Trinidad phone company declares post-tax loss
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Telecommunications
Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) has declared
for the first
time in its history a TT$122 million loss.
The loss was declared for 2007 after tax. The phone
company described
it as a profit warning.
Venezuela mobilises military before TV closure
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Dozens of armored
cars and military vehicles filled highways in Caracas
on Friday
in a show of force ahead of the controversial
closure of an opposition television station, a military
source said.
Floods, mudslides kill three in Haiti's capital
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): Torrential rains
triggered flooding and mudslides that killed three
people in
Haiti's capital, officials said on Friday,
raising fears of more destruction during the coming
hurricane season.
Britain deports Jamaican Muslim cleric
LONDON, England (Reuters): Britain deported a
Jamaican Muslim cleric on Friday after he served a
sentence for
inciting the murder of Americans, Hindus
and Jews in his sermons. He lost an appeal against
deportation and was put
on a plane to Jamaica on
Friday, the Home Office (interior ministry) said.
Caribbean law enforcement challenged to fight crime
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): In his first speaking
engagement since being elected May 2, Bahamas
Prime Minister Hubert
Ingraham on Thursday
challenged regional law enforcement officers to
combine efforts to preserve the economic future
of the
Caribbean and visitors to these shores.
Cuba set to negotiate US agricultural imports
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba has plans to spend up to
150 million dollars on food imports when officials sit
down
Monday with US agribusiness representatives,
the head of the state importing agency said Friday.
The United States
has maintained a trade embargo
on Cuba since February 1962, but in 2000 the US
Congress...
Vietnamese official stops in Cuba in Latin American tour
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Vietnam's communist party
chief Nong Duc Manh has held talks with Cuban
officials at the
start of a tour of Latin America, state
media reported. Manh met for two hours with his
counterparts from Cuba's communist
party, Esteban
Lazo and Fernando Remirez de Estenoz,
Gerdau to buy Dominican Republic steel stake for $42 million
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Bloomberg): Gerdau SA,
Latin America's biggest steelmaker, has agreed to
buy a stake
in Industrias Nacionales CA of the
Dominican Republic for $42 million. Gerdau will
acquire 30 percent of Multisteel
Business Holdings
Corp., the Porto Alegre, Brazil-based company said in
a statement.
Grenada wins gold at Chelsea Flower Show
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Grenada's Chelsea team
led by Suzanne Gaywood won another gold medal for
its display at
the Annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show,
held in London from May 22 - 26 2007. Inspiration,
innovation, quality and creativity
are the trademarks of
the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Expert to conduct site visit on Guyana/Suriname maritime dispute
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): A hydrographic
expert is scheduled to conduct a site visit in Guyana in
relation to
the proceedings for the ongoing maritime
boundary dispute with neighbouring Suriname.
Guyana's Minister of Tourism meets Caribbean Hotel Association officials
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Minister of Tourism,
Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad on Friday
met two members
of the Caribbean Hotel Association
(CHA) to discuss the new developments in the hotel
industry and seek advice on
how to assist local
hoteliers.
Montserrat holds health fair
ST JOHN'S, Montserrat: The Ministry of Health here
recently held a one day Health Fair, with the
theme "Healthy
Living, Quality Life". Spearheaded by
the multisectoral Health Promotion Team, the Fair
took place at the St John's
Clinic complex and
attracted hundreds visitors, both adults and school
children,
Victoria Hospital in St Lucia receives assistance
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The Destiny Group of
Companies, headed by Canadian businessman,
David Singh recently made
a donation of 38 beds to
Victoria Hospital, St Lucia's main health institution.
Because of an acute shortage of beds
these electric
beds were put into immediate use.
Authorities in Suriname to increase casino tax by 300 percent
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: In an attempt to regulate
casinos the Suriname government has submitted a
bill to parliament
to increase tax on casinos by 300
percent, a move that will seriously harm the gambling
industry, casino owners here
claimed.
Chavez hails pope's 'rectification' on conversion of natives
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Venezuela's President
Hugo Chavez on Friday hailed what he called Pope
Benedict XVI's
move to "rectify" comments the pontiff
made on the religious conversion of natives in Latin
America.
Caribbean people gear up for week in New York
NEW YORK, USA (CTDC): For many years the
enthusiasm of Caribbean nationals for boosting the
region's tourism
brand has been fueled by the staging
of Caribbean Week in New York. Increasingly,
nationals of the region are asking
what part can they
play and how to get involved.
Latin America, Caribbean pledge to get rid of cluster bombs
LIMA, Peru (AFP): An international conference seeking
to ban cluster bombs decided Thursday to make Latin
America
and the Caribbean cluster bomb-free
regions, while France raised eyebrows calling for
limitations to a ban on the
deadly submunitions.
Commentary: US weakens WTO
The office of the United States Trade Representative
(USTR) has succeeded in increasing distrust in the
US administration
at a time when such distrust is
already high in many parts of the world. Several World
Trade Organisation (WTO) Panels
had found for
Antigua and Barbuda, a small Caribbean island,
Commentary: The Greater Caribbean This Week: The ACS on the agenda of sub-regional organisations
The greater Caribbean includes sub-regional
organisations which work in the area of economic
integration. Organisations
such as CARICOM , SICA
(Central American Integration System) and SIECA
(Central American Economic Integration System)
play
a decisive role in the integration process.
Vaughan returns with hundred against West Indies
LEEDS, England (AFP): England captain Michael
Vaughan marked his comeback to Test cricket with a
century as the
hosts built a sizeable total against West
Indies at Headingley here Friday. Vaughan's 103
helped England to 366 for
five at stumps on the
opening day of the second Test.
Popular Haitian actor killed in Port-au-Prince
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): A popular Haitian
actor was kidnapped and shot dead by his captors
this week, his
radio said Thursday, triggering fears of
a resurgence of violence that has been contained by
UN forces.
Castro reveals health details but return to power unknown
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Fidel Castro said in an article
published Thursday he was on the road to recovery,
but the
Cuban leader gave no indication of when or if
he will return to power. Sidelined by gastrointestinal
surgery 10 months
ago, 80-year-old Castro lifted the
veil on his health woes for the first time,
Chavez about to switch off mouthy TV channel
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): On Sunday, President
Hugo Chavez is set to make good his threat to shut
down private
Radio Caracas Television, the country's
oldest, very popular and defiant TV station he says is
conspiring against
him. In late 2006 Chavez said he
would not renew RCTV's broadcasting license,
Antigua-Barbuda PM calls for rationality in addressing regional airfares
GRAND ANSE, Grenada: Prime Minister of Antigua
and Barbuda and Outgoing Chairman of the OECS
Authority, Baldwin
Spencer, while addressing the 45th
Meeting of the OECS, has called on his colleagues to
remain focused as the shareholder
governments
grapple with putting LIAT on a firm footing.
US insists it is acting in 'good faith' over Posada Carriles
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States is
acting in "good faith" in the case of anti-Castro militant
Luis Posada
Carriles, who is wanted in Venezuela
over the 1976 bombing of an airliner, a US official said
Thursday.
Dominica's road network to get improvement programme
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica's road network is to
receive much needed focus through the Road
Improvement Programme
under the 9th European
Development (EDF) National Indicative Programme
(NIP). The Programme is designed for a period
of
three years and is expected to come to an end in
December 2010.
BBC rebuffs Pakistani legal claim over Woolmer programme
LONDON, England (AFP): The BBC voiced surprise
Thursday that a Pakistani journalist is seeking
substantial damages
from the broadcaster for
allegedly inferring he was linked to cricket coach Bob
Woolmer's death.
St Kitts Music Festival begins street activities
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: The tone for the 11th Annual
St. Kitts Music Festival will be set on Friday as street
promotions
for the premiere summer event
begin. "Fort Street will be the venue for the first event
which will feature live DJ
music, exciting giveaways,
models, refreshments and lots more,"
Digicel dials in support for Special Olympics in St Kitts-Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: The Special Olympics
movement in St Kitts and Nevis received a renewed
commitment from
Digicel to sponsor its ongoing
programmes. Country Manager Donovan White dialed
in his company's support for the organisation
on
Thursday by signing an official document.
Heavy rains cause flooding in Suriname interior
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Heavy and persistent
rainfall throughout the week has resulted in excessive
flooding to
some areas in Suriname's interior, officials
and victims in the affected areas confirmed. The
flooding in the interior
comes on top of similar
situations in other parts of the country, including the
capital Paramaribo.
Trinidad Transparency Institute issues report on judicial corruption
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago
Transparency Institute, the National Chapter of
Transparency International,
has launched a report on
Global Corruption. Entitled: Global Corruption Report
2007, it looks at corruption in judicial
systems around
the world and makes several recommendations for its
prevention.
FirstCaribbean finances waterfront development in Trinidad
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago: FirstCaribbean
International Banking & Financial Corporation Limited
has
announced that it has completed the financing of
the development of the Port of Spain International
Waterfront Centre.
USVI joins Yahoo! to entice visitors
ST THOMAS, USVI: The US Virgin Islands Department
of Tourism has announced a relationship with Yahoo!,
one of
the Internet's most recognizable brands, to
entice potential visitors through the summer months.
Titled Don't Burn
Out, Lay Out, the promotion is
designed to increase travel to the territory.
CARICOM Bureau meets in St Vincent
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The 22nd Meeting of
the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government
of the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be held
on Saturday, May 26 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Commentary: Air Jamaica - Are the leaders to be blamed?
Over the years as an active and true supporter
for "BRAND JAMAICA" - I have realised that we are
moving backwards
- instead of forward. Not just with
the Air Jamaica situation, but overall with the idea
of "Jamaicans Working Together
To Make It Better." I
remember when I formed the organisation Voicing For
Jamaica...
Letter: Highest regional airport taxes?
Are the taxes payable to leave Barbados's Grantley
Adams International Airport now the highest in the
region?
Let's take two examples! Travel ONE way
from Barbados to St Lucia or Antigua on 24th June
2007, both with currently
lowest airfare available with
LIAT.
Letter: Interesting letter from Adrian Loveridge
Interesting letter from Adrian Loveridge. But what do
we expect from the vast majority of people who
choose to
visit the islands by this means. From
personal experience I can tell you that most visitors
don't even know which
island they're on.
Lord's draw gives Sarwan second Test boost
LEEDS, England (AFP): West Indies captain
Ramnaresh Sarwan hopes his side can continue to
upset the odds when
they play England in the second
Test starting at Headingley here Friday. Sarwan was
also heartened by the aggression
his pace bowlers
showed as the match at Lord's wore on.
Netherlands Antilles' Martina leads Caribbean quest in Hengelo
HENGELO, The Netherlands: After completing his
early season background work with a couple of 400-
metre runs to
build on his endurance in preparation
for a long season in 2007, Netherlands Antilles'
sprinter Churandy Martina will
continue his impressive
start to the season,
Barbadian Blackett to race against Olympic champion Halkia in Greece
FLORIDA, USA: Barbadian national record holder
Andrea Blackett will race against Olympic champion
Fani Halkia
of Greece in the women's 400-metre
Hurdles at the Papaflessia, Kalamata, EAA Permit
Meeting in Greece, on June 2.
Haitian radio host kidnapped and killed
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): A popular Haitian
radio host was found shot and killed on Wednesday
after being
kidnapped in the impoverished Caribbean
nation's capital. Francois Latour, who hosted a daily
talk show on radio Caraibes
FM, was the second
radio personality gunned down in Haiti in the last
week.
Global warming's impact on hurricanes more complex than thought
PARIS, France (AFP): Weather events that occur in the
distant Pacific and West Africa help determine the
frequency
of major hurricanes that strike the
Caribbean and West Atlantic, according to research
published on Thursday.
Trinidad scientists investigate deadly chemical
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Concerns are being raised
in Trinidad over the discovery of a dangerous
chemical believed
to have been brought by Sahara
dust, which has pervaded the atmosphere to the north
of the island.
New political party takes root in Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters): One of the few
things that has long united Puerto Rico's three
traditional political
parties is stifling the ambitions of
any upstart party that dared to join them. Seeking to
break their stranglehold
on power, the Puerto Ricans
for Puerto Rico Party was officially certified this month.
Belize PM calls urgent meeting of National Economic Council
BELMOPAN, Belize: Members of Belize's National
Economic Council met on Wednesday morning at the
request of Prime
Minister Said Musa, in an effort to
update the members of the Council on the Universal
Health Services (UHS) acquisition/loan.
Cuba's Castro attacks biofuels, proposes energy savings plan
HAVANA, Cuba (Bloomberg): Cuban President Fidel
Castro has called on the world to change its energy
consumption
habits rather than develop a new, US-
backed reliance on biofuels that he says will starve
poor people and harm the
environment.
China investigating exports of tainted toothpaste to Dominican Republic
BEIJING, China (Bloomberg): China is investigating
reports on tainted toothpaste that has been exported
to the
Dominican Republic and Panama, the General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and
Quarantine said on
Wednesday.
More comprehensive enquiry called for into playing of wrong anthem in Grenada
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Security Minister Senator
Einstein Louison said a more comprehensive enquiry
is needed
into the playing of the Taiwan national
anthem instead of the Chinese one at the official
opening ceremony of Grenada's
national stadium in
February.
China Development Bank eyes investment opportunities in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The China Development
Bank (CDB) is interested in investment opportunities
that exist in
Guyana. This was revealed by Zhao
Jianping, Assistant Governor of the Bank after meeting
President Bharrat Jagdeo
this week. Zhao Jianping
highlighted Guyana's move towards hydro power.
Montserrat to allow free movement of professionals from Barbados and OECS
BRADES, Montserrat: The government of Montserrat
has agreed to allow the free movement of skilled
nationals of
Barbados and member states of the
Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
to the island.
Nevis minister thanks Cuban social workers
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Minister of Social
Transformation Hensley Daniel told a team of Cuban
social workers, who
formed part of the Energy Saving
Bulb Replacement Programme, that their time on
Nevis was valuable time spent getting
to know and
learn the culture of Nevisians.
Venezuela presents OAS resolution on Posada Carriles extradition
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Venezuela on Wednesday
presented a draft OAS resolution calling on
Washington to extradite
Cuban anti-Castro militant
Luis Posada Carriles, wanted by Venezuela and Cuba
for the 1976 downing of a Cuban airliner
that killed all
73 aboard. US refused to honor extradition requests.
OAS reports crime and violence harm Central America's development
WASHINGTON, USA: Commending the latest
international findings on how crime and violence harm
development in Central
American countries, the
Secretary General of the Organization of American
States, José Miguel Insulza, said the study
will provide
important tools to help the OAS more strategically
focus its action in this area.
OECS leaders meet in Grenada to discuss wide range of issues
BASSETEERE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The 2007 Budget
and Work Programme of the OECS Secretariat,
functional cooperation
and meetings with the
Secretary of State of Puerto Rico and the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba
are among
matters which will come before Heads of Government
of the OECS.
US Embassy in Barbados announces change in visa processing
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The US Embassy in
Barbados has announced a change in the way visas
for temporary visits
to the United States
(nonimmigrant visas, or NIVs) are processed.
Effective June 18, the Embassy will no longer provide
same-day visa issuance to applicants not residing in
Barbados.
Commentary: The antithesis of Michael Moore: Real courage in Cuba
There's been much made recently about the vaunted
Cuban medical system since propagandist Michael
Moore traveled
to Havana with 9/11 heroes in tow
searching for "free" health care. It's Mr Moore's idea of
a clever way to criticize
America and the capitalist
system he exploits so brilliantly.
Letter: 'The Caribbean, where one island is pretty much like another'?
Carried in the informative travel industry website
TravelMole is an article headlined 'No end to growth of
cruise
sector'. There are a number of interesting
comments made by leading cruise professionals,
including PSA director Bill
Gibbons who quoted recent
consumer research data,
Letter: Support the original Caribbean natives
I want to ask your support for the original natives of the
Caribbean. About 5,000 are still surviving, despite the
very cruel past they have endured. These proud
people calling themself the Kalinago, rather died
fighting than
to work for the invading white man. For
this alone they have earned my greatest respect.
Moore challenges West Indies to build on draw
LEEDS, England (AFP): West Indies coach David
Moore has said drawing the first Test against England
will count
for little if they go down to defeat in the
second game of a four-match series starting at
Headingley here Friday.
West Indies, ranked a lowly
eighth in the world Test rankings,
Jamaican high relays featured at Reebok Grand Prix
NEW YORK, USA: In addition to the more than a dozen
top stars of Jamaican track and field, led by sprint
queen
Veronica Campbell, Jamaica's top boys high
school 4 x 400m relay teams will compete against at
least two of the top
4 x 400m teams from the United
States at the 2007 Reebok Grand Prix.
Antigua-Barbuda to file compensation claim for US web gambling ban
LONDON, England (Bloomberg): Antigua and
Barbuda will file a claim for compensation from the
US for a ban on
Internet gambling, its lawyer said after
the Caribbean nation won a complaint at the World
Trade Organization.
US, Cuba tangle at UN over alleged plane bomber
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters): Cuba and Venezuela
clashed with the United States in the UN Security
Council on Tuesday
over the release this month by a
US judge of an anti-Castro militant wanted for bomb
attacks against Cuba.
Former Haitian dictator set to retrieve frozen Swiss funds
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP): Former Haitian dictator
Jean-Claude Duvalier is next month set to recover
some 7.6
million Swiss francs (6.2 million dollars)
from frozen Swiss accounts due to a legal loophole,
an official said Tuesday.
The money has been caught
up in legal wrangling since it was blocked in
Switzerland,
Authorities in Trinidad move to impeach Chief Justice
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's
Prime Minister Patrick Manning on Tuesday confirmed
that steps
have been taken to investigate the conduct
of the country's Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma. This
follows allegations
that Justice Sharma attempted to
interfere with the outcome of the Basdeo Panday trial.
Bahamas minister promises prison reform
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): National Security and
Immigration Minister Orville 'Tommy' Turnquest has
assured Prison
Officers in the Bahamas that the
government is committed to improving the pay and
conditions of service at the country's
prison. He said
the government will address a number of concerns at
the prison,
Belize ministers asked to leave Cabinet
BELMOPAN, Belize: Mark Espat, Minister of National
Development, and Cordel Hyde, Minister of Defence
were asked
to leave Cabinet on Tuesday for failure to
honour a Cabinet decision to be present and vote
against an Opposition
motion in the House of
Representatives last Friday critical of the Belize
Government.
New attack sub will sink Britain, says Castro
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuban President Fidel Castro
slammed Britain for building the Astute class of
nuclear-powered
attack submarines he said is
destined to sink whatever is left of Britain's
international prestige. Britain
on Monday announced
a 395-million-dollar contract to build the 7,800-tonne
HMS Audacious.
Caribbean in need of principle-centred leadership, says Dominica PM
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica's Prime Minister,
Roosevelt Skerrit is convinced the Caribbean region is
at the crossroads
and what is crucially needed at this
time is "principle-centred leadership". Skerrit made
the remarks in an address
to the 2007 Graduating
Class of the University of the Southern Caribbean.
Dominican Republic bans tainted Chinese toothpaste
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Reuters):
The Dominican Republic has banned the sale of two
brands of Chinese
toothpaste because they may
contain a lethal chemical responsible for mass
poisoning deaths in Panama last year.
UN secretary general urges completion of decolonisation process
ST GEORGES, Grenada: Strategies should be found
for determining the future of each of the world's 16
remaining
territories that are not yet self-governing,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a United Nations
seminar on decolonisation
in the Caribbean on
Tuesday.
Guyana, Caribbean Airlines to work on boosting country's eco-tourism
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana is fast
emerging as a 'must travel to' destination as it offers
an eco-tourism
experience unlike any other country.
Government is stepping up its marketing strategies to
place Guyana on the map.
President Jagdeo on
Monday met Caribbean Airlines' Chief Executive
Officer Peter Davies.
Patients walk for hours to reach free Haiti clinic
CARREFOUR-CHARLES, Haiti (AFP): Every day the
queues form early outside a remote Haiti dispensary
where crowds
of sick people jostle for a precious
ticket granting them virtually free treatment and
medicine. Many have trekked
by foot for hours to reach
the dispensary.
Jamaican consulate in Miami increases passport fees
KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Jamaican Consulate in
Miami has announced an increase in passport fees,
to reflect the
recent hike in postal rates by the United
States Postal Service. The new fee structure took
effect on Monday, May
21.
Puerto Rico bond rating cut; refinancing planned
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Puerto Rico's debt
rating has been dropped to within one rank of junk
status by Standard
& Poor's as an economic
recession and continuing budget gaps hamper the
US island commonwealth's finances.
St Lucia's prime minister released from hospital
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Sir John Compton, Prime
Minister of St Lucia, has returned to the island after
being hospitalized
in a New York hospital following a
series of strokes. He was accompanied by his wife,
Lady Janice Compton, his daughter
Jeannine and one
of his medical doctors from St Lucia.
Suriname discussing humanitarian military mission with US
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Authorities in Suriname are
discussing a humanitarian project of the US Army to
be undertaken
in 2008 with the government of the
United States of America, a US embassy official in
Paramaribo disclosed.
Marriott Courtyard to open hotel in Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Plans are well under way to
open a Marriott Courtyard hotel with a capacity of 140
rooms
here in Paramaribo in 2008. With co-financing
of RBTT-Bank Suriname and RBTT-Bank Aruba, local
company Twin Hotels
Ltd is starting construction of
the 'Courtyard by Marriott Paramaribo Hotel'.
IMF predicts 5.5 percent economic growth for Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Gross domestic product
(GDP) in 2007 in Suriname is to grow by 5.25 percent,
the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has disclosed.
While real economic growth in 2006 was 6 percent the
IMF expects a growth of 5.5
percent in 2007.
Crime and drug trade discussed in Trinidad
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad's National
Security Minister Martin Joseph says illegal drug use
and drug trafficking
pose one of the greatest threats,
and is contributing to the destruction of a good life to
many not only in Trinidad
but in the region.
Rights group decries closing of Venezuela broadcaster
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Human Rights Watch on
Tuesday decried a plan by Venezuela government to
shut down a popular
television station next week as "a
blow to freedom of expression" in the South American
country.
Mexico supports teaching Spanish language in the Caribbean
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Within the framework of the
Cooperation Program with the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM), the
government of Mexico has indicated
its support of the efforts made by the governments of
the Caribbean countries to
teach the Spanish
language.
Anguilla, Barbados and St Vincent garner tourism awards
ST MICHAEL, Barbados: The Anguilla Hotel and
Tourism Association, the Barbados Hotel and
Tourism Association,
and the St Vincent and the
Grenadines Hotel and Tourism Association, have
been recognised by their peers during the
2007
Leadership Conference of the Caribbean Society of
Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE),
Letter: In response to article 'No to Eagle flights'
In response to Rickey Singh's article headlined 'No to
Eagle flights' which appeared in the Barbados
Saturday
Sun on Saturday 19 May 2007, and
especially to the comments attributed to Vincentian
Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves,
opposing the
planned service by American Eagle to and from
Barbados and St Lucia.
Letter: The LIAT monopoly - killing the goose?
The decision to create a monopoly in inter-island air
travel must surely count as one of the more retrograde
and
ill-advised decisions taken by Caribbean leaders
in recent times. What is most disturbing about this
situation, however,
is the sheer contempt being
displayed by LIAT and and the three prime ministers.
Cubans worry as Castro offers no clues on health
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuban leader Fidel Castro
has written a string of editorial columns to reassert
himself
after surgery forced him to step aside last year
but, with no word on his health, some Cubans are
now worried about
a power vacuum. His partial return
has many wondering whether he or Raul is in charge.
Three detained with guns as Venezuela closes TV
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Three men were
detained on suspicion of conspiring to commit violent
acts to coincide
with the controversial closing of a
television network in Venezuela, the country's interior
minister said Monday.
Two men were arrested with
three submachine guns, a handgun and shotguns.
St Kitts judge elected president of UN tribunal for Rwanda
ARUSHA, Rwanda (AFP): Judges at the UN court
trying leaders of the 1994 Rwandan genocide elected
Judge Dennis
Byron of St Kitts and Nevis to preside
over the tribunal, the court's press service said
Monday.
Call for Trinidad's planning minister to be removed
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's
Planning and Development Minister, Camille
Robinson Regis continues
to come under fire for
alleged misuse of a government credit card facility.
Opposition MP Ganga Singh said the minister
was
among several ministers who had racked up huge
credit card expenses.
Overseas territories hold financial conference in BVI
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Speaking at the opening ceremony
on Monday, British Virgin Islands Chief Minister Dr
Orlando
Smith has described the Overseas Countries
and Territories Association financial services
conference as a tangible
demonstration of the
benefits members could gain from working together.
Judgment reserved in Digicel action against BVI regulators
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Justice Rita Oliviette has reserved
decision on the case between Digicel and the
Telecommunications
Regulatory Commission.
Digicel has taken the TRC to court because it felt that
its licence to operate a mobile service
in the British
Virgin Islands was not considered fairly under the
Telecommunications Act.
Cuba, Dominican Republic expand air connections
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuba and the Dominican
Republic will expand air connections with the
increasing of flights
between both countries every
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, as of next June.
Sources at Cubana de Aviacion said that
current
flights by IL-62 planes will be joined by modern TU-
204-300 jets next September 1.
Cuba's crucial tourism industry sagging
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Tourism, for 15 years the
locomotive of the otherwise weak communist
economy, faces erosion
from within Cuba and without,
the magazine Bohemia has reported. In 2006 tourist
arrivals fell 3.6 percent, "falling
short of plans to grow
by almost eight percent and reach 2.5 million foreign
tourists."
Cuban dissident detained anew
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba's communist authorities
arrested prominent dissident Lazaro Alonso Roman
over the weekend,
less than a month after his release
following two years' imprisonment, activists said
Monday.
Czech, Spanish foreign ministers paper over EU, Cuba differences
PRAGUE, Cuba (AFP): Despite public disagreements
over relations with Cuba and the shape of a new EU
treaty, the
Czech and Spanish foreign ministers
papered over their differences at a meeting in Prague
Monday. EU heads of state
face a crucial summit in
June, which is expected to approve the institutional
reform.
Spanish airline cuts Cuba ad after sexism complaint
MADRID, Spain (Reuters): Spanish airline Iberia has
cut an advertisement showing black Cuban women in
bikinis
bottle feeding a baby tourist as he sings "feed
me mulattas ... come on little mamas, take me to my
cot" after complaints
it was sexist. A consumer rights
group demanded Iberia pull the ad for online sales.
Twenty-three-year-old dies in road fatality in Dominica
ROSEAU, Dominica: A fatal motorcycle accident in
Dominica has claimed the life of 23-year old James
Henderson
and has left the driver Brent Ambo nursing
serious injuries at the Princess Margaret's Hospital.
Billions invested in ICT since liberalisation, says Jamaican Minister
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Minister of Industry, Technology,
Energy and Commerce, Phillip Paulwell, has said that
the
liberalization of Jamaica's telecommunications
industry and the opening of the market to competition,
have led to
billions of dollars being invested in the
information and communication technology sector.
Trinidad PM compromising public officials, says opposition politician
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The prime minister of
Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, is being
accused of compromising
public officials and
members of the police service by Congress of the
People deputy political leader, Carolyn Seepersad-
Bachan.
Trinidad prisons officers on work to rule
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Hundreds of prison
officers in Trinidad and Tobago have begun taking
action in light
of several employee grievances.
Caribbean Net News understands that they have
instituted a work to rule plan as of
Monday, the first in
a series of further planned actions.
Police officers charged in US Virgin Islands
ST CROIX, USVI: Two USVI police officers Jose
Rodriquez, a 10-year police veteran and Cassandra
Jhero, a July
2006 police class graduate were brought
before VI Superior Court Judges this month to face
separate charges of rape
and domestic assault.
OECS Export Development Unit holds regional workshop
CASTRIES, St Lucia: OECS companies are getting
assistance in their pursuit of world class
manufacturing standards.
The OECS Secretariat's
Export Development Unit (OECS EDU) last week held
a regional workshop in St Lucia for executives
and
senior management of OECS private sector
companies,
