Archives for Friday, October 17, 2003:

Trinidad & Tobago House approves Manning budget

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: The 2004 budget plan, presented recently by Trinidad & Tobago's Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Patrick Manning, has been approved by the House of Representatives... read more...

Montserrat leaders optimistic about integration with Caricom

BRADES, Montserrat: Talks between British, Caricom and Monsterratian officials ended Wednesday night with a general feeling of hope on the part of the colony that they will be allowed to join other members of the Caribbean Community in establishing a regional court and single market economy... read more...

Day Two of CTO conference

ST. THOMAS, USVI: The 26th annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-26), enters day-two today at the at the Marriott Frenchman's Reef Resort... read more...

Jamaica police impose curfew after deadly shootout

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica: A curfew has been imposed on the Canterbury neighborhood of Montego Bay where a daylong shootout between police and gunmen left three suspects dead and three officers wounded... read more...

AT&T gets Cayman's first new telecom licence

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman: Wireless Ventures (Cayman) Ltd, otherwise known as AT&T Wireless, became the first company other than Cable & Wireless to possess a licence to provide telecom services in the Cayman Islands. The Information and Communications Technology Authority's (ICTA) granting of the licence was announced at press conference on Tuesday held by the telecom company, Cayman Net News reported... read more...

One-third of Belize population living in poverty

BELMOPAN, Belize: Three-three percent of Belizeans are living in poverty, says The Living Standards Measurement Survey on Belize for 2002 that updates the 1995/1996 Country Poverty Assessment Report. CMC quoted a statement as saying that the 2002 poverty estimates indicate that 10.8 per cent of the population of Belize is either very poor or indigent, while 33.5 per cent was classified as poor... read more...

Trinidad opposition accused of racial strife

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad & Tobago's Planning Minister, Mr. Keith Rowley has accused the opposition United National Congress of invoking racial strife in the country. The Trinidad Guardian quoted Mr. Rowley as making the accusation in his budget contribution in the Lower House, where he also accused the UNC of misusing international funding while in office... read more...

National day of mourning declared for Dominica's 'Ma Pampo'

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica's Cabinet has declared, 22nd October as a National Day of Mourning for the woman they claim was the world's oldest person, Mrs. Elizabeth 'Ma Pampo' Israel.
Mrs. Israel died on Tuesday, 14th October at the age of 128. An official funeral is set for next Wednesday at the Roman Catholic Church in Portsmouth from 3 p.m. Ma Pampo's coffin will be draped with the state's flag and all flags on public buildings will be flown at half mast next Wednesday.

Trinidad teen released after ransom is paid

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Fourteen-year-old kidnap victim, Christopher Tackorie, is back home with his family coughed up some TT $100,000 for his return.  Christopher after reportedly dropped off on the side of a road in Chaguanas in central Trinidad late Wednesday, three days after he was snatched from his family's home. He was unharmed.
The kidnappers had initially demanded TT$3 million but the family settled for the TT$100,000 AP quoted police as saying. No arrests have been made.

Princes Edward and Philip visit Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Britain's Prince Edward will spend five days in Barbados as part of his visit to the region. The Prince arrived on the island from Antigua late yesterday. His father, Prince Philip, is scheduled to join him there today.
In Antigua, he held a dinner on Wednesday night to raise funds for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards International Association, which promotes self-reliance and volunteer work in youth.  Prince Edward and his father will address a forum in Barbados on Saturday that will focus on health issues, including HIV/AIDS, and other matters related to youth. He is also set to visit Bermuda and Guyana.

BUSINESS NEWS

Guyana sugar workers return to work

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Approximately 200 sugar workers in the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Wales Estate, are back on the job after a week-long protest over wages.  The workers, according to AP, were concerned that a recent change in the system used for measuring the amount of cane they cut and deliver to the factory has translated into lower earnings.
Guysuco officials have agreed to review the processing system and have begun talks with Mr. Komal Chand, president of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union.

HEALTH NEWS

Thirteen Caribbean countries get US$44 million to fight disease

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana, Haiti, Belize, Jamaica and the nine other countries in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States grouping will soon receive US$44 million in funding to help fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.  AP last night quoted officials from a U.N.-backed global AIDS fund as saying, however, that the amount of money each country gets will be decided next month.  Before this year, Haiti was the only country in the region to receive help from the fund.

LEGAL NEWS

Judge rejects video conferencing for Jamaican sniper suspect

FAIRFAX, Virginia: Jamaican-born teenaged sniper suspect, Mr. Lee Boyd Malvo, may not be able to have witnesses from Jamaica, including his mother, testify on his behalf... read more...

U.S. government to appeal visa scam ruling

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Officials in the U.S. District Attorney's office in Chicago, Illinois are reviewing the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit which vacated the 262 month-sentence imposed on convicted visa fraudster and former U.S. ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Thomas Carroll, Stabroek News reports indicate... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Guyana whip Jamaica to play in Red Stripe finals

DISCOVERY BAY, Jamaica: The Guyana Red Stripe squad, led by Windies batsman Shiv Chanderpaul, yesterday beat hosts and winner of the Zone A matches, Jamaica, to play in the finals on Sunday.  The Guyanese defeated the Jamaicans by four runs in the first semifinal at the Kaiser Sports Club after they were sent in to bat, reporter Sean Devers said last night. The Guyana side raced to 183 off 49.5 overs then bowled out the Jamaicans for 179 in 49.1 overs.  Guyana's captain Chanderpaul commented, "We bowled well."
Guyana will play the winner of today's second semifinal between defending champions Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.