Archives for Wednesday, October 5, 2005:

Ingram stages a comeback as minority leader in the Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas: Last Thursday, at a meeting of the Central Council of the Free National Movement (FNM), former Prime Minister Hubert Ingram was sanctioned as the new leader of the opposition in the House of Assembly.  The party's leader, Senator Tommy Turnquest, was rejected by the council... read more...

More hurricanes expected this month

FORT COLLINS, USA (UPI): A Colorado State University scientist predicts more-than-average number of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean for October... read more...

Catholics in Guyana divided over restructuring plan as $400m insurance scam unearthed

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: A plan to restructure city parishes by Roman Catholic Bishop Francis Alleyne is being met with stiff opposition from some devotees. At the center of the dispute is the Sacred Heart Parish. The 143-year-old church was completely destroyed in a Christmas morning blaze last year... read more...

IICA kicks off Caribbean Week of Agriculture

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: The Alliance Secretariat (IICA, FAO, CARDI and Caricom) in partnership with the Ministry of Housing, Agriculture, Fisheries and Consumer Affairs of St. Kitts and Nevis, on Monday began its week long activities aimed at addressing key agricultural concerns in the Hemisphere... read more...

Suriname’s budget deficit totals US$164m

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Presenting the budget of his government on Monday, Suriname's president Ronald Venetiaan told parliament that for 2006 there will be a deficit of US$164 million (460 million Surinamese dollars), 9.3 percent of the GDP... read more...

Turks & Caicos Chief Minister reports on constitutional talks

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: The Chief Minister of Turks and Caicos Islands, Michael Misick, has announced that the talks with the United Kingdom Government on constitutional reform have successfully concluded with an historic agreement for an advanced constitution for the Turks and Caicos Islands... read more...

Belize defence minister to attend meeting in Florida

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is hosting a meeting of defense ministers from Central American, including Belize, in Florida next week to discuss regional security issues, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday... read more...

Cayman Islands resort hotel lawsuit resolved on no-liability basis

ALISO VIEJO, USA: Fluor Corporation announced Tuesday that its dispute with the developer of the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman hotel in the Cayman Islands has been resolved on a no-liability basis... read more...

Over 8,000 Caribbean migrants detained by US Coast Guard over 12 months

MIAMI, USA (AFP): More than 8,000 people from the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba, were detained at sea as they sought to make their way to the United States illegally, according to figures for the fiscal year ended September 30... read more...

Petroleum product prices escalate in Grenada

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: The retail price of petroleum products in Grenada has been frozen since December 22, 2000. Both the Government and the Petroleum Marketing Companies (Shell and Texaco) have been subsidizing these prices at the pump... read more...

Grenada moves nearly thirty places up in the HDI index

ST. GEORGE’S Grenada: Grenada’s ranking on the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index has improved by nearly thirty points.  In 2004, Grenada was ranked in position 93 but just one year later Grenada has moved up to 66 on the HDI list, according to Education Minister Clarice Charles... read more...

FirstCaribbean wins "Best Emerging Market Bank" award

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: As FirstCaribbean marks its third anniversary, the bank is once again the only Caribbean based financial institution to be named one of the world’s best emerging market banks. The award, which the bank has received for the second year in a row, has been presented by Global Finance magazine after its 12th annual survey... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

New Caribbean Region Cricket Tournament announced

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua:  Antiguan businessman and developer Allen Stanford announced today the creation of a unique regional cricket tournament that promises to revitalise the game of cricket in the Caribbean, revive the waning spirits of West Indies cricket fans everywhere and perhaps, most importantly, financially reward performances... read more...

Defending champions Trinidad defeated again in President's Trophy second round

WILDEY, Barbados:  Host Barbados handed defending champions Trinidad & Tobago their second defeat in as many days in second round action of President's Trophy limited overs match at Banks Brewery on Tuesday... read more...

Windward Islands shock defending champions Trinidad in President's Trophy opener

LUCAS STREET, Barbados:  Defending champions Trinidad and Tobago started the defence of their President's Trophy title on a losing note following a 14 runs defeat to the Windward Islands at the Windward Sports Club on Monday... read more...

Major League Baseball accused of discrimination against Caribbean fans

ST. THOMAS, USVI: Innovative Cable TV on Tuesday charged Major League Baseball with discriminating against baseball fans in the region by not allowing the telecasts of the baseball playoffs... read more...