Archives for Thursday, June 30, 2005:

Regional Security a priority issue at 26th meeting of CARICOM Heads

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: If St. Lucia's Minister with responsibility for National Security Calixte George has his way, the security of the region will be high on the agenda when CARICOM Heads of Government assemble for the 26th Annual General Meeting in Castries next week.  Regional states are affected by increased crime rates... read more...

Antigua police in ‘pro-active’ mode to ensure a safe 2005 carnival season

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Law enforcement officials in Antigua are moving early in making efforts to ensure a safe carnival season for the 2005 summer festival.  Carnival festivities last year were clouded by violence, including two murders, which forced the country's Culture Minister, John Maginley, to close Last-Lap festivities prematurely... read more...

US Senate committee approves Dominican Republic free trade deal

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): The free-trade pact with Central America and the Dominican Republic cleared a major hurdle Wednesday with approval from a key US Senate committee, setting the stage for a floor vote this week and a July showdown in the House of Representatives... read more...

Venezuela launches Petrocaribe, extending regional oil diplomacy's reach

PUERTO LA CRUZ, Venezuela (AFP): With his communist ally Fidel Castro of Cuba on hand, leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday launched Petrocaribe, a new cut-rate oil diplomacy vehicle that could greatly increase Chavez's regional influence.  Chavez promised highly preferential oil pricing for the 15 Caribbean members... read more...

OECS Trade Ministers to meet in St Lucia

CASTRIES, St Lucia: OECS Ministers of Trade will hold a one-day meeting in St. Lucia, Saturday July 2, at which the sub-region’s concerns about challenges from participating in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy will be high on the agenda... read more...

No extension for CSME deadline

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that are experiencing setbacks in being Single Market ready by December 2005 need to speak up now so as to receive resources necessary to assist them in meeting the deadline... read more...

US scales back Haiti embassy staff amid unrest

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): The United States embassy said Tuesday it was scaling down its operations in Haiti amid ongoing unrest, while local radio said Haitian police had freed a hostage from his kidnappers... read more...

Vancouver mansion owned by BVI company raided by drug cops

VANCOUVER, Canada (AFP): Police boarded up and plan to bulldoze a mansion in the tony Point Grey neighbourhood in Vancouver, reportedly owned by the British Virgin Islands-based holding company Resear Ltd., which is under the directorship of Canning Fok, after discovering a drug lab inside, officials said Wednesday... read more...

USVI is no place for hate crimes, says Rep. Christiansen

ST THOMAS, USVI: US Virgin Islands Representative Donna Christiansen said in a written statement Wednesday that there "is no place for racial tension or ethnic slurs or division in our community." Christensen's remarks were made in response to two separate incidents during the month of June involving a St. John family... read more...

Dutch navy seizes 1,800 kilos of cocaine in the Caribbean

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP): The Dutch navy has seized 1,800 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of 54 million dollars this weekend in the Caribbean, ANP news agency reported Wednesday... read more...

Leaders urge Dominican Republic congressmen to finalize Congressional approval of DR-CAFTA

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic: As hearings on the DR-Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States (DR-CAFTA) approach in the US house, its supporters in the Dominican Republic are stepping up their lobbying efforts on the Dominican Congress to pass it into law before it is debated in the US congress... read more...

HIV/AIDS workshop opens in Antigua

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: A three day workshop on an Advocacy and Communication Project designed to address the major challenges facing those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS opened in St. John’s on Tuesday... read more...

C&W launches four-part Hurricane Preparedness Program in the Caribbean

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: "June too soon, July standby, August come you must, September remember, October all over." For generations, this childhood rhyme has echoed the impact of hurricane season on Caribbean people.  Last year's storms devastated lives in parts of the region... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Morton rescues West Indies A with century

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka:  Runako Morton became the first West Indies A batsman to make a century on their tour of Sri Lanka in the second unofficial Test on Wednesday... read more...

Powell confirmed for Stockholm Super Grand Prix

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP): New 100m world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica will race at the Stockholm Super Grand Prix athletics meet on July 26, organisers confirmed Wednesday... read more...

Injured Ottey out for the rest of the season

LJUBLANA, Slovenia:  Jamaican-born Slovenian sprinter Merlene Ottey will miss the rest of the season due to an injury sustained during the 200 metres semi-finals of last year’s Olympic Games... read more...