Archives for Thursday, January 19, 2006:

Barbados PM delivers long-awaited budget statement

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: After postponing his Economic and Financial Statement on two occasions, Prime Minister Owen Arthur has delivered the news of some relief for low and middle-income earners. And he has also revealed a major effort to cut energy costs, proposing a plan that could save the country BDS$65 million to $90 million... read more...

Annan names Brazilian to head UN force in Haiti

BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP): UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has named Brazilian General Jose Elito Carvalho Siqueira to head the UN force in Haiti, after his predecessor committed suicide, officials here said... read more...

Grenada government to implement 5 percent levy on January 20

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: The Government of Grenada has said that it will implement and announce the revised proposal on the National Reconstruction Levy on Friday January 20, Budget Day... read more...

Turks & Caicos chief minister addresses current issues

GRAND TURK, Turks & Caicos Islands: The Chief Minister of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Michael Misick, recently addressed the nation following a high level two-day retreat during which he and his Cabinet Ministers reviewed and focused on their performance and assessed their goals... read more...

Barbados opposition leader cuts ties with party

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: The former Barbados Opposition leader has severed ties with the Democratic Labour Party, as four of his parliamentary colleagues indicated they no longer have confidence in him... read more...

Digicel signs soca diva Destra

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Digicel, the fastest growing Caribbean mobile telecommunications company, has announced a two-year partnership with Trinibagonian soca diva Destra Garcia as part of Digicel’s continued commitment to the growth of soca music and carnival festivities in the region... read more...

American Express renews commitment to Caribbean Hotel Association

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: American Express has announced a renewal of its commitment to actively support Caribbean Marketplace 2006 and 2007, one of several initiatives they have targeted to help to market the region as a tourist destination... read more...

Japan approves funding for four more schools in Grenada

ST. GEORGES, Grenada: The Japanese Government has approved funding for four more schools in Grenada under its Grant Assistance for Grass- Roots Human Security Projects (GGP), to support the rehabilitation effort post Hurricanes Ivan and Emily... read more...

BET Jazz backs Caribbean media again in 2006

WASHINGTON, USA: BET Jazz, one of the leading global television networks, has announced its support for Counterpart International's popular Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) on Sustainable Tourism series this year... read more...

USVI observes Martin Luther King Day

ST JOHN, USVI: The annual Martin Luther King Day celebration was held on St. John in the US Virgin Islands on Monday. Over a hundred people gathered in Cruz Bay to hear speakers and musical performances to commemorate the slain civil rights leader, who would have turned 77 years on Sunday... read more...

LETTERS

I find Lloyd Noel most intriguing

I have to say I find the former Attorney General of Grenada most intriguing. I first came across one of his articles in a local weekly newspaper when holidaying in Grenada during November/ December of last year; and found the article (which I wholeheartedly agreed with) so interesting that I brought the paper back with me... read more...

Tourism comparisons: How are ‘we’ doing?

According to a news report carried by Caribbean Net News (source: Shervon Alfred), the Minister of Tourism for St. Lucia, Phillip J. Pierre and the island’s tourism director, Hillary Modeste are predicting a more than doubling of long-stay visitors for 2006 when compared with last year... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Baseball legends Oh and Aaron want Cubans in World Baseball Classic

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): Japanese baseball home run king Sadaharu Oh and American all-time homer leader Hank Aaron backed Cuba's participation in the World Baseball Classic and asked stars sitting out to reconsider... read more...

Impressive Dominican Republic squad for World Classic will not have A-Rod

NEW YORK, USA (AFP): An impressive 60-player squad was announced by the Dominican Republic for the first World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball announced here Tuesday, but Alex Rodriguez will not be part of the team... read more...

Zimbabwe suspends Test status, West Indies tour called off

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP): Zimbabwe cricket lurched into another crisis on Wednesday when Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) suspended its national team from Test matches for the rest of the year.  The shock decision means that the planned two-Test tour of the West Indies, scheduled for April and May, will now not take place... read more...