Regional News

QUITO (Reuters) – South American leaders deeply divided by political differences may take a break from their usual recriminations today when they meet to discuss the continent’s response to the crisis in quake-shattered Haiti.

(Jamaica Gleaner) – In the wake of the mushrooming of thousands of organisations throughout the region soliciting money for emergency aid in Haiti, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding has called for an audit of all funds collected in Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states.

(Trinidad Express) – The National Security Ministry says it knew nothing about the return to Trinidad of former State witness Sean Quamina, who is believed to have been followed back to his New York home and killed on Monday.

Caricom pushes health agenda Caricom wants the United Nations to organise a global summit on the worldwide “epidemic” of lifestyle diseases.

CAMAGUEY, Cuba, (Reuters) – Cuba has launched an  ambitious project to ring urban areas with thousands of small  farms in a bid to reverse the country’s long agricultural  decline and ease its chronic economic woes.

(Jamaica Observer) Instead of the Christmas gift he had prematurely promised Cash Plus investors last year, liquidator Hugh Wildman will have to pay legal costs to a Dubai bank he believed was holding US$25 million, allegedly stashed there by Carlos Hill.

(Trinidad Express) – Meet Kamla Persad-Bissessar: Siparia MP, Political Leader of the United National Congress (UNC) and, according to informed sources, soon to be conferred with the title of Opposition Leader.

(Barbados Nation) – Barbados has turned down a request to accommodate a number of Haitians injured in the January 12 earthquake, including amputees.

(Jamaica Observer) – There won’t be any announcement about the sale of Air Jamaica until April.

Kidnap accused missionaries for court soon Ten American missionaries who have been charged with kidnapping children in Haiti could be called before the courts this weekend or as early as Monday.

(Trinidad Express) – A State witness living a new life in the United States, after helping to convict two killers last year, was hunted to his New York apartment and shot dead on Monday.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – President Hugo Chavez’s naming  of a heavyweight Cuban official to help fix Venezuela’s  electricity crisis has fired up his opponents at a politically  volatile time for the South American nation.

(Jamaica Gleaner) – Jamaica lost one of its most revered cultural figures on Tuesday night when Professor Rex Nettleford, vice-chancellor emeritus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and founder of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), died, just hours before he would have celebrated his 77th birthday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Organization of American States’ human rights body on Tuesday called on Venezuela to investigate “improper use of force” during clashes that left two dead after the suspension of an anti-government TV station.

Antigua urged to improve its tourism product Tourist destination Antigua and Barbuda is being urged to become more cost effective.

SANTIAGO DE CUBA (Reuters) – Retail outlets selling everything in Cuban pesos are popping up across the country in what may be the government’s first steps toward phasing out its unpopular two-currency system.

GENEVA (Reuters) – Australia, Brazil and Thailand called yesterday for the immediate withdrawal of an additional export of 500,000 tonnes of out-of-quota sugar by the EU, saying it was illegal under World Trade Organisation rules.

(Trinidad Guardian) – T&T and Venezuela will soon sign a pact to increase trade in energy products and to develop the oil and gas sectors of both countries.

(Jamaica Observer) – President of the Islamic Council of Jamaica, Mustafa Muhammad, says he agrees with the Sharia law which prescribes death for people who openly flaunt homosexual behaviour.

Haitian vessel blocked A vessel carrying more than 100 Haitians fleeing their country has been intercepted by Turks and Caicos Islands police.