CARIBBEAN NEWS
Vol. 2 , No. 5 - June 2004
QUITO, ECUADOR(AP- 6/9/04)- Despite initial objections from the U.S. and Haiti, the Organization of American States opened the way for an investigation into the ouster of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The OAS also called for elections in Haiti as soon as possible.
Aristide accuses the U.S. of forcing him from office, a charge Washington denies. He is now in asylum in So. Africa after spending 6 weeks in Jamaica.
Foreign ministers from around the Americas committed their nations to undertaking "all the diplomatic initiatives needed" to promote democracy in Haiti.
The general assembly invoked Article 20 of the organization’s charter, which allows it to undertake an investigation of a country, "in the event of unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime that seriously impairs the democratic order." The U.S. and Haiti's new government are opposed to invoking Article 20, but the Caribbean nations comprising CARICOM insisted on its inclusion. CARICOM still refuses to recognize Haiti’s new government.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI(GUARDIAN- 5/26/04)- More than 500 people are feared dead in the Dominican Republic and Haiti after flooding and mudslides swamped villages and settlements in the neighboring Caribbean countries. Weeks of incessant rain on the island of Hispaniola, which the 2 countries share, caused rivers to burst their banks and surge into villages, carrying away people and houses and burying victims under mud and debris. Power and phone lines to several towns were cut and thousands were left homeless.
The worst affected area in Haiti was the town of Fond Verrettes, where floodwaters rose from a dry riverbed and washed away hundreds of buildings. At least 158 perished in the town and 50 deaths were reported in the surrounding area.
In the Dominican Republic, the border town of Jimani was swamped by 10 inches of rain in 24 hours. One hundred thirty-five people lost their lives here and another 200 people were missing and feared dead.
Survivors were reduced to clawing through the mud looking for missing relatives. Canadian troops and U.S Marines were flying helicopters with water and relief supplies to the hardest hit part of Haiti.
The flooding was the worst on the island since a 1994 tropical storm triggered mudslides that killed more than 800 people in Haiti.
ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS- 6/8/04)- Under new revisions to VI Congressional Delegate Donna Christensen’s proposal to create a territorial chief financial officer, the U.S. Interior Dept. secretary would play a larger role in selecting candidates for the position by allowing the secretary a vote on the commission in the event of a tie.
Christensen says she realizes giving the Interior secretary more authority in the selection process may lead opponents of her proposal to intensify their criticism that the bill essentially authorizes a federal takeover.
The proposal has drawn an endless barrage of criticism from local leaders, who argue that a CFO would tread on the local government’s authority. Christensen’s plan would allow the CFO to set the spending limits for the government and monitor government agencies for compliance within those limits. The CFO would assume all the responsibilities of the Office of Management and Budget under the proposal.
A spokesman for Governor Charles Turnbull reiterated his unyielding opposition to the legislation.
Once the U.S. House of Representatives Resources Committee hears testimony on the bill on June 16, Christensen will make revisions and then present the bill for a vote before the committee. If it survives that vote, it will go before the full House for approval and then to the Senate.
ST. CATHERINE, JAMAICA(OBSERVER- 6/12/04)- An allegation by PNP Councillor John Wilson that some JLP councillors were dealing in drugs sparked an uproar at the sitting of the council.
The drama began when People’s National Party(PNP) councillors sought to ascertain whether Jamaica Labor Party(JLP) councillor Henry Fisher, who has been absent for 3 consecutive meetings, had been arrested in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges, or if he was in the hospital in the U.S. as was reported to them. Local narcotics police confirmed that Fisher had been arrested in Key West, Florida after he was alledgedly found with 6 kilos of cocaine.
“We as councillors demand to know…the true position concerning Fisher…This has cast a doubt on our integrity as councillors and has put all of us…in disrepute,” said Wilson amidst shouts from his JLP colleagues to shut up. “I have the strongest belief that there are more…who are dealing in drugs. So you can go on- talk until you are caught.”
Councillors on both sides objected to the statement and called to rule Wilson out of order.
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS(DAILY NATION- 6/12/04)- The Barbados Water Authority lifted its prohibition order on the use of water from its mains for non-essential purposes. However, it will be intensifying its Use Water Wise Campaign to ensure that the support gained for water conservation during this period is encouraged and rewarded.
The positive response of the public to the prohibition notice contributed to the Authority’s maintaining adequate water supply during the just concluded dry season. The wetter than normal dry season also helped to reduce the demand.
PHILLIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN(DAILY HERALD- 6/9/04)- Princess Juliana International Airport will soon have a body scanner. The St. Maarten government had requested it because the smuggling of drugs via the island to Europe is a problem. The government believes the island is suffering the consequences of the success of the body scanner at Hato Airport in Curacao.
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD (EXPRESS-6/3/04)- A citizen of the U.S., residing in Tobago, was fined $10,000 for marijuana possession. Lucy Goldstein was charged last Oct 2nd with possession of of 270 grammes of marijuana and had pleaded not guilty to the offense.
The court had heard that Goldstein was returning to Tobago and the marijuana was seized from her at the port. The judge took into consideration that it was her first offense and handed down the fine or face 3 years hard labor.
ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS- 6/8/04)- All of the Virgin Islands, those under the governance of the U.S. and the U.K. will be working together to discuss common issues and make joint recommendations in the recently formed Inter-Virgin Islands Council.
“There has been a long history of friendship between the…islands,” said Clyde Lettsome, secretary in the BVI Chief Ministers Office. “What the council is seeking to do is formalize that friendship.”
The council will be a physical forum where representatives from the USVI and the BVI can discuss issues that face both territories, like disaster preparedness, cultural exchange, inter-island transport, sport fishing and sustainable use of the sea.
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS(DAILY NATION- 6/12/04)- A 1766 map of Bridgetown was presented to City MP and Senior Minister Dame Billie Miller, providing another boost for the 375th anniversary celebrations of Bridgetown.
The map identifies the area of the city destroyed by a fire on May 14, 1766. Two-thirds of Bridgetown were razed in the fire. The map was found in Philadelphia, U.S.
In accepting the map, Dame Billie gave assurance that it would be displayed in the West Wing of Parliament.
ENVIRONMENT:
ANEGADA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS(ISLAND SUN-6/12/04)- The staff from the Darwin Project are in Anegada monitoring bird and turtle activity and have taken to the skies in their effort. With the help of the BVI Police Surveillance plane and crew, project staff have expanded their turtle efforts beyond Anegada and have begun conducting aerial surveys of all the potential turtle nesting beaches in the BVI.
It is not just the turtle work of the Darwin Project that has been expanding. The project has also undertaken an initial survey of the nesting seabirds throughout the BVI. The islands are regionally important for almost all nesting seabirds and, in some species it is globally important.
The bird surveys have revealed that the Greater Flamingos have been relatively successful this year and 8 new species have been added to the growing bird list. Although no turtle nesting has been recorded, 21 turtles have been caught, tagged and released.
For more information on the Darwin Project, go to www.seaturtle.org/mtrg/projects/anegada.
SPORTS:
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD(EXPRESS- 6/3/04)- Eight West Indies players, including Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Jermaine Lawson are among several international players named in teams for the first professional cricket league in the U.S., scheduled to run from June 18 to September 4.
Organisers said individual contracts would be worth up to $60,000 for those playing the entire season of a tournament of 20-overs-an-inning matches. Pay-per-view coverage is expected.
Also named in the teams were players from India, Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The league features 8 teams: New York Storm, New Jersey Fire, DC Forward, Florida Thunder, Chicago Tornadoes, Los Angeles Unity, San Francisco Freedom and Texas Arrowheads. The format will follow that of the 20/20 tournament introduced last season with matches limited to 20 overs a innings matches.
The teams are divided into 2 leagues, with the opening match between the Storm and the Thunder at Homestead Stadium in New York on June 18.
ARTS AND CULTURE:
CHAGUARAMAS, TRINIDAD(EXPRESS- 6/1/04)- To say that the Licensed To Thrill Concert here scored big would be an understatement. The event attracted more than 3,000 people, who seemed quite pleased with the line-up of DJ’s featured as well as the performance by Barrington Levy and his Detour Band.
Doing a warm-up session, the band did “Alleluia”, “The Woman You Love” and “Best In Me”. When the man hailed as the “Yellow Canary” joined them on stage, they launched into “Murderer”, “Under Mi Sensi” and “Everyday I Love Her A Little Bit More”.
The highlight of the evening came when before Levy could begin to sing the first line of “Too Experienced”, the crowd had gone off with the vocals, leaving him staring in disbelief at the edge of the stage. He let the people sing, then called for the song to be brought back to the top.
Levy also featured a new song, “Please Jah”.
ST. JOHN, VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS- 6/7/04)- A flurry of flashing drumsticks and gyrating hips filled the streets of Cruz Bay as hundreds of musicians pounded out song after song on steel pans. Its time for St. John July 4th Celebration(AKA CARNIVAL!).
This year’s presentation of Pan-0-Rama 2004 brought 11 steel bands from St. John and St. Thomas together for an afternoon of musical enjoyment. It was the 2nd event of the month-long 50th anniversary of Celebration, with parades and fireworks July 4th, and of course, J’ouvert.
From the performances of more than 350 musicians, most elementary or junior high school children, it was clear that steel pan music has a growing base of young enthusiasts.
While music filled the air, vendors sold arts, crafts and food in the park. From hot sauces to paintings, there was plenty to keep shoppers busy.
The remaining events are:
June 18 – Calypso Show
June 19 – Miss St. John Selection
June 20 – Food Fair and Coronation
June 25 – Band-O-Rama
June 26 – Festival Mix
June 27 – Gospel Show
June 28 – Opening of Celebration Village
July 3 – Cultural Day
July 4 – beach party
July 5 – J’ouvert, Parades and Fireworks
WEATHER:
Leading hurricane forecasters have predicted an above normal season for the Atlantic basin this year. For the latest info on the forecasts, click on our link with CARIBWX on the homepage.
