Archives for Friday, June 17, 2005:

‘Arubagate’ speculation increases, while CTO officials missing in action on Caribbean blacklisting issue

ORANJESTAD, Aruba: As hosts Russ and Dee of the 'Morning Show' on The Source FM 101.1 in Birmingham, Alabama keep up their sustained attack on Aruba in particular and the Caribbean in general, officials at the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) appear to have gone "scuttling for cover."... read more...

Aruba officials quiet on search for teen

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (UPI):  Aruban police Thursday refused to say what was found during a search of the home of a high-ranking Dutch judicial official whose son was with a missing girl... read more...

Essential to forge ahead with CSME, says St Lucia PM

ROSEAU, Dominica: Outgoing chairman of the OECS and St Lucian Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony urged his counterparts at their 41st meeting in Dominica to forge ahead with the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) because it was "absolutely necessary to our survival"... read more...

Caribbean to benefit from multi-million dollar assistance package from FAO

DOHA, Qatar: The Caribbean agriculture sector is slated to benefit from a multi-million dollar development assistance package implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), aimed at reducing hunger and improving regional food security... read more...

Nevis Premier appeals to graduates to maintain the tourism product

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis: Nevis’ Premier, Mr. Vance Amory, while delivering brief remarks at the Ministry of Tourism graduation ceremony, appealed to the graduates to ensure that the Nevisian tourism product is maintained.  The Premier pointed out that the island of Nevis has significant resources for the development of the tourism product... read more...

Petrol dealers in Antigua unhappy with transport board's plans

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Owners of petrol stations in Antigua are grumbling and have refused to support plans by the country's Transport Board to get involved in the "gas selling business" with the reported planned construction of two petrol stations.  Meanwhile bus drivers in the country have adopted a "wait-and-see" attitude... read more...

Police grill Suriname works minister in corruption case

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Police in Suriname grilled Public Works minister Dewanand Balesar for more than 6 hours Thursday in an ongoing corruption investigation.  According to public prosecutor Garcia Paragsing, the minister was not questioned as a suspect or witness.  For tactical reasons he gave evidence "in person"... read more...

US Congress hails opening of International University of Nursing in St Kitts

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: The U.S. House of Representatives is supporting Wednesday’s opening of the American-owned International University of Nursing on St. Kitts.  Founder of the International University of Nursing, 86-year-old Dr. Robert Ross, was presented with the plaque bearing the citation by Mr. Lawrence A. Greenberg... read more...

Judge in Dominica rejects application for judicial review by UWP candidate

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominican High Court Judge, Justice Clare Henry-Wason, has rejected an application by the losing United Workers Party candidate parliamentary candidate for the Castle Bruce Constituency, Mr. Leonard Newton, for leave to apply for judicial review... read more...

Canadian woman kidnapped in Haiti released

MONTREAL, Canada (AFP):  A 65-year-old Montreal woman kidnapped earlier this week in Haiti was freed Wednesday night, the family and Canadian officials announced, without saying whether a 300,000 US dollar ransom was paid... read more...

Two more schools in Grenada to receive funding under the Japanese Grass Roots Initiative

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: The Japanese Government has added two more schools in Grenada to receive funding under its Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Project (GGP)... read more...

Air Canada Vacations and Toronto Fire Services complete reconstruction of Fire Hall in Grenada

ST. GEORGE’S Grenada: Air Canada Vacations, in partnership with Toronto Fire Services, last week successfully led a team of 21 volunteers on a special relief mission to aid the Grenada Fire Brigade in the reconstruction of the main Fire Hall here. The Fire Hall was devastated by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004... read more...

CSME: Back to the drawing board for The Bahamas

NASSAU, The Bahamas:  Bowing to the tide of xenophobia-ridden hysteria unleashed by what he called “false prophets”, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell announced in Parliament during his budget debate contribution on Monday that The Bahamas could not sign the revised Treaty of Chaugaramas... read more...

LETTERS

Continuing correspondence on the Aruba investigation

We publish here another sample of the letters we continue to receive from readers concerning the investigation in Aruba into the disappearance of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Ganga named West Indies A-Team captain

ST JOHN'S, Antigua:  Trinidad and Tobago's opener Daren Ganga has been chosen to lead the West Indies "A" team squad that will tour Sri Lanka later this month... read more...

Jamaicans Ballentine and Thompson on top in Switzerland

LUZERN, Switzerland:  Jamaican runners Michelle Ballentine and Kemel Thompson registered wins on a cool night in Luzern on Tuesday June 14... read more...