Archives for Monday, January 9, 2006:

Trinidad's Energy Minister to face fraud charges

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:  Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Trinidad and Tobago's Energy Minister, Eric Williams.  Minister Williams is wanted on seven fraud charges arising out of allegations of financial bribes from a local government councilor, Dansam Dhansook, over two years ago in return for lucrative government contracts... read more...

Haiti sets dates for presidential, parliamentary voting

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): Haiti's interim government has yielded to international pressure and advanced the date set for national elections, setting February 7 for an initial electoral round, with follow-up voting in March... read more...

Fatal fireworks explosion in Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Police in Barbados are investigating an explosion that claimed the life of a man as he defused fireworks left over from Old Year's Night celebrations... read more...

Cuban official press denounces German film on Kennedy killing

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba's official newspaper on Friday dismissed a German documentary claiming Havana was behind US president John F. Kennedy's assassination as part of a conspiracy to topple Fidel Castro... read more...

Jamaica is murder capital of the world

KINGSTON, Jamaica (UPI): Dubbed last week the murder capital of the world, Jamaica recorded its 13th murder in the first four days of the year, the Jamaica Gleaner said Thursday... read more...

UN commander in Haiti dead in apparent suicide

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): The Brazilian commander of the UN mission in Haiti has been found dead in an apparent suicide, according to the mission, which is struggling to bring security to the troubled Caribbean nation... read more...

Caribbean states to meet on tsunami warning system

PARIS, France (AFP): Delegates from 30 Caribbean states are to meet on the island of Barbados this week to plan the setting-up of a tsunami early warning system, UNESCO said in a statement on Friday... read more...

St Lucia takes over chair of OAS Permanent Council

WASHINGTON, USA: Ambassador Sonia Johnny, the Permanent Representative of St Lucia to the Organization of American States (OAS), formally took the helm of the Permanent Council on Friday, pledging that during her three-month chairmanship she would strive to help the Organization implement new mandates and meet new challenges... read more...

Trinidad government to use civilian helicopters to fight drug trade

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning has denied that his government had intended purchasing armoured, military-type combat helicopters as part of the country's arsenal against drug traffickers.  Private sector groups and opposition politicians continue to lay criticisms... read more...

Antigua-Barbuda Cabinet issues statement on APUA investigation

ST JOHN'S, Antigua: According to a press statement released Friday, the Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet has been considering the Report in respect of the Public Utilities Authority submitted by Mr. Don Mitchell CBE, QC, on December 14, 2005 following his appointment as the sole investigator on November 21, 2005... read more...

Fuel prices go up again in Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: For the second time in nine months, petrol prices in Barbados are going up. The Energy Ministry has announced that from next Monday, Barbadians will pay as much as 25 percent more to put gas in their vehicle tanks... read more...

Trinidad police stage walkout over poor working conditions

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Over 60 police officers attached to the St Joseph police station in Trinidad, just west of the capital Port of Spain, staged a walk out from their station post last week, saying they were no longer prepared to work in a dilapidated building, which has become both a physical and a health hazard for police officers... read more...

Guyana's Health Minister warns of leptospirosis ahead of rainy season

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana's Ministry of health has shifted into a proactive mode in an attempt to avoid the reoccurrence of water-borne diseases, especially leptospirosis, as the rainy season approaches... read more...

Montserrat’s weekend crime wave

BRADES, Montserrat: The Commissioner of Police, John Douglas’ cry for help, during his annual Christmas message, roused tranquil Montserrat by informing them that time had come for the public to be more vigilant considering a recent weekend crime wave that confirmed the existence of an emerging criminal element worthy of concern... read more...

Grenada’s trades unions continue to battle against 5 percent levy

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: The Grenada Trades’ Union Council (GTUC) said it is appalled that, at a time when the Government is calling on severely overburdened workers of the nation to pay a 5 percent Reconstruction Levy, it has increased the number of Senior Ministers in the Cabinet... read more...

Grenada’s disaster agency to take proactive approach for 2006 hurricane season

2005 was a hectic hurricane season for the Atlantic and a learning experience for Grenada after being hit by two major hurricanes in less than 10 months. But the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) said Grenadians must be commended for their efforts in taking a pro-active approach to some of the planned activities... read more...

Congresswoman Lee applauds Grenada’s ARD

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: United States Congresswoman Barbara Lee has applauded the effective working relationship between the Agency for Reconstruction and Development Inc. (ARD) and USAID in facilitating Grenada’s recovery from two major hurricanes.  “You have taken a tragedy and turned it into an opportunity,” she said... read more...

Trinidad company to supply cement to Antigua-Barbuda

ST JOHN’S, Antigua: The availability of cement on the local market to supply the construction industry, especially the new Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, has been the subject of attention over the past few weeks by the Antigua and Barbuda government.  An urgent mission was mounted by Ambassadors Shoul and Henry to Trinidad... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

American sprinters and long-jump legend set for Jamaica track and field meeting

KINGSTON, Jamaica:  A host of American stars, including Olympic champions and training partners Justin Gatlin and Shawn Crawford, as well as long jump world record holder Mike Powell, is expected in the Caribbean for the 2nd edition of the Douglas Forrest Invitational meeting, scheduled for Saturday, 14 January in Kingston... read more...

Williams-Darling plans stress-free year

NASSAU, Bahamas: World and Olympic 400-metres champion Tonique Williams-Darling from the Bahamas is planning a stress-free year, seeing that there are no major championships in the forthcoming track and field season... read more...