Archives for Saturday, September 20, 2003:

Dominica to get new President

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominicans will soon have a new President. He is Dr. Nicholas Liverpool, a retired judge and professor, who will take the country's top post on 2nd October... read more...

Nine years have passed since Aristide was returned to power

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: Friday, 20th September, marked the ninth year anniversary since U.S. troops intervened in Haiti and helped former priest, Mr. Jean Bertrand Aristide reclaim his office... read more...

Chinese delegation now in Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica: China's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Li Zhaoxin, will leave the Norman Manley International Airport for Montego Bay this morning... read more...

Ex-Venezuelan President denies involvement in alleged coup plot

CARACAS, Venezuela: Former Venezuelan President, Mr. Carlos Andres Perez, says he was not involved in any plot being to overthrow the government of President Hugo Chavez... read more...

St. Kitts celebrates 20th anniversary of independence

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Representatives of several friendly nations joined the Federation yesterday to mark its 20th Independence Anniversary celebrations... read more...

Bermuda cable workers end three-day strike

HAMILTON, Bermuda: Bermuda cable workers are back on the job after union members voted to end a three-day unofficial general strike... read more...

Large marijuana shipment seized at Barbados port

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Two hundred and six kilograms of marijuana were seized aboard a shipment of oranges at Barbados' main port in the capital, AP has reported.  The ganja, which equals 458 pounds, was found hidden in a shipping container among 1,500 cartons of oranges, which had arrived from Jamaica. Customs officials reportedly discovered the drugs during a routine inspection, he said.

Puerto Rican cabinet official nominated to be top judge

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico's Secretary of State, Mr. Ferdinand Mercado, has been nominated as the island's next chief justice of its Supreme Court.  Mr. Mercado, a former appeals court judge, was named by Governor Sila Calderon, to the top post yesterday, AP reported.

The nomination now goes before Puerto Rico's 27-member Senate for a two-thirds majority approval vote.  Chief Justice Jose Andreu Garcia, announced his retirement on 11th September.

Cuban officials laud U.S. visa quota news

HAVANA, Cuba: News that the U.S. Interests Section in Havana has reached its annual quota of 20,000 immigrant visas has been lauded by Cuban officials.  In an official statement, Mr. Rafael Dausa Cespedes, director of the Foreign Ministry's North America Division, was quoted by AP as saying the news is "a positive element for relations on migration issues between Cuba and the United States."

Jamaican mother of slain 7-year-old pleads for help

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The mother of murdered 7-year-old, Toni-Ann Byfield, has made an emotional plea for help in finding her daughter's killer... read more

BVI Governor on leave

ROAD TOWN, BVI: Governor of the British Virgin Islands, Mr. Thomas Macan, will travel to the United Kingdom today to begin his annual vacation. Deputy Governor, Mr. Elton Georges, will act until Governor Macan's return on Sunday, 12th October.

BUSINESS NEWS

CTO Secretary General for Miami conference today

MIAMI, Florida: The Impact of the FTAA on Caribbean Economies will be the focus of a daylong seminar on the Free Trade Area of the Americas at the University of Miami today... read more...

Guyana starts construction on second major airport

Georgetown, Guyana: Construction will continue today on a second major airport in Guyana, just days after the cornerstone was unveiled to signal the first phase of development of the Ogle Aerodrome into Guyana's second international airport... read more...

CDB predicts growth in Antigua economy

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: The Antigua and Barbuda economy will grow between 3 to 4 percent over the next three years. So predicts the Caribbean Development Bank... read more...

Scotiabank to expand in the Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: Scotiabank yesterday agreed to double the size of its operations in the Dominican Republic... read more...

VISA reports surge in debit card growth in Latin America and the Caribbean

MIAMI, Florida: Visa International for the Latin American and Caribbean Region says its signature-based debit card is growing remarkably. The Miami-based issuer says its debit card registered an annual growth rate of 20 percent in purchase volume during 2003's first quarter. Debit card transaction growth at the point of sale was even higher, increasing 51 percent to 458 million purchases for the year ended March 2003. There are now 97 million Visa-branded debit cards in the Latin American and Caribbean region, up 7 percent from last year, Visa says.

SPORTS NEWS

Kittian athlete becoming household name in the U.S.

Basseterre, St. Kitts: The talent, discipline and dedication of Kittitian and Nevisian athletes continue to demonstrate the natural attributes that characterize all nationals, St. Kitts government information service has reported... read more...

Windies players' secretariat opens in Trinidad

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: President of the West Indies Players Association Mr. Dinanath Ramnarine, was all smiles as he opened the Association's first secretariat at 109 Abercromby Street in Port of Spain this week.  Mr. Ramnarine, according to the Trinidad Guardian, said the opening of the office marked the appreciation of the Ministry of Sports and several other corporate bodies, to supporting sport in the region. "Their help has been instrumental in giving WIPA a quantum leap into the future," he was quoted as saying. 

It's 14 days to the first Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride on Saturday, 4th October in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens. Join the effort and support immigrant workers rights today. Pledge your support at http://www.immigrantworkersfreedomride.com and make it a date!