CARIBBEAN NEWS
VOL.4, NO.1
January, 2006
ST. THOMAS, US VIRGIN ISLANDS (VI DAILY NEWS- 1/5/06)- A bill that would extend health insurance coverage to the territory's uninsured workers is set to go before the Senate Health, Hospitals and Human Services Committee later this month. The legislation is the culmination of 3 years of research.
There are approximately 15,000 uninsured low-wage earners in the territory. By increasing the number of residents with health insurance, the legislation- which would provide the minimum "core coverage"- seeks to increase the revenues the hospitals and health care providers receive for their services. Hospital officials estimate that they incur some $40 million annually in uncompensated costs.
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS (BBC/CARIBBEAN- 1/6/06)- The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions will be held here from Jan. 10-12.
Recent studies point to risks linked to shifts in the North America and Caribbean tectonic plates and to major undersea landslides off the northern coast of Puerto Rico. Ten major tsunamis have been recorded in the northern Caribbean. The most recent- in 1946- was triggered by an earthquake in the Dominican Republic that claimed 1,800 lives.
Representatives of the 30 countries concerned will take part in the meeting to determine a plan of action for risk assessment, collection and sharing of data and emergency management.
NEWS UPDATE:
ST. THOMAS, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS- 1/13/06)- A magnitude 4.0 earthquake shook the US and British Virgin Islands at 12:10AM. The earthquake's epicenter was at lat 18.9 and long 64.9, which put the quake about 40 miles north of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Road Town, Tortola. No damage has been reported.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (BBC/CARIBBEAN- 1/3/05)- Every year global crime statistics present a planetary picture of crime and safety. In the past, Caribbean cities have appeared on the list of the most violent in the world. But according to the Caribbean Media Corp,, Jamaica has now been classed the murder capital of the world, after 2005 saw more than 1600 people killed; a tally of at least 5 people murdered every day.
A group called Citizens for a Better Trinidad & Tobago have called on authorities to copy anti-crime measures adopted in New York City. There were more than 380 murders in the country in 2005 and a group spokesman said life in Port-of-Spain is 4 times riskier than NYC.
Haiti remains a highly volitile country- with kidnappings outstripping others in the region. Police leave was cancelled in St. Kitts before Christmas due to crime.
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS (BBC/CARIBBEAN- 1/3/06)- Six Caribbean nations have become the first full members of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy(CSME). The leaders of Jamaica, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago have welcomed the free trade zone that will allow goods, services and skilled workers to move more easily through the region. Another 6 CARICOM member states are expected to join by March.
However, the free movement issue has raised some concerns about a possible flood of migrants within the region. There is already debate about the number of Guyanese living and working in Barbados.
BBC/CARIBBEAN reporter David Ellis said, "This situation indicates that where people move freely, there will be some potential tensions."
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (BBC/CARIBBEAN- 12/23/05)- A U.S. presidential task force on Puerto Rico has recomended that Congress call a referendum on the island's status as a self-governing
US commonwealth. A "yes" vote would trigger a referendum on whether to make Puerto Rico independent or the 51st US state.
Only 3% of islanders voted in favor of independence in 1999. They are split over whether to keep their current status or become a state. Currently, Puerto Rican residents are US citizens but cannot vote in presidential elections, pay no federal income taxes but receive limited government benefits.
ENTERTAINMENT:
ST. ANN, JAMAICA (JAMAICA OBSERVER-1/13/06)- As plans for the revival of the REGGAE SUNSPLASH Festival continue to consolidate, several Reggae/Dancehall stars have already confirmed their presence at the event. Scheduled for Aug. 3-6, at the Richmond Estate, St. Ann; Bushman, Freddie McGregor, Morgan Heritage, Vybz Kartel and Beenie Man are among those who have signed on as part of the new face of this lionised reggae event which will take place over 4 nights.
On Feb. 8, a press conference will be held to announce the details of the festival. Sunsplash was first held in 1978 at Montego Bay. However, over the years it has been held at St. Ann, in the Dover area.
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD (TRINIDAD EXPRESS-1/9/06)- Delivering a much better performance than when he was here last, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley had the audience hanging on his every word during his performance at the National Stadium. The event was dubbed the Peace Festival.
Young Marley proved he has inherited many of the gifts possessed by his father, delivering an impressive performance. Kicking off with "Confrontation" from his latest CD, WELCOME TO JAMROCK, he backtracked to his runaway hit "More Justice", which sent the crowd wild and singing along.
Gong also performed many others from the new CD: Hey Girl, Beautiful, There For You and Ease The Load. But the audience went crazy when he'd perform early tracks like "Mi Name Junior Gong", or when he sampled his father's music into his tracks.
CULTURE:
ST. CROIX, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS- 1/5/05)- Smells of kallaloo, stew goat, fried pot fish and other local delicacies wafted across Christiansted as the Crucian Christmas Festival Food Fair opened. Thousands of residents and visitors packed the market square to sample food and drinks and view locally-made crafts.
The market was decorated with palm branches, madras cloth and bamboo fans that made the event very festive. In addition to food, drink and pastries, the fair included dancing by energetic mocko jumbies, masqueraders, quadrille dancing and music.
This article appeared in the 1/14/06 edition of the TRINIDAD EXPRESS:
Fever Grass is one of the important plants in the herb family. Commonly called Lemon Grass because of its fragrance and flavor, it has a variety of uses. For many years clumps of Fever Grass were a common feature in backyard gardens in rural Trinidad.
"That is good bush", says 94-year-old Pedro Hernandez of Lopinot. "I have a plant in the back. I always keep a fever grass plant. When you get the cold and the fever and you drink the fever grass tea; man, that bush does mash up the fever. It come from ancient time."
The grass has its origins in India and Sri Lanka, but is now common throughout the tropics around the world. Guatamala is one of the large commercial producers in the Western hemisphere.
Lemon grass is very popular in Malaysian, Indonesian, Sri Lankan, Indian and Thai dishes. It is also used for flavoring pickles, meats, seafood, soups, salads, vegetables and curries.
For centuries lemon grass has been in use as a herbal medicine. A hot cup of fever grass tea induces perspiration to cool the body and reduce fever. It also helps in combatting depression, digestive disorders, respiratory infections and the spread of infectious diseases. The oil helps relieve muscle pains and correcting poor blood circulation. It makes an excellent addition to deodorants, soaps, cosmetics, shampoos, skin lotions and tonics.
Easy to grow, it makes a perfect potted plant with its excellent foliage. Propagation is usually done by root cuttings or plant separations.
In Asia it is also used as a mosquito repellant and as a natural toothbrush.
PATO's NOTE:
Just to give a "heads up" to all of you who might be traveling to the Caribbean during the Winter season, I've noticed in alot of the News sources that there is a rash of robberies along nature trails throughout the island ecotourism industry. This is the reason why I won't single any island out.
If you use common sense before hiking (never bringing anything of large value, etc.), don't hike alone, and in case of confrontation, stay calm, don't show fear but give them what they want. It's always a good idea to "make a friend" with some of the locals to find out which areas of the island are better to stay away from.
This is becoming a problem world-wide, not just the Caribbean. Most people involved are not true criminals. Many are simply the island's poor who can not think of any other way to survive. They don't want to hurt you- they just want what you got.
Blessings.....
