Archives for Tuesday, May 3, 2005:

Chile's Insulza becomes OAS head

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Chile's socialist Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza was elected Monday to lead the Organization of American States, the region's main political forum, after the United States failed for the first time to get its candidate chosen.  Insulza garnered 31 votes from the 34 countries that took part in the final selection... read more...

Trinidad diplomat to lead OAS election mission in Suriname

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Ambassador Corinne McKnight, a Trinidad and Tobago diplomat, has been designated as Chief of Mission for the OAS Electoral Observation team that will monitor the election process and report its findings in the May 25 general elections in Suriname. The regional organization will send a five-strong delegation to Suriname... read more...

IMF predicts growth for Eastern Caribbean

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in an economic assessment predicts growth for the Eastern Caribbean, with Grenada being an exception... read more...

Cuba reveals secret role in Vietnam War

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba has disclosed that its military engineers took part in the widening of the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail in the midst of Vietnam's war with the United States, according to an interview with a Cuban participant in the official paper Juventud Rebelde (Rebel Youth)... read more...

World Bank calls on Caribbean countries to improve productivity 

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: The Caribbean is at a development cross-over and there is a call for the countries to take strategic and perceptible steps to restore productivity and competitiveness and face up to more global competition if they are to expedite or even maintain past growth, according to a World Bank report... read more...

Haiti: Jailed ex-minister won't leave

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (UPI): Former Haitian Prime Minister Yvon Neptune refused to leave the country Monday for medical treatment in neighboring Dominican Republic... read more...

Grenada resort to embark on $10m rebuilding project

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada is getting ready to unveil an unmatched level of accommodations and unprecedented brand of flair, style and timeless luxury when the property re-opens this year. To facilitate and make this project a reality the Resort has embarked on $10 million rebuilding project... read more...

COMMENTARY

Meeting of all regional political parties vital

Much praise should be showered on veteran Caribbean leader and Prime Minister of Jamaica, P J Patterson for his initiative to host a meeting of leaders of all regional political parties on critical issues confronting the region.  This is not the first time that this idea has been proposed.  The Jamaican leader has actively done something about it... read more...

Checkmate by default: Insulza wins OAS race as the sole remaining candidate

The crowning of Chilean Minister of the Interior José Miguel Insulza as Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), marks the end of a long and hotly contested hemispheric campaign... read more...

Cuba, the U.N. Human Rights Commission and the OAS race

Last Tuesday, at the 61st meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, the U.S. 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.”... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Gayle makes it safe for West Indies

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP): Chris Gayle became the fourth West Indies batsman to hit a Test triple hundred on Monday, to make the way safe for the home team in the fourth and final Test against South Africa... read more...

Sir Garfield's advice pays off for Gayle

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP): Chris Gayle admitted that advice from West Indies cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers played a major role in his epic triple hundred in the fourth and final Test against South Africa here on Monday... read more...

We don't lack commitment claims Sarwan

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AFP): Criticism that the West Indies cricket team lack application were dismissed by Ramnaresh Sarwan, one of their century making heroes in the first innings of the fourth and final test with South Africa... read more...

Clarke anchors Jamaica to relay win at the Penn Relays

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania: The Americans may have dominated the USA vs The World competition at the 111th Penn Relays hosted at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field on Saturday, but Jamaica had the last laugh... read more...

West Indies name one-day squad

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua:  The West Indies selectors have included young Jamaican opening batsman Xavier Marshall in a 13-man squad for the up-coming five one day international series against South Africa which opens with back-to-back games at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica on May 7-8... read more...