US charges four in planned attack on New York's JFK airport
NEW YORK, USA (AFP): The United States charged
four men Friday with conspiring to blow up fuel tanks
and pipelines
at New York's John F. Kennedy
International airport. A grand jury in New York charged
Trinidadian Kareem Ibrahim,
former Guyanese
parliamentarian Abdul Kadir, Guyana native Russell
Defreitas.
President signs US Virgin Islands property tax bill into law
ST THOMAS, USVI: Legislation which repeals a 1936
federal law limiting the authority of the Virgin Islands
Government
to administer its own property tax system
was signed into law Friday by President George W.
Bush. The 1936 statute,
which was resurrected by the
US District Court for the Virgin Islands in an earlier
action...
Venezuela's Chavez, Belarus' Lukashenko declare solidarity
MINSK, Belarus (AFP): Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez and his Belarussian counterpart Alexander
Lukashenko vowed
increased cooperation on Friday
during a tour in which the Venezuelan leader has
urged a global revolution against
Washington. His
meeting with Chavez came during a tour by the
Venezuelan leader,
CARICOM to boost relations with Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): St Vincent and Grenadines
Prime Minister and current Chairman of CARICOM,
Ralph Gonsalves,
said this organization of Caribbean
states will further encourage its relations with Cuba,
Venezuela and the Dominican
Republic in 2008 to the
benefit of regional development.
Barbados to host CARICOM meeting
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BIS): Barbados will host
the Twenty-Eighth Meeting of the Heads of
Government of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM)
Conference from July 1, to July 4. Barbados Prime
Minister, Owen Arthur, who will assume the
Chairmanship
of CARICOM, is slated to address
Sunday's formal opening ceremony.
The American dream comes true for 105-year-old Cuban
MIAMI, USA (AFP): Jose "El Nino" Temprana, a 105-
year-old exile who was detained for 30 years in his
native Cuba,
realized his American dream Friday,
when he became a US citizen at a ceremony in Miami.
Now, he says, his next goal
is to find himself a wife.
Cuban parliament says Bush wants Castro eliminated
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba's National Assembly
accused US President George W. Bush on Friday of
wanting to
eliminate Fidel Castro, a day after Bush
mused on the eventual death of the convalescing
Cuban leader.
Guyanese wanted by US on drug charges nabbed
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: A Guyanese man who is
wanted in the US on drug related charges has been
nabbed in Guyana
and President Bharrat Jagdeo is
prepared to cooperate fully with the US during the
extradition hearing which begins
next week. Terrence
Sugrim, 42, was nabbed on Thursday by local police.
World Bank asked to consider Guyana's vulnerability to flooding
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana, because of
its geographic location, is not susceptible to
hurricanes as her
Caribbean sister States however,
the country is not immune to flooding and its
vulnerability to flooding is becoming
increasingly a
major concern for the government.
Nevis to adopt new consultative process
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: When the Nevis Island
Assembly meets in Charlestown on July 9, 2007, as
part of its 1st anniversary
week of activities, a number
of Bills will be down to receive their first and second
readings. Legal Advisor in the
Nevis Island
Administration Patrice Nisbett, announced that the
Administration...
Trinidad & Tobago welcomes two new Delta flights
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: In time for winter holiday
travel and the annual Carnival festival, Trinidad &
Tobago
will welcome two new non-stop Delta flights.
Delta will begin weekly non-stop service from the
Hartsfield-Jackson
International Airport in Atlanta to
Crown Point International Airport in Tobago on
December 15, 2007.
Cooperation needed to address Caribbean economic challenges
WATERLOO, Canada: Caribbean nations need more
robust cooperation within the region and with outside
partners
in order to address the pressing challenges
of globalization. This recommendation flows from the
first two studies
of a new publication series launched
this week.
UWI lecturer says Chinese labour presents challenges for the Caribbean
POINTE-A-PITRE, Guadeloupe: Caribbean tourism
human resources professionals have been told to be
aware of the
changing nature of labour in the region
brought on by the importation of workers, as they seek
to develop proper work
ethics.
Tourism professionals discuss Franco-Caribbean relations
POINTE-A-PITRE, Guadeloupe: There's been a strong
call for more French language training through
organised exchange
programs between English-
speaking Caribbean countries and their French-
speaking neighbours.
Commentary: The new British government and the Caribbean
Britain remains of sufficient importance to countries of
the Caribbean that many of them will be deeply
interested
in how the change of Prime Minister from
Tony Blair to Gordon Brown will affect them. The one
person of Caribbean
origin in the Blair Cabinet,
Baroness Valerie Amos, has gone.
Commentary: Cuba keeps writer in jail: No medicine for Hernandez Gonzalez
(Bloomberg): "Mi hijo esta muy mal. Muy mal." Even on
the speakerphone from Miami, Blanca Gonzalez's
voice is
unmistakably choked with emotion. "My son is
doing badly. Very badly," she says. "He said that from
there he will
leave dead."
Shah inspires England to win against West Indies
LONDON, England (AFP): Owais Shah blazed 55 from
35 balls as England beat West Indies in the second
Twenty20
international at the Brit Oval Friday to level
the two-match series 1-1. As they had on Thursday,
England's run chase
was hampered by the regular
loss of wickets.
ICC ready to cut World Cups to five weeks
LONDON, England (Reuters): The International
Cricket Council (ICC) looks set to restrict the duration
of World
Cups to a maximum of five weeks after
criticism that this year's tournament was too long. The
2007 World Cup in the
Caribbean lasted 47 days.
Poor attendances were blamed on the length of the
competition.
Government responds to release of three of the 'Grenada Thirteen'
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Fingers were beginning to
point as the "Grenada 13" judgment was handed
down on Wednesday.
Some family members said the
presiding judge was closely affiliated to the Grenada
13. In statement released on Wednesday,
the
government attempted to clear the air on the matter.
Turks and Caicos eases passport requirements
GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Turks
and Caicos Islands are the latest Caribbean nation to
fall into
line with the revised Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative (WHTI). Revisions to the WHTI were
created in response
to the unprecedented backlog of
United States passports.
Jamaican is first black, youngest to fly solo around the world
MIAMI, USA (AFP): A 23-year-old Jamaican-American
on Wednesday became the youngest person and the
first black
pilot to fly solo around the globe as he
glided into Miami after a three-month journey he
hopes will be an inspiration
to inner-city kids. A crowd
of about 2,000 people erupted in cheers as Irving
landed,
Castro says Cuba right to rebuff EU dialogue offer
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba was right to reject
calls from the European Union for negotiations to
improve relations
until the EU scraps sanctions
against the island, Cuban leader Fidel Castro said in
an editorial published on Thursday.
Bahamas to ratify ACS Sustainable Tourism Convention
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Minister of Tourism of the
Bahamas, Neko Grant, inaugurated the 17th Meeting
of the
ACS Special Committee on Sustainable
Tourism at the Association of Caribbean States
Secretariat in Port of Spain,
welcoming delegates to
the Committee's first meeting of the year,
Court orders Cuban custody case opened
MIAMI, USA (UPI): A juvenile court judge in Miami was
ordered Wednesday to make public the child-custody
hearings
involving a Cuban national and a Cuban
exile family. The 3rd District Court of Appeals in Miami
overturned a ruling
last year that the hearings be
closed to the media and public.
US must prepare for Castro's death, says Bush
NEWPORT, USA (UPI): US President George Bush
said Thursday that the United States needs to be
prepared to promote
democracy in Cuba when Fidel
Castro dies. Bush, responding to a question about
South America after a speech at the
Naval War
College, said that there is "only one non-democracy in
our neighborhood."
Cuba sees no quick fix for transportation crisis
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba is pouring significant
amounts of resources into passenger and freight
transportation,
but improvements will take time after
years of neglect, the country's transportation minister
said on Thursday.
Brazilian company may win aircraft order from Dominican Republic
SAO PAULO, Brazil (Bloomberg): Empresa Brasileira
de Aeronautica SA may win an order worth as much
as $81 million
from the Dominican Republic for nine
training and light combat aircraft, O Estado de S.
Paulo newspaper has reported.
US has a better understanding of the Caribbean, says St Kitts-Nevis PM
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): There is now a
much better understanding and appreciation by the
United States
on the urgency of the steps that are
required to expand the economic opportunities for the
Caribbean people. So says
St Kitts and Nevis Prime
Minister Dr Denzil Douglas.
Suriname culinary team takes home 'Spirit of Competition' award
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The Suriname National
Culinary Team, composed of Chefs Mardian Amat, Ilja
Martens, Arnold
Fredrik, Clifton Edwald Nerkust as
Pastry Chef, and Bartender Noel Benschop, took
home a bronze medal, as well as
the Spirit of the
Competition Award for their performance at the Taste
of the Caribbean.
Trinidad Law Association deliberates on suspension of Chief Magistrate
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The Law Association in
Trinidad met in special session this week to discuss
the issue
of the possible suspension of Chief
Magistrate Sherman McNicolls. The 18-member
Council held a private meeting at
the Association's
office on St Vincent Street in Port-of- Spain.
Chavez attacks US, meets Putin in Moscow
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP): Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez railed against the United States at the start of
a visit
to Russia on Thursday and called on Moscow to
help lead a global revolution against Washington. He
said a "revolution"
was under way against US global
power and that Russia was a key player.
US oil giants' exit boosts Chavez only short-term
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): President Hugo
Chavez won instant political capital by forcing US oil
giants from
Venezuela but the nationalist moves pose
economic challenges that could undermine his
socialist revolution.
Commentary: Proud day for Jamaicans, Caribbean natives and black people everywhere!
Jamaican Barrington Irving, a 23-year old aerospace
student, flew into the history books on Wednesday.
Because,
when he landed his private plane in Miami,
Irving became not only the youngest pilot but also the
first black person
to fly solo around the world.
According to Flight Tracker, Irving took off...
Commentary: Injecting solutions into an illegal economy
There are "significant and positive changes" in the
worlds drug markets, according to a United Nations
(UN) 2007
World Drug Report which was released on
June 26th, the designated International Day against
Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking. In creating an
awareness of the problem...
Letter: The ongoing saga of the West Indies
I would like to comment on the ongoing saga within
West Indies cricket. The record of the WICBC with
regards
to the players who represent us has for a long
time been suspect and downright rotten. I wish to
challenge the WICBC
to do more for our players.
Smith and Samuels flay England
LONDON, England (AFP): Devon Smith struck a
magnificent 61 and Marlon Samuels a rapid-fire 51 as
West Indies
hit 208-8 in the first Twenty20
international against England at the Brit Oval. The
West Indies began as they went
on, getting off to a
flying start, their first 50 taking just 25 legitimate balls.
West Indies cancel A team tour of Zimbabwe
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Reuters): The West Indies
Cricket Board (WICB) have cancelled their proposed A
team tour
of Zimbabwe this year. A WICB spokesman
in Antigua said on Thursday a full statement would be
issued outlining the
reasons.
Malaysia lose 2-0 to Jamaica
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia lost 2-0 to
Jamaica on Thursday in their final warm-up match
before next month's
Asian Cup. Goals in quick
succession from Christopher Harvey and Wolry Wolfe
just before halftime were enough to give
Jamaica the
first win of their Asian tour following defeats by
Vietnam (3-0) and Indonesia (2-1).
Judge orders three of the 'Grenada Thirteen' released
ST. GEORGE'S Grenada: The judge hearing
the "Grenada 13" case, Justice Francis Belle of
Barbados, on Wednesday
ordered the immediate
release of Christopher Stroude, Lester Redhead and
Cecil Prime. The judgement was delivered
to a
packed court, and Caribbean Net News
correspondent said...
Venezuela's Chavez starts Russia visit
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP): Venezuela's fiercely anti-US
President Hugo Chavez arrived Thursday in Moscow
to discuss
possible weapons purchases and wider
economic ties with Russia, one of the world's leading
arms exporters. Chavez
will meet President Vladimir
Putin later to discuss relations,
Barbados minister calls for sustained HIV/AIDS training
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BIS): A senior government
official in Barbados has called for sustained training
at the
tertiary level for those persons in the teaching
service imparting knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Minister
of Education,
Youth Affairs and Sports, Anthony Wood,
made this appeal.
Bahamas recognised for cooperation in crime fight
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): The Bahamas was
recognised for its "vital" contribution to the fight
against drug trafficking,
terrorism and other security
concerns, during the recent Conference on the
Caribbean held in Washington D.C. Security
cooperation, Dr Brent Hardt said, is essential. All
representatives at the conference agreed.
Cuba takes steps to spruce up tourism appeal
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba has adopted a series
of measures to improve the tourism industry's
competitive position
in the Caribbean and reverse a
two-year slide in visitors, state-media reported on
Wednesday.
Dominica's government employees receive salary increase
ROSEAU, Dominica: Thousands of government
employees in Dominica have started to receive a 3
percent salary increase,
as well as back pay for the
period July 1, 2006 - May 31, 2007. During the period
2002-2005, the issue was about salary
cuts; in
2006/2007 it is about salary increases.
Guyana immigration officials undergoing training in machine readable passports
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Officials from the
Canadian Bank Note (CBN) are currently in Guyana
conducting training
sessions with Immigration officers
and border control officials for the implementation of
the machine readable passport
system at the Cheddi
Jagan International Airport.
Competitive marketing strategy needed for tourism sector in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): For Guyana to attract
tourists and further develop its tourism sector, a
competitive
marketing strategy is needed. This is one
of the recommendations made at the Tourism
Conference held at the Guyana
International
Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
Senior police officer says crime not out of hand on Nevis
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Head of the Royal St.
Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Nevis Division,
Superintendent
Joseph Liburd has dispelled claims
by members of the public that crime had neared
epidemic proportions on Nevis. While
he agreed that
one crime was one too many, the Division continued
to see results.
New finance administration bill proposed for St Kitts-Nevis
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM): The St Kitts and
Nevis National Assembly is expected to approve The
Finance Administration
Bill, 2007 on Thursday, which
seeks to clarify and reform the system for the
management and control of public money.
Disaster risk management workshop to be held in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat and the United
States Agency
for International Development (USAID)
has embarked on the development of a Disaster
Benchmarking Tool (B-Tool) for
the Caribbean. Senior
government and private sector officials will receive
relevant information in the use of B-Tool.
USVI students raise $10,000 for Ugandan children living with HIV/AIDS
ST CROIX, USVI: The efforts of two caring high school
students, who collaborated with the Caribbean
Museum Center
for the Arts on St Croix (CMCArts),
resulted in a $10,000 donation to AIDCHILD, a not-for-
profit organization who
cares for Ugandan orphans
living with HIV/AIDS.
US finds Venezuela's CITGO oil guilty of pollution
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Venezuela's CITGO
Petroleum Corp. -- which provided cheap heating oil
for thousands of
Americans the last two winters -- was
found guilty of environmental crimes by a federal jury
in Texas, the US Justice
Department said Wednesday.
Atkins and Sturrup take 100m titles at Bahamas Championships
NASSAU, Bahamas: Derrick Atkins and Chandra
Sturrup won the men's and women's 100-metre titles
at the Bahamas
National Track & Field
Championships at the weekend. Sturrup, who has
been struggling for form all season, got
a big boost
when she dismissed her challengers to clock 11.39
seconds to win the women's dash.
Simpson set to make return at Sheffield meeting
KINGSTON, Jamaica: 2006 world-best female sprinter
Sherone Simpson of Jamaica is set to make a return
to the
track on 15 July after missing the Jamaican
National track and field championships in Kingston,
Jamaica, last weekend
with a hip injury.
Why so many top athletes injured? Fans still searching for answers
KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Maximum Velocity
Performance (MVP) track has come in for some
criticism from Jamaican
track and field fans, who are
still stunned by the number of the island's top athletes
that are injured. The club,
which is based in Kingston,
Jamaica, has several world-class athletes.
Unrepentant Gayle ready to lead West Indies after row
LONDON, England (Reuters): Captain Chris Gayle
said on Wednesday he was big enough to stand up to
the West Indies
Cricket Board (WICB) in his row with
the ruling body. The WICB have threatened "drastic
action" if there is fresh
criticism from Gayle after his
swipe last week over their handling of his promotion.
Castro's head worth 150,000 dollars, say CIA files
WASHINGTON, Cuba (AFP): The CIA offered 150,000
dollars to Mafia figures to kill Cuban leader Fidel
Castro, just
one of several CIA plots against foreign
leaders detailed in 693 pages of classified US
documents released Tuesday.
Senior St Lucia civil servant murdered
CASTRIES, St Lucia: On June 25, 2007, the body of
Marcia Philbert-Jules was found in a pool of blood at
her home
in Grande Riviere, Gros-Islet, St Lucia.
Philbert-Jules was the former Permanent Secretary in
the Ministry of Health
and more recently was the
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Physical
Planning.
Venezuela's Chavez seen wanting office 'for life'
WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters): Insecurity, "malignant
narcissism" and the need for adulation are driving
Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez's confrontation
with the United States, according to a new
psychological profile. Eventually,
these personality
traits are likely to compel Chavez to declare himself
president for life.
Bahamas accord with Haiti under review
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): The 1995 accord between
the Bahamas and Haiti is currently under review.
Bahamas Senator
Elma Campbell, said the
government is reviewing the accord "as we look at
establishing a policy which will permit
Haitian
nationals to qualify for legal permanent status in our
country."
Don't blame VAT for price increases, says Dominica minister
ROSEAU, Dominica: Minister for Economic
Development and Planning, Julius Timothy has told
Dominicans they should
not blame the introduction of
the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the increase in the price
of goods in Dominica. Timothy
said that the increase
was mainly due to higher oil prices.
President reiterates Guyana's support for Japan's UN Security Council bid
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana's support for
Japan's bid to become a permanent member of the
United Nations
Security Council was reiterated by the
Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo when he met
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe on Tuesday as
part of his three-day visit to the country.
Jamaica's electronic voter ID system ready, says Director of Elections
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): Director of Elections,
Danville Walker has expressed confidence that the
Electoral Office
of Jamaica (EOJ) can successfully roll
out its new electronic voter identification system
during the next general
elections. He said that the
system will be used for the first time in a state election,
Montserrat's Chief Minister responds to allegations
BRADES, Montserrat: Montserrat's Chief Minister
came under question by the Opposition and
responded to allegations
of questionable behavior,
followed with personal action of his own. Chief
Minister, Dr Lowell Lewis wrote to the Opposition
member in order to provide the correct information on
the issues raised,
Former agriculture minister in St Lucia appointed to IICA
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Ignatius Jean, former Minister of
Agriculture in St Lucia, has been appointed as the
Representative
for the InterAmerican Institute for Co-
operation on Agriculture (IICA). Jean is the first St
Lucian to hold that position
and his appointment
came into effect June 1, 2007.
Trinidad attorney joins team to investigate Chief Justice
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's
President George Maxwell Richards has appointed
Senior Counsel
Reginald Armour as Counsel to the
Tribunal that has been set up to enquire into the
question of removing the Chief
Justice Satnarine
Sharma from office.
Venezuela consolidates oil industry control as US giants pull out
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Venezuela moved closer
to nationalizing its oil-rich Orinoco River basin, after
four
foreign oil companies signed deals giving
Venezuela the lion's share of the profits and two US
companies pulled out
altogether. The US immediately
issued a statement calling on Venezuela to abide...
British warship in Caribbean cocaine haul
LONDON, England (AFP): A British helicopter-carrying
warship seized 29 million pounds (57.9 million
dollars)
worth of cocaine dumped into the waters of
the Caribbean by alleged drug smugglers, officials
said Thursday.
Commentary: The 'Politically Motivated Victimization' of Desi
Recently Desi of Suriname announced that his
murder trial was "politically motivated". Any by golly,
just wait
until I get my hands on those "criminal
judges." I have always found Desi amusing and silly.
Of course Desi, you have
much better things to do with
your time than worry about some silly murder trial.
Letter: Solution for the Bahamas straw market
For decades now the straw vendors have been a vocal
group that seemed to get whatever they want from the
Bahamian
government, but this has changed in recent
years. After the fire of 2001 that destroyed the straw
market, a tent was
erected for them with promises of
building them a new market.
Letter: Regarding Chris Gayle
I would like to commend Mr R Cooke on a well-written
letter published on June 26, 2007 appertaining to the
Chris
Gayle comments on the West Indies Cricket
Board. I agree with all the views he expresses except
his support of Chris
Gayle as captain.
Players' chief queries Gayle reprimand
LONDON, England (AFP): Players' chief Dinanath
Ramnarine has questioned the decision of the West
Indies Cricket
Board (WICB) to reprimand Chris Gayle
for a diary published on the CricInfo website, saying
the opening batsman had
received clearance for the
June 21 article from team manager Michael Findlay.
Powell seeking treatment on injured groin
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): World 100 metre record
holder Asafa Powell could miss the next IAAF Golden
League meeting
which would automatically rule him
out of contention for at least a share of a one million
dollar jackpot.
Venezuelan opposition channel warns against closure
MADRID, Spain (AFP): Closing down Venezuela's last
remaining opposition television station would be "the
beginning
of the end" of President Hugo Chavez's
rule, the channel's head said in comments published
here Monday.
Emancipation celebration in US Virgin Islands
ST CROIX, USVI: Considered to be the most
significant holiday celebrated in the US Virgin Islands,
plans are
being finalised to celebrate the 159th
commemoration of Emancipation Day with two weeks
of cultural and educational
activities. On Emancipation
Day there will be a historical re-enactment of the
uprising.
Castro charges Bush ordered him killed before he took office
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba's communist leader Fidel
Castro accused US President George W. Bush of
ordering him
killed even before moving into the White
House, in an article published in the newspaper
Granma Monday. Of all the
US presidents since 1959,
Castro said Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) ordered no hit,
Jamaican police to improve security for politicians
KINGSTON, Jamaica (Reuters): Jamaican police will
increase security for high-ranking politicians at public
rallies
after a member of parliament was slapped in
the face at a meeting on Sunday night, police said on
Monday.
BVI Chief Minister attends OTCC meeting in Cayman Islands
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Chief Minister of the British Virgin
Islands, Dr Orlando Smith, is scheduled to speak on
several
topics at a pre-Overseas Territories
Consultative Council (OTCC) meeting in the Cayman
Islands this week. Leaders
from the UK's Caribbean
Overseas Territories meet annually at pre-OTCC
meetings.
Castro says US must change its Cuba policy 'unilaterally'
HAVANA, Cuba (Bloomberg): Cuban President Fidel
Castro said US lawmakers must change their nation's
policy toward
the island "unilaterally," without
concessions from his government. Castro rejected
past terms set by the US for lifting
its 45-year
economic embargo.
Cuban dissidents start push to change constitution
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): A prominent Cuban
dissident group launched a campaign on Monday to
push for constitutional
reforms that would allow for
democratic elections and greater respect for human
rights in the communist country.
Guyana president to meet Japan's PM
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana's President
Bharrat Jagdeo will on Tuesday meet Japan's Prime
Minister Shinzo
Abe at his office as part of his three-
day official visit to the country. Talks are expected to be
centered on bilateral
issues, environmental matters
and the reformation of the UN Security Council.
Montserrat plays down talk about possible lawsuit from Guyana
BRADES, Montserrat: The government of Montserrat
has played down talk about a possible lawsuit by rice
farmers
in Guyana. Guyana's Agriculture Minister
Robert Persuad on Friday told Associated Press
journalists that Guyanese
rice producers are
threatening legal action against Montserrat.
Buyout offer for Puerto Rico bank withdrawn
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Bloomberg): Doral Financial
Corp., the Puerto Rican bank-holding company facing
insolvency,
said its second-largest shareholder has
withdrawn a buyout offer and will support a rival bid.
The company's shares
tumbled 31 percent.
St Lucia's Acting PM returns from Washington
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Stephenson King, Acting Prime
Minister, returned to St Lucia over the weekend,
following
a week-long series of engagements in
Washington DC. The meetings examined the status of
US/CARICOM relations and explored
avenues for
bringing about improvements.
Chavez to head to Russia, Belarus, Iran, in latest bid to heckle US
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): Venezuelan leader Hugo
Chavez travels this week to Iran, Russia and Belarus --
all
countries which have found themselves at
loggerheads recently with the United States, his
longtime nemesis.
Exxon, Conoco reject Venezuela takeover deal, say sources
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Exxon Mobil and
ConocoPhillips rejected on Monday a deal to stay in
multibillion-dollar
projects that Venezuela is
nationalizing, increasing the chances two of the
world's top oil companies will leave the
OPEC nation,
two sources close to the talks said.
Passport crisis grips thwarted US travelers
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Buried under an
avalanche of passport applications created by its own
rules changes, the
United States has delayed the start
date of a new policy requiring the documents for travel
to Mexico, Canada and
the Caribbean.
Commentary: Law and Politics: The picture looks gloomy & daunting!
Let me firstly apologise to the readers of this column
for having missed two issues in June. I had to travel to
England
on family matters and did plan to send back
the material for publication. I succeeded for one week
but circumstances
beyond my control obstructed the
other two weeks.
Letter: West Indies cricket
Please permit me to congratulate Mr Chris Gayle on
his most recent interview with cricinfo June 21, which
headlined
"Gayle takes swipe at West Indies Board." I
applaud Chris and must say that he is the kind of
person we need at the
helm of our cricket.
Bolt sizzles to 19.75; Campbell completes sprint double at Jamaica Championships
KINGSTON, Jamaica: World Junior record holder
Usain Bolt and Olympic champion Veronica Campbell
highlighted the
just concluded Supreme Venture, the
Jamaica National Track and Field Championships at
the National Stadium in Kingston,
Jamaica, at the
weekend.
Star lineup for UK Grand Prix
SHEFFIELD, England: Another superstar lineup has
been announced for the July 15 Norwich Union British
Grand Prix
in Sheffield and yet again it is a half-lap
race. Following the announcement of the men's field,
the organisers have
scheduled a match-up between
three of the biggest names in sprinting for the
women's clash.
Powell injury still unknown, says agent
INDIANAPOLIS, USA: The injury sustained by world-
record holder Asafa Powell at the Jamaica National
Championships
in Kingston, last Saturday is still
unknown, according to his agent Paul Doyle. Powell
ran home to victory in 10.04-seconds
to book his
place on the Jamaican team to the World
Championships in Osaka,
Over-50 pros set for new Dominican Republic event in 2008
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, USA (AFP): The Champions
Tour, the US-based professional golf circuit for
players 50 and over,
will stage a new event in the
Dominican Republic next year on a schedule
announced here on Monday.
Revolution at risk of rollback, Castro warns Cuban youth
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba could suffer a reversal of
decades of revolutionary progress, convalescing
leader Fidel
Castro warned, who said the fate of the
country was in the hands of its youth. "If Cuba's young
people falter, everything
will fail," Castro wrote in a
letter appearing in "Juventud Rebelde"
Chavez slams criticism of possible sub, air defense purchases
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): President Hugo Chavez
on Saturday defiantly insisted that any purchases of
Russian
submarines or an air defense system from
Belarus were none of the United States' business, but
Venezuela's alone.
Chavez is set to travel to Russia
next week on a tour also taking him to Belarus and
Iran.
Prosecution asks for life sentences for 'Grenada Thirteen'
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Making submissions on
behalf of the Crown, Grenada's Director of Public
Prosecutions Christopher
Nelson, who is the lead
prosecutor in the re-sentencing hearing of
the "Grenada 13", asked the court to consider life
sentences for the defendants or consecutive fixed
term sentences.
USVI Reparations Group stepping up plans for Denmark meeting
ST CROIX, USVI: After scores of requests from the
islands of St Thomas and St John for increased
reparations
dialogue in those districts, the African-
Caribbean Reparations and Resettlement Alliance
(ACRRA) will be hosting the
US Virgin Islands' 3rd
Reparations Roundtable next week.
Grand Bahama's tourism future looks bright
FREEPORT, Bahamas (BIS) - The future of Grand
Bahama's tourism industry looks very bright says
Tourism and Aviation
Minister Neko Grant, who last
week met with executives of the Grand Bahama
Chamber of Commerce, along with senior
tourism
officials from Grand Bahama.
Boost for Barbados sugar restructuring plan
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BIS): The planned
restructuring of the sugar industry in Barbados is likely
to receive
a boost in the form of technical assistance
from the governments of China and Mauritius,
according tp Minister of
Agriculture and Rural
Development, Senator Erskine Griffith.
Huge increase for Cuban democracy plan
MIAMI, USA (UPI): A huge US House-approved
increase for a program to promote democracy in Cuba
is a victory for
opponents of Fidel Castro. But critics of
the $45.7 million plan say it would be wasted trying to
influence public
opinion rather than being used to
help dissidents.
Health care in Cuba more complicated than on SiCKO
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): When Jose Luis Cabrera
had coronary by-pass surgery after a heart attack five
years ago,
his wife had to bring food and clean sheets
to him in the hospital. The operation itself didn't cost
the Cuban couple
a cent.
Trinidad Transparency Institute at OAS meeting
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago
Transparency Institute (TTTI), one of the country's
most prominent
voices in the fight against co
