Archives for Thursday, February 3, 2005:

Antigua Labour Party needs new and young leadership, says former press secretary

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: "Quite frankly, I am of the view that Lester Bird should really remove himself from the political battlefield."  That's the view of Norman 'Gus' Thomas, who himself served as Press Attaché to Lester Bird during his two terms in office as Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda... read more...

Antigua-Barbuda Attorney General condemns bombing of Minister's family business

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Justin Simon has condemned the bombing of Minister Edmond Mansoor family business calling it a heinous criminal act perpetrated on the citizenry of Antigua and Barbuda.  The Attorney General said that it was an intentional calculated criminal act ... read more...

US Marines land in Haiti for aid mission

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Fifty US Marines landed Tuesday in Gonaives, northern Haiti, on an aid mission, which is expected to last about four months, a US embassy statement said... read more...

Grenada Police Commissioner on extended leave

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Grenadian Commissioner of Police, Mr Fitzroy Bedeau, on Tuesday proceeded on vacation leave, which is expected to last approximately seven months... read more...

Castro to European Union: 'We don't need you'

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuban President Fidel Castro thumbed his nose at the European Union late Tuesday, ridiculing the 25-nation body for temporarily suspending sanctions against the communist island nation... read more...

St. Vincent & Grenadines helps flood ravaged Guyana

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent: St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been helping in the relief efforts for flood ravaged Guyana, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Louis Straker... read more...

More funds to fight HIV/AIDS for St Vincent & Grenadines

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent:  St Vincent and the Grenadines and other OECS countries are now better positioned to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.  Just over US$10 million from the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS was made available to these countries.  Minister of Health Dr Douglas Slater spoke of a number of programmes available to help people... read more...

Eight killed by flooding and disease in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AFP): A leptospirosis outbreak in a flood-stricken part of Guyana has killed at least three people and affected a dozen others, authorities said Wednesday, bringing to eight the overall death toll since the flood began three weeks ago... read more...

State must pay Trinidad woman for 15-year wait 

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: "Oppressive" was the word that High Court judge Peter Jamadar used to describe the 15 years it took the Trinidad and Tobago's Industrial Court to hand down judgment in a trade dispute between two parties... read more...

Cuban refugees find longer route to U.S.

PUERTO CORTES, Honduras (UPI): Cuban refugees are increasingly opting for a 3,700 mile journey to reach Florida instead of the direct, six day crossing, the Miami Herald said Wednesday... read more...

Tobago minority leader promises 'heavy jamming' in the Assembly

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago: Leader of the minority in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Ashworth Jack has promised, "heavy jamming" in the THA from the onset for the new Orville London administration. According to him, there would be no "honeymoon" for London and his men.. read more...

St Lucia PM returns from French Guiana

CASTRIES, St. Lucia: Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony on Thursday returned to St. Lucia following a three-day visit to French Guiana, promising to develop closer ties aimed at ending the isolation of St. Lucians in the distant French territory.  He said he felt comfortable his visit had “opened the way for closer cooperation.”... read more...

Bahamas social health association seeking land for expansion

NASSAU, The Bahamas: The Bahamas Association for Social Health (BASH) and adult male residential drug dependency treatment facility - is seeking an additional 30 acres of land from the Government to expand its operation... read more...

Guyana TV station owner to sue over disconnection

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The owner of a popular television station, C. N. Sharma, is moving to take the Guyana government along with the electricity company to court over what he calls the unlawful disconnection of power to his station last Friday.  The Channel Six owner is caught up in a legal fight with the government... read more...

UWI lecturers in more protest action

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: .Twice in two weeks, lecturers at the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies are bringing things to a halt following rejection of the latest pay package offer by the Government.  The President of the West Indies Group of University Teachers said that lecturers would not attend classes Wednesday and Thursday.. read more...

China tables five-point proposals for closer ties with Caribbean

KINGSTON, Jamaica (Xinhuanet): Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong put forward five-point proposal Wednesday for the continued and substantive progress of China-Caribbean friendly relations and cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win results.. read more...

Dominica’s economy set to benefit from Pirates of the Caribbean II

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica’s economy looks set to benefit from the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean II in Dominica by Hollywood film giant Disney. When actual filming begins in mid-April, over 250 Dominicans are expected to be employed over a six week period.. read more...

US Virgin Islands names new PR agency

ST THOMAS, USVI: New York-based M Booth & Associates has been named public relations agency of record for the US Virgin Islands, announced Pamela C. Richards, Commissioner of Tourism for the destination. The appointment, which is effective immediately, follows a comprehensive public relations account review.. read more...

BVI Chief Minister confident tourism is on the move

ROAD TOWN, BVI: Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism Dr Orlando Smith is confident that tourism is on the move in the British Islands, given its importance to the economy and having been placed high on his administration’s agenda.. read more...

Barbados moving swiftly to wipe out African snail

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The government of Barbados is about to put into action a BDS$200,000 island-wide campaign to rid the country of the annoying and destructive African Snail.. read more...

Second annual national tourism conference underway in Grand Bahama

FREEPORT, Bahamas: The Second Annual National Tourism Conference got underway in Grand Bahama Wednesday morning with the challenge being sent out to all involved in the industry to develop the passion and performance for sustainable success.  That charge came for the Permanent Secretary in the Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism... read more...

St Lucia captures Caribbean Star awards

CASTRIES, St. Lucia: St. Lucia has captured two coveted prizes at the Second Annual Crystal Star Awards presented by Caribbean Star Airlines recently. St. Lucia won Destination of the Year and Bay Gardens, Hotel of the Year... read more...

Bob Marley fest swings into full gear in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP): Celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the birth of the late reggae superstar Bob Marley moved into full swing here on Wednesday with the opening of art and photo exhibitions and a symposium on African history based on themes in the music legend's songs .... read more...

COMMENTARY

Outside View: The EU, Castro and freedom

WASHINGTON, USA (UPI): At a time when President George W. Bush is reaffirming America's commitment to freedom around the world, the European Union, at the behest of socialist Spain seems to be ready to turn its back on political prisoners of Fidel Castro's communist dictatorship in Cuba... read more...

Haiti’s upcoming elections: Fanmi Lavalas opts out unless Latortue halts State-sponsored terrorism

The Fanmi Lavalas party, which Aristide founded as the Lavalas movement against the U.S. backed Duvalier dictatorship, has decided not to participate in Haiti’s upcoming elections... read more...