Archives for Tuesday, March 1, 2005:

Grenada’s PM saddened by journalist's passing

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada: Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell has joined with Grenadians and the Caribbean media fraternity in mourning the passing, on Monday, of one of the region's longstanding and erstwhile journalists, Dr. Alistair Hughes.  Family sources told Caribbean Net News that Hughes died Monday at the age of 86... read more...

US slams lack of rights progress in Cuba

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The United States, amid a broad pro-democracy foreign policy push, delivered a blistering condemnation of Cuba's human rights situation in 2004, taking aim at the lack of political and social freedoms as well as hot-button issues of gender and race... read more...

Two killed in pro-Aristide protest

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Police killed two people Monday at a demonstration by supporters of Haiti's ex-president Jean Bertrand Aristide, local radio reported, while authorities confirmed one person had been killed... read more...

St Vincent and Grenadines CSME ready

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent: Vincentians from every stratum of the society are said to be familiar with the issues surrounding the establishment of the CSME and are supportive of the entity.  The Single Market component of the CSME – the Caribbean Single Market and Economy -- is expected to come into being on December 3 ... read more...

Nevis Premier says opposition colleague 'misguided' 

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Premier of Nevis, Vance Amory has expressed disappointment with the level of debate on the 2005 Budget from the newly-elected People’s Action Movement Parliamentary Representative for Constituency #5, Shawn Richards.  Richards walked out of the lawmaking body on Wednesday afternoon... read more...

Pro-Aristide group losing power in US

MIAMI, USA (UPI): A pro-Aristide group has seen its political power in South Florida evaporate with the former Haitian president's ouster... read more...

Bahamas Traffic Department warns against illegal use of vehicles

NASSAU, The Bahamas: The Bahamas Road Traffic Department has advised the public against the illegal use of uninspected and unlicensed motorized scooters, bikes, mopeds, go-carts and other vehicles on public roads... read more...

Castro scraps plans to travel to Uruguay for health reasons

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AFP): Cuban President Fidel Castro has cancelled plans to travel to Uruguay for its presidential inauguration "for health reasons," president elect Tabare Vazquez told reporters Monday... read more...

Private schools still playing important role in Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Private educational institutions are still making an important contribution to the development of Barbados and Monday one such school came in for much praise... read more...

Human rights high on Jamaica’s agenda

MANDEVILLE, Jamaica: Permanent Secretary in the Jamaican Ministry of Justice, Carol Palmer has said that Jamaica had a good record in terms of steps that have been taken to safeguard the basic human rights of all its citizens... read more...

St Kitts Music Festival set for June 23-26

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Top international performers in this year’s St. Kitts Music Festival will be announced this week, says Executive Director Allister Williams.  Williams said that the four-nightly event, now in its 9th year, has grown to be a major feature on the international entertainment calendar... read more...

Interim Air Jamaica management working to restore stability

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Two months after the Jamaican Government reassumed control of the national airline the new interim management team is working assiduously to ensure that the fortunes of the carrier are turned around and returned to viability.  Executive Chairman of Air Jamaica, Dr. Vincent Lawrence made the disclosure... read more...

Heightened focus in Jamaica on tourism development issues

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaican State Minister for Industry and Tourism, Dr. Wykeham McNeill said last week that with the rebound of the tourism sector, there was heightened focus on development issues related to tourism, particularly in poorer destinations.  He said there was also greater recognition of the ramifications and potential of the sector... read more...

CSME will create opportunities for small businesses

MAY PEN, Jamaica: Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade K.D. Knight has emphasised that the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) will have very positive spin-offs for the country through job creation, and would create more opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises... read more...

UNESCO to conduct workshop to develop Belize's heritage strategy

BELMOPAN, Belize: A four-day interactive workshop, aimed at elaborating a National Strategy on World Heritage for Belize, is scheduled to take place Tuesday, March 1 to Friday, March 4, 2005 at the House of Culture in Belize City... read more...

COMMENTARY

Barbados and Botswana show the way for Small States

The Governments of Barbados and Botswana have broken new ground for small states.  Last week, the two governments signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement and a Double Taxation Agreement during an official visit to Barbados of the President of Botswana Festus Mogae.  This was not an event that grabbed world headlines... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Caribbean athletes impressive at SEC Indoor Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, USA: Caribbean athletes turned up impressive performances on the weekend to capture numerous titles at the SEC Indoor Championships held in Arkansas. Leading the way were Auburn athletes Fana Ashby, Sherridan Kirk, Maurice Smith, LSU's Hazel Ann Regis and Florida's Candice Scott... read more...

Carib Beer Cricket Series 8th round summary - Day 4

GEORGETOWN, Guyana:  Barbados continue to sit at the bottom of the six team tournament after they played to a tame draw with Guyana on the fourth and final day of their eighth round Carib Beer Series match on Monday... read more...