Archives for Monday, April 18, 2005:

No political interference, says CCJ president

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Government and opposition politicians across the region who engage in the practice of attempting to influence the courts, have been put on notice by the President of the new Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that the legal body will not, in any circumstances whatsoever, be subjected to political interference... read more...

CCJ meets with some trepidation

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The coming on stream of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is being met with a great deal of trepidation in several sections of the region... read more...

EU yielded to US at UN rights commission, says Cuba 

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said Thursday an EU vote against Cuba at the top UN rights commission allied Europe with the United States and threatened EU relations with Havana.  "The role played by the European Union is pathetic," Perez Roque told reporters... read more...

Brussels says UN resolution on Cuban human rights not a 'condemnation'

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP): A recent decision by the UN's top human rights forum to prolong scrutiny of Cuba's human rights record is not a condemnation, a spokeswoman for the European Union's executive arm said Friday... read more...

Raul Castro to visit China, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Raul Castro, the communist Cuban regime's number-two official, was set to begin an official visit to China on Monday, on a tour also due to take him to communist-ruled Vietnam and Laos, as well as Malaysia, official media reported Friday... read more...

Judge orders alleged Cuban spy force-fed in US jail

MIAMI, USA (AFP): A federal judge in Florida has ordered an alleged Cuban spy to be force-fed after a month-long hunger strike in Miami to protest his detention, court records showed... read more...

Annan condemns killing of UN Filipino peacekeeper in Haiti

UNITED NATIONS (AFP): UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday condemned the killing of a Filipino peacekeeper a day earlier in Haiti... read more...

UN to recruit security assistants for Haitian elections

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): The United Nations will recruit some 3,600 electoral workers charged with assisting UN troops and Haitian police during the violence-wracked nation's elections later this year, a UN official said Friday... read more...

Amid violence in Haiti, UN to consider extending mission beyond elections

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): The UN Security Council will examine a Haitian request to keep UN forces in the violence-wracked Caribbean nation well beyond elections scheduled for later this year, Brazil's UN ambassador said here... read more...

Barbados police officer charged in drug bust

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: A Barbadian police officer has found himself on the wrong side of the law, facing a charge for his alleged illegal involvement in a multi-million dollar drug bust... read more...

Regional session with Barbados PM on the single economy

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Next Wednesday will see key stakeholders from the private sector, consumer organizations, the employers’ confederation and non-governmental organizations from across the region meeting with Prime Minister Owen Arthur in a brainstorming exercise... read more...

OAS scholars not fulfilling obligations

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: People who are benefiting from scholarships provided by the Organisation of American States are reportedly not fulfilling their promise to return home and help their countries... read more...

3,600 writing Common Entrance Exam in Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Come Tuesday, May 17, 3,618 primary school children will write the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination. Of this number, six children will be under 11 years of age... read more...

Income tax threshold in Jamaica to be increased

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaican Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies announced Thursday that the government had taken a decision to increase the income tax threshold to just over $169,104, effective July 1, this year.  This will be moved to $193,440 in January 2006, and $275,000 effective January 2007... read more...

Continue to support trade sensitization activities, says Jamaican minister

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaican Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, K.D. Knight is urging corporate bodies and citizens as a whole to become more familiar with the opportunities presented by the various trade regimes that incorporate the services component of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)... read more...

Top official defends South Korean tax probe into Cayman fund

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP): Finance and Economy Minister Han Duck-Soo on Friday defended a tax audit of foreign funds as part of a drive to enhance transparency in South Korea. Yonhap news agency said the tax authorities have already found some alleged irregularities by US-based investment fund, Carlyle Group. It also did not pay taxes by registering its affiliate in the Cayman Islands.. read more...

St Lucia moves closer in adopting multi-disciplinary approach to child health care

CASTRIES, St. Lucia: St. Lucia’s Ministry of Health Human Services, Family Affairs and Gender Relations, has been stressing the importance of the multi-disciplinary approach currently being used for child health care.. read more...

Enhanced opportunities for collaboration between Belize and Guatemala

Belmopan, Belize:  A Belize delegation that visited Guatemala last week is back in the country after meeting with members from the Christian Children’s Fund Organization, an international organization which operates in some forty countries.. read more...

WEEKEND SPORTS ROUNDUP

Trinidad's Yorke signs with Sydney after rejecting Qatar offer

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP): Trinidad striker Dwight Yorke has signed with Sydney FC to play in Australia's fledgling national football league, Australian club officials said Sunday.  Sydney chairman Walter Bugno said Yorke had turned down an offer to play in Qatar, reported to be worth four million dollars (3.1 million US)... read more...

Dippenaar hits 167 for South Africa against Vice-Chancellor's XI

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:  Boeta Dippenaar improved his chances of replacing the injured Jacques Rudolph by hitting an unbeaten century to help South Africa reach 349 for three on the opening day one of the two-day friendly match against the UWI Vice Chancellor's XI on Saturday... read more...

Kineke Alexander erases St Vincent-Grenadine's 400m record

WALNUT, USA:  St. Vincent and Grenadines' young prodigy Kineke Alexander broke her nation's national 400-metres record on the first day of the Mt SAC relays being held at the Hilmer Lodge Stadium-Walnut, California from April 15-17... read more...

Regional athletes impress at 26th annual Sun Angel Classic

Tempe, USA:  Caribbean athletes turned in good performances at the 26th annual Sun Angel Classic held at the Joe Selleh Track in Tempe, Arizona on Saturday... read more...

Caribbean athletes among the headliners for Mt. SAC Relays

WALNUT, USA:  Jamaica's new sprint queen Veronica Campbell and Dominican Republic's Felix Sanchez heads the list of Caribbean athletes scheduled to compete at the 47th Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California this weekend.  Campbell the 2004 Olympic 200m champion will start her outdoor season running the 100m... read more...