Archives for Friday, February 13, 2004:

Aristide loyalists thwart Haiti opposition demonstration

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Hundreds of supporters loyal to embattled Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide burned barricades in the capital to block opposition demonstrations as violent political unrest continued Thursday... read more...

Dominica experiences economic growth, says IMF

ROSEAU, Dominica: A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ended a ten-day review of Dominica's economy on Wednesday with news that the island has experienced economic growth for the first time in several years... read more...

Jamaican government restates position on anti- terrorism bill

KINGSTON, Jamaica: As the debate on the Anti-Terrorism Bill now before the Jamaican Parliament intensifies, the Government has reiterated its position that the measure is not aimed at depriving Jamaicans of their fundamental rights and freedoms as prescribed by the Constitution, but rather to fulfill the country's international obligations... read more...

Cuban government fires tourism director

HAVANA, Cuba: The government announced Wednesday that it has fired Tourism Minister Ibrahim Ferradaz and replaced him with a young state company executive to head the sector that has become the nation's top earner of hard currency... read more...

Handgun on board jetliner prompts return to Turks & Caicos

MIAMI, USA (AFP): A Miami-bound American Airlines jet reversed course to the Turks and Caicos Islands after a passenger alerted the flight crew Thursday that she had a handgun on board... read more...

IMF approves $66 million disbursement for Dominican Republic

WASHINGTON, USA: The International Monetary Fund says it has approved the disbursement of $66 million for the financially-troubled Dominican Republic.  The Washington-based lender said Wednesday that its decision follows a review of the Caribbean country's financial performance... read more...

Revised code of conduct for police, citizens launched in Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica: A revised second edition of the Code of Conduct for Police-Citizen Relations in Jamaica was launched on Tuesday by the Inner-City Development Committee of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce... read more...

BUSINESS NEWS

EU to target Caribbean havens following Parmalat scandal

BRUSSELS, Belgium: Following the Parmalat scandal, European Union regulators plan to take steps to improve financial supervision in offshore centres, many of which are tiny Caribbean centres that attract business through lax supervision, tax breaks, anonymity and little red tape... read more...

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Cayman Islands featured in new Parmalat web game

MILAN, Italy: Tired of following the twists and turns in Parmalat's fall from grace? Relief is at hand in the form of a computer game based on the Italian dairy group's accounting scandal... read more...

HEALTH NEWS

Trinidad bans US chicken because of bird flu

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP): Trinidad has announced a ban on chicken from four US states after a second US case of bird flu... read more...

TRAVEL NEWS

Puerto Rico Tourism Company launches new Qué Pasa! magazine

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: This week, José M. Suárez, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company announced the re-launch of ¡Qué Pasa!, the official magazine of the Tourism Company. The re-designed magazine features a new and exciting format, including an increased focus on photography to give tourists a visually enticing look at the various regions of Puerto Rico... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

All-star line up for the Trinidad & Tobago Carnival Celebrity Charity Golf Classic

MIAMI, USA:  Island Events is preparing to stage the Inaugural Trinidad & Tobago Carnival Celebrity Charity Golf Classic in Tobago on February 26-28, 2004 at the Tobago Plantations Beach and Golf Resort... read more...