Caribbean Net News Daily Headlines

Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago ratify commercial relations

2009-11-07

HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) -- Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago ratified their commercial cooperation bonds during the fourth day of Havana’s 27th International Fair, which winds up on Saturday at the Expocuba complex. Trinidadian ambassador Lester Efebo Wilkinson thanked Cuba for its cooperation in programs.

OAS secretary general issues statement on the situation in Honduras

2009-11-07

WASHINGTON, USA -- The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, on Friday deplored the disruption to the process of implementation of the Agreement reached in Tegucigalpa on October 30. Insulza said the OAS will continue efforts to move the process forward.

CariCRIS lowers Barbados government credit rating

2009-11-07

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Limited (CariCRIS) has lowered its ratings on the notional debt issue of US$300 million of the government of Barbados to CariAA (Foreign Currency Rating) and CariAA+ (Local Currency Rating) on its regional scale.

Two sentenced for importing 300 kilograms of cocaine into the US from the Bahamas

2009-11-07

WEST PALM BEACH, USA -- On Thursday, Mark Pinder, and Parson Exana, were sentenced to between 9 and 12 years in federal prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States from the Bahamas. The sentencings are the result of a multi-agency effort involving US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Trinidad to host 2009 Accounting Forum

2009-11-07

LONDON, ENGLAND -- The London School of Business & Finance is coming to Trinidad and Tobago to host the 2009 Accounting Forum in Port of Spain, bringing together students, professionals, ACCA representatives and government officials to discuss the future of accounting and and education within the Caribbean.

IMF says Jamaica talks to continue next week

2009-11-07

WASHINGTON, USA (Reuters) -- The International Monetary Fund said it would continue talks with Jamaica next week as they work to finalize a $1.2 billion standby loan. An IMF team visited Kingston from Oct. 27 to Nov. 6, and IMF mission chief Trevor Alleyne said the focus of the talks was on policy measures.

Commentary: The intricacies behind the demise of the Pierre Louis government in Haiti

2009-11-07

Michelle Duvivier Pierre Louis was dismissed by the Haitian Senate last Friday night as the prime minister of Haiti. A request was sent to the Executive to name a new Prime Minister to form a new cabinet. President Rene Preval wasted no time to name, on Saturday, Jean Max Bellerive.

St Kitts judge awards EC$3,500 in disqualification case

2009-11-07

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM) -- St Kitts Resident Judge, Justice Frances Belle, on Friday awarded nominal costs of EC$3,500 to the several lawyers who represented the People’s Action Movement (PAM) in the disqualification matter in the High Court. Lead attorney for the Attorney General and the Supervisor of Elections...

Grenada seeks OAS cooperation for police training

2009-11-07

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Grenada’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Gillian Bristol Thursday addressed the Second Meeting of Ministers of Public Security on the Feasibility Study carried out by the OAS Department of Public Security.

The OAS trains future leaders of the hemisphere

2009-11-07

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- The Organization of American States is currently holding its Fifth Model of the Permanent Council for OAS Interns, the purpose of which is to familiarize interns from throughout the Hemisphere working at the Organization with the work of the political bodies of the OAS.

Licence, ID and NIS cards to be combined in Barbados

2009-11-07

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) -- A single, multi-purpose, high security card containing a micro-chip, has been proposed as an alternative to having a Barbados driver's licence and identification and national insurance cards. This was disclosed Friday by Prime Minister David Thompson.

Montserrat, Antigua & Barbuda move to a long term ferry solution

2009-11-07

BRADES, Montserrat (OCM) -- The Montserrat-Antigua travel route will undergo a major enhancement with the addition of a long term ferry service in January 2010. Sailing under the name Fjortoft, the new ferry will be operated jointly by the government of Montserrat, the government of Antigua, and the Barbuda Island Council.

OAS Assistant SG says improved coordination will yield critical benefits in Haiti

2009-11-07

MEXICO CITY, Mexico -- Speaking in Mexico at the opening of the first hemispheric conference of its kind on coordination of international cooperation with Haiti, OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin applauded the decision to bring together government actors and the international community.

Letter: Vincentians, keep that lamp burning

2009-11-07

God’s promise is true, He promised never to leave us nor forsake us and this we are seeing more and more everyday. He will always find a way to save his people. I want to thank Caribbean Net News for being the democratic ears and eyes of the people across the miles who continue to bring to us all views.

Barbados hosts inaugural Eastern Caribbean hydrography meeting

2009-11-07

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) -- In order to fully exploit the region's ocean resources, regional governments must seize every opportunity to acquire more knowledge about the sea and the sea bed. This assertion has come from the Barbados Minister of International Transport, George Hutson.

New policy to bring more heavy spenders to Jamaica

2009-11-07

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica is gearing up for more high-rollers and heavy spenders with Cabinet's recent approval of an 'inventory-enrichment strategy,' which will allow merchants to import more high-end products into the island. Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, said in many cases...

Companies from Cuba and Spain sign cooperation agreement

2009-11-07

HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) -- Companies from Cuba and Spain penned, within the framework of Havana’s 27th International Trade Fair, a letter of intent to improve the quality of the sanitation products made at the Ironwork Plant in Havana. The accord also includes the building of a plant for sewage disposal.

Andean 'Cold War' raises risks for Colombia, Venezuela

2009-11-07

BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) -- Spying charges, troop movements and mysterious killings along the border between Venezuela and Colombia are stoking a long-running diplomatic dispute that some are calling the "Cold War" of the Andes. The feud between the two neighbors has usually stopped at sabre-rattling.

Cuban official says Venezuelan oil no giveaway

2009-11-07

HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters) -- Cuba has chosen to pay a steeper price than it has to for Venezuelan oil so it can discourage itself from becoming too dependent on one source for energy, a senior Cuban official said on Friday. The Caracas agreement, begun in 2000 when oil prices were below $20 per barrel.

Bolt's coach Mills resigns as head of Jamaican national team

2009-11-07

KINGSTON, Jamaica (FP) -- Glen Mills has resigned after 22 years as head of the Jamaican national track and field team but he will remain coach of the Usain Bolt's Racers Track Club. Mills plans to stop working with the national team so he can concentrate more time on coaching the club team.

Hedge funds move from offshore centres

2009-11-07

GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters) -- Luxembourg could draw hedge funds in their droves as European investors retreat from offshore vehicles and seek to rein in liquidity and counterparty risk in the post-Madoff, post-Lehman environment. Managers in Europe's $300 billion hedge fund industry are eyeing Luxembourg.

Storm Ida moves into Caribbean, may strengthen on path to Gulf

2009-11-07

NEW YORK, USA (Bloomberg) -- Storm Ida moved back over the Caribbean Sea on Friday after pummeling Honduras and Nicaragua with rain as it heads north toward the Gulf of Mexico, the US National Hurricane Center said. The tropical depression was centered about 65 miles northwest of Cabo Gracias.

St Lucia Ministry of Health confirms first H1N1 influenza death

2009-11-07

CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The Ministry of Health in St Lucia has confirmed the first H1N1 related death. The individual was a 45 year old male with no pre-existing medical conditions. The patient had remained at home for several days while suffering from severe respiratory symptoms, before he sought medical attention.

Guyana police will find assailants in overnight crimes, says president

2009-11-07

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- Deeply concerned about the spate of overnight crimes in Guyana involving, murder, abduction and arson in the early hours of Wednesday morning, speaking at a press conference on Friday President Bharrat Jagdeo vowed that those responsible will be pursued and caught.

Barbados getting ready to stage Twenty20 Tournament

2009-11-07

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) -- Barbadian officials are ‘pulling out all the stops' to ensure the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Twenty20 tournament, to be staged in the region next year will be successful. This was asserted recently by President of the Barbados Cricket Association, Joel Garner.

Jamaica joins 25 member Rio Group

2009-11-07

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Kenneth Baugh, has praised the Rio Group for its role in strengthening the region's international presence. Dr Baugh made comment on Thursday, after Jamaica was admitted as the 25th member.

Guyana first country to benefit from World Bank's FCPF

2009-11-07

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- Guyana is the first country to complete its due diligence study under the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), with the country being granted access to programme resources. This will enable government to conduct greater advocacy on climate change

Jamaica, Mexico sign new air service agreement

2009-11-07

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS) -- Jamaica and Mexico have signed on to a new bilateral civil aviation agreement, which will allow for improved air service between the two countries. The agreement was signed by Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Kenneth Baugh.