Four Trinidadians to be extradited to the US
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Four Trinidadian nationals
accused of killing American war veteran,
Balram "Balo" Maharaj,
have been committed for
extradition to the United States. The ruling was
handed down on Wednesday by Port of Spain
Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim.
USVI police receive funding for DNA evidence processing
ST THOMAS, USVI: The US Virgin Islands Police
Department (VIPD) has received a donation of
$170,000 from St Croix-based
oil refinery, HOVENSA
LLC. The funds will be used by the VIPD to execute a
contract with a certified DNA laboratory
to analyse
evidence collected at the scene of major crimes.
OECS shows solidarity with Antigua-Barbuda's US internet gaming challenges
CASTRIES, St Lucia: Following is a statement by the
OECS Trade Ministers on Antigua and Barbuda's
ongoing dispute
with the USA on internet gaming.
This statement is among the conclusions of the
OECS Ministers of Trade meeting in
St Lucia on
Wednesday, July 11, 2007: "We the OECS Ministers of
Trade declare solidarity...
Cuba has 318 political prisoners, 35 very ill, says report
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba had 318 political
prisoners at the end of the first half of 2007, 35 of
whom are gravely
ill, a report warned Thursday on the
human rights situation in the Americas' only one-party
communist state. The Cuban
government maintains it
has no political prisoners.
Dominica-China relationship is the 'fastest growing,' says minister
ROSEAU, Dominica: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade
and Labour, Charles Savarin has described the
relationship
between Dominica and China as "the
fastest growing cordial diplomatic relationship that we
have had with any country
in the world since we
attained independence."
Former Polish president visits Grenada
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Former President of Poland
Lech Walesa has visited Grenada, seeking support of
regional
governments to help his country win a bid to
host the International Exhibition EXPO 2012. In the
framework of the
Bureau International des
Expositions, Poland has proposed an international
exhibition.
Guyana to receive US$23.4 million IDB loan
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): A loan agreement
totalling US$24.3 million was signed this week by
Guyana's Minister
of Finance Dr Ashni Singh and
Resident Representative of the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB) Sergio Varas Olea,
Guyana criticizes carbon credit scheme of Kyoto Protocol
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Guyana's President
Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday criticised the Kyoto
Protocol on climate
change for failing to allow
countries like his nation with pristine unharvested
forests to earn carbon credits. He
said Guyana has
decided to get into the production of bio-fuels such as
ethanol and biodiesel.
Jamaica urges British government to extend teachers' contracts
LONDON (JIS): Jamaican High Commissioner to
London, Burchell Whiteman, has written to the British
government,
proposing an extension of the contracts
of Jamaican teachers recruited to teach in the United
Kingdom (UK), to allow
them to meet the Qualified
Teachers Status (QTS) to continue their employment.
Suriname to become regional hub for China's aviation industry
BEIJING, China; China's aviation company CATIC
Group has submitted plans to the Suriname
government to expand
its activities to Suriname and
establish a regional hub for the Caribbean in this
country, Surinamese government officials
in China
disclosed.
Suriname government approves free movement bill
PARAMARIBO, Suriname; The Council of Ministers in
Suriname has recently sanctioned a bill to facilitate
free
movement of CARICOM nationals, but approval
from parliament is still necessary before this
legislation takes effect.
The legislation was submitted
by the Ministry of Justice and Police.
Indian company proposes million-dollar bio-energy investment in Suriname
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: India's Enhanced Biofuel
Technologies (EBT) has proposed plans to the
Suriname government
to invest up to US$150 million
in bio-energy, the Surinamese Council of Ministers
disclosed this week. EBT has submitted
a business
plan to the government covering 7 years in developing
new crops for the production of bio-fuel.
WTO to examine US complaint that EU ignored banana rulings
GENEVA, Switzerland (Bloomberg): The World Trade
Organization will decide whether the European Union
ignored
rulings saying the bloc should end limits on
banana imports from Latin America, in a move that
may prompt renewed
US sanctions against the EU.
Former US mayor indicted over Caribbean trips
NEW YORK, USA (AFP): A former mayor of the US city
of Newark was charged Thursday with using city funds
to take
eight different women on luxury trips to the
Caribbean and Brazil. Sharpe James, 71, stands
accused of spending 58,000
dollars on luxury hotel
suites, upmarket restaurants and rented convertibles.
Commentary: Made in where? Say what!
I had an interesting experience one day, in a particular
Caribbean island, when I attempted to purchase a
cold
drink. I was offered a beverage where the label
on the drink was written in a language other than
English, and the
other details were not easily
decipherable. It was an unsuccessful challenge,
Commentary: Another plea from Archbishop of Bulawayo Pius Ncube (and me) for Zimbabwe
Over two years ago, I pleaded for Africa's continental
power, South Africa, and the world's superpower, the
United
States, to coordinate a coalition of the willing to
intervene in Zimbabwe. I felt compelled to do so
because it was
patently clear to me that Zimbabwe's
genocidal president, Robert Mugabe, was hell-bent...
Letter: Bravo, Mr Choisil
I, Roland Mesidor, also would like to commend Mr P
Choisil as a valuable asset; I've tried many times but
the
anger and maybe undiplomatic approach in my
letters has many times been ignored. As Haitian-born,
I've seen so many
other Caribbean nations promoting
hate and also misinformation towards Haiti.
Gayle leads West Indies to last over win against Scots
DUBLIN, Ireland (AFP): West Indies captain Chris
Gayle scored an unbeaten 85 as his side just did
enough to beat
Scotland in the last over of their
quadrangular one-day international here Thursday.
Gayle's men survived a mid-inning
slump to reach
their Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target of 165 in 30
overs.
Powell fully fit for Rome Golden League
ROME, Italy (Reuters): World 100 metres record
holder Asafa Powell has declared himself fully fit and
ready to
make his comeback from injury at the Golden
League meeting in Rome. The sprinter made his first
track outing in more
than two weeks on Tuesday when
he anchored the Jamaican relay team to victory in
Lausanne.
Caribbean athletes to challenge the world's best in Rome
ROME, Italy: Several world-ranked Caribbean athletes
will be competing at the 2007 IAAF Golden Gala, the
third
meeting of the six Golden League series for the
year in Rome, Italy on Friday. Leading the pack will be
an injury-free
Asafa Powell, who signed up for the
meeting earlier this week.
Constitutional discussions to be held between Anguilla and the UK
THE VALLEY, Anguilla: A first round of discussions will
be held in Anguilla from 23-25 July between Anguilla
and
the United Kingdom on reform of Anguilla's
Constitution. These discussions follow on from the
Report of the Constitutional
and Electoral Reform
Commission, which was established by the then
Governor in January 2006.
Hellish conditions prevail in Haiti jails
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): A surge of violent
crime has crammed Haitian jails far beyond capacity,
in "inhuman
conditions" where inmates often lack
water, medical care or enough room to sleep lying
down. Since 2003, Haiti's prison
population doubled,
from 3,500 to 7,000, officials said.
Venezuela ambasssador calls for US cooperation
HOUSTON, USA (Reuters): Venezuela's ambassador
to the United States called on Wednesday for
cooperation between
the two often-hostile nations, but
said Washington first needs to show some respect.
Canada's Prime Minister to visit Barbados
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BIS): Barbados will play
host next week to Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen
Harper, when
he pays an official visit to the island,
from July 18 to 20. While there, the Canadian head of
Government will hold
talks with his Barbadian
counterpart, Prime Minister Owen Arthur.
In-country rabies diagnosis now available in Belize
BELMOPAN, Belize: Belize now has the capability to
identify the source of rabies virus. The in-country
facility
is capable of diagnosing rabies in animals and
pinpointing the source of the virus causing rabies.
This has been accomplished
through the Belize
Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA).
Bloggers appeal to Sting to advocate for human rights in Cuba
MIAMI, USA: Sting, the front man of the legendary rock
band The Police, was reminded by Bloggers United
for Cuban
Liberty of his previous humanitarianism
with a banner hired to fly over Dolphin Stadium during
the opening act of
the group's July 10th Miami concert.
UN to support energy sector in Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): The UN Development
Programme (UNDP) will support Cuba's energy
sector, stated Susan McDade,
resident representative
of that institution in Cuba. McDade said one of the
UNDP cooperation programmes for 2008-2012
period
will support the rational and efficient use of energy in
Cuba.
Castro blames dollar for inequality in Cuba
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): President Fidel Castro in his
latest newspaper article Wednesday blamed the US
dollar for
the emergence of inequality and wasteful
spending in Cuba since the adoption of the US
currency to help ease economic
hardships. Since the
adoption of the dollar in Cuba, a thriving tourist
industry has grown,
Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba sign ecological pact
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: After three
days of meeting between environment ministers,
ecological groups
and supporting technicians, the
Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba have signed a
joint agreement to form an ecological
corridor in the
Caribbean.
Machine readable passports to be launched in Guyana on Friday
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): On Friday, July 13
Guyana will join other Caribbean countries to provide
a more secure
passport system which the region is
introducing to protect against multiple issuance of the
travel document. President
Bharrat Jagdeo will be the
first to receive the new travel document.
New legislation to benefit small enterprise on Nevis
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: The Nevis Island
Administration cemented its support for small
businesses on Nevis when it
passed The Micro and
Small Business Enterprise Ordinance 2007, at a
sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly on Monday.
The
Nevis Cultural Development Foundation Ordinance
was also passed.
Nevis provides greater security for visitors
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: When the Nevis Island
Assembly met in Charlestown on Monday, Premier
and Minister of Tourism
and Finance, Joseph Parry,
introduced two amended pieces of legislation to
ensure a greater level of protection and
security for
visitors and locals who visited the island's beaches.
Shut by Chavez, Venezuela's RCTV to return on cable
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP): RCTV, Venezuela's
oldest and most popular television channel before it
was shut down
May 28 by President Hugo Chavez, will
resurface this month on cable, RCTV director general
Marcel Granier said Wednesday.
China, Taiwan in battle for Caribbean and Latin American support
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Bitter rivals China and
Taiwan continued to escalate their battle for support in
the
Caribbean and Latin America, with officials from
both criss-crossing the region Wednesday. The
Caribbean and Latin
America has become a major
battleground for the two rivals.
Guyanese accused in NY airport plot pleads innocent
NEW YORK, USA (Reuters): A Guyanese former cargo
handler at New York's John F. Kennedy International
Airport
pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges
that he plotted to blow up the airport's fuel tanks and a
supply pipeline
that runs through New York City.
Grenadian is first CARICOM national as president of OAS Staff Association
WASHINGTON, USA: Gillian Bristol, a Grenadian
national, recently re-wrote history when she became
the first CARICOM
national elected to lead the 80 year
old staff association at the Washington-based
Organization of American States.
Bristol was sworn in
Wednesday as President of the OAS Staff Association,
Commentary: The Obama factor: Is the United States ready for a black man in the White House?
I like the junior United States senator from Illinois.
He's charming, eloquent, dapper - and black. He
says that
he's African and American and I expect that
this is for internal domestic politics because he does
not want to alienate
his white base of support by
playing up his black African heritage so soon.
Letter: Negative image of Haiti
I would like to commend P. Chosil for his letter: Why
go out of the way to paint a negative picture of Haiti? I
think
this is one of the more short, sweet and to the
point article on the negative image of Haiti that I have
ever seen.
Cuba calls elections, unclear if Fidel Castro will stay on
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba's interim leader Raul
Castro has scheduled elections without making clear
whether his
convalescing brother Fidel Castro will
remain officially in the political hierarchy, or whether
the communist regime's
long-time number two will be
at its helm for good. Cuba maintains it has a
democratic system.
Taiwan wants to maintain foothold in Dominican Republic
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: After
successful meetings between President Leonel
Fernandez and Taiwanese
representatives held last
week, the Taiwan government has set in motion plans
to forgive debts to the Dominican Republic,
along with
other eleven countries in the Caribbean and Latin
America.
Venezuela, Iran to team up on $4 billion oil project
CARACAS, Venezuela (Bloomberg): Venezuela and
Iran, oil-exporting countries that have sought to assert
independence
from the US, plan to spend a combined
$4 billion on a joint project in Venezuela's heavy-crude-
producing Faja del
Orinoco.
Guyana fully supports One China policy, says House Speaker
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Speaker of the National
Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, on Tuesday said
Guyana's Parliament fully
supports the One China
Policy, which continues to separate China and
neighbouring Taiwan. Ramkarran was delivering
an
address to the Parliamentary Committees of the
National Assembly.
US pokes fun at Castro and calls elections sham
WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States on
Tuesday poked fun at Cuba's interim leader Raul
Castro and termed
the elections he had called for as
a sham. Castro had on Monday scheduled the polls
without making clear the role
of his convalescing
brother Fidel Castro.
Catholic bishops meet in Cuba, sign of warmer ties
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Latin America's Roman
Catholic bishops began their first meeting in Cuba on
Tuesday,
a sign of improved relations with the
region's only communist state. The group's presence
in Cuba is in itself acknowledgment
of an improved
climate of ties with the state, a church source said.
Cuba opens trade mission in the Dominican Republic
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuban and Dominican
Republic businessmen and officials gathered in
Santo Dominigo on Monday
to witness the opening of
Cuba's first trade mission in the Dominican Republic.
The main objective of the mission
is to increase the
level of bilateral exchanges.
Jamaica to host regional tourism seminar
OCHO RIOS, Jamaica (JIS): Jamaica is to host the
region's first joint World Tourism Organisation --
Caribbean
Tourism Organisation event in over 10
years at in Ocho Rios this weekend. Participants at
the event will be mostly
from the Caribbean, along
with delegates from Nicaragua, Mexico and Panama.
Annual celebration of Marcus Garvey in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: The Iyanola Council for the
Advancement of Rastafari Inc. (ICAR), in collaboration
with the
Empress Menen Organization (EMO) and the
House of Nyahbinghi, has organized the annual
celebration of Marcus Mosiah
Garvey, a stalwart Pan
Africanist.
St Lucia tourist board continues promotion of Carnival 2007
CASTRIES, St Lucia: St Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB)
officials recently returned from regional travel in
support
of marketing and promotional efforts for St
Lucia Carnival 2007. With the implementation of new
policy directives
from the Ministry of Tourism, the
Tourist Board's role has been expanded to
encompass greater involvement.
Suriname press delegation meets with top Chinese officials
BEIJING, China; A Surinamese press delegation met
with several Chinese officials in Beijing and Shanghai
during
a week-long visit to China last week and were
informed about current political, trade and socio-
economic developments
in China. The delegation
was composed of senior editors and journalists.
St Lucia to be featured on Food Network
CASTRIES, St Lucia: St Lucia's culinary and other
island delights will be featured on the Food Network
(Cablevision
Channel 16) this weekend, following a
visit to the island earlier this year by celebrity chef,
Paula Deen.
Airlines to start Guyana-Suriname flights next month
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana's Minister of
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad
on Tuesday met
representatives of two airlines,
Roraima Airways and Blue Wing Airlines operating out
of Suriname, and discussed the
introduction of
scheduled flights from Guyana to neighbouring
Suriname.
Commentary: Hispaniola: The Caribbean's new big leaguers in the drug trafficking trade
The two nations that occupy the island of Hispaniola,
the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti, have
experienced
an alarming surge in drug trafficking
traversing their borders en route to North American
and European markets.
Commentary: Mixed messages - Lost opportunities
I recall an email I received on the article I wrote on the
Big Australian, BHP-Revisited. The person was
appalled
at the lengths BHP would go, to ensure that
they would not be held liable for the environmental
disaster that occurred
at the OK Teddy Mining
Company. The person asked if it was hypocritical to
own shares of BHP,
Letter: Why go out of the way to paint a negative picture of Haiti?
I read the article "Haiti tries to put troubles aside for
PanAm games" written by Eduardo Simoes. This text
is
apparently a sports item covering the PanAm
games preparations, etc. Why is it necessary for the
author to go
out of his way to paint a negative picture
of Haiti?
West Indies dominate Dutch in one-day series
DUBLIN, Ireland (AFP): West Indies cruised to a 10-
wicket win against the Netherlands at Clontarf here
Tuesday
in the opening match of the quadrangular
one-day series. Pace bowler Dwayne Smith set up the
rout with a spell of
four wickets for eight runs in six
overs as the Dutch were bowled out for 80.
World Cup profits to erase West Indies board deficit
LONDON, England (AFP): Profits from this year's
World Cup in the Caribbean will eliminate the financial
deficit
of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB),
organisers said in a statement released Tuesday. In
April, WICB president
Ken Gordon said the 15 million
dollars deficit was hampering development plans.
Impressive performances by Caribbean athletes in Lausanne
LAUSANNE, Switzerland: Jamaicans Kenia Sinclair
and Novlene Williams and Bahamian in-form sprinter
Derrick Atkins
recorded impressive wins at the IAAF
Super Grand Prix meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland
on a chilly Tuesday evening.
Jamaica to hold elections August 27
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP): Jamaicans will go to the
polls on August 27 to elect a new government, with
Prime Minister
Portia Simpson Miller standing a good
chance of returning to office for her first full term.
Simpson Miller made the
long-anticipated
announcement at a mass rally of her ruling People's
National Party.
Accused in Trinidad airport scandal to face trial
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's
Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicholls has ruled that a
case has
been made out against suspects accused
of corruption in the multi-million dollar Piarco Airport
scandal.
Cuba assembly vote could clarify Castro future
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Cuba called municipal
elections on Monday for October 21, the start of a
voting process
that could clarify by early next year
whether convalescing Fidel Castro will continue as
head of state. Castro has
held the post since the
current political system was set up 30 years ago.
Cayman Islands government to enforce 'straight' marriage
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: After concerns
were expressed by the Cayman Islands Ministers'
Association on the
legalisation of civil unions in the
UK, the Leader of Government Business in the
Cayman Islands, Kurt Tibbetts, chose
to open a recent
post-Cabinet press briefing.
Barbados to host OAS meeting of Caribbean education stakeholders
WASHINGTON, USA: The current landscape of
education for democratic citizenship in the Caribbean
takes centre
stage as Caribbean and hemispheric
educators and experts gather in Barbados on July 12
and 13 for a stakeholder meeting
on education for
democratic citizenship in the Caribbean
Caribbean can benefit from UN Emergency Fund
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (GIS): With
destructive hurricanes a part of Caribbean life,
countries in the region
should know that they can
access the United Nations Central Emergency
Response Fund (CERF) when they need instant
cash
to deal with life-threatening emergencies, said Dr
Barbara Carby,
Cuba-Haiti-Dominican Republic to sign environmental accord
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): Cuban Deputy Minister of
Sciences, Technology and Environment (CITMA),
Fernando Gonzalez,
was due to arrive in the
Dominican Republic on Monday to sign an
environmental cooperation agreement between the
two
nations and Haiti.
Castro calls US an unethical 'world tyranny'
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Ailing President Fidel Castro
railed against the United States in a newspaper article
Sunday,
calling it an unethical "world tyranny," and
urged the CIA to come clean about all its attempts to
murder him. Castro
called on the CIA to declassify
every single secret file it keeps on anti-Cuban plans.
Guyana cable television operators meet with president
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: A meeting on Monday
between Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo and
local cable television
operators, who are disgruntled
over a government decision to close their operations,
ended without any major decisions.
Another meeting
will be held on Thursday.
Top Chinese legislator arrives in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, On Monday, Madame Gu Xiulian,
Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of
China's National People's
Congress, began an
official three-day visit to Guyana. According to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit is
intended to
strengthen relations between Guyana and China.
Guyana Crime Stoppers programme ready for August launch
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): The much
anticipated Crime Stoppers programme to aid the
local security system in
Guyana will be launched
within a month, as the local steering committee has
been able to meet the necessary requirements
for the
launching of the programme.
Jamaican government to set up food safety agency
PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica (JIS): Registrar of the
Pesticides Control Authority (PCA), Hyacinth Chin-Sue,
has said
that the Jamaican government is in the
process of setting up a food safety agency, which will
ensure that food produced
in the country is safe for
export and local consumption.
Embattled US hurricane centre boss ousted
MIAMI, USA (Reuters): The director of the US National
Hurricane Center, a critical government agency that
issues
hurricane and tropical storm forecasts, was
ousted on Monday after a staff mutiny. Bill Proenza
was embroiled in controversy
after criticizing his
Washington bosses.
Commentary: Law and Politics: Things are not what they seem!
I have to again apologise to readers of this column, for
the mix-up last week when the article from the week
before
was printed instead of the correct one for that
week. The error was apparently caused at the printing
source in Trinidad
and Tobago and the editor will no
doubt make amends this week.
Letter: Theft in Grenada
When I came to Grenada June 2000 to build the
Paradise Bay Resort, considerations to choose
Grenada were that
the island is not only beautiful and
has friendly folks, but also very low crime. Violence is
indeed on a very low
level here, but burglary definitely
is not.
Letter: The Pope's decision to relax restrictions on use of Latin Mass
I welcome Pope Benedict XVI's decision to loosen
restrictions on the use of the Latin Mass. Vatican II, in
fact,
never called for the elimination of Latin. The
pope's decision, therefore, is meant to foster a more
comprehensive
and profound understanding of the
church's liturgy.
Letter: Mixed message as banks quit business with Cuba
It sends a mixed moral message as banks, including
the Swisss, who pledge neutrality as a cover when
they take
money from corrupt dictators and crime
syndicates, find it necessary to end relations with
Cuba over a illegitamate
economic blockade and
pressures by the United States.
'Genuine concerns' over planned $20 million Twenty20-ICC
NEW DELHI, India (Reuters): National cricket boards
have "genuine concerns" over a $20 million winner-
takes-all
Twenty20 series planned for West Indies
next year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said
on Monday. The event
is the brainchild of the Texan
billionaire Allen Stanford.
Injured Bravo out of West Indies matches in Ireland
DUBLIN, Ireland (AFP): West Indies all-rounder
Dwayne Bravo has been ruled out of the forthcoming
quadrangular
one-day tournament in Ireland with an
ankle problem. Bravo sustained the injury during the
tour of England and did
not travel with the remainder
of the squad to Ireland on Sunday.
US sports agent gets prison for smuggling Cubans
KEY WEST, USA (Reuters): A federal judge sentenced
US sports agent Gustavo "Gus" Dominguez to five
years in prison
on Monday for smuggling potential
major-league baseball players out of Cuba.
Dominguez was convicted in April of smuggling
five
prospects out of Cuba to the Florida Keys.
Castro says US-Mafia assassin had little chance
HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters): Convalescing Cuban
President Fidel Castro said on Sunday the man the
United States and
Mafia contracted to poison him in
the early 1960s would not have been able to get close
enough to him to be successful.
Castro charged the
assassination plan was just one of many.
Haitian radio hopes to sooth crime-torn slum
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): From the heart of
Haiti's crime-torn slum of Cite Soleil, Radio Boukman
broadcasts
a message of peace as it seeks to show
that the neighborhood has more to offer than gun-
toting criminals. 95.9 FM
seeks to stand out as "the
radio of change,"
West Indies Anglicans back 'covenant' to avoid schism over gay clerics
LONDON, July 8, 2007 (AFP): Members of the Church
of England's General Synod, including Archbishop
Drexel Gomez,
the Archbishop of the West Indies,
voted Sunday to begin drawing up a set of rules in
a "covenant" that they hope
will ward off future crises
over gay issues within the Anglican Communion.
Officials concerned over fraudulent documents in St Lucia
CASTRIES, St Lucia: US officials are greatly
concerned about the number of fraudulent documents
originating from
St Lucians applying for a US visa.
Clyde Howard, Consul General at the United States
Embassy in Barbados, said that
the practice must be
kept in check.
Dominican Republic will continue to support Taiwan, for the time being
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: President
Leonel Fernandez, in a meeting with the Vice
President of Taiwan,
has stated that the Dominican
Republic will maintain its business support with
Taiwan, but that he will have to consider
the impact of
future business relations and trade with China.
Guyana's capital city facing financial crisis
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana's capital,
Georgetown, is deeply indebted and struggling to
collect revenue, while
observers say a political football
match is being played between the government and
city mayor, Hamilton Green. Green
has accused the
Jagdeo-led government of fostering a system of
hegemony.
Guyana government and cable television operators clash
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: President Bharrat Jagdeo
will meet with Guyana's cable television operators,
who are upset
over a recent government decision to
shut down their operations until the enactment of new
broadcast legislation.
The meeting should take place
this week.
Storm force winds wreak havoc on coastal Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Storm force winds ripped
across coastal Guyana on Saturday, sending scores
scurrying for
cover as small buildings, trees and utility
poles toppled under the pressure. The local weather
service said winds
ranged between 55 to 67 mph.
New president of Jamaica court of appeal pledges to increase number of judges
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS): The new president of the
Jamaican court of appeal, Justice Seymour Panton,
has said
that one of his first tasks in taking office will
be to increase the number of judges serving the
island's courts.
Panton was also bestowed with the
Order of Jamaica,
Bonaire marine park announces new website
KRALENDIJK, Bonaire: STINAPA, the National Park
Foundation of Bonaire, has launched a new website.
STINAPA is
the non governmental, not-for-profit
organization responsible for the management of
Bonaire's national parks, which
encompass the
famous Bonaire National Marine Park,
Trinidad to co-sponsor major business meetings in 2008
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago is to
co-sponsor a series of major regional meetings of the
American
Business Chambers in 2008. The meetings
will take place in Port of Spain. Ministers in the region
are to begin negotiating
this month for the series of
meetings with representatives of the American
Chambers.
Celebrated Caribbean song-writer publishes autobiography
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (GIS): Famed composer
and musician, Irving Burgie, who was formally
inducted into the Song
Writers' Hall of Fame this year,
presented copies of his autobiography, 'Day-O!!!' to
Barbados Chief Education Officer,
Wendy Griffith-
Watson at the Ministry of Education last week.
CARICOM to seek greater presence in South Africa
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Guyana's President
Bharrat Jagdeo's proposal for a greater presence of
CARICOM in
South Africa, was welcomed by other
CARICOM Heads during the recently held CARICOM
Heads of Government Conference
on July1-4 in
Barbados.
Colombia court decides against finders of Caribbean treasure galleon
BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP): Colombia's Supreme
Court has ruled against US treasure hunters who
claimed half of the
estimated two billion dollars in
gold, silver and emeralds aboard a Spanish galleon
sunk in the Caribbean in 1708.
Commentary: Outside View: Chavez vs US - Part 2
MOSCOW, Russia (UPI): Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez has ambitious plans. He is going to use oil to
cement
a union of Latin American countries, which he
believes should become a new center of force on the
continent.
Powell leads West Indies to series win over England
NOTTINGHAM, England (AFP): Daren Powell sparked
a top-order collapse as West Indies beat England by
93 runs to
win the third one-day international at Trent
Bridge here Saturday and so come from behind to
take the series 2-1.
Gayle overjoyed as West Indies turn tables on England
NOTTINGHAM, England (AFP): Stand-in skipper Chris
Gayle praised West Indies' resolve as they came from
behind
to clinch a 2-1 one-day series success against
England with a crushing 93-run win here at Trent
Bridge. West Indies,
overwhelmed 3-0 in the
preceding Test campaign, were a team transformed,
Powell reveals West Indies plan to target Pietersen
NOTTINGHAM, England (AFP): Daren Powell has
revealed how the West Indies deliberately targeted
England batting
star Kevin Pietersen in their decisive
one-day international here at Trent Bridge. South
Africa-born Pietersen failed
to make much of an
impression during the three-match series.
Texan billionaire talks dollars and sense for Caribbean cricket
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (Reuters): Caribbean cricket
lovers are increasingly asking why Texas billionaire
Allen Stanford
is spending millions to develop the
game in the region. The question was first posed last
year when he launched a
US$30 million project
offering a US$1 million first prize.
