as many weekends
when they compete at Friday evening's IAAF Super
Grand Prix Meeting in Doha,
Qatar.
Grenadian Roberts sees red in Rovers' 1-1 draw at Spurs
LONDON, England: Grenadian international Jason
Roberts was shown a red card in the English Premier
League match
played at a soggy White Hart Lane on
Thursday. Roberts was sent off in time added on after
receiving two yellow cards
in the match between his
side Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur.
Digicel takes legal action against BVI telecoms regulators
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Digicel maintains that it has always
had an interest in entering the British Virgin Islands
market,
according to a statement from the
telecommunications company just days after an
application by the company was filed
in the High Court
against the Telecommunications Regulatory
Commission in the BVI.
Millions of dollars recovered from Trinidad airport scandal
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's
Attorney General, John Jeremie, has told the nation
that the government
has been successful in retrieving
millions of dollars stolen by several persons
connected to the TT$1.6 million Piarco
Airport scandal.
Year's first named storm forms ahead of Atlantic hurricane season
MIAMI, USA (AFP): Subtropical Storm Andrea formed
off the southeastern US coast Wednesday, becoming
the first
named storm of the year three weeks before
the Atlantic hurricane season officially starts.
Venezuelan government takes control of leading telecom firm
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): The government of leftist
President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday it was taking
control
of the country's leading telecommunications
firm, a key step in a nationalization drive in strategic
sectors.
Anguilla's Minister of Tourism holds preliminary talks with WinAir
THE VALLEY, Anguilla: Anguila's Minister of Tourism
Victor Banks led a delegation to St Maarten last Friday,
to
hold preliminary talks with representatives of
Windward Islands Airways (WinAir). Banks expressed
his government's
appreciation for WinAir's service
and support to Anguilla's tourism industry.
Open and forthright discussions needed on CSME, says Bahamas attorney
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): Although there has not
been any recent public discussion on The Bahamas
joining CARICOM's
Single Market and Economy
(CSME), that does not mean it has gone away,
Attorney-at-Law and Senior Partner at McKinney,
Brancroft and Hughes, Brian Moree said.
Cuban minister says US president ordered Posada Carriles freed
CARACAS, USA (Bloomberg): Cuban Foreign Affairs
Minister Felipe Perez Roque has accused the US of
paying and
protecting alleged anti-Castro terrorist and
suspected one time CIA-operative, Luis Posada
Carriles, whose release
from a US prison he said
was ordered by President George W. Bush.
IMF confirms Dominica economy recorded strongest growth in nearly twenty years
ROSEAU, Dominica: An International Monetary Fund
Staff Mission has confirmed that the Dominican
economy grew
by an estimated 4% in 2006, the
strongest in nearly two decades. The Fund also
highlighted progress being made in
several other
areas.
Guyana grants Digicel temporary international licence
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Guyana Government on
Wednesday granted Caribbean mobile
telecommunications operator Digicel
a temporary
international licence. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds,
who has responsibility for telecommunications, said
that the decision was promoted by the rupture to the
Americas II cable.
Samples from murdered Guyanese businessman to be tested in US
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Relatives of Guyanese
businessman, Farouk Razac are preparing to send
his body samples to
a laboratory in the United States
for forensic testing, following an autopsy which
revealed that he was strangled.
Police in Guyana have
detained for questioning his wife, Carolan Lynch.
Civil service housing scheme in St Kitts-Nevis doing well, says official
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Some three years following
the inception of the St Kitts and Nevis Civil Servants
Housing
Scheme, implemented by the National
Housing Corporation (NHC), 92 government
employees have benefitted by becoming
home
owners.
St Lucia Rotary Club to host ninth annual treasure hunt
CASTRIES, St Lucia: On May 20, 2007, the Rotary Club
of St Lucia will host its ninth Rotary Treasure Hunt
across
the Island. The starting point is the Rodney
Bay Marina, Gros-Islet. This year's hunt will include a
fleet of over
forty vehicles.
Venezuela a victim of drug trade, says Chavez
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): President Hugo Chavez
said Tuesday that Venezuela is a victim of drug
trafficking,
after US drug czar John Walters blamed the
country for growing amounts of cocaine entering
Europe. "We are victim
and a bridge for drug
trafficking, for quite a while now," Chavez told followers
at a Caracas theater.
CARICOM official wants deportations addressed at Caribbean conference
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Assistant Secretary-General
for Human and Social Development, Caribbean
Community (CARICOM)
Secretariat, Dr Edward
Greene, is advocating that the issue of youth
deportation to be addressed during the Conference
on the Caribbean scheduled to take place in
Washington DC on June 19-21, 2007.
British House of Lords appeal for Fairtrade campaign
BELFAST, Northern Ireland: Labour peer Lord Bilston
has initiated an appeal to the United Kingdom's
House of
Lords, for greater attention and exposure for
Fairtrade, a system which has been so beneficial to
the Windward Island
(St Lucia, St Vincent, Dominica
and Grenada) banana producers.
OAS roundtable explores trade policy consensus in era of globalisation
WASHINGTON, USA: Focusing the spotlight on trade
policy issues and globalisation, experts at the
Organization
of American States (OAS) have
highlighted the need to move forward on free trade
agreement initiatives between the
United States and
certain Latin American countries.
Commentary: Hawks (safely) 'beyond' threat
It had come to this on the question of financial
services in the Caribbean region: first, 'an unbearable
lightness
of being', in which we luxuriated in an
industry formed by intuition; sustained by an
incongruous patchwork of legislation,
summarily
undermined by the onslaught of an accidental 'think
tank' in Paris.
Commentary: Diplomatic dance between China and Taiwan
The recent announcement by St Lucia to re-establish
diplomatic ties with the Republic of China on Taiwan
underscores
the Caribbean region's inability to fully
comprehend the true extent of the relationship
between Taiwan and China
and an indifference to
develop a practical foreign policy.
Time to combine our efforts, says West Indies' Sammy
SOMERSET, England: "With a new captain in
Ramnaresh Sarwan and some new faces it is a great
opportunity for everyone
of us to combine our efforts
and talents in making this a successful tour for the
West Indies and the people of the
Caribbean."
Jamaican Olympic medalist McFarlane believes he's back in winning form
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaican hurdler Danny
McFarlane believes he is back in similar form to the
season that saw
him winning his first individual
Olympic medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens,
Greece.
Grenada PM reshuffles Cabinet
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: In a rally of thanksgiving and
celebration for Grenada's successful staging of
Cricket
World Cup 2007, political leader of the New
National Party (NNP) Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell
did not let down
his supporters on Sunday and made
some major announcements as promised.
Beauty queen detained in Guyana as police probe husband's death
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Police in Guyana have
detained the reigning Mrs South America as part of
ongoing investigations
into the death of her husband,
embattled businessman, Farouk Razac who was
found dead in the bedroom of his Bel Air
residence in
upscale Georgetown on Monday.
BVI legislators unanimously approve new constitution
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Legislators in the British Virgin
Islands unanimously passed the final draft of the
Virgin Islands
Constitution Order 2007 at the 49th
sitting of the Legislative Council this week. Debate on
the new constitution
followed a motion moved by Chief
Minister and head of the constitutional negotiating
team Dr Orlando Smith.
Bush praises Haitian president on anti-corruption efforts
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US President George W.
Bush on Tuesday praised visiting Haitian President
Rene Preval
for trying to crack down on corruption and
bring security to the impoverished and violence-
wracked nation. A force
of some 9,000 UN blue-
helmet peacekeepers has been operating in Haiti
since mid-2006.
Bahamas Governor General challenges new government
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): Governor General of The
Bahamas, Arthur Hanna, has challenged newly
elected Members of
Parliament to maintain the
country's democracy as a new Government is formed.
He spoke during the Swearing In of the
first two
Cabinet Ministers on Friday at Government House.
US charges against anti-Castro militant dropped
HOUSTON, USA (Reuters): A US judge threw out all
charges against anti-Castro Cuban militant Luis
Posada Carriles
on Tuesday, less than a week before
he was supposed to go to trial. Department of Justice
spokesman Dean Boyd said
US District Judge
Kathleen Cardone in El Paso, Texas, dismissed the
seven-count indictment.
Cuban deserters could be shot for hijack deaths
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cubans think their country's
communist authorities will execute two military
deserters
who shot dead an officer and a soldier in an
attempt to hijack a plane to the United States.
Press association welcomes Dominican Republic court rulings on impunity, crimes against journalists
MIAMI, USA: The Inter American Press Association
(IAPA) last week welcomed recent court decisions in
the Dominican
Republic in the cases of journalists
Juan Andújar, Narciso González and Orlando Martínez,
murdered (or disappeared)
in 2004, 1994 and 1975,
respectively.
Grenada's national parks may be up for sale
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: The Grenadian government
has passed an amendment to the Grenada National
Parks and Protected
Areas Act, giving the governor
general the right to sell national parks land to private
developers. This move has
been precipitated by the
proposed Four Seasons Hotels development at Mount
Hartman.
Proposed wage increase for Grenada's public sector workers
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: A proposed wage increase
for Grenada's Public Sector Workers was announced
on Sunday at
a New National Party (NNP) political
rally. The announcement was made by Prime Minister
Dr Keith Mitchell, who said
the increase is a sacrifice
the government is making on the people's behalf.
Digicel calls for liberalisation of Guyana telecoms
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Digicel, the Caribbean
mobile telecommunications operator and new entrant
to South and Central
America, has called for the
liberalisation of the mobile communications market
and the granting of a licence to route
international
calls in and out of Guyana.
Hope fades for finding Haitian migrants
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands (UPI):
Hopes of finding a large group of Haitian migrants,
missing since
the boat they were on capsized, were
fading Monday as rescuers scaled back the search.
Authorities in the Caribbean
islands said 40 people
were sill missing.
Haitians' deaths at sea further fuels immigration debate in US
MIAMI, USA (AFP): Activists pressing for relaxed US
immigration policies toward Haitians say the deaths
of dozens
of migrants in shark-infested waters last
week underscore the urgency of the issue.
Woolmer probe still inconclusive, says investigator
KARACHI, Pakistan (AFP): A Pakistani investigator on
Tuesday said that a probe into the cause of death of
national
cricket coach Bob Woolmer was still
inconclusive. Pakistan sent two senior investigators to
the West Indies to help
investigations and one of them
said the cause of death of Woolmer was not yet
confirmed.
Grants to be made available to small business owners in Montserrat
BRADES, Montserrat: Small business owners on
Montserrat are set to benefit from a cash injection
from the government
of EC$500,000 to boost their
businesses. The money is being made available
under the government's small business support
grants scheme.
Montserrat spells out plans for increasing population
BRADES, Montserrat: The government of Montserrat
has been setting out its ideas for increasing the
island's population.
Chief Minister Dr Lowell Lewis in
his Labour Day message to the nation explained that
Montserrat's population is too
small and must
increase in order to drive the growth of the island's
economy.
Puerto Rico senate votes to reconsider sales-tax legislation
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Bloomberg): Puerto Rico's
Senate voted on Monday to keep alive a bill that would
alter
the commonwealth's sales tax and is tied to
legislation authorizing the sale of $500 million of
bonds, Senate President
Kenneth McClintock said.
Nevis minister welcomes Carib expedition; urges youth to reconnect with history
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Minister with responsibility
for Culture Hensley Daniel has encouraged
Nevisians, in particular
the youth, to use the visit by a
group of Carib Indians to Nevis from Dominica, as an
opportunity to reconnect with
the people who have
inhabited the Caribbean for hundreds of years.
International communications in Suriname disrupted
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: For a third consecutive day,
telecommunications and internet operations were
disrupted
in Suriname on Tuesday, as problems with
a damaged fiberoptic cable connecting French
Guiana, Suriname and Guyana
continued.
Former Suriname president calls for interim government
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: A former president has
called for an interim government to stop an alleged
political and
socio-economic crisis in
Suriname. "Suriname is in distress and nobody can
deny that," said ex-president Jules Wijdenbosch
(DNP
2000) at a party meeting Friday night.
US experts train Suriname bomb squad
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Experts of the United States
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
recently conducted
a training session for the Bomb
Squad of the Suriname Police Force (KPS), a police
spokesman has disclosed.
Venezuelans wed Cubans for green card?
MIAMI, USA (UPI): US immigration officials are
suspicious of the increased number of Venezuelans
marrying Cuban
refugees, up sharply since 2002.
The Cuban refugees marrying Venezuelans -- more
than 2,000 since 2002 -- are
on the fast track for green
cards.
US blames Venezuela for European drug problem
BRUSSELS, Belguim (Reuters): The United States'
anti-drug czar blamed Venezuela on Tuesday for a
rise in shipments
of cocaine into Europe and urged
EU governments to apply diplomatic pressure on the
Latin American country to combat
the problem.
Learn lessons of slavery to fight injustice, Annan tells British lawmakers
LONDON, England (AFP): Former United Nations
secretary general Kofi Annan on Tuesday said that
lessons learnt
from slavery should be used to combat
human trafficking, child labour and prostitution. The
Ghanaian diplomat was
delivering a rare address to a
joint sitting of both chambers of Britain's parliament.
At least three major hurricanes for 2007, predicts AccuWeather
HOUSTON, USA (Bloomberg): At least three weather
systems in the Atlantic Basin will strengthen to major
hurricanes
with winds above 111 miles per hour, said
Joe Bastardi, chief hurricane forecaster for State
College, Pennsylvania-based
AccuWeather.
Commentary: The tragedy threatening our species - Reflections by Cuban President Fidel Castro
I cannot speak as an economist or a scientist. I simply
speak as a politician who wishes to unravel the
economists'
and scientists' arguments one way or
another. I also try to sense the motivations of each
one of those who make statements
on these matters.
Just twenty-two years ago, here in Havana...
West Indies team looking for redemption after World Cup, says Ganga
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Newly appointed vice
captain of the West Indies team Daren Ganga said
that the team is
looking to play better cricket in moving
from the One Day game to Test cricket. Ganga also
said that there will be
much work to be done to fill the
shoes of legendary batsman Brian Lara.
Former skippers Adams, Walsh back Sarwan as West Indies captain
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Former West Indies
captains Jimmy Adams and Courtney Walsh believe
the selection of Ramnaresh
Sarwan to lead the
regional side for the English tour, which starts this
month, is positive move by the West Indies
Cricket
Board .
Privy Council removal is 'ludicrous', says Trinidad opposition MP
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The Prime Minister's
justification for the removal of Trinidad and Tobago
from the Privy
Council has been condemned
as 'ludicrous and dangerous' by Congress of the
People political leader, Winston Dookeran.
Interpol praises Caribbean's CWC 2007 security platform
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The border security
mechanisms implemented by the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) for
the hosting of Cricket
World Cup (CWC) 2007 has come in for praise from
Interpol, whose Secretary-General, Ronald
Noble has
appealed for assistance for the region.
Easy win for Dominican Republic president in primary election
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: Incumbent
Dominican Republic president, Leonel Fernandez,
achieved a large
majority win in his PLD Party Primary
Elections held on Sunday, with over 70 percent of the
eligible votes. His closest
rival, former Presidential
Secretary Danilo Medina, was a distant second.
Haitian president embarks on first official US visit
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Haitian President
Rene Preval, who heads the most impoverished
country in the Western
hemisphere, began his first
official US visit Monday at the invitation of President
George W. Bush. As the centerpiece
of the four-day
visit, Preval was to meet Bush Wednesday for talks.
New work permit collection system in BVI
ROAD TOWN, BVI: In an effort to enhance the services
provided to its customers, the Labour Department in
the
British Virgin Islands will introduce a new
appointment system for the collection of work permit
renewals beginning
June 4.
Journalist's murderer sentenced to 30 years in prison in Dominican Republic
PARIS, France (RSF/IFEX): Edri Vladimir "Vla" Pujols,
a member of a gang known as "Los Zayayines", was
sentenced
on 2 May 2007 to 30 years in prison for the
2004 murder of Juan Andújar, a correspondent of the
daily "Listín Diario".
Guyana's human rights abstention is not acceptance, says minister
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana's abstention
from the vote on the human rights atrocities in
Myanmar (Burma)
was done in consultation with its
colleagues of the Caribbean Community. Minister of
Foreign Affairs Rudy Insanally
explained that the non-
participation should not be interpreted as acceptance.
Fifty four bodies recovered in Haitian boat sinking
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): A total of 54 bodies
has been recovered from the sea after a boat carrying
Haitians
heading to the United States sank near the
Turks and Caicos Islands, a Haitian ambassador told
AFP on Monday.
Caribbean media workers to conduct training in OECS countries
CASTRIES, St Lucia: During the months of May and
June, 2007 a team of senior Association of Caribbean
Media Workers
(ACM) trainers will be engaged in a
programme of professional training for young
journalists in OECS countries.
World War II veteran returns to USVI for reunion
LOS ANGELES, USA: World War II veteran, Bill Schutz,
never imagined that he would be traveling to the
distant
island of St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, for a
reunion with his old war ship, the LST-467. After six
decades, Schutz
welcomed an invitation in 2004 to
revisit this important chapter of US military history.
Venezuelan oil company closes units at Curacao refinery
SAN FRANCISCO, USA (Bloomberg): Petroleos de
Venezuela SA, Venezuela's state-run oil company,
closed some units
May 5 at the Isla refinery on the
Caribbean island of Curacao for four weeks of
scheduled maintenance.
Scientists gather as Japan prepares for whaling fight
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Japan geared for its
perennial clash with conservationists over lifting a
commercial hunting
ban Monday ahead of the
polarized International Whaling Commission's annual
meeting.
