Archives for Monday, December 20, 2004:

Banks takeover Antigua cable TV station

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Antigua and Barbuda's lone Cable Television service more popularly known as CTV which was owned and operated by the Bird family is now under new ownership.  Caribbean Net News has been informed that "grave financial difficulties" have forced the "take over" of the popular CTV... read more...

Cuba steps up Christmas decoration war with US

HAVANA, Cuba: Cuba has mounted pictures of US soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison onto billboards outside the US mission in Havana in retaliation for US Christmas illuminations highlighting Cuban dissidents.  The decorations war on the Malecon avenue along Havana's sea front escalated Friday... read more...

Cuba continues to refuse travel permit to Argentina for dissident

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba continues to refuse to allow a prominent dissident to travel to Argentina to visit her family, she said Saturday.  "I believe it was very positive that they informed us, and also very sad to know that I will not see my little grandchildren now," Hilda Molina told AFP by telephone... read more...

Former soldiers occupying Haitian ex-president's home evicted

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Armed UN peacekeepers and Haitian police on Friday evicted former soldiers who were occupying ousted president Jean Bertrand Aristide's luxurious mansion here... read more...

Billion dollar hotel project for the Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas: A number of positive changes have been made to Kerzner International's Phase III expansion plan in the Bahamas, bringing the total investment in the project to $1 billion.  These changes will create greater diversity as well as a unique hotel product for The Bahamas that will provide greater rivalry for the Disney theme parks...  read more...

Trinidad and Tobago switching from energy to knowledge-based economy

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago's Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, Colm Imbert, said that his country fully "recognizes that developed countries, including oil-rich nations, are shifting from energy-based economies to knowledge-based economies."... read more...

British Petroleum discovers major gas find off Trinidad

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP): British Petroleum (BP) has made a major gas discovery off the southeast coast of Trinidad, Energy Minister Eric Williams announced last week... read more...

Technology centre formally opens in Trinidad

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Trinidad and Tobago Government continues the drive towards a fully developed country status by 2020 with the recent formal opening of the Laventille Technology and Continuing Education Centre.  The Centre is currently running an Automotive Technology Programme... read more...

St Vincent to continue banana subsidy

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent: Those engaged in the growing of bananas in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will continue to benefit from government subsidies during 2005.  This was made known by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves when he pointed out that his government will subsidise the production of the fruit by in excess of some $1.75 million... read more...

Cellular phone tax for St Vincent & Grenadines

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent: The people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines will soon be paying a tax on all cellular phone calls, local and international, made in the country... read more...

Canadian International Cooperation Minister calls on Barbados PM

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, and Canada’s Minister on International Cooperation, Aileen Carroll, met last week at Government Headquarters and discussed several pertinent bilateral, regional and international issues.  Foremost among the areas discussed was the setting up of a regional forum... read more...

St Lucia's prime minister to present cricket master plan

CASTRIES, St. Lucia: St. Lucia's Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony, who is also the country's Minister of Finance, in debating the 2007 World Cup Motion at a recent House of Assembly Debate, announced that his government has plans to present a ‘Master Plan’ to the people of St. Lucia on the whole process... read more...

St Lucia Government gives Barbados the thumbs up

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The Barbados Government has come in for high praise for its CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Public Education Programme which officers from the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS) recently shared with their St. Lucia counterparts...  read more...

United Nations Population Fund and CARICOM sign historic pact

KINGSTON, Jamaica: United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) recently signed a landmark agreement which will recognize and strengthen the long-standing and fruitful partnership between both organisations. This agreement will chart the way for CARICOM and UNFPA to pursue issues... read more...

TRAVEL NEWS

U.S. Airways begins direct flights between North Carolina and Exuma, Bahamas

GEORGE TOWN, Bahamas: The Bahamas Minister of Tourism  Obie Wilchcombe, tourism stakeholders and international guests were among those on hand as U. S. Airways made its inaugural flight between Charlotte, North Carolina, and George Town, Exuma.  George Town became the 20th nonstop destination...  read more...