Sons of JFK suspect held in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (UPI): Two sons of one of
the suspects in an alleged plot aimed at Kennedy
International Airport
are being held in Guyana on a
charge of possession of ammunition.
Cuba says Moore's 'SiCKO' highlights its humanism
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba's Communist
government joined the debate surrounding Michael
Moore's new documentary
"SiCKO" on Friday, saying
the film will allow the world to get a glimpse of the
humaneness of its health system. The
film indicts the
US health-care system.
Caribbean applauds relaxation of passport rules
NEW YORK, USA: The Caribbean Tourism
Organization (CTO), representing 32 nations across
the Caribbean region,
has applauded the decision by
the United States government to temporarily relax the
requirements of the Western Hemisphere
Travel
Initiative (WHTI),
Venezuela's Chavez due in Russia at end of month
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP): Venezuela's President Hugo
Chavez is to visit Russia later this month, his Moscow
embassy
said Friday, with speculation that he could
place an order for submarines.
Cuba set to escape UN rights scrutiny
GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters): Cuba and Belarus
look set to be dropped from a blacklist of alleged
rights violators
as part of any deal on the workings of
the United Nations' new human rights watchdog,
diplomats and activists said
on Friday.
Guyana dissatisfied with CARICOM member states' submissions to COTED
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana has
expressed dissatisfaction with the continued
inadequate data submissions
of several CARICOM
member States, to the Council for Trade and
Economic Development (COTED).
Trinidad 's National Flour Mills report TT$54m loss
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The National Flour Mills of
Trinidad and Tobago, (NFM) has declared a TT$54
million
after tax loss for 2007. NFM is largely
government owned and occupies a monopoly status
in the local food market,
with some 25,000
shareholders.
Vital CARICOM-US partnership takes center stage in Washington
WASHINGTON, USA: The Caribbean Diaspora can be
tapped to play a vital role in the political and economic
partnership
between the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) and the United States, and to help raise
the profile of Caribbean concerns,
the Assistant
Secretary General of the OAS said.
US aid ship to visit Latin America, Caribbean
WICHITA, Kansas (AFP): The US Navy's hospital
ship "Comfort" will visit 12 ports in Central and South
America
and the Caribbean soon to provide health
care to needy communities, the White House said
Friday. The ship will undertake
a four-month
deployment
Air Jamaica launches new non-stop Barbados flights from Ft Lauderdale
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Air Jamaica has announced
that it will inaugurate non-stop service between Fort
Lauderdale/Hollywood
International Airport (FLL) and
The Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados,
starting July 22, 2007.
Commentary: A new colonialism? EU trade demands and ACP countries
The European Union (EU) has been pushing African,
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to conclude
Economic
Partnership Agreements (EPAs) by the end
of the year, claiming that preferences which they now
enjoy will not be approved
by the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) come next year.
Commentary: Infusing the OAS with some Teutonic culture
It has been two years since Chilean socialist
politician, and 2009 presidential hopeful, Jose Miguel
Insulza,
took over the helm of the Organization of
American States (OAS) as Secretary General. In that
relatively short time
frame, he has spearheaded
efforts to increase the organization's political leverage
as well as produce a change in
its orientation and
tone.
Play abandoned in first day of fourth England-West Indies Test
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England (AFP): The fourth
and final Test between England and West Indies was
abandoned without
a ball being bowled because of
rain at the Riverside here Friday. The match is now set
to resume on Saturday at 11.00am.
Gayle to captain West Indies in one-dayers
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England (AFP): Chris Gayle
will captain West Indies in their forthcoming Twenty20
matches
and one-day internationals against England,
with stand-in Test skipper Daren Ganga omitted from
the 14-man squad announced
here Friday.
Solanki to captain England Lions against West Indies
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England (AFP): Vikram
Solanki will captain England Lions, the new name for
the England A side,
against West Indies in a one-day
tour match next week, the England and Wales Cricket
Board (ECB) announced Friday.
USVI governor congratulates Tim Duncan and the Spurs on Championship title
ST THOMAS, USVI: Governor John P. deJongh Jr.
Friday joined the entire US Virgin Islands community
and fans of
the San Antonio Spurs in congratulating St
Croix native and NBA sensation Tim Duncan on his
team's fourth NBA championship.
The championship
title came Thursday night as the Spurs edged out the
Cavaliers.
Powell starts Golden League hunt with impressive 9.94 in Oslo
OSLO, Norway: Asafa Powell, a man who seems to do
whatever he wants whenever he steps on the track,
made a successful
start to the IAAF 2007 Golden
League season by winning the men's 100m in the
second fastest time in the world this
year at the
ExxonMobil Bislett Games on Friday.
Clock ticking as Powell searches for gold
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters): The clock is ticking for
Asafa Powell, and not just when the world record
holder runs
100 metres. The Jamaican sprinter,
although in the prime of his career with many more
goals in mind, already knows
how long he wants to
stay in the sport.
Trinidad and Tobago's Chief Justice suspended
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago 's
Chief Justice, Satnarine Sharma has been
suspended from office
with immediate effect. Prime
Minister Patrick Manning acting in accordance with
Section 137 of the country's Constitution
advised
President George Maxwell Richards to issue, by letter,
the order of suspension.
Bush to meet Caribbean leaders June 18-21
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US President George W.
Bush will meet with leaders from the 15-nation
Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) during a
conference on the region at the US State Department
June 18-21, his spokesman said Thursday.
No EU agreement to normalise relations with Cuba
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP): EU member states have
failed to agree to normalise ties with Cuba, opting
instead to
extend a suspension of sanctions on the
communist Caribbean island, European diplomats
said Thursday.
Independence no election issue, says Bermuda premier
HAMILTON, Bermuda (Reuters): Bermuda's premier
has ruled out putting independence from Britain on
the agenda
for the next general election that must be
called by January 2009. "Nothing about the next
election will significantly
alter the independence
issue," Premier Ewart Brown was quoted as saying.
New Cuba visa policy for the Bahamas
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): The Cuban Embassy has
instituted a new policy regarding sponsorship of
Cubans, resulting
in Bahamians having to submit an
affidavit to that country before applying for a visa. This
was announced by Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette.
Advocates of lifting Cuba sanctions see slim odds
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): Even the staunchest
congressional supporters of lifting US sanctions
against Cuba
are not optimistic any changes will
occur while policy toward Havana is tied up in US
electoral politics.
Guyana accuses US of worst forms of human trafficking
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Guyana Thursday
accused the United States of double standards over
human rights, saying
Washington was guilty of the
worst forms of people trafficking from Central America.
Jamaica's tourism minister wants extension of new US travel initiative
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica's Minister of Tourism,
Entertainment & Culture, Aloun Assamba, is
suggesting that
Caribbean Heads of State attending
next week's Conference on the Caribbean in
Washington, DC, should lobby the United
States (US)
Government for an extension on the new travel
initiative.
Jamaica launches inquiry into Woolmer affair
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (AFP): Jamaican authorities
have launched an inquiry into the handling of the
death of former
Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer,
after police admitted he was not murdered.
Montserrat contributes to regional talks
BRADES, Montserrat: Montserrat has contributed to
regional discussions focusing on advancing trade,
economic
development, and financial planning.
Regional Affairs Officer, Claudia Skerritt attended the
2nd Joint Meeting of
the Council for Trade and
Economic Development (COTED).
Rastafarians celebrate in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The Iyanola Council for the
Advancement of Rastafarians (ICAR) will be hosting a
Building
Capacity Workshop to commemorate the
birthday of Leonard Percival Howell. The event will
take place June 15 - 16,
2007.
Trinidad's president encourages local transparency institute
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's
President George Maxwell Richards was warm in his
encouragement
of the local Trinidad and Tobago
Transparency Institute (TTTI) at the conclusion of a
courtesy call to his office
made this week. Also
discussed were the initiatives that the Institute
proposes.
Venezuela urges US to extradite Cuban sought in plane bombing
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Venezuela Thursday
renewed its extradition request for Cuban anti-Castro
militant Luis
Posada Carriles, sought in a 1976 plane
bombing that killed 73 people.
Venezuela's Chavez to finalise Russian submarines deal, says report
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP): Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez is expected to finalise a deal on buying up to
nine Russian
submarines during a visit here later this
month, a Russian newspaper reported on Thursday.
US Senate panel pushes new delay in passport rule
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): A US Senate
committee on Thursday voted to put off until mid-2009
passport requirements
for US travelers entering the
United States by land or sea from Canada and other
neighboring countries.
Editorial: The deportation of journalists from Antigua is cause for alarm
The unlawful detention and deportation of two
Caribbean journalists by the police in Antigua and
Barbuda is cause
for alarm throughout the Caribbean
and farther afield. It reeks of a police state intent upon
stifling criticism.
Commentary: Woolmer: Not quite Holloway, but Jamaicans got some ‘splainin’ to do…
Jamaican Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas
announced on Tuesday that he was compelled to
reverse the local police's
original finding - that
Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer was murdered
(by "manual strangulation" and probably at
the hands
of one of his Pakistani players) - after an independent
investigation...
Commentary: The Greater Caribbean This Week: Cuba, the OAS and the new times
The thirty seventh general assembly of the
Organisation of American States was held in Panama
on June 3-5. The
main theme of the meeting was the
energy issue, which is a major concern for the entire
world and particularly for
the majority of the member
countries that rely on the importation of oil.
Ganga targets West Indies' fallible fielding
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England (AFP): West Indies
captain Daren Ganga has promised an improved
fielding display from
his side in the fourth and final
Test against England starting at Riverside here Friday.
Ganga, leading the side in
the absence of the injured
Ramnaresh Sarwan, said the side were working on
their fielding,
Jamaican defender traded by Galaxy and hit with MLS ban
TORONTO, Canada (AFP): Hours after being traded by
the struggling Los Angeles Galaxy to Toronto FC,
Jamaican
defender Tyrone Marshall was suspended
for three games by Major League Soccer for a leg-
breaking tackle.
Track and field cheaters upset Trinidad's Boldon
FLORIDA, USA: Former Olympic 100m silver medallist
Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago has said that his
passion
for the sport he once loved dearly is slowly
migrating because of the abuse it has received from
top athletes.
Powell starts million dollar Golden League hunt in Oslo
OSLO, Norway: Jamaica's fastest man and woman in
the world in 2007, Asafa Powell and Sherone
Simpson, will begin
their hunt at winning a Jackpot
prize of $1 million when they lead a host of Caribbean
athletes who will be on show
at the ExxonMobil Bislett
Games.
'I am the best', says Powell
OSLO, Norway: Jamaican superstar sprinter Asafa
Powell is confident that despite what has been
happening around
him and the injuries that set him
on the back-foot for the past couple of weeks, he is
currently still the best sprinter
in the world. Powell
opened up his season with what then was a world-
leading 9.97,
Two Cuban soccer players may have defected, says paper
HOUSTON, USA (Reuters): Two players from the
Cuban national soccer team may have defected
before a match against
Honduras on Wednesday in
Houston, a newspaper reported on Thursday.
Detective says no regrets over Woolmer probe
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): The high-profile
British police veteran who headed the investigation of
cricket
coach Bob Woolmer's death in Jamaica
defended himself on Tuesday against accusations
the probe was botched. Mark Shields,
the deputy
police commissioner in Jamaica, said he would not
resign.
Dominican Republic president would be re-elected in 2008, poll shows
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: Poll survey
results by a US firm based in Washington DC indicate
that if the
Dominican Republic's presidential election
was held today, President Leonel Fernandez would be
re-elected by almost
50 percent of the votes. The
presidential elections will be held in May 2008.
EU offers Cuba talks on ties despite contact freeze
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters): European Union
states agreed on Wednesday to invite a Cuban
delegation to Brussels
to explore the scope for a
gradual thaw in ties, but backed away from ending a
four-year-old freeze in contacts.
Guyana defends anti-human trafficking effort
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Minister of Human Services
and Social Security, Priya Manichand, says Guyana
continues to
pursue alleged human traffickers,
cautioning that the South American nation will not
trump-up charges against anyone
to look good in any
report. The US has placed Guyana on its "Tier 2 Watch
List".
Bahamas tourism earmarks $26.6m for marketing and promotion
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): The Ministry of Tourism is
proposing to spend an estimated $26.6 million on
marketing
and promotions of the islands of The
Bahamas, and a further estimated $4.1 million on
airlift development.
UN envoy 'deeply concerned' over Cuban dissidents
GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters): A UN rights envoy
expressed "deep concern" on Tuesday about the
health of some
60 Cuban dissidents jailed during a
crackdown four years ago. French magistrate
Christine Chanet said the human rights
situation on
the communist-ruled island had shown no significant
improvement.
Guyana police assisting FBI in terror plot probe
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: A team from the US Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which arrived Saturday,
is working
with Guyana police to delve deeper into the
alleged plot to blow up fuel supply pipelines at the
John F. Kennedy Airport.
Jamaica red-faced at twists, turns of Woolmer saga
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): Jamaicans reacted
with embarrassment to news that former Pakistan
cricket coach
Bob Woolmer was not, in fact, murdered,
after a saga that started as a tragedy, became a
mystery, and now turned into
a farce.
Montserrat keeps evacuation measures in place
BRADES, Montserrat: The Emergency Policy Group
(EPG) met on Monday, 11 June, when the MVO
Director, Dr Vicky
Hards, reported that there had been
little change in the state of Montserrat's Soufriere Hills
Volcano since the last
EPG meeting on 16 May 2007.
Nevis land use plan important, says minister
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: During a press conference,
Junior Minister with responsibility for Physical
Planning on Nevis,
Carlisle Powell underscored the
need for proper planning and the important role which
the Nevis Physical Development
Plan, once
completed, would play in the development of Nevis.
St Lucia's prime minister on road to recovery
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Stephenson King, Acting Prime
Minister of St Lucia said Prime Minister Sir John
Compton's
medical team is getting set to present a
formal report on his recuperation in the near future.
King, who attended
frequent meetings with Sir John,
also said that his health is improving and he is in
good spirits.
China offers aircraft to Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: China's CATIC Group has
offered to furnish Suriname with airliners, the
government here
has announced. The offer came
Tuesday during vice president Ram Sardjoe's official
visit to Beijing.
USVI voters take step toward a fifth constitutional convention
ST THOMAS, USVI: Registered voters in the US Virgin
Islands went to the polls Tuesday to vote in a special
election
to determine which delegates would
represent the four islands in a fifth constitutional
convention. The US Protectorate
is currently governed
by the Revised Organic Act of 1954 passed by the US
Congress.
Cuba's Castro almost fully recovered, says Chavez
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Cuban leader
Fidel Castro has almost recovered from last year's
surgery, said
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez,
who suggested the 80-year-old leader may be ready
to resume government duties.
First high level OECS conference on HIV/AIDS convenes in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: A high level OECS ARV Drug
Supply management workshop is taking place in St.
Lucia. The workshop
is aimed at empowering
pharmacists on the latest treatment protocols of
antiretroviral drugs. This is to help patients
maintain
the required 95 percent adherence rate to the
medication.
Better communication vital to peace-building, says OAS assistant secretary general
WASHINGTON, USA: "We need to foster dialogue and
communication-sincere, real communication," as a
vital pillar
for building peace and helping to prevent
conflicts in society, said Assistant Secretary General
Albert Ramdin of
the Organization of American States.
Often, "people speak but they don't hear each other,"
he said,
OECS celebrates 26th anniversary
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS) celebrates its 26th
anniversary on Monday
June 18, 2007. It was on June
18, 1981 that the Heads of Government or their
representatives from the participating
Eastern
Caribbean countries gathered in the St Kitts-Nevis
capital.
Commentary: Maize of Deception: How corn-based ethanol can lead to environmental disaster
As the Bush administration continues to push its
alternative fuels agenda, it has become increasingly
evident
that corn-based ethanol could be as much the
global villain as a boon to society. While the negative
effects
of corn-based biofuels are obvious,
Washington continues to emphasize their importance.
West Indies wait on Sammy
CHESTER-LE-STREET, England (AFP): West Indies
all-rounder Darren Sammy's place in the side for the
final Test
against England starting here Friday is in
jeopardy because of injury. Medium-pacer Sammy, 23,
returned the sceond
best figures by a West Indian on
Test but with seven for 66 in England's 60 run third
Test win,
Lara set for cricket u-turn, claims report
LONDON, (AFP): West Indies legend Brian Lara has
hinted at a return to cricket only months after
announcing his
retirement from the international
game. Lara announced his West Indies retirement
following his country's failure
to qualify for the semi-
finals at the World Cup in the Caribbean.
Grenada PM sued by fraud victim
MIAMI, USA: Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr Keith
Mitchell, is being sued in the United States by a victim
of convicted
fraudster Eric Resteiner, from whom
Mitchell allegedly received $1 million in bribes.
According to the financial newsletter,
OffshoreAlert, a
civil complaint was filed against Mitchell, his wife,
Marietta Mitchell,
Woolmer wasn't murdered, died of natural causes
LONDON, England (Bloomberg): Pakistan cricket
coach Bob Woolmer died of natural causes and
wasn't murdered, Jamaican
police said on Tuesday,
reversing their original assessment of his death at the
World Cup in March. Woolmer's death
was consistent
with a heart attack, three independent pathologists
said.
Chavez pays surprise visit to Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Venezuela's President Hugo
Chavez was in Cuba Tuesday on a surprise visit to
meet with his
staunch ally and mentor, convalescing
Cuban leader Fidel Castro, official media announced.
Chavez was to meet with
Fidel Castro, 80, and his
brother, interim leader Raul Castro,
Dominican Republic sticks with Taiwan, for now
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Reuters):
The Dominican Republic has no interest at the
moment in copying
Costa Rica by switching its
diplomatic allegiance to China from Taiwan, President
Leonel Fernandez said on Tuesday.
Electronic passports coming to the Bahamas
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): The Bahamas Government
is to implement electronic or 'E' Passports by October
2007, aimed
at reducing fraudulent and other corrupt
practices, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette has
announced. Symonette
also disclosed that the cost of
the equipment is approximately $13 million.
Cuba's Castro attacks US Balkans trip as Bush popularity dips
HAVANA, Cuba (Bloomberg): Cuban President Fidel
Castro has dismissed US counterpart George W.
Bush's visit to
the Balkans this weekend as a far-flung
attempt to find favour for an administration tarnished
by war. The Cuban leader
also opposed Bush's
support for the independence of Kosovo.
UN rights expert on Cuba reaches impasse with Havana
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP): The UN's human rights
expert on Cuba, Catherine Chanet, on Tuesday said
that her attempts
to probe the situation in the country
were reaching an impasse because of Havana's
refusal to cooperate.
Preacher denied speech in Dominican Republic
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (UPI): A
Puerto Rican-born preacher with "666" tattooed on his
forearm was
forced to cancel an address in the
Dominican Republic Monday. Jose Luis de Jesus
Miranda was supposed to preach at
a Dominican
university, El Caribe reported.
Dominican Republic diplomats making a mark in Asia
NEW DELHI, India: When Columbus set foot on the
island of Hispaniola, today split between the nations
of Haiti
and the Dominican Republic, he thought he
had arrived in India. Over half a millennium later, an
intrepid team of
Dominicans landed in India and have
started exploring the Subcontinent.
CGID slams Guyanese politician for "Afro-Guyanese" terror comments
BROOKLYN, New York: The Caribbean Guyana
Institute for Democracy (CGID) has blasted Queens
lawyer Albert Baldeo,
a Guyanese-American, East
Indian candidate for New York State Senate, for
characterising the Guyanese suspects in
the JFK
International Airport terror plot as "Afro-Guyanese."
US urges Guyana to prosecute human traffickers
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The United States State
Department has firmly stated that the Guyana should
aggressively
investigate and arrest suspected human
traffickers, and make every effort to move their cases
through the criminal
justice system.
Khan calls for legal action over Woolmer death
LONDON, England (AFP): Former Pakistan cricket
captain Imran Khan reiterated Tuesday that the
Pakistan Cricket
Board should take legal action over
the handling of coach Bob Woolmer's death. The
former all-rounder last week suggested
that Sarfraz
Nawaz should also be sued.
Puerto Rico voting ban lands US in international court
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Two cases, one brought by
attorney Gregorio Igartua and the other brought by
former Puerto
Rican Governor Pedro Rossello, have
landed the United States in international court. The
issue in both cases is the
same, the denial of
presidential voting rights to the US citizens residing in
Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico postpones $1.5 billion refinancing as rates rise
NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg): Puerto Rico has
postponed what was to have been this week's largest
US municipal bond
sale after benchmark yields rose,
limiting potential savings from the refinancing.
Twenty injured in Suriname bus accident
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: At least twenty passengers
were injured, including several seriously, on Tuesday,
when
two passenger buses collided head on in
Suriname, police officials confirmed. The incident
occurred in the Abrabroki
residential area south of the
capital Paramaribo.
Caribbean marine turtles: CITES action on over-exploitation
THE HAGUE, Netherlands: Over-exploitation of marine
turtles in legal fisheries and through illegal harvest
and
trade poses a major threat to the survival of
marine turtles across the Wider Caribbean Region,
according to a new
report launched on Tuesday by
TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.
Commentary: Walter Rodney lives - people's power, no dictator!
I think it necessary that this pertinent question is
asked: What happened to Walter Rodney, why was he
assassinated,
and who was responsible? After years
of stops, starts, and inaction on this issue, in 2005 it
seemed as though an
international inquiry into
Rodney's assassination was finally on the cards.
Commentary: The IDB and Haiti: Deliver us from debt
The Inter-American Development Bank board of
governors announced on March 16, 2007 that it would
cancel the debts
of Nicaragua, Bolivia, Honduras,
Guyana, and Haiti. The debt cancellation is to cover all
debts accrued prior to December
of 2004, and is
retroactive to January 1, 2007.
Ganga heartened by West Indies fight
MANCHESTER, England (AFP): West Indies captain
Daren Ganga believes the renewed resilience shown
by his side
during their 60-run third Test defeat
against England here at Old Trafford augurs well for
the future. Defeat meant
West Indies have won just
one of their last 28 Tests,
Herschell Gibbs ties the knot in St Kitts-Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts: South African cricketer
Herschelle Gibbs climaxed a seven day visit to the
Caribbean island
of St Kitts and Nevis by tying the knot
with his girlfriend of just over two years. Herschelle
and Tenielle were married
on Friday (June 8) in a
private ceremony at Rawlins Plantation Inn.
Chavez tells followers to give up extra possessions
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez told his supporters to give
away possessions they
do not need such as an extra
refrigerator because he only wants true socialists to
be members of a new single party
he is forming.
Chavez said he would donate $250,000 of his own.
Trinidad court denies bail for JFK plot suspects
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters): A Trinidad court
denied bail on Monday for three suspects in an
alleged plot
to blow up New York's JFK International
Airport and a local prosecutor said they may face life
imprisonment.
Director Moore fears film seizure after Cuba trip
NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): Filmmaker Michael Moore
has stashed a copy of his latest documentary in
Canada because
he fears the US government will try
to confiscate it after part of it was filmed during an
unauthorized trip to Cuba.
The US Treasury
Department is investigating Moore's trip to communist
Cuba,
BVI's National Democratic Party announces election candidates
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The ruling National Democratic
Party, under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr
Orlando Smith,
has announced its candidates to
contest the upcoming general elections in the British
Virgin Islands.
Anguilla tourist board celebrates island's 40th anniversary
NEW YORK, USA: As part of an ongoing celebration of
the 40th Anniversary of the island's secession from St
Kitt's,
the Anguilla Tourist Board last week honoured
key travel industry partners with the "Anguilla 40
Awards."
Heightened efforts to fight drug and migrant trafficking in the Bahamas
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): The Bahamas and its
partners are seeking to enhance efforts to combat the
incidences of
drug and migrant trafficking in the
region, the semi-annual Joint Task Force meeting
was told. Representatives of
the Bahamas, Turks and
Caicos Islands and the United States held their semi-
annual meeting in Nassau.
British Virgin Islands Shipping Registry to be upgraded
ROAD TOWN, BVI: In a statement, Chief Minister of the
British Virgin Islands, Dr Orlando Smith, said he was
pleased
that the UK Secretary of State for Transport,
Douglas Alexander, accepted the UK Maritime and
Coastguard Agency's
(MCA) recommendation for the
Virgin Islands Shipping Registry to be upgraded.
BVI works on reforming pension scheme
ROAD TOWN, BVI: The government of the British
Virgin Islands is taking another significant step
towards reforming
the Territory's pension scheme.
Lisa Wade, of the Barbados-based firm Eckler
Partners Limited Consultants and Actuaries,
is visiting
the BVI and will be part of a data gathering process.
Canadian investor bullish on Raul Castro's Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba's largest foreign
investor, Sherritt International Corp., sees business
running
smoothly under acting President Raul Castro
and will push ahead with a $1.2 billion expansion in
nickel mining, and
oil and electricity production.
Sherritt Executive Chairman Ian Delaney said there
has been no...
EU studies lifting freeze on Cuba ties
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters): The European Union
is studying ending a freeze on contacts imposed on
Cuba after
a crackdown on dissidents on the
communist-run island in 2003, diplomats said on
Monday. Spain sent its foreign minister
to Havana in
April in a possible first step to thawing ties.
Jamaica's economic performance best in over 20 years
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The Jamaican economy
grew by 2.5 per cent last year, which was the best
performance
in more than 20 years. The
Government's management of the economy leading to
this result has been commended by both
local and
international economists, including officials of the
International Monetary Fund.
Surinamese vice president vows to strengthen relations with China
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Ramdien Sardjoe,
Suriname's vice-president, who is on a six-day official
visit to China,
on Monday vowed to promote
understanding and to strengthen the decade-long
friendly relations between Suriname and
China. The
top government official made the remarks during a
meeting with Deng Li.
Trinidad on full security alert following alledged terror plot
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The Trinidad and Tobago
Government says it will continue to treat seriously with
any
threats of terrorism in the country following the
recent arrest of four terror suspects, one a Trinidad
and Tobago
national.
Red Cross Inter-American Conference ends
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador: Red Cross National Societies
in the Americas have pledged to intensify their efforts
in order
to better protect communities from disasters,
ensure adequate access to health care and prevent
discrimination against
vulnerable groups, including
migrants and people living with HIV.
Commentary: G8 leaders not leading on climate change
A very shallow commitment for the limiting of fossil
fuel emmissions was given at the latest Group of
Eight (G8)
meeting which just ended. This is one of
the most important international forums for dealing
with global issues and
it is a forum that has given rise
to a lost opportunity.
Letter: Mr Hall's commentary on the JFK plot
I am a New Yorker with many Caribbean friends. So I
was really interested in the articles in your paper on
the
JFK bomb plot. When the story first broke almost
all of my friends reacted like they were being accused.
Panesar and Harmison combine to beat West Indies
MANCHESTER, England (AFP): Monty Panesar took
10 wickets in a Test for the first time as England beat
West Indies
by 60 runs to win the third Test at Old
Trafford here Monday and so take an unbeatable 2-0
lead in the four-match
series. West Indies were
bowled out for 394. Panesar had an innings return of
six for 137.
Vaughan proud of England 'character' against West Indies
MANCHESTER, England (AFP): England captain
Michael Vaughan praised his side's character after
their 60 run victory
in the second Test against West
Indies at Old Trafford here on Monday, saying they
would learn more from a close win
than their
thrashing of the tourists at Headingley.
US citizens with pending passport applications allowed temporary travel flexibility to Caribbean
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The US has announced
that US citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the
Caribbean, and Bermuda
who have applied for but not
yet received passports can nevertheless temporarily
enter and depart from the United
States by air with a
government issued photo identification.
Cuba's first woman Episcopal bishop ordained
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): The Episcopal Church
broke new ground in Cuba on Sunday by ordaining its
first woman
bishop in the developing world at a
ceremony that mixed incense with rhythmic Caribbean
music. The Rev. Nerva
Cot said she will bring a
feminine touch to leadership.
