Archives for Tuesday, April 19, 2005:

Blame game and finger pointing starts over Port of Spain inferno

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The People's National Movement (PNM) Government of Prime Minister Patrick Manning has been brought into the fray as the "blame game" for a major fire which destroyed over 200 business places in the city over a week ago heats up. Some are demanding the resignation of the Fire Chief, Lennox Alfred... read more...

CCJ will provide quality legal work says court’s president

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Caribbean nationals have been assured that they will receive quality service from the judges of the newly formed Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which was inaugurated here over the weekend.  St. Kitts and Nevis Attorney General, Delano Barth, said it was indeed a great moment for the people of the Caribbean... read more...

Cuba cracks down anew on dissidents

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba's opposition faces a new crackdown, the wife of a former dissident prisoner said Monday, a day after Cuban President Fidel Castro slammed EU support for a UN human rights resolution last week... read more...

Elian living normal life at home in Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba (UPI): Elian Gonzalez is living a normal life in Cuba five years after he was taken from his Miami relatives. The boy who was 5 years old when he arrived in south Florida on an inner tube after his mother had drowned on a trip from Cuba is living with his father, Juan Gonzalez Sr., in Cardenas, Cuba... read more...

Rogue 70-foot wave batters Bahamas cruise ship 

NEW YORK, USA: Some 2,200 shaken and sea-sick passengers steamed back to New York City Monday after a terrifying 70-foot rogue wave slammed their ship, sailing for New York from Miami and the Bahamas... read more...

COMMENTARY

US Passport requirements will affect Caribbean tourism

For years United States citizens have travelled into and out of the Caribbean with no more identification documents than a driver’s license. This will change between now and January 1st 2008, and will have an adverse impact on the regional tourism industry.  It is the US government that is making the change... read more...

Cuba, the UN Human Rights Commission and the OAS race

Last Tuesday, at the 61st meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, the United States put forth a resolution on the situation of human rights in Cuba. This year’s resolution -- co- sponsored by the European Union -- was described as “mild,” since it only calls for the extension of the mandate of a UN expert to examine human rights in Cuba and report back to the Commission the findings of the effort... read more...

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

British rocker Wakeman woos Cuba ahead of concerts

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): British rocker Rick Wakeman, the former keyboard player for Yes, wooed an audience of reporters and Cuban musicians here Monday ahead of three planned rock concerts later this week.  Speaking of his desire to visit Cuba for the past 20 years, Wakeman said rock music signifies liberty of the soul... read more...

TRAVEL NEWS

USA3000 announces new non-stop service from Philadelphia to Bermuda

NEWTOWN SQUARE, USA: USA3000 Airlines, a low- fare, full-service airline, on Monday announced new services to Bermuda from Philadelphia International Airport. Fares start at $79* per one-way segment plus taxes. Flights are available for booking from August 31, 2005 onwards... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

South Africa and Vice-Chancellor's XI play to a draw

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:  The two day tour match between South Africa and a University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor's XI ended in a draw at the Sir Frank Worrell Grounds in St. Augustine, Trinidad on Sunday... read more...

Campbell, Williams highlight the Caribbean performances on the track at Mt SAC Relays

WALNUT, USA:  Jamaica's Olympic 200 meters gold medallist Veronica Campbell and 400m runner Novlene Williams highlighted the Caribbean performances at the 47th annual Mt SAC Relays in Walnut, California, on Sunday.  The 22 year-old Campbell ran away with the women’s 100 meters invitational dash in a wind-assisted 10.98 seconds... read more...

Injury sidelines Collins for third test

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP): A slight back injury will sideline West Indies fast bowler Pedro Collins for the third cricket Test against South Africa, starting on Thursday in his native Barbados.... read more...

Commentary: Honesty is refreshing

The honesty of Ray Jennings in expressing his views on the tour schedule for the current series against South Africa was refreshing. It has made it even more obvious to me why he his position as coach of the South African seems so controversial. People are often uncomfortable hearing what needs to be said.... read more...