Archives for Monday, December 27, 2004:

Bahamian Minister in rape allegation

NASSAU, Bahamas:  Reginald Ferguson, the Assistant Police Commissioner of the Royal Police Force of The Bahamas, last week revealed that the country's Minister of Works, Bradley Roberts, was under investigation in relation to a reported incident of rape.  He emphatically denied suggestions that the police probe is being hampered... read more...

Jamaican government assumes full responsibility for Air Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica:  The Government of Jamaica has assumed full responsibility for the management and operation of the national airline, Air Jamaica, with immediate effect, with the objective of making the airline a fiscally sound entity in the near future.  Finance and Planning Minister, Omar Davies made the announcement last week... read more...

Caribbean also faces tsunami threat

PARIS, France (AFP):  Cities in the Caribbean and on the US East Coast could be wrecked by a tsunami unleashed by the collapse of a volcanic island in the eastern Atlantic, British scientists believe... read more...

US strikes back in Christmas symbols war with Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): The US mission in Cuba stepped up its Christmas symbols battle with the Cuban government last week by sending holiday postcards with the number 75 representing dissidents held prisoner by the communist-led island.  The card is decorated with a shackled peace dove behind bars and a padlock with the number 75... read more...

Row in Bahamas over Registrar General's transfer

NASSAU, Bahamas: Following the announcement some two weeks ago that the "considerable talents" of Registrar General Elizabeth Thompson "will be utilised elsewhere in government," nothing has been done and she is still awaiting official notification to the matter.  The Thompson situation came to "boiling point" nearly 21 days ago... read more...

Bahamas offers merchant shipping stamps

NASSAU, Bahamas: The Bahamas Post Office last week issued a set of six stamps forming part of a collection from several countries featuring merchant shipping.  The first day cover of the stamp issue depicted The Bahamas Civil Ensign, a flag also known as the merchant ensign and which is usually flown at the stern of a vessel... read more...

Saba gets new police cars

THE BOTTOM, Saba: Thursday morning was a special occasion for the members of the Police Force on Saba as they were on hand to witness the official handing over of two new Police Cars. State Secretary Mr Erno Labega and Chief Commissioner of Police Mr Derrick Holiday traveled to Saba and made the presentation...  read more...

St Lucia's new Criminal Code takes effect next month

CASTRIES, St. Lucia: The recently-amended Criminal Code will come into force in the New Year. That’s the word from Attorney General Philip La Corbiniere, who recently signed a Commencement Order to that effect.  The Order was signed on December 2, 2004 and published in an extraordinary Issue of the St. Lucia Gazette on December 14, 2004... read more...

Former Suriname dictator indicted over 1980s murder of 15 opponents

THE HAGUE (AFP):  Suriname's former dictator Desi Bouterse has been indicted by a military court over the murder of 15 political opponents of his regime in December 1982, the Dutch ANP press agency reported on Friday, citing judicial sources in Suriname... read more...

Guyana slams Suriname in offshore oil dispute

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): Guyana has accused neighboring Suriname of trying to block key evidence from a UN tribunal trying to resolve a dispute over potentially oil-rich offshore territory claimed by both South American nations... read more...

Project targets school violence in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: December 26th, 2004....Guyana's Ministry of Education is working overtime to bring an end to violence in the country's schools by students via a pilot project.  The move was made public by Ed Caesar, the country's Chief Education Officer.  According to Caesar a pilot project is already in place in two schools... read more...

Fire destroys historic Roman Catholic church in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP):  Parishioners openly wept Saturday as a Christmas Day electrical fire destroyed the 134-year old Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church in Georgetown, Guyana... read more...

Haiti releases three former Aristide aides from prison

PORT-AU-PRINCE : Three former aides to deposed Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide -- including former leaders of the Senate and national assembly -- have been released from prison, authorities said Friday... read more...

Dominican Government announces reductions in gasoline prices

ROSEAU, Dominica: The Government of Dominica through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Marketing, has announced that effective December 29, 2004, Dominicans will see a 41 cents reduction per gallon for gasoline and $1.13 reduction per gallon for kerosene as a result of the downward movement in world oil prices... read more...

Tobago newspaper registers significant growth

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago: Brandon Gray, Chairman of the Tobago News has revealed that the island's newspaper has recorded significant growth in all the areas of its operations last year as circulation grew by some 20 per cent with advertising also growing by 15 per cent... read more...

IAPA announces deadline for the 2005 awards of journalistic excellence

MIAMI, USA:  The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) announced at its Miami headquarters, the upcoming February 1st deadline for submission of journalistic entries to its annual awards of journalistic excellence for all works published in 2004 in ten basic categories... read more...

CARICOM's new Secretariat to open in February

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The ceremonial opening of the ultra-modern Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat at Liliendaal, in the Greater Georgetown area of Guyana, will take place on February 16, 2005.  Word of this came on Wednesday last from Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon... read more...

Barbados police employ tough new tactics to fight crime

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Barbados Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin says tough tactics are necessary to eradicate violent crime.  However, Dottin is also calling on the general public not to be misguided by recent tough action taken by the lawmen and references to the Royal Barbados Police Force as a "bunch of pistol-whipping warlords."... read more...

First Barbadian inducted as New York State Supreme Court Justice

BROOKLYN, USA:  Sylvia Hinds-Radix has become the first national from the Caribbean island of Barbados to be elected to the Supreme Court of the State of New York.  Justice Hinds-Radix served previously as judge of the Civil Court in Brooklyn, New York where she had a laudable tenure. Justice Diana A. Johnson administered the oath to her... read more...

Amaryllis Barbados staff receive awards

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados:  When the Palm Beach Hotels management and staff of Amaryllis Beach Resort and Allamanda Beach Hotel met in Barbados for the 2004 Awards, there were smiles all around.  General Manager Alvin Jemmott first thanked all members of these two properties for the outstanding performance during the past year... read more...

Farewell Onika “Peaches”: A Special Tribute to Onika Bostic

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: “A combination of passion, pride, beauty, talent, style and intellect” were the words used to describe the late Onika Bostic also known as “Peaches” at her funeral last week.  Rising soca star Onika Bostic succumbed to a road fatality when the driver of the car she was driving in lost control of the vehicle and crashed... read more...