Archives for Thursday, December 8, 2005:

Incumbent Unity Labour Party returned to office in St Vincent and the Grenadines

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent: According to preliminary reports, the incumbent Unity Labour Party (ULP) of St Vincent and the Grenadines' Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has won a second straight term in office, retaining its existing 12-3 majority.  Notwithstanding intermittent rain throughout the day, thousands of Vincentians went to the polls... read more...

Antigua-Barbuda cabinet advisor resigns

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Roy Boyke, a Trinidad and Tobago-born campaign strategist who later became an advisor to Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister and the Cabinet, has resigned from his post with effect from the end of November... read more...

CARICOM politicians accused of 'dabbling' in St Vincent and the Grenadines elections

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent: Two Caribbean Prime Ministers, Dr Kenny Anthony of St Lucia and Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago, have been criticised by supporters of the New Democratic Party (NDP) who have accused the pair of "dabbling" in the domestic affairs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines... read more...

Cayman Islands announce immigration amnesty

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: The Cayman Islands Department of Immigration has announced an amnesty from prosecution for certain immigration offences. The amnesty becomes effective Friday, 9 December, and will remain in effect until Friday, 23 December 2005, inclusive.  The terms of the amnesty are as follows... read more...

French minister calls off Caribbean trip over colonisation row

PARIS, France (AFP): French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has cancelled a three-day trip this week to the country's Caribbean islands amid a simmering row over a law that casts a positive light on France's colonial past... read more...

USVI still number one in HIV diagnosis

ST JOHN, USVI: According to a report released last month by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the USVI continues to lead the nation with the highest number of confirmed HIV cases per 100,000 US citizens for the third year in a row.  The USVI total was double the average of all reporting states and other territories... read more...

Suriname considers International Criminal Court ‘impunity agreement’ with US

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: President Ronald Venetiaan announced Tuesday in parliament that Suriname will join the International Criminal Court (ICC).  On the other hand, his government is seeking to sign an agreement ("impunity agreement" or so-called "Article 98 agreement") with the United States... read more...

Major photographic exhibition for Montserrat

BRADES, Montserrat: The Montserrat National Trust (MNT), one of the main custodians of the island’s heritage, history and development, is joining hands with the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID)-sponsored Montserrat Media Project (MMP) to stage a major photographic exhibition on the Emerald Isle... read more...

Internet gaming giant expands operations in Antigua-Barbuda

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua: David Carruthers, CEO of BetonSports has announced his company’s firm commitment to expand its operations in Antigua and Barbuda.  Betonsports is one of the largest on-line sportsbook and casinos in the world... read more...

St Kitts-Nevis prepares to celebrate CARICOM-Cuba Day

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is among CARICOM nations preparing to celebrate CARICOM/CUBA Day on December 8 to raise awareness of Cuba and the friendly relations they share... read more...

Jamaican journalists sweep media awards

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica's press dominated the 2005 edition of the UNFPA Caribbean Media Awards on "Gender Equality, Reproductive Health and the Millennium Development Goals" held in Kingston on Tuesday, December 6, 2005... read more...

Gonsalves wins ‘Democracy Prize’ for 2005

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: The New York based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) on Saturday, December 3, 2005, announced that Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, has won the prestigious “Democracy Prize” for 2005.  The announcement was made on New York’s WWRL Radio... read more...

Cayman Islands delegation optimistic about EU relief aid

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Talks on hurricane relief for the Cayman Islands between a Government delegation led by Minister Responsible for International Financial Services Policy Alden McLaughlin and the European Union are moving in a positive direction with the EU confirming that the approval process is well advanced... read more...

COMMENTARY

WTO falling out of favour with the Caribbean

These are difficult times for the Caribbean. Comprised of some of the world’s smallest, most vulnerable countries, the Region is in the throes of confronting what is an uncertain future, courtesy of the World Trade Organization (WTO)... read more...