Caribbean News Vol. 2, No.4
May, 2004
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS(AP-3/28/04)- The 15-nation Caribbean Community(CARICOM) withheld recognition from Haiti's U.S.-backed interim government as leaders renewed calls for a UN investigation into the ouster of President Jean Bertrand Aristide. Several officials said the regional bloc was under enormous U.S. pressure to recognize the new government.
The leaders also lamented recent statements by Haiti's new Prime Minister Gerard Latortue hailing rebels as "freedom fighters" and saying he was freezing participation in the bloc for its stance in bringing Aristide to Jamaica for temporary exile.
The participating Caribbean leaders issued a statement saying, "no action should be taken to legitimize the rebel forces."
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS(DAILY NATION-4/24/04)- The U.S. will not participate in any meeting with the Caribbean unless Haiti is invited. That was the message from representatives of President Bush's administration to CARICOM ministers meeting here.
CARICOM has been withholding recognition of Haiti and pressing for a speedy restoration of constitutional governance, based on internationally supervised free and fair elections. CARICOM is also initiating moves for an international probe into the circumstances of former President Aristide's fall from power on Feb. 29
CARICOM's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dame Billie Miller said,"CARICOM's assistance to Haiti should be guided not merely by a concern to restore peace, but also a concern to ensure that conditions for stability are created."
TOBAGO (TOBAGO NEWS-4/16/04)- Tobago will be the venue for at least 3 major Caribbean and international meetings over the next 5 months. They are the 6th Western Hemispheric Energy Ministers Meeting, the 34th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank, and a meeting of the Free Trade Association of the Americas.
Chief Secretary Orville London described the holding of the 3 meetings in Tobago as a great significant to the island as a tourist and conference destination and hoped it would send positive signals.
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD(EXPRESS- 4/24/04)- Two men accused of wildlife smuggling were allowed $20,000 bail each when they appeared in court here. The men were arrested April 22.
On that day, police allegedly found 3 porcupines, 2 capybaras, a cupuchin monkey, 3 macaws,and various types of whistling birds in the men’s car. They were charged with 4 counts of possession of protected animals and 2 counts of keeping birds in undersized cages.
The animals were believed to have been brought from Venezuela and smuggled in through a beach on Trinidad’s south coast.
ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-4/27/04)- The Senate appropriated $3 million to buy tracts of East End land near Vessup Beach to block Miami-based Lionstone Hotels and Resorts from developing it. The money would be placed in a trust fund so it could not be used for any other purpose.
Lionstone, which owns, leases and manages 7 hotels in Florida and the Caribbean, has made waves in the last year with its purchases of land on St. Thomas’ East End, and its current negotiations to purchase the hotel operation of the Ritz-Carlton. Lionstone has an option-to-buy contract on the same 17 acres. Their plans for the Vessup Beach area include condominiums and residential homes.
“There has to be a balance between development and preservation”, said Senator Louis Hill, the bill’s sponsor. “If we continue to develop every square inch of this territory, then pretty soon we’ll have one big parking lot, a huge concrete jungle.”
If Governor Turnbull approves the legislation, the government could exercise its right to force a property owner to sell the land through eminent domain, which can be used to acquire real estate to establish parks, create public recreation areas or preserve natural areas.
Lionstone owner, Alfredo Lowenstein said, “If the government buys the land, the opportunity for new homes and new jobs…will be lost. We don’t understand why they are doing this, but I think common sense will prevail.”
ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-4/24/04)- Three St. Croix fishermen rescued near Culebra were in good health after their boat capsized and they spent a night in the ocean. The men, all wearing life jackets, were found in the water clinging to each other. Their 20-foot boat was found capsized more than 1½ miles from where the men were rescued.
After leaving St. Croix for St. Thomas to sell fish, Bernard Azile’s boat lost engine power and began to take on water. When Azile and his 2-man crew moved their container of fish to another part of the boat, it capsized.
After the Coast Guard’s Central Command in Puerto Rico was contacted, a search was begun in the area south of Buck Island, St. Thomas. The Coast Guard flew 5 helicopter missions and sent out 2-25 foot cutters to search for the men. Little did they know, the men had already drifted more than 20 miles from that site. The search continued until nightfall and was scheduled to resume at daybreak.
A sailboat spotted the men and picked them up before the search resumed.
The Coast Guard commended the men for following their advice- wearing their life jackets and staying together. “Not only does it aid in keeping up body heat, but it certainly helps morale”, said Ensign Eric Willis.
ST. JOHN, VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-4/24/04)- The V.I. Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources(DPNR), plans to collect blood and urine samples from some St. John residents for testing to allay fears that dredging in Enighed Pond may be a health hazard. Several residents have reported ailments since the dredging began in February for the $16 million Enighed Pond Marine Freight Facility Project.
“We plan to conduct an epidemiological study to include primarily children in nearby schools and elderly individuals”, said Hollis Griffin, director of DPNR’s environmental protection division. “The collection of samples will also include randomly selected residents that live in a one-mile radius of Enighed Pond.”
The Port Authority is developing a cargo dock at the pond to alleviate congestion at the Creek in Cruz Bay. The dredging process is causing a stench that is blanketing the area. While earlier chemical tests revealed no hazardous substances at the bottom of the pond, in the past the pond area has been a discharge point for a sewage treatment plant and nearby land has been used as a municipal garbage dump.
The dredging is to be completed by June 1.
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA(GLEANER-4/24/04)- The cruelty meted out to the street people in Montego Bay nearly 5 years ago has prompted a Jamaica Cancer Research Scientist and an American religious group to lend a hand to the street people outreach programme in the resort city.
Dr. Victor Brown, a scientist with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, in handing over donations worth US $10,000 in addition to pledging full support to a feeding program, said he was jolted to action by the 1999 atrocities suffered by the street victims.
“It pained my heart to read about the suffering the street people had to endure when they were forcibly taken off the streets, and I decided I wanted to do something to better their lives,” said Dr. Brown.
Among the items donated by Dr. Brown and the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church from Tennessee, of which Dr. Brown is an assistant pastor were: clothing, toiletries, food, and 2 washing machines. Dr. Brown, who was born in Montego Bay, says the gesture is “just the beginning of a positive trend.”
In 1999, in what became known as ’the street people scandal’, 32 persons were picked up from the streets of Montego Bay and dumped in a remote area of St. Elizabeth. To date, no one has been convicted in what has been described as one of the “darkest days in Montego Bay’s history.”
PORTLAND, JAMAICA(OBSERVER-4/24/04)- He lives in the U.S. now, but Dr. Hugh Duheney still remembers the kindness of the people of Hector’s River, Portland. So, on April 18 he filled a gap in the community. Dr. Duheney handed over a new bell to the congregation of the Seaside Friends Church, almost 16 years after the original gong was destroyed by Hurricane Gilbert.
The former student of Happy Grove High School in the parish said he can still remember his years as a member of the community and the congregation at the church. Providing the new bell, he said, paled in comparison to the many acts of kindness done for him while he was growing up. He is confident that the new bell- like the one before it- will enhance the church’s image and appeal.
ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-4/22/04)- The V.I. Public Works Dept. is in negotiations to purchase 10 buses to replace much of its aging VITRAN fleet after receiving a delayed payment of more than $1.4 million from the federal government. Combined with $1 million in reprogrammed federal highway funding, the money will be used for improvements in public transportation throughout the Virgin Islands.
The funding will be used to:
-Purchase 10 new medium to heavy duty fixed route transit buses to be deployed throughout the territory.
-Expand and renovate the maintenance offices on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
-Design and construction of a bus maintenance facility on St. John.
The buses will cost up to $170,000 each and will be specially made for the territory’s driving conditions- left-side traffic; steep, winding roads; and mineral buildup from salt in the air.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA(OBSERVER-4/23/04)- Incoming visitors to the island will soon be charged a tourism enhancement fee, designed to raise funds for the $2 billion tourism master plan to be implemented over 10 years. Industry and Tourism Manager Aloun Assamba did not say how much tourists would pay or when the new fee would be implemented.
The Tourism Master Plan, a joint undertaking by the government and private sector, is predicated on the private sector contributing the bulk, or some 73% of the funding, with government contributing mainly by way of supportive infrastructural development and loan guarantees.
ST. JOHN, VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-3/27/04)- St. John’s 2 private schools plan to merge beginning this fall into the island’s first K-12 school. Coral Bay, a middle and high school, and Pine Peace, an elementary school announced they will join the administrative functions of both schools effective next school year.
There is no public high school on St. John. About 1000 students in 9-12 grades take the ferry each day to attend Ivanna Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas.
Coral Bay has signed a contract for 8 acres of land adjacent to Pine Peace. The parcel is being sold by Reliance Housing Foundation, a nonprofit development group that is building affordable housing nearby.
A committee is being assembled to design and oversee construction of the school, said to include a theater, library and athletic facilities.
SPORTS:
ST. JOHNS, ANTIGUA(EXPRESS-4/12/04)- Nothing that Brian Lara can do now, can recover the Wisden Trophy or 36 years of dominance over England. So, the West Indies captain is doing the next best thing. At the end of the day, when Lara, wearied but unbowed returned to the pavilion at the Antigua Recreation Ground, 313 not out, a standing reception greeted him.
Six days short of a full decade since he broke Sir Gary Sobers’ world record for Test Cricket’s highest individual score on this very ground, the Prince of Port of Spain stands poised to be king again. Lara can become the first man in the 127 years of the game to hold the world record twice.
He is now shoulder to shoulder with Australian Sir Donald Bradman as the only players to have scored 2 Test triple hundreds.
His clinical dissection and destruction of the England bowling was awe-inspiring to the purist; and for the long-suffering, flag-waving West Indian fans, joyous.
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD(EXPRESS-4/14/04)- Prime Minister Patrick Manning is going all out to give Brian Lara an extraordinary gift for attaining for the second time, the record for the highest Test score, 400 not out, in the 127 year history of the game.
A special meeting is scheduled to begin planning for Lara’s welcome home celebrations and tribute. One of the proposals expected to get favorable response from the cabinet is the establishment of a Brian Lara Sports Arena and Academy.
“Whatever Lara gets must not just have national or regional significance, but international impact,” said one official.
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT:
KINGSTON, JAMAICA(OBSERVER-4/22/04)- They say confession is good for the soul, and before a star-studded room full of fans and peers in the ballroom of the Kingston Hilton, Reggae superstar Marcia Griffiths bared the truth in no uncertain terms. “If it’s a sin to feel this good, I have sinned”, the reigning Empress of Reggae said at the launch of a yearlong series of festivities to mark her 40th year in the music business.
The launch was attended by Bob Marley’s mother, Cedella Booker, former I-Three’s member Judy Mowatt and sax great Dean Fraser, to name a few.
She performed her new song, “Shining Time”, the title track from her new album. In addition to the album, Griffiths will take on several other projects to commemorate her 40 years including a U.S tour, the release of a 40-song anthology that spans her career, and a massive concert at the National Arena in October.
Griffiths, who has released over 20 albums and countless singles and duets, began her career in West Kingston when she debuted as a teenager singing with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires in 1964. Successful collaborations with top singer/songwriters and producers of the time such as Sir Coxsone Dodd put her on the map as a singer, and as a member of the I-Threes with Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt, she recorded and toured extensively with Bob Marley and The Wailers. Since the breakup of the I-Threes, Griffiths has performed as a solo act, collaborating with vintage and current reggae acts alike.
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD(EXPRESS-4/24/04)- Capleton was born in the Jamaican parish of St. Mary and rose to popularity with a string of hits in the late-80’s and became “The Prophet” in 1994 after discovering the Rastafarian faith.
“Fire is for the purification, people know Capleton for energetic performances”, he said while signing autographs for fans. “It feels good to be back in Trinidad. You know I am no stranger.” This will be the 3rd time that he will share the stage with fellow Jamaican artiste, Sizzla here, as they gear up for the “West Indies vs. The World of Music” Concert.
He stated, “Not every dread is a Rasta, big difference between a Rastafarian and a dread.”
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS(NATION-4/23/04)- With Crop-Over Calypso tents due to open in a month, artistes are vowing not to release any music for the festival until authorities take serious action to protect their intellectual property.
Led by Peter Boyce of Madd Entertainment, 15 or so protesters compared themselves to cane-cutters refusing to reap the sugar crop, rallying support from various sectors of the music industry, as they crammed the studios of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corp. here in a united stand.
They also warned newer artistes who might be tempted to produce music for the June-August festival because of the current stand-off; with Krosfyah’s Edwin Yearwood telling them that their musical future could be in jeopardy if they did not unite.
Boyce showed that nothing had materialized from a government promise to set up a piracy committee. He also showed letters had been sent to the attorney general requesting meetings to address the protection of local music, to no avail.
AROUCA, TRINIDAD(EXPRESS-4/22/04)- Yesterday marked a historic day for the Orisha community in Trinidad and Tobago. They paid homage to Mother Earth in a public ceremony for the first time.
Led by Babalorisha Ijoye Forde, the Orisha faithful paid homage to Mamma Letta, also referred to as Mother of the Earth. Mamma Letta is one of the principal deities of the Yoruba pantheon of deities.
The event also coincided with the United Nations world-wide celebrations of Earth Day. As a mark of honour, members of the community planted trees at the “ancestors site” in Arouca.
“Bring the drums. Bring the drums.”, one of the drummers shouted. Then the celebrations began! The drumming and chanting began, followed by clapping and dancing to the rhythmic beat of the drums. They lit candles, offered prayers, fruits and vegetables and raised their hands high in praise of the deities. More drumming and singing took center stage and the afternoon of celebrations came to an end before sunset.
CARNIVAL NEWS FROM ST. THOMAS:
(all reports from the VI DAILY NEWS)
Four years since the Infernos won both King and Queen of the Band titles, the Carnival Troupe recaptured the honors by wooing judges with costumes decorated in shimmering disks and bright balls at Cultural Night Competitions.
Infernos troupe leader, Darryl Donovan was named King of the Band with his portrayal of “Carnival Explosion” costume, which was 18 feet high, accented with multi-colored metallic bulbs.
In a fiery portrayal of “Native Spirit”, Infernos Queen Laura Gutliffe exuded warmth, with red tentacles that responded to every movement she made on stage. Her costume was made from more than 300 yards of gold and red sequined material, 75 yards of chiffon and satin, and wings that spread 14 feet wide.
In the Junior King and Queen of the Band competition, the UVI 4-H Carnival Troupe took both prizes.
Bass pans rumbled and the melodic sounds of the tenor shrilled in the night air at Lionel Roberts Stadium to tunes of Soca and Calypso played by children’s and adult groups at the Steel Pan Jamboree.
The percussion instrument was originally created from 55-gallon oil barrels left behind at a U,S. Naval base in Trinidad by newly-emancipated African descendants who were banned from playing regular drums. In the early days, the steel pan was associated with a rebel-of-society kind of music that developed in the country’s ghettos. Now it has spread throughout the Caribbean and the world.
Other 2004 Carnival news;
Carnival Queen- Charlene Kilpatrick
Carnival Prince- Hosea Ottley
Carnival Princess- Nysha Lindo
Ms. VI American Classic- Joan Doss
VI Classic Man- Lee Vanterpool
With all the hoopla over St. Thomas Carnival; we forgot all about Jamaica’s Carnival also taking place! Here’s a report:
KINGSTON, JAMAICA(OBSERVER-4/20/04)- Strains of Soca, Disco and Reggae beat their way through the intermittent afternoon drizzle and competed for the attention of frenzied revelers, not-so-innocent bystanders and very busy vendors during the Carnival Road March here.
A mishap where a parade truck tore down light and cable fixtures put a temporary damper on the vibes. This however did not stop the revelers’ fun as the 10 other Carnival floats wooed them with both music and spectacles.
Irie FM and C&W had celebrities doing cameo performances, but judging from Beenie Man’s wave and the love thrown to him, C&W won that competition, despite DaVille’s soulful renditions on the Irie FM truck.
Irie FM proved the King of Reggae as they gave Byron Lee and the Dragonaires’ truck a good run, but the Dragonaires’ Soca drew a larger crowd.
While we’re on Carnival news-
ST. JOHN, VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-4/14/04)- The V.I. Tourism Dept. has announced the dates of the 50th annual St. John July 4th Celebration (AKA- St. John Carnival). The events, from May 29 through July 5, will celebrate a half-century of the island’s vibrant culture.
This year’s theme will be: “A Golden Extravaganza Galore For Festival 2004.”
The Festival Mix on June 26 will be one of the most extravagant events, featuring a trio of musical styles: reggae, R&B and soca.
Guy Benjamin will be this year’s Parade Marshal.
Here is this year’s schedule:
5/29 – Festival Ball @ The Westin St. John
6/05 – Mini Fair ; Pan-O-Rama, both in Cruz Bay Park
6/12 – Senior Variety Show @ Winston Wells Ballfield
6/13 – Prince & Princess Show @ W. Wells Ballfield
6/18 – Calypso Show
6/19 – Miss St. John Show @ Winston Wells Ballfield
6/20 – Food Fair and Coronation @ Cruz Bay Park
6/20 – Boat Races @ Cruz Bay harbor
6/25 – Band-O-Rama @ Winston Wells Ballfield
6/26 – Festival Mix @ Winston Wells Ballfield
6/27 – Gospel Show @ Winston Wells Ballfield
6/27 – Children’s rides open
6/28 – Celebration Village opens in Cruz Bay.
7/03 – Cultural Day in Cruz Bay Park
7/03 – Mr. Emancipation Day Selection
7/04 – Beach Party @ Oppenheimer Beach
7/05 – J’ouvert
7/05 – Adult & Children’s Parades and fireworks
Life is sweet, meh son – Peace & Blessings, Pato
