Regional News

LA GRITA, Venezuela (Reuters) – Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez declared himself cancer-free yesterday, four months after surgery to remove a malignant tumour that shook the South American nation ahead of a 2012 presidential election.

BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s air force killed a leftist guerrilla leader accused of sending cocaine-laden submarines to Mexico as part of an alliance with drug traffickers, Colombia’s defence minister said yesterday.

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said yestersday she would not prejudge her embattled sports minister and wanted a thorough investigation into corruption allegations against him.

HAVANA,  (Reuters) – Cuba will greatly expand the  amount of land granted to private farmers, an agriculture  official said yesterday, as the Communist-run country  struggles to boost productivity in the sector.

(Trinidad Express) Former chief operating officer of UDeCOTT, Neelanda Rampaul, racked up a TT$3.2 million bill over an eight-month period at the Hyatt Regency “in cookies, sleepovers and lavish banquets”, Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal told the House of Representatives yesterday.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaica’s total liabilities to Venezuela under the PetroCaribe Development Fund (PDF) has been increasing steadily since its creation in 2006 and is expected to reach J$164 billion at the end of this fiscal year, even in the midst of declining global oil prices.

(Trinidad Express) Jail eh nice! Days after former prime minister Patrick Manning dared the Government to lock him up, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar reminded him of his own words “jail eh nice”, while she provided proof that the former Manning-led administration practised discrimination through a secret scholarship fund.

(Barbados Nation) A two-year wage freeze in the Public Service and immediate cuts in Government spending form part of a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) prescription for the flagging Barbados economy.

(Barbados Nation) REDJet has dismissed suggestions it may eventually have to abandon its low-fare business model if it wants to continue adding smaller Caribbean islands to its destinations.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Brazil urgently needs to buy new  fighter jets and could set a 2012 deadline for completing the  purchase, Defence Minister Celso Amorim said yesterday.

BRASILIA (Reuters)– Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff faces another corruption scandal in her cabinet over accusations the sports minister took kickbacks, raising questions about the country’s credentials to host the World Cup and Olympics.

(Trinidad Guardian) Just before she is due to fly out to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has come under fire for insisting that a report recommending major reforms to the 54-nation organisation be kept secret.

HAVANA (Reuters) – A British investment fund has become the latest company swept up in an investigation by Cuban authorities of corrupt practices among the Communist island’s state businesses and their foreign partners.

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Mexican President Felipe  Calderon has said politicians in the main opposition party may  consider deals with criminals, opening an inflammatory new  front in the nation’s presidential election campaign.

(Barbados Nation) With the United States reporting that a record number of people will be deported, police here are still concerned about the lack of timely information on criminal deportees.

(Trinidad Express) Lynne Anne Williams, executive director of the Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (Impacs), has been fired.

(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The Health Ministry has issued a warning against the use of the Chinese health products ‘Bi Yan Pian’, ‘Specific Hou Ton Qing’ and ‘Pe Min Kan Wan’.

(Barbados Nation) Loss-making regional airline LIAT has plans to boost business with attractive travel packages for seniors, sports people, students and shoppers.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Creativity and improvisation  have long been the most celebrated trademarks of Brazilian  soccer teams.

HAVANA,  (Reuters) – Cuba will consider term and age  limits for its top officials at an upcoming Communist Party  conference as it seeks fresh leadership of the government led  by the Castro brothers for more than five decades.