Caribbean News

PM chastises regional counterparts

Friday, March 19th, 2010

ROSEAU, Dominica: Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson has chastised his regional counterparts for not replacing London's Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as their final court of appeal.

He described it as a "sad indictment" on the region that only two of the Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) 15 member states have done so.

All CARICOM member states have accepted the CCJ in its original jurisdiction, but only Barbados and Guyana, have also acceded to the appellate jurisdiction. Thompson said that was not enough to give citizens of the region the confidence that the CCJ was a viable entity.

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Caribbean News in Brief -- March 18-10

Friday, March 19th, 2010

PLEDGE OF SUPPORT

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has vowed to work to keep donor funds flowing for Haiti's recovery and reconstruction.

He made the promise last weekend in Port-au-Prince, his second visit to Haiti following the devastating January earthquake.

During his visit, Ban held talks with Haiti President René Préval and leaders of the international relief operation.

Ban said the UN's revised emergency appeal for $1.4 billion this year to fund continuing humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Haiti was only 49 per cent funded so far.

The UN chief said he assured Préval and his ministers that he would continue "my best personal efforts to fulfill the remainder".

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PM seeks World Bank support against U.S.

Friday, March 19th, 2010

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua & Barbuda: Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has turned to the World Bank for help in getting the United States to reach a final resolution with his country, following a 2007 World Trade Organization (WTO) internet gaming ruling.

In March 2007, the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO ruled that the U.S. had failed to comply with the 2005 ruling against prohibitions on Internet gambling. Later in the year, the WTO granted Antigua US$21 million in annual trade sanctions against the U.S. as compensation for damages.

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Caribbean News in Brief – March 11-2010

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

MUSIC MUSEUM

Kingston, Jamaica: A music museum which will feature rare pieces from the nation's music history will open next year.

Officials say some of the works to be included include an early album of the late reggae star Bob Marley.

Museum curator Herbie Miller says a cassette tape from reggae great Peter Tosh, singing a blues song with the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, will also be featured.

The museum will be run by the government through the Institute of Jamaica, which overseas cultural affairs.

DEMONSTRATION

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Troop withdrawal from Haiti begins

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The tour of duty of Jamaican soldiers and other personnel in Haiti will end by March 19, two weeks later than the government had last indicated.

Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz, said that Cabinet had granted the extension to ensure there is no dislocation in the relief efforts when the Jamaican team leaves.

"Winding down of operations has begun and there is now a transition period to allow for other CARICOM nations to take up where we left off," said Vaz.

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Security minister denies U.S. allegations

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Minister of National Security, Senator Dwight Nelson, has described the findings contained in the recent International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) as an inaccurate depiction of Jamaica's efforts to combat drugs and organized crime.

The report, compiled by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the United States' Department of State, asserted that the government's anti-corruption and anti-crime legislative agenda, announced in 2007, has been stalled in Parliament.

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Drought management plan takes effect

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Barbados has activated the first phase of a drought management plan, becoming the latest Caribbean country to implement special measures in light of a protracted drought.

Increasingly dry conditions in the country prompted the move, the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) announced.

A BWA taskforce has been established to monitor key drought parameters and to coordinate the process of taking appropriate action.

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New Opposition Leader assumes duties

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago: A month after taking over the reins of the opposition United National Congress (UNC) from Basdeo Panday, Kamla Persad-Bissessar has assumed the Opposition Leader position in the House of Representatives.

"Our party now speaks with one voice," said Persad-Bissessar after receiving her instruments of appointment last week. "We will chart a new way forward to deliver on the hopes and expectations of our citizenry, desperate for a way out of the crisis which the (Patrick Manning) administration has led this nation into."

Persad-Bissessar added that she would bring citizens relief by leading her party back into government.

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Caribbean News Briefs

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

DEADLY FLOODS

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: At least 11 people have been killed in floods triggered by heavy rains.

The deaths occurred in the southeastern port city of Les Cayes, which was flooded by more than five feet of water.

Officials say buildings affected included a hospital and a prison where more than 400 inmates were evacuated.

About a million Haitians are still homeless following January's earthquake which killed approximately 230,000 people.

The floods have come several weeks ahead of the nation's traditional rainy season.

POSITIVE OUTLOOK

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Tourism strategy for Haiti being developed

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says a strategy is being developed for the economic recovery of earthquake-hit Haiti, which will use elements of Jamaica's Tourism Master Plan.

This strategy, called the Montego Bay Initiative, will position tourism as a main pillar for the economic development of Haiti.

"The model which is being used is really a model that draws heavily on the Jamaica Tourism Master Plan and therefore it makes it very easy for us to respond and to work well with it," Bartlett said.

Bartlett said Haiti has identified tourism as one of three components on which its economic restoration program would be predicated. The others are agriculture and light manufacturing industries.