Archives for Saturday, January 1, 2005:

2005 will not be a good year, says former Antigua PM

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Antigua and Barbuda's former Prime Minister, Lester Bird, is of the view that the year 2005, will not be a good one for the people of the twin-island unitary state.  Bird noted, "Our people will be severely burdened and heavily stressed by high taxes and these things will take a serious toll on our community."... read more...

Cuban dissident writes Bahamas Prime Minister

NASSAU, Bahamas:  A Cuban dissident living in Miami has written a letter to Prime Minister Perry Christie of the Bahamas accusing the country of "holding" members of one of Cuba's highly vocal opposition groups.  Members of the opposition Partido Democratico 30 de Noviembre "Frank Pais", were said to be detained in the Bahamas... read more...

Antigua-Barbuda PM hints at a 2005 Cabinet reshuffle

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer, in delivering his first New Year Message since becoming the country's third Prime Minister some 9 months ago, last night announced his intention to have a Cabinet reshuffle early in the New Year.  All Antigua and Barbuda is now awaiting the details... read more...

Antigua Labour Party to be revamped says Bird

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: The political leader of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) Lester Bird has announced that the revamping of the organization that held the reigns of government in the twin-island unitary state for some 28 years, until a convincing 12-4 defeat by the coalition United Progressive Party (UPP) on March 23 last year... read more...

US to appeal WTO ruling in favour of Antigua-Barbuda on Internet gambling

WASHINGTON, USA:  According to the Thoroughbred Times, United States authorities have confirmed to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) their intention to appeal a World Trade Organization ruling condemning the United States for banning foreign online gambling operators... read more...

Dominica's lake stops boiling

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica’s Boiling Lake has mysteriously stopped boiling for the third time in a century, Britain's Press Association reported Friday... read more...

Jamaica sees increased earnings from exports in 2004

KINGSTON, Jamaica:  The year 2004 was a very good one for Jamaica's export sector, with earnings from traditional exports increasing by 24.3 per cent from US$800.5 million to US$995.4 million, while income from non-traditional exports grew by US$33.3 million or 22.2 per cent to US$183.3 million... read more...

Antigua-Barbuda Police Commissioner praises officers

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua:  Officers and other members of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda have come in for words of praise from Acting Commissioner of Police (COP) Rolston Pompey for their service to the people of Antigua and Barbuda during the year 2004 which he described as challenging... read more...

Guyana records bumper sugar crop for 2004

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Officials at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO)) reportedly closed production for 2004 recording some 324,940 tonnes of sugar, the second highest production in 15 years... read more...

CXC scandal: Workers fired over missing exam papers

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The people of Trinidad and Tobago woke up on New Year's morning to the news that over forty staffers employed at the Education Ministry reported that they were dismissed over the disappearance of CXC examination papers, however, the Education officials told Caribbean Net News the figure was 12 and not forty... read more...

Bahamian workers may strike over 2004 Christmas bonus

NASSAU, Bahamas: Workers and members of the Bahamas Beverage Water Distributors Union (BBWDU) appears to be headed for an unavoidable confrontation over what is said to be Aquapure's unilateral reneging on the payment of Christmas bonus for employees... read more...