Archives for Friday, August 13, 2004:

More than 200,000 Cubans evacuated ahead of Hurricane Charley

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): More than 200,000 residents and some 2,000 foreign tourists were evacuated from western Cuba on orders from authorities Thursday before the arrival of Hurricane Charley.  Cuba's Meteorology Institute said the hurricane would hit Havana, the western province of Pinar del Rio and Isla de la Juventud... read more...

Castro to mark 78th birthday amid hurricane

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Fidel Castro, who was born in 1926 as a tropical storm thrashed Cuba, will celebrate his 78th birthday Friday after Hurricane Charley has passed across the island he has led for 45 years.  Castro is expected to spend his birthday in regions affected by the hurricane, which tore through the Caribbean Thursday... read more...

Trinidad and Tobago president outraged over killing of policeman

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: An expression of outrage was the public reaction of Trinidad and Tobago’s President George Maxwell Richards one day after the killing of acting Inspector of police, Edward Williams... read more...

Public servants in Nevis to receive pay increase and bonus

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Premier of Nevis, Vance Amory, confirmed on Thursday that public servants in Nevis will receive an increased remuneration at the end of this month.  He noted that the Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas had agreed to give a salary increase effective August 2004 of 10% across the board... read more...

Former President Carter arrives in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The much anticipated visit of former US President Jimmy Carter began Wednesday when he and a delegation touched down in Guyana... read more...

Bahamas central bank lifts lending restrictions

NASSAU, Bahamas: The Central Bank of The Bahamas on Monday lifted the restriction on domestic banks' Bahamian dollar lending, citing an improved outlook for the Bahamian economy, particularly in tourism and foreign investments... read more...

Analysis: Hurricane season living up to its name

MIAMI, USA (UPI): Long-range forecasters repeated their warnings this month that the hurricane season will be busier than usual, and so far the conditions in the tropics are backing them up... read more...

Antigua-based casino backs space flight attempt

NEW YORK, USA: Antigua-based casino GoldenPalace.com has sponsored a Canadian group of rocketeers, hoping that the da Vinci Project’s Wild Fire rocket can capture the Ansari X $10 million prize for the first private spaceflight in competition with the Paul Allen-backed SpaceShipOne team's X Prize... read more...

Cotton returns to the Caribbean

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The chairman of Exclusive Cottons of the Caribbean Inc. (ECCi), Anstey Scott, supported by Dr. Basil Springer - a director and initial coordinator of the project - and the first CEO of the company, Lorna Garner, presented a gift of 100% pure Caribbean cotton to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday... read more...

COMMENTARY

Anti-terrorism costs could bring Caribbean to its knees

In October 2000, terrorists attacked USS Cole, a navy destroyer docked in Yemen’s territorial waters. The bombing left seventeen sailors dead, revealing both the limited ability of the U.S. to protect its own naval vessels even in a friendly port, and the ominous capability of terrorist organizations to successfully attack units of the world’s most powerful navy... read more...

TRAVEL NEWS

Surinam Airways to begin transatlantic flights

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (AFP): Surinam Airways will launch its inaugural transatlantic commercial flight between Paramaribo and Amsterdam next Friday, Transport, Communication and Tourism Minister Guno Castelen said... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Hoggard halts Windies revival

MANCHESTER, England (AFP): Matthew Hoggard took two wickets for two runs in four balls to stem a West Indies fightback on the first day of the third Test against England at Old Trafford here Thursday.  West Indies were 275 for six when first bad light and then heavy rain forced an early close... read more...