Archives for Monday, December 8, 2003:

Tropical Storm Odette soaks Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: Late-season Tropical Storm Odette dumped 5 to 10 inches of rain on the Dominican Republic, toppling trees and power lines and forcing thousands of people out of their homes as it swept over the island of Hispaniola into the Atlantic Ocean, authorities said Sunday... read more...

French Caribbean territories vote on institutional reforms

PARIS, France (AFP): Voters on four French Caribbean islands -- Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Martin and St Barthelemy -- went to the polls Sunday to decide on proposed institutional reforms following a complex electoral campaign... read more...

Raul Castro makes public appearance after months of absence

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): General Raul Castro, Cuba's armed forces chief and President Fidel Castro's brother, joked Sunday about rumors of his death after keeping out of the public eye for several months... read more...

Grenada PM Mitchell meets with PLM

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Prime Minister Keith Mitchell met Saturday with Dr Francis Alexis and members of the People's Labour Movement (PLM) to examine the possibilities of engagement on issues of common interest... read more...

Commonwealth secretary general says small states have important role to play

ABUJA, Nigeria: Small states, which account for 32 of the 54 members of the Commonwealth, have an important role to play and contribute to the internal balance of the organisation and to its global reach... read more...

Antigua PM discusses thoughts on CSME

ST JOHN'S, Antigua: Prime Minister Lester Bird dealt in his weekly radio broadcast on Saturday with some of the issues affecting Antigua and Barbuda in relation to the CSME by disclosing answers he gave in an interview with a reporter from a British newspaper, the Sunday Telegraph, for a special survey being published on CARICOM... read more...

Japanese official meets immigrants in Dominican Republic over lawsuit

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: Senior Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masatoshi Abe met Japanese immigrants in the Dominican Republic on Saturday to exchange views on a damages suit against the Japanese government over its emigration policies in the 1950s, Japanese officials said.  Abe visited six Japanese settlements during his four-day visit to the Caribbean country that began Wednesday. 

St Kitts PM calls on small island states to ensure common approach

ABUJA, Nigeria: Delegates from small states in the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific have been called upon by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas to use the World Bank Small States Forum to stimulate efforts to design a common strategic approach to sustainable development... read more...

British singer offered Barbados villa to 'ancient-looking' Blair

LONDON, England (AFP): Veteran British pop singer Sir Cliff Richard said Sunday he had lent his Caribbean holiday villa to British Prime Minister Tony Blair this summer because the premier was looking "gaunt" and "ancient-looking"... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

West Indies under some pressure on third day against Free State

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, (AFP): The touring West Indies came under some pressure for the first time Sunday on the third day of a four-day match against Free State... read more...

Fast bowler Kruger called up by South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP): Uncapped fast bowler Garnett Kruger has been named in a 14-man South African squad for the first Test against the West Indies starting in Johannesburg Friday... read more...