Regional News

Consul ‘murdered’ in Jamaica Police in Jamaica say a British honorary consul has been found dead at his home in Montego Bay, the victim of an apparent murder.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will discuss major energy and military agreements with Russia during a two-day visit which started yesterday.

(Trinidad Express) – Two police constables caught trying to destroy what appeared to be court exhibits in a bonfire at D’Abadie have been arrested.

PARIS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinian people, telling a French newspaper that the bombing of Gaza late last year was an unprovoked attack.

New Montserrat team Montserrat has a new government after Tuesday’s general election.

(Jamaica Gleaner) – A local intelligence official is warning that the nation is being plunged into a diplomatic nightmare, which is likely to have dire implications for the safety of the public and the economy of the country, with the apparent failure of Jamaican authorities to act on an extradition order for west Kingston strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.

TT recovery predicted Trinidad and Tobago Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira has said the country’s economy will recover next year.

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Venezuela and Iran will each invest $760 million in the other’s energy sectors under deals signed during a visit to Tehran by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Iran’s Oil Ministry website SHANA said yesterday.

(Antigua Sun) – A number of tourists, who accused the police of beating them up, were taken to court yesterday to face several charges.

(Trinidad Express) – The police officer in whose home a quantity of courtroom exhibits was allegedly found has been granted $720,000 bail by a Justice of the Peace.

Jamaica expects more airline seatsIn spite of the gloom surrounding tourism, several Caribbean nations are continuing to report increased airlift for the winter season ahead.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Bernard Coard, the former deputy prime minister of the short-lived People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) in Grenada, who was imprisoned for 26 years for the murder of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop in 1983, intends to join his wife in Jamaica.

(Trinidad Guardian) Vera Bhajan, 22, the young woman from Felicity, Chaguanas, who was born without arms, has graduated from University of the West Indies (UWI) with a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB).

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela will pull the plug on 29 more radio stations, a top official in President Hugo  Chavez’s government said yesterday, just weeks after dozens  of other outlets were closed in a media clampdown.

(Trinidad Express) The two houses of Parliament – the House of Representatives and the Senate – are expected to be summoned in historic session to vote on whether a tribunal should be appointed to investigate President George Maxwell Richards’s conduct with respect to the appointment of an Integrity Commission.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Thousands of Venezuelans  marched yesterday in protests against President Hugo Chavez  while thousands of his supporters held their own rallies, a  sign of the sharp split in the OPEC nation over the socialist  leader’s policies.

Strongman facing deportation to US controls downtown Kingston-peace institute member (Jamaica Observer) A member of the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) says influential Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke has the power to prevent social disorder in downtown Kingston, should Government decide to have him extradited to the United States.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Unis McKenzie has helped raise more than 40 children and is willing to take in more.

(Trinidad Express) Tobago police have launched an investigation into the cancellation of an Independence day event entitled “Experience the Concert” featuring popular US actor and producer Tyler Perry and Pastor Donnie Mc Clurkin.

(Trinidad Guardian) Anthero Mootoo, the teenager found guilty of committing fraud in the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations, was on Thursday spared a fine or jail term.