Archives for Friday, January 28, 2005:

Taiwan severs diplomatic ties with Grenada

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP): Taiwan on Thursday severed diplomatic relations with Grenada after receiving formal notification from the Caribbean state that it had opened official ties with China, the foreign ministry said... read more...

EU set to suspend sanctions on Cuba

BRUSSELS (AFP): The European Union will suspend sanctions against Cuba next week, in a further step to end a standoff sparked by a crackdown on dissidents in 2003, according to a draft document seen Thursday... read more...

Guyana ambassador honoured in Washington

WASHINGTON, USA: Guyana's Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States, Bayney Karran has been recognised by an international organisation for his commitment to the sustainable development of the Caribbean and the Americas, and for his pioneering role in mobilising the Caribbean Diaspora... read more...

Citrus canker emergency declared for Abaco, Bahamas

NASSAU, The Bahamas:   The Bahamian Minister of Agriculture Alfred Gray has issued an emergency order declaring Abaco “an area infested with the canker disease.” No plant or plant material is to be moved from Abaco while the order is in effect, Mr Gray told a press conference Tuesday... read more...

Detective Constable Michael Grant is Jamaica’s 'top cop'

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Detective Constable Michael Grant of the Police Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) in Kingston, is the 2004 LASCO Top Cop. Detective Grant, who is the sub officer in charge of the Fingerprint Bureau, topped a field of 27 nominees and 11 finalists from across the island. Inspector Errol Thompson was the runner-up... read more...

Pressured USVI education officials outline plans for Cancryn

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, USVI: Pressured by two full days of protest action which included placard-bearing teachers, parents and students of the 46-year old Addelita Cancryn Junior High School, Education officials seem set to address several of the concerns regarding the deteriorating conditions at the school... read more...

UN food agency sends help to flooded Guyana

UNITED NATIONS: A United Nations relief agency is sending Guyana enough food for 10,000 of the people worst-affected by the recent flooding, but warnings have come of more rains in the next few days, with high tides along the low-lying Atlantic coast of the South American country... read more...

SMED manager pleased with progress after three years

CASTRIES, St. Lucia: The USAID-sponsored programme, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Program (SMED), has been making significant strides. So says the programme manager Michael Taylor, as he spoke at a recent two-day forum in St. Lucia and organized by the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Export Development Unit... read more...

Antigua moving to professionalise information technology centre

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Information officials in Antigua and Barbuda are seeking to move the country's information and technology services to a another level.  Announcing the merging of the National Computer Center (NCC) and the Information and Technology Unit (ITU) officials are hoping to improve the quality of work being produced... read more...

Leaking oil adds to discomfort on Guyana’s east coast

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The seeping of oil from a service station into the floodwaters at Strathspey on the East Coast Demerara in Guyana is not only creating discomfort for residents but posing a hazard to the traffic as an oily film now covers sections of the main road.  The General Manager of Texaco (Guyana) has carried out an inspection... read more...

Sugar producing countries assured of EU support

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Sugar producers like those in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, (ACP) have been given the assurance that the European Union (EU) would move to establish a new system of support in order to assist in compensating for the loss of preferential treatment as a result of soon to be introduced reforms... read more...

Dominican schools benefit from Chinese assistance

ROSEAU, Dominica: The Dominica State College and the Isaiah Thomas Secondary School are the beneficiaries of computer, computer accessories and sporting equipment, courtesy of the Government of the People’s Republic of China... read more...

Rehired teachers say Trinidad education ministry abusing them

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: A number of teachers in Trinidad who have been retired and have been rehired by the Education Ministry on contract such as assistant teachers and remedial instructors, are expressing concern regarding the length of time it would take for them to get their January salaries... read more...

Novel of Jamaican immigrants wins Britain's Whitbread award

LONDON, England (AFP): Andrea Levy's tale of Jamaican immigrants making their way in postwar Britain, "Small Island", won the Whitbread literary prize on Tuesday... read more...

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Mother of Bob Marley in Ethiopia for reggae legend's birthday anniversary

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP): The mother of Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley arrived here Thursday to attend final preparations for next month's commemoration of her late son's birthday anniversary in Ethiopia... read more...

TRAVEL NEWS

New Ritz-Carlton Resort opens in Turks & Caicos

TURKS & Caicos Islands: On Thursday, Logwood Development Company, the Turks & Caicos Island Government and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company announced the opening of the newest destination in the Caribbean -- West Caicos Reserve, The Protected Island... read more...