Archives for Thursday, October 9, 2003:

Cayman minister resigns

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Citing personal reasons, the Minister of Planning, Communications, Works and Information Technology, Mr Linford Pierson, resigned his Ministry on Wednesday, saying he would switch roles with Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Ms Juliana O'Connor-Connolly... read more...

Kidnapped Trinidadian taxi driver released unharmed

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad's twentieth kidnapped victim was released yesterday afternoon by kidnappers, unhurt in a village in Tobago, AP quoted police in the twin-island as saying last night... read more...

Cayman government clarifies Afghans' asylum appeal

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: According to a press release by the Cayman Islands Government Information Service, the Immigration Appeals Tribunal has allowed the three Afghani men, who turned up in the territory in August 2000, "limited leave" to remain in the Cayman Islands... read more...

Human rights abuses in Haiti on the rise

LONDON, England: Increased political violence is causing a rise in human rights abuses in Haiti, Amnesty International said today as it launched a new report: "Haiti: Abuse of human rights: political violence as the 200th anniversary of independence approaches."... read more...

U.S. senator calls for expanded trade with Cuba

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: U.S. Senator, Mr. Evan Bayh, yesterday declared that expanded American trade and travel to Cuba could create a democratic opening.  "I support expanding trade between our two nations as the best way to promote and secure our mutual prosperity," AP quoted Senator Bayh, an Indiana Democrat, as saying... read more...

Fire in St. Maarten destroys former hotel

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten: Fire yesterday raced through a former hotel set for demolition in St. Maarten's main tourist district then spread to an adjacent hotel that luckily was temporarily closed. No injuries were, however, reported, according to AP... read more...

Two Cuban men on floating truck get shot at U.S. visas

HAVANA, Cuba: Two Cuban men, who were among 12 others who converted a green coloured, 1951 Chevy pickup into a boat in a failed bid to reach American shores, have been granted interviews for U.S. visas, AP said yesterday.  Mr. Ariel Diego told international journalists, "At least this an option we have. The possibility still exists." The interviews are set for 3rd December and came on an invitation from the U.S. Interests Section in Havana. The other invitee is Mr. Luis Grass, owner of the bright green truck.

Haiti perceived to be one of the most corrupt nations

BERLIN, Germany: The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2003, which charts levels of corruption in 133 countries, shows Haiti at number 131, just above Nigeria, with Bangladesh in last place... read more...

British Tory party may send all asylum seekers to Caribbean territories for processing

BLACKPOOL, England: The Guardian newspaper in England reports that all asylum seekers arriving in Britain would be immediately deported to a "far offshore processing" island under Conservative Party plans recently announced by the shadow home secretary, Mr Oliver Letwin... read more...

Parasitic wasps to combat pests threatening U.S.V.I. palm trees

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands: More than 2,000 parasitic wasps have been released in St. Croix as officials there battle a pest that threatens the sago palm tree... read more...

Haiti seeks reparations for colonial rule

PARIS, France: Haiti's Jean Bertrand Aristide government has sent France a bill for US$21,685,155,571.48 as reparation for the suffering caused in the Caribbean nation during the colonial period, the Associated Press quoted the foreign ministry in Paris as confirming yesterday... read more...

Former Bajan customs officer charged with drug trafficking

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: He was charged with upholding the law but now he's behind bars for breaking it. Mr. Johnathan Sylvester Gollop, 44, a former Barbados customs officer was yesterday charged with importing and trafficking cocaine and marijuana... read more...

BUSINESS NEWS

Florida cruise official slams Caricom plan to tax passengers

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten: Caricom countries plan to impose a new tax on cruise passengers entering the region has come under severe criticism as the 11-member Florida Caribbean Cruise Association kicked off its 10th annual conference in Dutch St. Maarten yesterday... read more...

Remittances creeping up as Jamaica's top foreign exchange earner

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica's leading foreign exchange earner is still tourism but only barely. Money transfers sent home from overseas nationals to relatives in Jamaica is now the second highest foreign exchange earner, totaling US$1.15 billion, according to the Jamaica Gleaner... read more...

Bahamas seeks energy help from Trinidad

NASSAU, Bahamas: The Bahamas government has made an appeal to Trinidad for petroleum products in light of "extremely high" energy costs. The Manning government, according to AP, is considering investing in a gas terminal and pipeline from the Bahamas to Florida... read more...

Bermuda hires new ad. agency in bid to lure back tourists

HAMILTON, Bermuda: With visitor numbers falling in Bermuda, the island's tourist board is pulling out the big guns. The Board this week hired advertising agency HDM, to help develop a US$1.6 million ad campaign to help it recover from historic slump... read more...

LEGAL NEWS

November 15 start-up of CCJ postponed

KINGSTON, Jamaica: According to a news release by the Jamaica Information Service, the November 15 inauguration of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has been postponed until the budget has been finalized for the establishment of the Court.... read more...

Appeals court cuts sentence of former U.S. diplomat to Guyana

CHICAGO, Illinois: A former U.S. diplomat to Guyana, who admitted taking payoffs in return for issuing hundreds of U.S. visas, had his 21-year sentence cut to seven years and three months by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to AP... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Jamaica trash Canada but Guyana lose to Barbados in Red Stripe Bowl

ST CATHERINE, Jamaica: The Jamaican Red Stripe squad trashed Canada yesterday in their Zone A match at the Port Esquivel ground. Canada compiled 196 for seven wickets from 50 overs but the Jamaica teamsters powered to 198 for four in 29 overs with a blistering 71 not out from Ricardo Powell... read more...
 
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