Archives for Tuesday, December 30, 2003:

Haiti opposition group declares ceasefire for independence bicentennial

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): The head of an armed opposition group battling Haiti's President Jean Bertrand Aristide on Monday declared a ceasefire for the impoverished state's 200th anniversary of its independence on January 1... read more...

Now Cuba declares Parmalat claim false

HAVANA, Cuba: Cuba's only bulk food importer, Alimport, said on Monday that Italian food conglomerate Parmalat's claim the Communist-run nation owes it tens of millions of dollars for powdered milk was false, according to a report by Reuters... read more...

BVI Customs surveillance pays off again

ROAD TOWN, BVI: The increased surveillance by the British Virgin Islands Customs Department during the Christmas and New Year's holiday period has paid off yet again... read more...

Spanish judge seeks extradition of four in Guantanamo

MADRID, Spain (AFP): A leading Spanish anti-terrorism judge has called for extradition of four prisoners held at the United States base at Guantanamo in Cuba because they are suspected of links with an al-Qaeda cell which police smashed in Spain, court sources said Monday... read more...

BUSINESS NEWS

Jamaica's inflation rate leaps

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica's rate of inflation leaped above government targets to 13 percent at the end of the first eight months of the 2003-2004 fiscal year, a state financial agency said on Monday... read more...

Inter-American Development Bank boosted Caribbean loans 50 percent in 2003

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The Inter-American Development Bank said Monday that in 2003 it boosted its loans to Latin America and the Caribbean by nearly 50 percent compared with 2002, with record disbursements to the region as it began to recover... read more...

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Sting event in Jamaica injures 20

KINGSTON, Jamaica: At least 20 people were injured at the infamous Sting concert event Saturday at the Jamworld Entertainment Centre in Portmore, St. Catherine, Jamaica after a melee barraged by gunshots and a stampede ended the show... read more...

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Jamaica to expand mobile network with Ex-Im Bank finance

WASHINGTON, USA: Cable and Wireless Jamaica Limited (CWJ) is purchasing U.S.-manufactured cellular communications and equipment from Nortel Networks Inc., and eight other U.S. exporters as part of a $173 million project, with the assistance of a $72.3 million, seven-year loan guarantee from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank)... read more...

TRAVEL NEWS

Caribbean discounts and free nights

ARLINGTON, USA: This is the prime season for Caribbean travel. We can't make the prices go lower, but we can look for deals. Here are a few, courtesy of bestfares.com... read more...

Escape the winter cold with the "USVI Ice Breaker" promotion

UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS, December 29, 2003 - The USVI Commissioner of Tourism Pamela C. Richards has announced an exciting new destination-wide promotion for the winter season... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Lara rules out whitewash after innings defeat

DURBAN, South Africa (AFP): West Indian captain Brian Lara ruled out a second successive whitewash defeat in South Africa after his team were beaten by an innings and 65 runs on the fourth day of the second Test at Kingsmead Monday... read more...

Bahamas to host Michael Jordan celebrity golf tournament in January

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas: The third annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament (MJCI) at the prestigious One & Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island, in The Bahamas, will kick off on January 7, 2004 at the Ocean Club Golf Course for a star-studded four-day tournament attracting celebrities and personalities from the worlds of sports, entertainment and business... read more...