Archives for Friday, October 29, 2004:

Cubans rush to swap dollars for local funds

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Thousands of Cubans queued up Thursday to swap US dollars -- which have been legal tender here for over a decade -- for local convertible pesos, in a mad rush ahead of November 8, when US currency will be locked out of commercial transactions.  President Fidel Castro on Monday announced the radical change... read more...

Spain and Britain agree to revisit EU policy on Cuba

MADRID, Spain (AFP): Spain and Britain on Wednesday agreed to look at revisiting European policy on Cuba "so it can be more effective," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Wednesday following talks with British counterpart Jack Straw... read more...

Priority battle in Grenada

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Seven weeks after the passage of Hurricane Ivan in Grenada and things are not much better save and except the utilities companies that have demonstrated fairly good level of organization... read more...

Dominican Republic disputes blame in American Airlines crash

NEW YORK, USA (AFP): The Dominican Republic on Wednesday contested a finding by US air safety investigators that pilot error caused a Santo Domingo-bound American Airlines Airbus to crash on takeoff from New York three years ago, killing 265 people... read more...

Aristide wants free elections in Haiti

BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP): South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Thursday said former Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide, in exile in South Africa, wants Haiti to hold "free and fair elections" allowing Haitians to choose whichever leaders they want... read more...

New St Kitts MP vows to bring proper representation to the people

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: The 2004 General Election in St. Kitts and Nevis was historic. Electoral officials in St. Kitts told Caribbean Net News that the history making events began on Friday October 15, Nomination Day, when Dr. Henry Browne and his wife, Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne became the first husband and wife team to be nominated... read more...

CCMA hails ‘continued dynamic leadership’ of St Kitts-Nevis PM

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: The Canadian Centre on Minority Affairs (CCMA) has joined local, regional and international organisations in congratulating St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas on his reappointment to the high post for the third consecutive time.  The ruling St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party won 7 of the 8 seats on St. Kitts...  read more...

CARICOM ministers discuss school violence

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The prevalence of violence in schools as well as the planned introduction of Information and Communication Technologies in the regional education system is to be discussed at a meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) ministers which opened in Georgetown on Thursday...  read more...

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ independence jubilee showcased in Washington

WASHINGTON, USA: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ twenty fifth anniversary of independence took center stage in Washington on Wednesday, Independence Day, with the opening of an art exhibition and a concert by two of the nation’s top singers - calypso monarch Princess Monique and international recording artiste Kevin Little...  read more...

COMMENTARY

Goodbye, Mr Police Commissioner

In any civilised country in this world where a leading figure has virtually condoned crimes against its people, he would have resigned the following day or receive marching orders from his boss.  Unfortunately, in Grenada, where the cart is before the horse as far as governance is concerned, the contrary occurs...  read more...

TRAVEL NEWS

Cruise ships return to Grand Cayman in November

GEORGE TOWN Cayman Islands: The Cayman Islands government announced on Thursday that cruise ships will resume visits to Grand Cayman beginning on Monday, 1 November, 2004.  A maximum of two cruise ships will be permitted in port during the first two weeks of November...  read more...

Sport tourism initiatives come on stream in St Kitts-Nevis

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: A number of school officials from England are currently in St Kitts to tour the country and assess the possibilities of having English sport teams engage in local competitions. This initiative is in line with the Ministry of Tourism’s policy to tap into the sports tourism market... read more...