Rights group and churches weigh in

There have been more calls for Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding to resign.

Those putting additional pressure on Golding include rights group Jamaicans for Justice and some of the churches on the island.

Prime Minister Golding this week acknowledged authorising a lobbying firm to help the government contest a US extradition request for prominent Jamaican community leader, Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who is accused of drug and arms trafficking.

Golding notified parliament on Tuesday that he sanctioned the lobbying effort against the extradition of Christopher Coke.
Manifesto launch

The opposition party in Trinidad and Tobago has been refused use of the facilities of the national library to launch its manifesto for the 24 May general elections.

The party had booked the facilities of the national library for yesterday.

But political leader of the opposition coalition Peoples Platform, Kamla Persad-Bissessar told a political meeting on Thursday night that all of that changed very suddenly.

She said the the request was turned down at the last minute by Nalis, the body responsible for the National Library.
Budget support for Antigua

Antigua’s getting budget support from the European Commission through a grant of $12.4 million (10 million euros).

The government in St John’s says the money is being provided under what’s referred to as the V-Flex, an EU fund introduced in August last year in the wake of the global financial crisis.

It’s intended to assist African Caribbean and Pacific countries most affected by the economic downturn.

Grenada has already received $6.2 million from the fund.
Visas granted

The renowned Cuban folk singer, Silvio Rodriguez, has been granted a visa to perform in the United States next month for the first time in decades.

The veteran prima ballerina Alicia Alonso, another staunch supporter of the Cuba’s communist government, has also been granted a visa.