US to temporarily relax some passport rules
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): The United States will
temporarily relax rules requiring passports for US
citizens
traveling by air to Canada, Mexico and the
Caribbean because of a huge processing backlog,
US officials said last
week.
ACS deepens efforts towards eliminating obstacles to trade
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The Special Committee on
Trade Development and External Economic Relations
of the Association
of Caribbean States (ACS) met last
Thursday at the ACS Secretariat in Port of Spain,
Trinidad under the Chairmanship
of Mr. Gregorio
Canales, Director General for Foreign Investment for
Trade of Mexico.
EU mulls dropping sanctions against Cuba
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP): The European Union
could soon formally scrap its sanctions against Cuba,
currently suspended,
European sources said Friday.
The proposal to drop the sanctions -- adopted in 2003
but suspended two years later
-- was put forward by
Spain,
Taiwanese government funds new athletic stadium in St Kitts and Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Taiwanese Ambassador John
Liu hailed the leadership and vision of the
Government of St.
Kitts and Nevis to use sports and
sports tourism to transform the Federation's
infrastructure. He noted the positive
economic spin-
offs and the improved standing of the twin-island
country,
Castro says Bush tries to fool Pope on Iraq
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Convalescing Cuban leader
Fidel Castro accused US President George W. Bush
on Friday
of planning to deceive Pope Benedict over
the war in Iraq. In his latest musings on international
affairs, Castro
said Bush would try to fool the pontiff
into believing that the United States had done no
wrong in Iraq when he visits
Rome on Saturday.
Guyana shows significant growth in productive sectors
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GIS): Growth in the
productive sectors last year was significant when
compared to 2005 while
mining and quarrying was
the only sub-sector estimated to have registered a
decline. This is according to the 2006
Annual
Economic Review of the Caribbean Development
Bank (CDB).
One stop shop opens at port for importers and exporters in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Come July 1, local and
international importers and exporters will be able to
conduct
hassle free business when a 'one stop shop'
is opened at the Kingston Container Terminal (KCT).
This unit will facilitate
the efficient processing and
inspection of agricultural produce.
Puerto Rico to sell $8 billion of bonds by August
NEW YORK. USA (Bloomberg): Puerto Rico Governor
Anibal Acevedo Vila said the US commonwealth will
sell as much
as $8 billion of bonds by the end of
August to refinance debt and lower interest costs.
Cabinet urges technical team to complete negotiations on St Kitts Peninsula Resort
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The Denzil Douglas
Labour Party Administration in St. Kitts and Nevis has
reaffirmed
its strong support for a multi-million dollar
tourism development on the south east peninsular of
St. Kitts and has
urged the technical team involved in
the negotiations to conclude a final agreement.
Take Airlines begins new service to St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Take Airlines, a Martinique airline
company owned by Samuel Vivares recently
commenced operations
into St Lucia via the George F
L Charles Airport. However, the airline has been
operating via Vieux-Fort since 2002
and this service
still continues.
Reallocation of ministeral portfolios in St Lucia cabinet
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Sir John Compton who is still ill
remains as The Prime Minister of St Lucia, Minister of
External
Affairs, Rufus Bousquet has been sacked
from the Sir John Compton-led administration while
Dr Keith Mondesir has been
transferred from his
previous portfolio.
New Democratic Party rallies in St Vincent
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: Despite early morning
showers supporters of the opposition New
Democratic Party (NDP),
came out in numbers to
participate in a protest march called by the Party and
marched through capital city, Kingstown.
Some
members of the business community closed their
doors during the march.
Friends say JFK suspects not terrorists
NEW YORK, USA (UPI): Relatives and friends said the
four men arrested in an alleged plot to bomb jet fuel
tanks
at Kennedy International Airport in New York
were wrongly accused.
The Greater Caribbean This Week: Caribbean platforms for disaster reduction
It is a long held article of faith that we only find humour
in gags that contain elements of truth that connect us
to our own foibles or (preferably) those of "others". The
previous poem elicits a nervous laugh from all of us,
simply
because in it we recognise our species'
historical bias for the pound of cure over the ounce of
prevention.
Bandwagonism, stereotyping and rush to judgment makes JFK plot spurious
He was a rastaman before he became a Muslim who
came to the United States about 25 years ago and at
age 63 was
facing some very hard times. Several
years ago he was laid off from his cargo handling job
at John F. Kennedy International
Airport and resorted
to sleeping on trains from time to time,
Solution to Sirenusa rezoning problem
An open letter to USVI Governor deJongh - Thank you
very much for listening to the people of St. John and
vetoing
the Sirenusa Rezoning bill. Thank you also for
your strong words in the press releases after the veto
and the Senate's
override.
England lefties rock West Indies
MANCHESTER, England (AFP): Ryan Sidebottom
sparked a West Indies collapse as England
strengthened their grip
on the third Test at Old Trafford
here Friday.
Digicel renews sponsorship of the Digicel Caribbean Cup
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Digicel has renewed its
partnership with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU)
to remain as title
sponsors of the Digicel Caribbean
Cup for the next four years covering the upcoming
2008-09 and 2010-11 tournaments.
The renewed
investment was welcomed by CFU and CONCACAF
President Jack Warner.
Pakistan await vindication over Woolmer, says Inzamam
LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP): Former Pakistan captain
Inzamam-ul-Haq has urged Jamaican authorities to
reveal the cause
of coach Bob Woolmer's death as
soon as possible and finally clear the team of
involvement.
Bermuda, British governor set deal in leak dispute
HAMILTON, Bermuda (Reuters): Bermuda will ask
British police to probe a leak of police files to
journalists on
the mid-Atlantic island in a deal aimed
at ending a dispute with colonial power Britain,
Premier Ewart Brown said
on Thursday.
Global warming threatens to wipe out Caribbean coral, says report
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Caribbean coral species
essential to the region's reef ecosystems are at risk of
extinction
as a result of climate change, according to a
new marine life study released Thursday by
Conservation International.
Shuttered Venezuela TV to air news on other frequency
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): A television station
closed by President Hugo Chavez sparking opposition
protests will
broadcast news over another frequency,
its directors said Thursday. "Alongside CNN and RCN
(from Colombia) we have
decided to carry 'The
Observer' from RCTV," Globovision director Alberto
Federico Ravell told reporters.
No terrorist cells in Suriname, says justice minister
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Authorities in Suriname
were informed at an early stage by foreign judicial
authorities
about the presence of alleged 'hard core'
terrorist cells in Trinidad and Tobago, a government
official here told
media.
British Virgin Islands hits record economic growth
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Chief Minister of the British Virgin
Islands Dr. Orlando Smith delivered his fourth annual
State
of the Territory Address this week praising the
people of the BVI for helping to foster the strongest
and most sustained
economic growth in the
Territory's history over the past four years.
Fidel Castro invites Bolivian ally Morales for visit
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Leftist Bolivian President Evo
Morales arrived in Cuba Thursday for a lightning visit
to
meet with top government officials, state media
announced, without saying if he would meet with
ailing Cuban leader
Fidel Castro. An official statement
said that Castro, 80, invited his ally for the working visit.
Children's book on Cuba kicks up a storm in Miami
MIAMI, USA (AFP): A children's book on Cuba has
raised the hackles of Miami parents for allegedly
glossing over
the harsh reality of communism, and
prompted a court battle between rights groups and a
school board seeking to ban
it from classrooms.
EU drafts new Cuba strategy
BRUSSELS, Belguim (UPI): The EU has drafted a new
strategy to increase the prospect of "self-
determination" for
Cubans living on the communist
island, the EU Observer reported. The draft calls for
a "more active dialogue on Cuba
in (EU) trans-Atlantic
relations" and with EU allies in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Caribbean Airlines may be next national carrier in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Caribbean Airlines
may be Guyana's next national flag carrier as Guyana
moves to increase
passenger traffic. This was
revealed by the Head of State President Bharrat
Jagdeo at the first Tourism Conference:
Moving
Guyana's Tourism Forward at the Guyana
International Conference Centre.
Parliamentary discussion on JFK terror plot disallowed in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Speaker of Guyana's
National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran on Thursday
disallowed a Motion for
discussion of the alleged
terror plot targeting the John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport.
The Motion was brought by Alliance
For Change (AFC)
MP, Raphael Trotman.
Woolmer death probe team under fire
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): The investigating
team that concluded former Pakistan cricket coach
Bob Woolmer
was murdered came under fire on
Thursday. Reneto Adams, a senior police
superintendent, told local television station
CVM: "A
hasty decision was arrived at in declaring this a
murder."
Suriname delegation heads to China
PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AFP): Surinames vice
president Ramdien Sardjoe was due to leave for
China Thursday at the
head of an 11-strong
delegation, amid a battle for influence in Latin America
between Beijing and Taipei. Sardjoe
said the visit had
nothing to do with a recent offer from Taiwan to open
diplomatic ties.
Suriname's Staatsolie and Murphy Oil sign production sharing contract
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Suriname's state-owned oil
company Staatsolie on Thursday signed a production
sharing contract
with US-based Murphy Oil
Corporation. The documents were signed by
Staatsolie general-manager Marc Waaldijk and
Murphy
Oil's vice president Exploration & Production,
Bruce Laws.
USVI police aggressively taking guns off the street
ST THOMAS, USVI: Police in the St Thomas/St
John/Water Island district of the US Virgin Islands are
aggressively
continuing an initiative that is taking guns
off the streets. The initiative is a joint effort of the
VIPD's Special
Operations Bureau, Project Safe
Streets, and the High Intensity Drug Traffic Area.
USVI governor names new director of prisons
ST CROIX, USVI: USVI Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr.
Thursday named S. Elwood York as Director of
Prisons at the Bureau
of Corrections. De Jongh said
this appointment is consistent with the
administration's pledge to restructure the leadership
of the territory's top law enforcement agencies.
Students take TV fight to Venezuela Congress
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Students took their
protest over President Hugo Chavez's shutdown of the
last nationwide
opposition television station to
Venezuela's Congress in a rare appearance by the
opposition. The closing has become
the rallying cry
for a nascent pro-democracy student movement
Commentary: Caribbean terrorists: too broke and stupid to blow up JFK Airport?
I have been only mildly irritated by reports on the
alleged plot to blow up JFK Airport which suggest that
the
unusual suspects in this case were simply too
broke and stupid to pull it off. But I've been positively
incensed by
the fact that some of those reports were
written by Caribbean natives who posited this
condescending notion
Bell tolls for resurgent West Indies
MANCHESTER, England (AFP): Ian Bell held firm for
England against a revived West Indies on the first day
of the
third Test here Thursday. At stumps, England
were 296 for seven, having started the final session
on 167 for five
at Old Trafford after West Indies, 1-0
down in the four-Test series, had enjoyed a rare spell
of dominance.
Puerto Rico's Cotto puts WBA welterweight title on line
NEW YORK, USA (AFP): Hard-punching Puerto Rican
Miguel Cotto puts his World Boxing Association
welterweight title
on the line against former champ
Zab Judah on Saturday at famed fight venue Madison
Square Garden.
Trinidad's Watkins wins Long Jump title at NCAA Championships
SACRAMENTO, USA: Trinidad and Tobago's World
Junior champion Rhonda Watkins, representing
University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA),
produced an impressive 6.95m to win the women's
Long Jump title on the second day of the 2007
NCAA
Championships in Sacramento, California, on
Thursday.
Surge in hurricane activity is only a return to normal, says study
PARIS, France (AFP): Fresh research into Atlantic
hurricanes is offering a dash of good news in the
context of
global warming -- but bad news for those in
the Caribbean and southeastern United States who
live in the path of these
mighty storms.
JFK airport plot a US setup, says suspect's daughter
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP): The four suspects in
an alleged terror plot to bomb a New York airport were
set
up in an elaborate plan by the US Republican party
to retain hold of the White House, the daughter of an
arrested
suspect claimed Tuesday.
Miami schools want to ban Cuba book
MIAMI, USA (UPI): The Miami-Dade school district
wants to ban a children's book on Cuba from libraries
saying
it is an inaccurate portrayal of the Communist
island. Representatives of the school district pleaded
their case Wednesday
before federal appellate judges.
European aid for Dominican Republic, Haiti border area
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: As a result of
intense efforts by the respective Environmental
Ministers of
the Dominican Republic and Haiti,
funding of almost US$3 million has been allocated by
the European Union to assist
the border areas of
Jimini, which has the largest lakes of both countries.
Bahamas national debt stands at $2.88 billion
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): Minister of State for
Finance, Zhivargo Laing revealed that the national
debt of the Bahamas
has grown by some $656 million
over the last five years, and is now pegged at $2.881
billion. Laing said 83 per cent
of the national debt
represents a direct charge on the government.
Fidel Castro gives no sign in TV chat of plan to return to power
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): A healthier-looking Fidel Castro
hinted that his recovery is still incomplete in his first
interview
in 10 months, and gave no sign of any plan
to retake Cuba's reins of power. "All I can tell my fellow
countrymen is
what I've already said, that I'm now
doing what I have to do, nothing else," said Castro.
Guyana defends cooperation with US over airport plot
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Guyana's President
Bharrat Jagdeo Wednesday defended his
government's decision to cooperate
with US
authorities investigating an alleged plot to blow up
New York's international airport. "Too much of our
future
is tied up with the linkages that we have with
that country...
Air Jamaica supports co-operation between regional carriers, says CEO
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Air Jamaica, Michael Conway, has
dismissed claims that
the national airline is not
supportive of proposed co-operation between regional
carriers. Conway said the discussion
continues and
representatives of the region's air carriers would be
meeting later.
St Kitts to host FBI conference
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): Active-duty senior
law enforcement and criminal justice officers from 25
countries
in Latin America and the Caribbean
converge on St Kitts next week for the Federal Bureau
of Investigation National
Academy Associates (FBI
NAA) Latin American-Caribbean Chapter Conference.
Suriname to accede to Inter-American anti-firearms convention
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The Board of Ministers in
Suriname has sanctioned a bill for Suriname to
accede to the
'Inter American Convention against Illicit
Manufacturing of and trafficking in Firearms,
Ammunition, Explosives and
similar devices', the
Ministry of Justice and Police has announced.
Suriname's teachers give education minister a one-week ultimatum
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: High school teachers in
Suriname have threatened industrial action if within a
week the
Teacher's Union (BvL) is not invited by the
authorities to discuss their demands. On Tuesday the
BvL delivered an
eight point petition to Minister of
Education Edwin Wolf, demanding action from the
government.
Chavez asks Castro to wear the uniform again
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez on Wednesday urged his idol Cuban
President Fidel
Castro to resume wearing his
customary military uniform instead of the track suit he
has sported since undergoing
surgery last year.
Venezuelan professors join students at march
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Thousands of students
joined by university rectors and professors marched
Wednesday
in the Venezuelan capital, keeping up
protests against the government's closure of an
opposition television station.
Caribbean has greater dangers than radical Islam
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): An alleged plot to
blow up New York's main airport has sparked fears
about militant
Islam in the Caribbean but experts say
the region's main security risks remain drug gangs
and smuggling rackets.
Caribbean-Americans embarrassed at JFK terror plot, but doubt capacity of suspects
NEW YORK, USA: The Caribbean-American
community in New York is understandably upset,
embarrassed and miffed over
the weekend
revelations that four immigrants from the Caribbean,
one of them a naturalized American citizen, conspired
to blow up the fuel farm and pipelines at John F.
Kennedy International Airport.
Guyana ratifies OAS anti-terrorism treaty
PANAMA CITY, Panama: Guyana deposited with the
Organization of American States its ratification
instruments for
the Inter-American Convention against
Terrorism, a hemispheric treaty the member countries
adopted in June 2002. The
Caribbean country has
become the 23rd member state to ratify the convention.
Proud Ganga aiming for West Indies revival
MANCHESTER, England (AFP): Newly-installed West
Indies captain Daren Ganga told his struggling side
Wednesday
to focus on the "processes" of Test cricket
if they want to reverse their poor form. West Indies
have won just one
of their last 27 Tests and that was
two years ago, against Pakistan in Barbados.
Powell confirmed for Bislett Games-IAAF Golden League
OSLO, Norway: Jamaican ace sprinter Asafa Powell,
who ran undefeated for the entire season last year,
has been
confirmed for the ExxonMobil Bislett Games.
The meeting is the opening competition of the 2007
IAAF Golden League.
Lining up to race against the
fastest man on the planet are several top name
athletes.
Jamaica's Beckford defeats Gaisah to win in Dessau
DESSAU, Germany: Jamaica's James Beckford leapt
a seasonal best of 8.09m to capture the men's Long
Jump title
at the Leichtathletik - Meeting "Anhalt 2007"
which took place at the Paul- Greifzu Stadium in
Dessau, Germany on
June 1.
Fourth suspect in JFK airport plot turns himself in
PORT-OF-SPAIN , Trinidad (AFP): The fourth suspect
in an alleged plot to blow up pipelines and fuel tanks
at
New York's John F Kennedy International airport
has surrendered to Trinidad police, officials said
Tuesday. Abdel
Nur turned himself in Tuesday at a
police station on the outskirts of the capital Port of
Spain.
US senators demand probe of Ugland House in the Cayman Islands
WASHINGTON, USA (Bloomberg): The leaders of the
US Senate Finance Committee have asked the
Government Accountability
Office to investigate a five-
story building in the Cayman Islands listed as the
address of nearly 13,000 subsidiaries
of companies,
many of them US-based.
Castro gets Cubans talking with first TV interview since operation
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Anticipation mounted Tuesday
as Cuba was to air Fidel Castro's first television
interview
since the communist leader handed power
to his brother 10 months ago to undergo major
surgery.
Prison escape in US Virgin Islands
ST CROIX, USVI: St Croix police are searching for 22-
year-old Luis R. Torres who escaped Sunday from
Golden Grove
Prison. US Virgin Islands Attorney
General Vincent Frazer confirmed reports of the
escape in a press release issued
Monday. Torres
was discovered missing at 6:30 p.m. according to the
release.
Telecommunications consultant lashes out at BVI government
ROAD TOWN, BVI: A regional telecommunications
consultant has lashed out at the British Virgin Islands
government
for failing to ensure a level playing field as
the territory liberalises the telecommunications
industry.
US network broadcasts show live from Cuba
NEW YORK, USA (AFP): Despite perpetually strained
US-Cuban ties, the US NBC television network for the
first
time Tuesday broadcast a live program from
Havana, where the communist government controls
all media.
US appeals release of Posada, sought by Cuba, Venezuela
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The US government
Tuesday appealed a Texas judge's May 8 decision to
release 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.
Dominica to develop national export strategy
ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica will move one step
closer towards the development of a National Export
Strategy (NES)
when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Trade and Labour and the Dominica Export Import
Agency officially launch a process
for the design and
management of an export strategy.
New Chinese Foreign Minister pledges to take Dominica-China relationship to higher level
ROSEAU, Dominica: The new Chinese Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Yang Jiechi has pledged to take the
Dominica-China
relationship to a higher level. In a
letter to Charles Savarin, Jiechi also expressed
his "most heartfelt gratitude
for your letter of
congratulation extended to me on the occasion of my
appointment."
Guyana finds pipeline plans in JFK suspect's home
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (Reuters): Guyanese police
said on Tuesday they had found plans of pipelines in
the home of
Abdul Kadir, one of four men charged in a
foiled plot to blow up fuel installations at New York's
JFK International
Airport.
Political party of JFK terror suspect wants Cubana bombers brought to justice
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana's main opposition
party, People's National Congress Reform (PNCR),
has condemned the
reported plot to blow up the John
F. Kennedy Airport in New York, alleged to have been
planned by four individuals,
one of whom is a former
Member of Parliament of the party.
Muslims in Guyana are not extremists, says community leader
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The chilling unraveling of a
plot to blow up the John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport by
four men
embracing Muslim beliefs -- three of whom
are Guyanese -- has moved Muslim leaders in
Guyana to appeal for tolerance.
Puerto Rico bank authorises discussions on rival takeover offer
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Doral Financial Corp.,
the Puerto Rican lender that agreed last month to a
private-equity
buyout, said its board has authorised
discussions with a rival bidder that has offered more
than double the price
per share.
Audit association to host conference in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: In keeping with the overall
objectives of improving the investment environment in
the Caribbean
region and to increase investor
confidence in the integrity of financial reporting, the
Caribbean Association of Audit
Committee Members
Inc (CAACM) has organised a conference in St Lucia.
Scientists discover new species in Suriname forest
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Researchers have
discovered twenty-four new species in Suriname
while a fish species thought
to be extinct has been
rediscovered, a conservation organisation reported
here Monday at the presentation of the result
of an
expedition from 2005 and 2006.
Closure of Venezuelan TV station consolidates media hegemony, says RSF
PARIS, France: Reporters Without Borders has
released a report of a fact-finding trip it made to
Venezuela from
24 to 28 May to examine the impact of
the closure of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), the
country's most popular television
station.
Caribbean official re-elected to UN meteorological organization
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The Coordinating Director of
the Port of Spain-based Caribbean Meteorological
Organisation,
Tyrone Sutherland, was unanimously re-
elected for a second term as the World Meteorological
Organisation's (WMO) Second
Vice-President.
Sutherland was first elected as a Vice-President in
2003.
St Lucia offers summer savings
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Starting June 1, 2007, the island
of St Lucia is offering strong savings and Caribbean-
Americans
are being encouraged to cash in on them.
The "St Lucia Super Summer Savers" promotion plan
gives all visitors, an
opportunity to enjoy the beauty
and splendour of St Lucia.
Bravo grateful for Lara's advice
MANCHESTER, England (AFP): Dwayne Bravo is
looking to put the advice he has received from former
West Indies
captain Brian Lara to good use when the
third Test against England gets under way at Old
Trafford on Thursday. Lara
was often accused during
his career of being a selfish player and a bad team
man.
Fit again and running fast, Campbell loving new challenges
FLORIDA, USA: Olympic 200-metre champion
Veronica Campbell, who recovered from a quad injury
sustained last season
to run two sub-11 seconds
100m dashes this season, says she is loving the
challenges she has been getting on the track
from her
fellow competitors this year.
Trinidad police hunt fourth man wanted in JFK airport plot
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP): Trinidad authorities
appealed on Monday for help in tracking down a fourth
suspect
in a foiled plot to blow up fuel tanks and
pipelines at New York's international airport. Abdel
Nur is believed to
be hiding in Trinidad and police
described him as armed and dangerous,
Castro to return to Cuban TV in interview Tuesday
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuban leader Fidel Castro,
who has not been seen in public for 10 months, will
appear
on Cuban television on Tuesday in his first
interview since undergoing emergency surgery last
year, a TV announcer
said on Monday.
Rice urges OAS report on Venezuelan TV station
PANAMA CITY, Panama (AFP): The United States
urged other nations of the Americas Monday to
investigate the shutdown
of an anti-government
television station in Venezuela, and denied it was
interfering in a foreign country. She reminded
the
meeting of foreign ministers of the OAS regional
democracy bloc,
Jamaican police seek pathology files in Woolmer case, says report
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): The Jamaican Police
have requested a third pathology report on the death
of former Pakistan
cricket coach Bob Woolmer, the
Jamaican Gleaner newspaper quoted a senior police
officer saying.
New submarine cable will benefit Caribbean communications
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): The first underwater cable of
the Caribbean will be installed by a new joint venture
between
state run enterprises Telecom Venezuela
and Transbit from Cuba. Ten times bigger than any
cable in the region, this
new device will allow cheaper
and faster interconnection between Latin American
countries.
Dominican Republic president announces emergency funding after heavy rains
SANTO DOMINGO. Dominican Republic: President
Leonel Fernandez has promised to provide
government help after the
continuous heavy rains over
the last week, especially in the northern part of the
Dominican Republic, which has caused
ten deaths,
numerous injuries and considerable damage due to
flooding and mudslides.
Government of Montserrat agrees new contract with WINAIR
BRADES, Montserrat: The Government of Montserrat
says it has agreed a one year contract with WINAIR to
continue
providing air services to Montserrat. The
airline will continue to provide scheduled flights in and
out of Geralds
Airport. WINAIR's current contract for
providing air services for Montserrat ends on July 10th
2007.
OECS EDU assistance important to business development on Nevis
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: A number of businesses on
Nevis stand to receive technical and financial
assistance from
the Organisation of East Caribbean
States Export Development Unit, an opportunity a top
official in the Ministry of
Social Development on Nevis
said, was important to business development.
Teachers in Suriname announce one-day strike
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Disgruntled high school
teachers in Suriname have announced a one-day
strike for Tuesday
after authorities failed to meet their
demands, union leader Wilgo Valies disclosed. On
Tuesday the Teacher's Union
(BVL) will present a
petition to minister of Education, Edwin Wolf.
Trinidad described as 'new hotbed' in war against terror
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The two men held in
Trinidad for plotting to blow up the JFK International
Airport in
New York could be extradited to the United
States within days to face terrorism charges. Trinidad
and Tobago national
Kareem Ibraham and Guyanese-
born Abdul Kadir both appeared before the Chief
Magistrate on Monday.
US embassy in Trinidad responds to terrorist arrests
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The United States
Embassy in Port of Spain has issued a statement
saying four individuals
have been charged in New
York with conspiring to attack JFK Airport by planting
explosives to blow up the airport's
major jet-fuel
supply tanks and pipelines.
Trinidad Muslims worried about travelling to the US
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP): Trinidad Muslims
said Monday they were worried about being victimized
after an
alleged plot to blow up New York's
international airport was linked to Islamic militants
from the Caribbean.
Venezuelan students march to defend right to protest
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Thousands of students
tossed carnations to police lining the streets as they
marched
Monday to the Supreme Court to demand it
uphold their right to protest. "We're here to demand
our right to demonstrate
outside government
buildings and anywhere else in the city," Yon
Goicochea told AFP
Brazil to favour economic ties not spat with Chavez
BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters): A diplomatic spat over
President Hugo Chavez's closure of an opposition TV
channel
has brought calls for Brazil to distance itself
from Venezuela but is unlikely to drive the two apart,
analysts said.
Puerto Rico bank, in buyout agreement, receives rival offer
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Doral Financial Corp.,
the Puerto Rican lender that agreed last month to a
private-equity
buyout, said it received a rival offer from
closely held FBOP Corp. at more than double the price.
Caribbean Americans must remain focused says consul general
ORLANDO, USA: Gerard Greene, the Consul General
of Trinidad and Tobago in Florida has said that
Caribbean Americans
must remain focused,
continuing the positive contribution they make to
American society and not allow the news of
an alleged
terrorist plot involving four Caribbean nationals to
impact them negatively.
Hospitality assured programme for the Caribbean launched
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The Caribbean Tourism
Organization (CTO) has officially launched the
Hospitality Assured
(HA) pilot programme for the
Caribbean with the first of three workshops aimed at
persons who will assist the hospitality
sector attain
the required standards of service excellence.
Caribbean tourism investment fund gathers force
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: A highlight of the Caribbean
Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference held last
month,
was the announcement by Peter Odle,
President of the Caribbean Hotel Association, that
CHA had engaged KPMG and Caribbean
Financial
Services Corporation as advisors to a Tourism
Investment Fund.
CGID calls for more security funding for Caribbean region
NEW YORK, USA: The Caribbean Guyana Institute for
Democracy (CGID) is calling on the US government to
drastically
increase security and counter-terrorism
funding and technical assistance to countries in the
Caribbean region.
This call came on Monday from the
Institute's President, Rickford Burke.
New energy order sees prospects for reducing poverty, says OAS Secretary General
PANAMA CITY, Panama: The Organization of American
States (OAS) views the prospects of a "New Energy
Order" as
holding great promise for a world with less
poverty, more prosperity, more social equity and a
cleaner environment,
OAS Assistant Secretary
General Albert R. Ramdin told a private sector group.
Commentary: Law and Politics: Uneasiness in the security camp!
In the upside-down troubled times we are living or
existing nowadays we are many times forced to do
things or
accept situations that in usual and strait-
forward circumstances we will reject. We react in
those cases, when we
realise that to adopt an
alternative may create or do more harm than good.
Letter: Scotland Yard's conclusion on Coach Bob Woolmers death
Now that Scotland Yard detectives have come to the
conclusion that Coach Bob Woolmer was not
murdered, it has
become obvious that Mark Shields,
Jamaica's deputy police commissioner, was either
lying or grossly incompetent in
both his reaction as
well as investigation of the case. Maybe he was guilty
of both.
Letter: Taxes and add-ons higher than airfare!</
