Regional News

(Jamaica Gleaner) The government has started to roll out an ambitious multimillion-dollar project designed to place high-speed Internet in schools, post offices and public libraries across the island within 18 months.

(Barbados Nation) CLICO’s alleged contravention of an August 2009 order by the Supervisor of Insurance to stop selling new business is headed for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

(Barbados Nation) It’s official. Non-nationals can no longer access Government medical treatment facilities in Barbados unless in cases of emergency or a public health threat.

(Jamaica Observer) The first shipment of Jamaican green bean coffee was shipped on Tuesday to China, as the Government continues its thrust to diversify the access to Jamaica’s premium brand.

(Barbados Nation) Barbados’ model of development has been cited by a Harvard University professor as one of the best examples in Latin American and Caribbean.

(Trinidad Express) One Caribbean Media Ltd (OCM), the indigenous pan-Caribbean media company, officially launched its new Caribbean SuperStation (CSS) on Monday.

QUITO, (Reuters) – Ecuador demanded yesterday that  the U.S. ambassador leave the country, declaring the envoy  “persona non grata” over U.S.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil said yesterday it  will apply import tariffs on specific goods from China and the  United States, the latest measures to help stem a flood of  cheap imports that is eroding the country’s trade balance.

NEW YORK, (Reuters Life!) – The tiny island of  Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos has been voted the top  beach destination in the world, according to the travel website  TripAdvisor.

PORT-AU-PRINCE/ MIAMI, (Reuters) – As the carnival  music star “Sweet Micky”, Haiti’s shaven-headed Michel Martelly  captivated audiences with an engaging style, provocative  on-stage antics and satirical lyrics.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Michel Martelly, a  shaven-headed singer and political outsider, won Haiti’s  presidential election in a landslide victory that tapped into  deep popular desire for change in the poor, earthquake-battered  Caribbean state.

(Trinidad Express) President George Maxwell Richards revoked the appointment of Police Service Commission (PSC) chairman Nizam Mohammed, yesterday morning.

(Trinidad Express) The ethnic imbalance within the upper echelons of the Police Service, that favours Afro-Trinidadians, was pushed centre stage by Police Service Commission chairman Nizam Mohammed two Fridays ago at a Joint Select Committee (JSC) meeting at the Parliament, when he stated his intention to fix the disparity.

LIMA (Reuters) – Left-wing nationalist Ollanta Humala has extended his lead in Peru’s presidential race and former Prime Minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski may now be in second place, polls showed on Friday before the April 10 vote.

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Al Qaeda operatives are in Brazil planning attacks, raising money and recruiting followers, a leading news magazine reported yesterday, renewing concerns about the nation serving as a hide-out for Islamic militants.

BRASILIA (Reuters) – President Dilma Rousseff is among the most popular presidents in Brazil’s recent history based on their approval ratings three months into office, an opinion poll showed yesterday.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela began dismantling a notorious police force yesterday as part of moves by President Hugo Chavez’s government to tackle high crime rates that could hurt his re-election chances next year.

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – US and Guatemalan agents captured Guatemala’s top drug trafficker yesterday as the United States pitches in to help curb drug cartels’ expanding reach in Central America.

(Trinidad Express) – President George Maxwell Richards appears to have no choice but to remove Nizam Mohammed as chairman of the Police Service Commission.

(Jamaica Gleaner) – Jamaica’s foreign affairs ministry is sending a team of officials to Barbados to discuss Shanique Myrie’s allegations of abuse at an airport there.