Costa Rica accuses Castro of meddling
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AFP): Costa Rica accused
Cuba Thursday of meddling in its internal affairs after
Cuban
leader Fidel Castro criticized free trade
agreements between Latin American nations and the
United States.
Multi-billion dollar resort big boost to Jamaica tourism
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): By 2015, Jamaica's
offerings to tourists will boast an exclusive luxury
resort with
the construction of the multi-billion dollar
Harmony Cove Resort in Trelawny. On completion, the
US$2 to US$4 billion
resort will include several luxury
hotels, with at least 2,000 rooms available.
Caribbean must deepen integration, says OAS Assistant Secretary General
WASHINGTON, USA: Assistant Secretary General
Albert Ramdin of the Organization of American States
conveyed
to a Saint Lucia seminar that, as small and
vulnerable economies, Caribbean states have no
choice but to deepen their
regional integration; it is
simply a choice of how quickly and how deeply.
Opposition party calls for equal housing opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Citizens of Trinidad and
Tobago must be afforded equal opportunities to
proper housing
on the basis of need, not political
patronage, Congress of the People founding member,
Dr Sharon Gopaul McNicol has
said.
Dominica to formulate national shelter policy
ROSEAU, Dominica: The government of Dominica
has entered into a contract with the consulting firm,
HABICO Planning
and Architecture Ltd of Canada to
undertake the formulation of a National Shelter Policy.
The consultancy is to be
undertaken over a period of
one year and is being funded by the Caribbean
Development Bank.
Dominican Republic president stresses education
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: President
Leonel Fernandez again stressed the importance of
higher education
for the people of the Dominican
Republic, something he has struggled to achieve
during his terms as President. Accordingly,
the State
University in Santo Domingo has recently received a
facelift...
Grenada to host OECS heads meeting
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Grenada will host OECS Heads
of Government for the 45th Meeting of the OECS
Authority, May
24 and 25. The Meeting will be chaired
by incoming OECS Chairman, Prime Minister
Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica who
will be having his
first stint in that position.
Montserrat explains duty exemptions for returning nationals
BRADES, Montserrat: The government of Montserrat
has taken steps to further explain its duty exemption
policy
for Montserrat nationals returning to the island
to take up permanent residency. The government says
persons who qualify
under this policy will be granted
duty and consumption tax reductions.
Venezuela bus crash leaves 29 dead
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Two buses collided in
Venezuela Friday, causing one to burst into flames in
an accident
that left at least 29 people dead and five
others seriously injured, Globovision television
reported.
CARICOM Youth Ambassadors help shape ICT vision for the region
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The CARICOM Youth
Ambassador Programme (CYAP) is playing a
significant role in the region's
thrust to use
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to
address the growing digital divide and the need to
improve efficiency and marketability in all sectors.
Caribbean youth focus on tourism promotion
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: A number of Caribbean youth
are now gathered in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the
15th Annual
Caribbean Media Exchange on
sustainable Tourism Conference being held under
the theme "Enhancing culture and protecting
ecology
through tourism".
OAS Assistant Secretary General briefs CARICOM council
WASHINGTON, USA: Assistant Secretary General
Albert R. Ramdin of the Organization of American
States (OAS), in
briefing the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) on preparations for the upcoming OAS
General Assembly, informed the Caribbean
Ministers
of Foreign Affairs of the status of the negotiations on
the Declaration of Panama.
Commentary: Tony Blair and the Caribbean
In the public mind, assessment of the interest shown
by British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in the Caribbean
is
probably that he chose Barbados for vacations with
his family. As Blair prepares to leave office, there are
lessons
to be learned by Caribbean governments in
their dealings with the British.
Letter: CARICOM visa situation
I was really surprised when leaving the Grantley
Adams International Airport on Barbados recently 9th
May. While
holding a United Kingdom passport and
travelling to a non-Caricom country (St Maarten), I was
instructed by the Immigration
Officer to report to a
nearby desk where my passport was further inspected.
Letter: Moral loss of the Caribbean
I am a young Caribbean man, Dominican to be exact.
I'm very concerned with the moral loss of the
Caribbean youth,
my generation and younger have
lost respect for our elders and our peers. Here we
have our Caribbean leaders more
concerned with
economic gains and profits.
Prior leads England run-fest against West Indies
LONDON, England (AFP): Matt Prior became the first
England wicket-keeper to score a century on Test
debut as
the hosts piled up 553 for five on the second
day of the first Test against West Indies at Lord's here
Friday.
Caribbean athletes compete at Adidas Track Classic
CARSON, USA: Young Antiguan sprinter Daniel Bailey
will test his abilities against a strong field in the men's
100m
dash as Veronica Campbell looks to run the
first sub-11 seconds in the women's race when they
compete at the 2007
adidas Track Classic at the
Home Depot Center in Carson on Sunday.
St Vincent opposition plans to close down capital
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: St Vincent and the
Grenadines Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace has
issued a call for the
business community in
Kingstown to close its doors and for the owners of the
nation's privately owned public transportation
to join
his New Democratic Party in a "massive"
demonstration.
Puerto Rico bank gets $610 million bailout
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Doral Financial Corp.
has agreed to sell a 90 percent stake to investors led
by Bear
Stearns Cos. in exchange for a $610 million
cash infusion that pulls the Puerto Rican bank owner
back from the brink
of insolvency.
Turks and Caicos deny police rammed ill-fated Haitian vessel
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos (AFP):
Authorities in the Turks and Caicos have rejected
claims a police boat
rammed a sloop that capsized on
May 4, killing at least 63 Haitian migrants. Some of the
78 survivors claimed police
rammed the sailboat.
Guyana says military statement on border dispute unauthorised
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Guyana government on
Wednesday said statements attributed to a senior
officer of the
Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on the
resolution of the border dispute between its eastern
neighbour Suriname was unauthorised.
Population drops in Cuba in 2006
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): The population of Cuba
dropped by 4,300 inhabitants in 2006 compared to
2005, a phenomenon
happening for the first time in
25 years. Juan Carlos Alfonso, director of the
Population and Development Studies
Center of the
National Office of Statistics, gave this information at a
workshop.
Cuba warms up as hurricane season approaches
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): The Cuban people will carry out
a hurricane drill on May 19-20 based on the
experiences accumulated
over the past several years
in dealing with heavy rains, droughts and other events
and disasters that have hit the
island.
New chapter in US-Caribbean military cooperation
ROSEAU, Dominica: A new chapter in US-Caribbean
military cooperation begins in Barbados when
Minister of State,
Rayburn Blackmoore, participates in
a conference to inaugurate the new State Partnership
Programme between the Florida
National Guard and
the Regional Security System of the Eastern
Caribbean.
Housing revolution on the move in Dominica
ROSEAU, Dominica: A National Shelter Policy is now
underway under the Shelter Development
Programme, a component
of government's highly
promoted 'Housing Revolution' to improve the dire
accommodation needs in Dominica.
Guyana's president leads regional agriculture push
KINGSTON, Jamaica: On June 2 Port of Spain,
Trinidad and Tobago will be the meeting point of
Heads of State,
Agriculture and Finance Ministers of
the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). They will be
joined by bilateral, multilateral,
and regional donors
for a special conference.
Guyana's opposition calls for investigation into possible dengue fever epidemic
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The main opposition party
in Guyana has urged the health ministry here to
investigate the
increased incidents of dengue fever
cases, fearing that the South American nation maybe
on the brink of an outbreak.
St Kitts-Nevis extends duty concessions to small businesses
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The St Kitts and
Nevis Cabinet on Monday approved the extending of
duty concessions
to a number of small local
businesses in a variety of areas. Sen. Nigel Carty told
the post Cabinet Briefing that
the Labour Government
will continue to encourage a spirit of entrepreneurship.
St Lucia PM remains in New York hospital after stroke
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Sir John Compton, Prime
Minister of St Lucia has been admitted to a New York
hospital from
May 1, 2007. After much talk about Sir
John's medical condition from the various talk shows
and the public, there
was no confirmed information
coming from the Acting Prime Minister, Stephenson
King.
Venezuela seeking to enhance trade with Grenada
CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuela is seeking ways to
improve Grenada's production capacity and increase
trade between
the two countries. This was discussed
during a meeting when Venezuelan Vice Minister for
Latin America and the Caribbean
Dr Rodolfo Sanz led
a six member delegation to Grenada.
Task Force to recommend future course for CARICOM Visa
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The operation of the
CARICOM Special Visa and the Single Domestic
Space (SDS) were recently
discussed by CARICOM
Council of Foreign and Community Relations
(COFCOR) at their meeting in Belize.
OAS resumes award of scholarships
WASHINGTON, USA: The Organization of American
States (OAS) has adopted a resolution
to "permanently lift the
pause in the awarding of OAS
scholarships," thus paving the way for students in the
member states to pursue new opportunities
for
training and higher education.
OAS Assistant Secretary General renews call for more attention to development issues
WASHINGTON, USA: Assistant Secretary General
Albert R. Ramdin suggested today that it may be time
for the Organization
of American States (OAS) to
consider establishing a Permanent Council
committee on development, thereby giving this
issue
a more prominent place on the OAS political agenda.
West Indies' Ramdin needs more work says Croft
LONDON, England: Former West Indies fast bowler
Colin Croft believes the regional side's current
wicketkeeper
Denesh Ramdin, had lost his form
immensely since making a upright start to his
international career. The 22-year-old
Trinidadian has
been criticised largely for his lack of form.
Cook hundred puts England on top against West Indies
LONDON, England (AFP): Alastair Cook's fifth Test
hundred in 15 matches was the cornerstone of
England's 200
for three against West Indies at Lord's
here Thursday. Cook was 102 not out when bad light
ended play on the first
day of the first Test of a four-
match series.
Venezuela's Duno tries to set mark as third woman in Indy lineup
INDIANAPOLIS, USA (AFP): Venezuela's Milka Duno
could give this month's Indianapolis 500 an
unprecedented three
women drivers if she can find
enough speed during weekend qualifying for the May
27 race. She will try to join US
racers Danica Patrick
and Sarah Fisher in the 33-car field for the 91st Indy
showdown.
Federal appellate court denies voting rights in US Virgin Islands
ST THOMAS, USVI: Retired US Marshal Krim
Ballentine lost his right to vote when stationed in the
US Virgin Islands.
In 1999, the ex-lawman sued to
obtain voting rights for President and Congress
enjoyed by Americans living overseas
in almost every
country in the world.
Cuba adopting new strategies to stimulate tourism
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuba's Ministry of Tourism
(MINTUR) is said to be very enthusiastic about the
development
strategies in that sector, defined some
15 years ago as "the locomotive of the national
economy." The website
www.cubatravel.cu highlights
the success of the 2007 International Tourism Fair.
Cayman Islands company may have violated sanctions in Cuba and Iran
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Grand Cayman based-
Paradigm Ltd, which provides software for oil and
natural-gas explorers,
said three of its subsidiaries
may have violated sanctions by doing business in
Cuba and Iran.
Obey or quit, Venezuela's Mommer tells oil firms
VIENNA, Austria (Reuters): Venezuela has every right
to take control of its energy resources and
international
companies which do not accept the
country's terms should leave, Venezuelan Deputy
Energy Minister Bernard Mommer said.
Caribbean prison officers attend four-day workshop in Bahamas
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): Prison officers from around
the region and internationally are in the Bahamas for
the
start of a four-day workshop to discuss the myriad
of problems facing prisons everywhere. National
Security Minister
'Tommy' Turnquest welcomed the
officers to the Bahamas on Tuesday.
BVI government cracks down on fraudulent entry
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The British Virgin Islands
government is moving to curb incidents where
travellers use irregular
documents to gain entry into
the Territory. Acting Chief Immigration Officer Malvern
Brathwaite said the Immigration
Department will
maintain its proactive method to prosecute offenders
and their accomplices.
Cuba's Castro criticises ethanol and bio-fuels
HAVANA, Cuba (Bloomberg): Cuban President Fidel
Castro has published another article criticising bio-
fuels, at
least his third since March, outlining the
human and environmental risks posed by sugar-
based ethanol. Castro emerged
from eight months of
convalescence in March to dispute an ethanol
cooperation accord.
Cuban Medical Brigade observes eight years in Belize
BELMOPAN, Belize: A ceremony marking the eighth
anniversary of the Cuban Medical Brigade
Cooperation in Belize
was held on Tuesday morning.
The ceremony ended with the presentation of a
plaque from the Ministry of Health to Ambassador
Martinez, commemorating the eight years of the
Cuban Medical Brigade in Belize.
Cuban agents in league with Iran, Russia, China, says US spy-catcher
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States is likely
riddled with Cuban spies who are sharing their
intelligence
with US foes and rivals like Iran, Russia
and China, the Pentagon's top spy-catcher said
Wednesday.
Women engulfed in Haiti's violence spasm, rape on the rise
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Rocked in recent
years by kidnappings and street robberies,
desperately poor Haiti
is caught in the grip of a new
violent scourge -- a rising number of sex assaults
against women. Minors also are at
risk: more than 55
percent of victims are between the ages of 10 and 17.
Jamaica shows continued economic growth in first quarter
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Jamaican economy
continues to show signs of improvement, with Gross
Domestic Product
(GDP) increasing by an estimated 2
per cent for the period January to March 2007, bringing
real growth for the 2006/07
fiscal year to 2.5 per cent.
First National Arts Council nominee from Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON, USA: President George W. Bush has
announced his intention to nominate Miguel
Campaneria, Artistic
Director of Balleteatro Nacional
de Puerto Rico, to serve on the National Council on
the Arts, the advisory body of
the National Endowment
for the Arts.
St Kitts-Nevis minister takes issue over 'gross understatement' of cruise visitors
BASSETERE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The St Kitts and Nevis
Minister of State for Tourism, Sports and Culture,
Senator
Richard 'Ricky' Skerritt is taking issue with
Monday's front page story in the Sun St Kitts/Nevis. He
said the "front
page report grossly understated the St
Kitts cruise arrivals."
Suriname appoints new minister of transport and communications
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Suriname's President
Ronald Venetiaan has appointed a new minister of
Transport, Communications
and Tourism (TCT).
Richel Apensa was sworn in Tuesday at the
Presidential Palace two months after her predecessor
Alice Amafo resigned after mounting pressure from
opposition.
The Greater Caribbean This Week: The European Union - An example to follow
In 1957, to speak of a half century was to refer to a
notion of a long period of time, a distant future. In that
respect, the pioneers of European integration during
the mid twentieth century, who conceived the idea of
building
the European Union, did not visualise the
materialisation of their efforts within a short period of
time.
Commentary: No action against British police precludes action against TCI police
Last Friday, Caribbean Net News (CNN) published my
commentary -- entitled The tragedy of being Haitian at
home
and at sea -- on the interdiction of a Haitian boat
by the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) police, which
resulted in
the tragic death of 61 refugees after the
boat capsized.
There is always responsibility on my shoulder, says Gayle
LONDON, England: West Indies opener Chris Gayle
said that he feels responsibility on his shoulder in
many forms.
"There is always responsibility on my
shoulder, not just as a senior player, as a batter as
well and at the top order
leading from the front," Gayle
said as he spoke with media at Lord's on Tuesday.
Consistency will make me a happy man, says Sarwan
LONDON, England: West Indies captain Ramnaresh
Sarwan spoke with the media at Lord's on
Wednesday afternoon in
a customary media
conference before the first Test match against
England. Following are excerpts from his responses
to various issues raised by journalists.
Lara believes West Indies can succeed without him
LONDON, England: Former West Indies captain and
batting maestro Brian Lara is confident the Caribbean
side can
do well without his presence when they take
on England on tour starting this week. For the first
time in nearly 50
years, the regional side will be
playing in England without a top-class batsman in the
team.
Problems loom large for England and West Indies
LONDON, England (AFP): England and West Indies
head into the first Test here at Lord's with some tricky
problems
still to be solved. For the West Indies, this
opening match of a four Test series will be their first
since the retirement
of former captain Brian Lara, Test
cricket's leading run-scorer.
Chances slim, Haitians take to sea to flee poverty, violence
PETIT-GOAVE, Haiti (AFP): Adras, 24, is one of the
scores who sit here listlessly in small groups, at the
base
of trees lining the shore, or in scrappy dinghies,
longingly looking toward the United States, far over the
horizon
to the northwest, beyond Cuba.
Suriname president backs vice-president over censorship
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: President Ronald Venetiaan
is backing vice-president Ram Sardjoe over his
intervention
last Thursday, which led to cancellation of
a news show on a state-owned TV station here. In an
invited comment, the
president noted the tactical
approach of the vice-president in handling the issue.
Castro packs on pounds, exercises daily, says foreign minister
MEXICO CITY, (AFP): Cuban President Fidel Castro
exercises daily and has regained the weight he lost
following
intestinal surgery, Cuban Foreign Minister
Felipe Perez Roque said in an interview published
Tuesday. "He is recovering
with great discipline and
exercises every day," Perez Roque added.
Major merger between Barbados and Trinidad companies
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The region's biggest pan-
Caribbean company is set to be formed following the
announcement
of a merger between Barbados'
largest conglomerate, Barbados Shipping and
Trading and Trinidad's energy and industrial
giant,
Neal and Massy.
Bahamas PM outlines new government priorities
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): Security issues at the
Lynden Pindling International Airport, immigration
concerns and
land policy matters are the immediate
areas of priority for the Free National Movement
Government, Bahamian Prime
Minister Hubert
Ingraham announced at a media press conference.
CARICOM-SICA summit held in Belize
BELIZE CITY, Belize: Belize continues to play a role as
the bridge between CARICOM and Central America. In
this
context, the Second CARICOM-SICA Summit of
Heads of State and Government was held in Belize
City on Saturday in Belize
City. The Summit was
chaired by Said Musa, Prime Minister of Belize.
BVI to host international financial services conference
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The government of the British
Virgin Islands will host approximately 50 high-level
delegates
representing regional and international
jurisdictions and organisations at an international
financial services conference
on May 21 and 22.
Cuba boosts eco-friendly energy sources
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuban scientists who are
advocating the exploitation of biomass to satisfy local
energy demands
gathered last weekend in the Cuban
province of Matanzas to discuss a project which
embraces ten years of experience
on the topic.
Cuba supports Brazil's breaking of AIDS drug patent
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuban President Fidel Castro
wrote that he supports Brazil's move to break the
patent on
a key AIDS drug in an article attributed to
him published on Tuesday. Brazil on Friday
announced it would ignore US
pharmaceutical giant
Merck's patent on the drug Efavirenz.
Tourism in Jamaica set for strong 2007 performance
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaica's tourism sector
is gearing up to post an impressive performance in
2007, fuelled
by strong occupancy numbers,
increasing length of stay by the average visitor, growth
in arrivals from most markets,
rising total earnings
and with earnings per tourist at record levels.
More housing projects for St Kitts-Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): There will be more
homeowners in St Kitts and Nevis as final plans for
two of the
three housing projects were discussed at
Monday's meeting of the Cabinet. Since taking office
in July 1995, over 2000
affordable homes have been
built through the National Housing Corporation (NHC).
Suriname vice-president's action condemned as censorship
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Reporters Without Borders
has condemned a decision by the state-owned
Suriname Television
Foundation (STVS) to cancel
its "Suriname Today" discussion programme on 10
May under direct pressure from Vice-President
Ram
Sardjoe. The offending programme was about China-
Taiwan relations.
Suriname press association condemns government's interference
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The Surinamese
Association of Journalists (SVJ) has expressed shock
and outrage over Suriname
vice-president Ram
Sardjoe's action in stopping the broadcast of a live
popular news show last Thursday on the state-owned
Suriname Television Foundation (STVS).
CARICOM visa and single domestic space effective border security tools
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The Single Domestic
Space (SDS) which came into effect February 1, 2007,
for the hosting
of the Cricket World Cup 2007 games
as well as the requirement for a CARICOM Special
Visa to visit the SDS both come
to an end at midnight
on May 15, 2007.
OAS convenes tourism contingency planning workshop in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The Organization of American
States (OAS), in collaboration with the Ministry of
Tourism
and Civil Aviation, will be hosting a workshop
in St Lucia from May 16 to 17, 2007 to review a multi-
hazard contingency
planning manual for the
Caribbean Tourism Sector.
PAHO applauds work of OECS Secretariat
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The Pan American Health
Organisation PAHO has applauded the OECS
Secretariat for its role
in facilitating health care
throughout the region. Christophe Rerat the sub-
regional advisor for PAHO expressed admiration
for
the work exhibited by the OECS Pharmaceutical
Procurement Services Unit.
Red Cross in Americas prepares for 2007 storm season
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Aid agencies in the
Americas, including the International Federation of
Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies, are gearing
up for what experts say could be a busy hurricane
season in the Atlantic.
Gayle regrets West Indies curfew
LONDON, (AFP): West Indies batsman Chris Gayle
believes the curfew imposed on the team during their
tour of England
is an unnecessary restriction - but he
has said he will obey it all the same. Officials have
imposed an 11.30pm curfew
on the squad during
their four-Test tour of England.
Mock Cuban trial for accused bomber freed in US
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba staged a mock trial
on Monday for an anti-Castro militant it says the
United States
has avoided prosecuting for acts of
terrorism. Luis Posada Carriles, a former CIA
operative who is accused of bombing
a Cuban airliner
and tourist targets in Cuba, walked free in the United
States last week.
Venezuela nationalizes foreign oil rigs
CARACAS, Venezela (AFP): The Venezuelan
government of firebrand President Hugo Chavez said
Monday it was taking
control of oil rigs from
multinational firms, in the latest of a wave of
nationalizations. Energy Minister Rafael
Ramirez said
the firm had in the past ceded control of 18 offshore
drilling platforms to foreign giants.
Jamaican police ask media to cease unsourced reports on Woolmer death
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Despite several reports on the
controversial death of former Pakistan cricket coach
Bob Woolmer,
the Jamaican police have stuck to their
word that the coach was murdered and have called on
the media to back off
and let them do their work.
Suriname considers response on statements by Guyanese marine officer
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Authorities here are
reviewing whether the Suriname government should
formally respond
to 'disturbing' statements in the
media last week by an officer of the Guyana Marine
regarding the resolution of the
border dispute
between Suriname and Guyana.
Whale watch workshop provides training, opportunity in the Eastern Caribbean
ROSEAU, Dominica: A new, five-day whale watch tour
guide and naturalist training workshop, sponsored by
IFAW
(the International Fund for Animal Welfare) and
CARIBwhale, the association of Caribbean whale
watch operators, began
Monday in Dominica. The
workshop runs from Monday May 14 through Friday
May 18.
Guyana to host next ACP ministerial meeting
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana's Minister of
Foreign Trade and International Cooperation Dr Henry
Jeffrey,
CARICOM's Ministerial spokesperson on
sugar, has disclosed that the 11th Special African,
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)
Ministerial Meeting on
sugar will be held in Georgetown in 2009.
Greater cohesiveness needed between the region and the US, says Jamaican senator
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica's Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Anthony Hylton has
said that
the Conference on the Caribbean to be held
in Washington from June 19 to 21 is timely as it
comes at a time when the
Caribbean is "grappling
with a raft of challenges arising from rapid
globalization."
Montserrat's cultural centre opens
LITTLE BAY, Montserrat: Montserrat has a brand new
state of the art Cultural Centre which has now been
officially
opened, thanks to former Beatles producer
Sir George Martin and a host of dedicated volunteers.
According to Acting
Governor John Skerritt, "This
magnificent structure symbolizes the island's focus
on culture."
Puerto Rico bank expects first-quarter loss of $13.5 million
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Doral Financial Corp.,
the Puerto Rican bank that's facing insolvency without
a financial
lifeline, said it expects to report a first-
quarter loss. The company, based in the island's
capital of San Juan,
had a net loss of about $13.5
million, or $1.33 a share, last quarter, according to a
filing on Monday.
St Lucia to host high level conference on HIV/AIDS
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The OECS Secretariat's
Pharmaceutical Procurement Services Unit
(OECSPPS) will be organizing
a high level OECS Anti-
retroviral (ARV) Drug Supply management workshop.
The workshop will be held in St Lucia from
June 11 -
16, 2007.
Call for laws to keep Trinidad government projects in check
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Secretary of the Trinidad
and Tobago Transparency Institute Boyd Ried has
highlighted
what the Institute considers to be more
reasons for the immediate implementation of laws
governing the procurement
rules as it relates to the
undertaking of government's projects.
Poverty has not fallen, says Trinidad opposition MP
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The level of poverty in
Trinidad and Tobago has not fallen and in fact, the
present
government has created new avenues and
levels of poverty that now include much of the
professional and working population,
Congress of the
People political leader, Winston Dookeran has said.
Trinidad's LNG team attends conference in Dubai
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Two local companies in
Trinidad and Tobago, Atlantic LNG and British Gas
Trinidad and
Tobago (BGTT), have embarked on a
new initiative to build the competencies required for
further development of the
local energy sector.
Commentary: Law and Politics: Is there more beneath the surface?
Someone once said, "To think that we are powerless,
is to have already surrendered our strength to
someone who
is going to manipulate our weakness,
for his/her own selfish ends." And that saying would
apply in almost all aspect
of our lives, and perhaps
none more so than in matters of public affairs.
Commentary: Defending labour rights in Haiti
New legislation in Washington DC, under the acronym
HOPE - short for " the Haitian Hemispheric
Opportunity through
Partnership Encouragement Act,"
has the goal of promoting the garment industry in
Haiti. But the legislation falls
noticeably short in
protecting labour rights.
Letter: In regard to Anthony Hall's commentary
All I can say is I've been an almost believer for years of
Anthony L. Hall. Oh my God has he almost fooled me
with
his now I confirm blah, blah, blah, as a confused
person.
Letter: Democracy in Guyana is under severe threat
Democratic governance in Guyana is under
continuous threat of erosion. Never has this threat
been greater than
today, when fundamental rights like
freedom of the press and freedom of speech have
been severely undermined.
I'm good to go, says West Indies Collymore
TAUNTON, United Kingdom: West Indies fast bowler
Corey Collymore rejected the suggestion by English
journalists
that he may be rusty going into the first
Test against England starting at Lord's on May 17th.
Digicel Shield sees return of Soca Warrior's World Cup heroes
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Caribbean mobile
operator Digicel on Monday unveiled details of the
Digicel Shield -
a two day football tournament taking
place on 28th and 30th of May in the Hasely Crawford
Stadium, Trinidad.
Jamaica's Stewart blazes to world-bests at Auburn Invitational
AUBURN, USA: Jamaican sprinter Kerron Stewart
highlighted the Auburn Invitational with two superb,
world-best
sprint double performances at the Auburn
University campus on Saturday. Stewart first captured
the women's 100m in
a swift 11.10-seconds.
Woolmer died of heart failure, not murder, says report
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Pakistan cricket coach
Bob Woolmer died of a heart attack and was not
murdered, the
Jamaican Gleaner newspaper reported
Sunday, citing Scotland Yard sources.
Vice-President of Suriname stops TV show over China-Taiwan controversy
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Managers at Suriname's
state-owned Suriname Television Foundation (STVS)
TV-station pulled
the plug on a live broadcast of a
popular news show Thursday evening after vice-
president Ram Sardjoe intervened.
The controversial
China-Taiwan issue was at the centre of the program,
Trinidad Army recruit dies during training
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: A 21-year-old Trinidad
army recruit has died following a rigorous training
exercise.
The dead recruit is Chilon Creese of La
Puerta Diego Martin west of Port of Spain. Chilon was
among several other
recruits who were themselves
hospitalized following training which began on Friday.
Cash-strapped Cuba eyes Asian economies
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Communist Cuba is stepping
up contacts with Asian nations, most of which do not
share its
political views but have the potential to invest
heavily in the communist-run island.
Scope of disaster risk financing should be expanded, says Jamaican ambassador
WASHINGTON, USA (JIS): Jamaica's Ambassador to
the United States, Professor Gordon Shirley, has said
that, while
Caribbean States have exercised
considerable political will in jointly developing
instruments for financing disaster
risk mitigation,
there is an urgent need for more to be done.
Jamaica will best be integrated in global environment through participation in digital economy, says minister
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Minister of Industry,
Technology, Energy and Commerce, Phillip Paulwell,
said while
addressing the opening of the fourth
annual CITO Regional Summit, that it is through active
and confident participation
in the digital economy, that
Jamaica will be best integrated into the global
environment.
St Vincent prime minister returns from Cuba
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: Prime Minister Dr Ralph
Gonsalves returned home on Saturday afternoon after
spending one
month in Cuba. Speaking on his arrival
at the E.T Joshua Airport, an emotional Dr Gonsalves
expressed thanks to the
people of St Vincent and the
