Regional News

Call for G20 to consider poor countries Barbados’ Prime Minister David Thompson has called for the Caribbean’s concerns to be taken on board by rich countries seeking to turn around the global financial crisis.

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) – The de facto government of  Honduras denied entry yesterday to an Organization of American  States delegation as tensions mounted with Brazil, which has  given refuge to ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

PM tells UN General Assembly (Trinidad Express) The rising crime that is currently affecting Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region has been caused by the loss of preferential markets for the export of bananas and sugar, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said on Saturday.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Embattled Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament, Joseph Hibbert, said he was not contemplating stepping down as Member of Parliament (MP) in the wake of fresh allegations that he received more than £100,000 from British bridge-building company, Mabey and Johnson Limited.

(Trinidad Express) Attorney General John Jeremie told the Senate on Friday night that he is “not going to abuse Parliamentary privilege” by naming the former chief legal officer whose error he claimed had cost the country $1 billion.

(Barbados Nation) Finger-printing at the Grantley Adams International Airport is not mandatory, says government.

– defence surprised, parents hope for the best (Jamaica Gleaner) – Young Dominique Fray wept uncontrollably for her brother and attorney George Thomas seemed listless, shocked and disappointed by the guilty verdict that was slapped on his client, convicted hijacker Stephen Fray, in the Western Regional Gun Court on Thursday.

(Trinidad Express) – “The only peace is rest in peace!”  These were the words uttered by the mother of Travis “Wet Money” Breedy on Thursday, as his lifeless body lay face-up mere inches away from a drain on George Street, Port of Spain, one day after warring gangs signed a “peace treaty”.

DomRep eyes IMF agreement The Dominican President, Leonel Fernandez, says his government is likely to finalise a stand-by agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the next two to three weeks.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez hopes to widen anti-US alliances when he hosts African leaders on a Caribbean island this weekend, but his radicalism and Brazil’s greater economic clout put limits on his appeal.

Trinidad to push snooping law The Trinidad and Tobago government plans to introduce legislation to allow for the tapping of telephone conversations.

(Trinidad Guardian) – The State has to pay the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, which operates Central Broadcasting Services Ltd, close to $3 million in damages for its unequal treatment and delay in granting them a FM radio broadcasting licence.

Fidel praises Obama Pre-Obama, Fidel Castro praising a US president was almost unheard of.

(Antigua Sun) – A Guyanese man has found himself in deeper trouble with the law after he attempted to perpetrate a fraud on the court.

HAVANA (Reuters) – Cubans began taking a hard look this week at entrenched customs like food rationing, pilfering on the job, cradle-to-grave subsidies and black market trading in a national debate called by President Raul Castro.

Wanted Haitian detained A Haitian born man wanted by police in Miami for questioning in the killings of his wife and their five children, has been detained in Port-au-Prince.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said yesterday he would meet next week with companies interested in bidding for the Carabobo oil blocks in the Orinoco heavy crude region.

(Trinidad Express)  – A 15-year-old secondary school student is among eight people who were arrested on Monday, following the seizure of a stash of arms and ammunition in Morvant.

(Jamaica Observer) – A 75-year-old man was brutally murdered and a 59-year-old man injured in a brazen Saturday afternoon attack at the Rae Town Fishing Beach in Kingston, bringing to seven, the number of persons killed over the weekend.

IMF won’t do much, says Bird Antigua’s opposition leader Lester Bird has said that the country should not expect much help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).