Archives for Friday, May 27, 2005:

Antigua-Barbuda police to challenge vacation order in court

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: It has been one week since the government of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer undertook what former Financial Secretary Lenox Weston, speaking on the popular ZDK Radio called the "Friday Night Massacre" of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, when some 18 officers were sent on three months’ vacation... read more...

Suriname voters reject New Front coalition

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Voters in Suriname have rejected the New Front coalition led by President Ronald Venetiaan, resulting in a loss of 10 of the previously held 33 seats in parliament. With 86.1 percent of the ballots counted, the big surprise in Wednesday’s elections, are newcomers the A-Combination, from the tribal maroons, with 4 seats... read more...

New Suriname government not likely within 4 weeks

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Analysts predict that it is unlikely that the new Suriname government will take office within a month. The final results of the Wednesday elections, a significant blow to the New Front (NF) coalition, will not be known for several days... read more...

OAS commends Suriname on peaceful elections

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The Electoral Observer Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) has commended Suriname on the peaceful voting process in this CARICOM member state on Wednesday... read more...

Former Suriname rebel leader elected to parliament

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: A former rebel leader was elected in Suriname Wednesday to take a seat in the 51 member parliament, after his first attempt failed five years ago. Ronnie Brunswijk, former leader of the Jungle Commando, was among the 4 candidates of the A-Combination voted into parliament... read more...

US warns citizens against travel to Haiti

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The US State Department on Thursday urged US citizens to leave Haiti and not to travel to the strife-torn Caribbean nation, amid violent crime including carjackings, kidnaps and assault... read more...

Kidnapped Canadian released in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): A Canadian was released a day after he was caught up in a wave of kidnappings in Haiti, a police spokeswoman said Thursday... read more...

EU to release 90 million dollars for Haiti development

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): The European Union will release 90 million dollars over three years to help Haiti's government boost the impoverished Caribbean country's economy, the EU said Thursday... read more...

OAS swears in new chief

WASHINGTON, USA (UPI): Jose Miguel Insulza was sworn in Thursday as the new secretary-general of the Organization of American States.  After taking the oath of office, Insulza asked for all member nations to work together to form "a more effective OAS."  The election of former Chilean interior minister to head up the OAS was filled with controversy... read more...

Commonwealth Journalists Association supports Trinidad and Tobago Broadcast Code

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:  The Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) has come out in support of a broadcast code to regulate the media industry in Trinidad and Tobago... read more...

Cuban remittances unaffected by new rules

MIAMI, USA (UPI): A survey has found that the amount of money Cuban-Americans send to families in Cuba has stayed the same a year after tighter restrictions were imposed... read more...

Cuban leader calls for Posada extradition

CARACAS, Venezuela (UPI): Cuba's speaker of parliament has called for the United States to extradite a Cuban dissident to Venezuela to face terror charges... read more...

Cocaine haul seized on Caribbean yacht

POINTE-A-PITRE, Guadeloupe (AFP): An off-shore police patrol on the look-out for illegal immigrants has stumbled upon a 16-million-dollar) haul of cocaine on a yacht in the waters of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, authorities said on Thursday... read more...

St Kitts payment processor involved in 'lonely housewives' spam operation

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US regulators said Thursday they obtained a court order shutting down a sex-oriented spam operation that sent out millions of e-mails urging recipients to "date lonely housewives." The operators used an offshore payment processor on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts... read more...

Nearly 400,000 visitors came to St Kitts and Nevis in 2004

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: The decision to approve the construction of the Royal St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort, renovate and refurbish the Frigate Bay Golf Course and give the greenlight for the operation of the Scenic Railway, is being credited for changing the tourism landscape in the twin-island Federation... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Lara hundred fails to stonewall Pakistan

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): A majestic 29th Test hundred from Brian Lara could not stop Pakistan from bowling out West Indies on the opening day of the opening Test on Thursday... read more...

Jamaica Derby receives Digicel sponsorship

KINGSTON, Jamaica (World-Track):  Digicel will be the new sponsor of the 85th edition of the "Jamaica Derby" set for Saturday June 4 at Caymanas Park Track... read more...