CARIBBEAN NEWS
VOL.3 NO.5
October, 2005
FORT-DE-FRANCE, MARTINIQUE(AP-9/27/05)- An epidemic of
dengue fever has killed 2 people in this French Caribbean island
this month and more than 6000have been infected, say medical
authorities. Since mid-September, the rate of new cases has
increased to almost 1000 a week.
BASSTIERRE, ST. LUCIA (BBC/CARIBBEAN-8/19/05)- St. Lucia's
special envoy to Brussels said the banana industry still had a
fighting chance, despite recent unfavourable developments at the
WTO. Ambassador Edwin Laurent said misinformation in relation
to WTO developments is creating problems for the industry. He
dismissed reports based on the WTO Arbitration panel that
declared European Union tarrifs to African Caribbean Pacific(ACP)
countries were illegal.
St. Lucia's Agriculture Minister said the reports have created great
anxiety in the industry. "The banana industry is so vitally important
not just for St. Lucia, but for the rest of the region", he said.
ROSEAU, DOMINICA (BBC/CARIBBEAN-10/8/05)- The Windward
Islands gauranteed fixed share of the European banana market is
being abolished. With many livlihoods at risk from Central Americas
"dollar banana", farmers in Dominica are asking the European Union
for help.
High up on the emerald hillsides of the Layou Valley here, Bella
Joachim pulls out meticulously completed charts and tables. "These
are my farm records",she says proudly. "To sell bananas to the UK,
we have to be as good as the best farmers in the world." It's
harvesting day. With over a thousand kilos of bananas to select, cut,
trim, wash, pack and dispatch to the port, Bella - clad in apron, hat,
rubber boots and gloves - has to get it on.
For more than a decade, the Windward Islands have clung to the
chance to sell to European markets despite the protests from
Latin American multi-nationals, who have used the WTO to
bulldoze smaller producers out of the way and guaranteeing their
place in the market.
Everyone in the banana chain in Dominica- from the farmers like
Bella to the stevedores racing to load the weeks harvest into the
banana boats- is aware that the island's predicament is serious.
Twenty-five farmers from the island have flown to St. Lucia where
Caribbean negotiators are meeting with the EU commisioner in what
may be the only chance to influence him. They are joined by
colleagues from Martinique, St. Vincent and St. Lucia.
"We didn't escape slavery to come to this", said farmer Renwick
Rose. "We support making poverty history. What we have here is
the chance to stop making poverty the future."
ST. JOHN, US VIRGIN ISLANDS (VI DAILY NEWS-10/3/05)-
Hundreds of people from throughout the territory attended a day-long
rally in Cruz Bay and through prayer, song and strong words, a
number of them voiced frustration over government and police failings
disgust over economic disparity, and plans to eradicate racial
injustice from the Virgin Islands.
"We didn't come here for a love-in. We didn't come here to simply
show our fist. We are here because there is a problem in the Virgin
Islands, especially on St. John", said Mario Moorhead, who helped
spearhead the We The People For Justice group's March Against
Racism on St. John. "We can not allow our quality of life, in any way
to be corrupted or taken over." The St. Croix-based group hopes to
pressure local and federal law enforcement agencies to arrest and
bring to justice those guilty of a reported hate crime- the kidnapping
and rape of a black woman by white men on St. John's East End.
The crime was reported August 30. Since then, police have refused
to release details other than to say the FBI is heading the
investigation.
About 300 people slowly marched through downtown Cruz Bay to
the sounds of beating drums, blasting conch shells and people
calling out for justice, solidarity and peace. Police presence was
heavy, including uniformed officers and plainclothes FBI agents
and U.S. Marshals.
The Rev. Charles Crespo of St. John said that disharmony exists on
what was once peaceful St. John, but the true problem isn't racial
but economic. "People who don't have the green feel threatened right
now", he said. "If we don't address the problems right now, all the
low-income people will have to move to St. Thomas and St. John will
become a resort community for the wealthy."
Speaking of those who have committed hate crimes, Moorhead said,
"They can't do this and expect us to do nothing...and pretend nothing
has happened." He also said unity and healing can come only from
understanding that the islands are populated by people of African
descent. "If you are not born here, you must embrace our way of life.
If you don't like the way we talk, if you don't like the way we cook, if
you don't like the food we eat- then pack your bags and go."
Esther Frett, a St. John businesswoman who is the victim of the hate
crimes, said women of color should stand up for their rights so that
what happened to her won't be repeated.
Later that evening, after the rally had moved to Coral Bay, Ms. Frett-
dressed regally in green and yellow African dress- took slow,
purposeful steps in a circle around a bonfire lit to mark the
anniversary of the 1878 Fireburn on St. Croix.
"It was to heal her," said ChenziRa Kahina, an event organizer. "It's
an African tradition for women who are violated to take them around
the fire and ask the creator to bless them."
ST. JOHN, USVI (STJ TRADEWINDS- 10/9/05)- Although it might go
unnoticed by the average observer, a serious problem lurks under the
surface of the Caribbean water and, if left unchecked, will jeopardize
the future of coral reefs.
A "full-on bleaching episode" is taking place throughout the
Caribbean due to elevated water temperatures which have caused the
normally healthy, earth-toned coral to turn pale or even white,
according to local marine biologists. When there are higher water
temperatures, light levels are higher causing the microscopic plants
to be expelled, resulting in corals that appear bleached. The
bleached reefs are still alive, but are critical and could die.
Corals need an extra energy source to grow into reefs. That energy
comes the plant cells that live in their tissue, which also gives coral
its color. This process takes thousands of years to develop. Star
coral, the most common on St. John grows at a rate of the thickness
of a dime each year. Reefs provide shelter and habitat for reef fish
and other sea life and seve as a breakwater for shorelines.
Many consecutive cloudy days, a surplus of rainfall or any weather
pattern which brings in cooler waters will reduce the impact of this
bleaching.
ENTERTAINMENT:
ST. THOMAS, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS- 10/13/05)- Nick "The
Franchise" Friday, lead vocalist of perennial Soca favorites Jam
Band was laid to rest today. He died Oct. 4 at the age of 43.
The Virgin Islands Carnival Committee, in a press release, said it
best: "In his young life, Friday attained a level of mastery and
dominance in writing and producing Road March tunes that might
forever remain unmatched around the globe. In a 24-year period-
from 1981 to 2005- Friday captured the Road March crown an
unprecedented 20 times. Few artists have the ability to
consistently produce hit records annually, but Nick, without a
pause, documented V.I. history, raised political awareness, and
educated and entertained hundreds of thousands of fans through
his lyrics for more than a quarter of a century."
Rest in Peace "Daddy Friday".
Be sure to check this News Page during the coming week for
updates...There are plenty more stories to tell....Pato
