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PRESORTED JANUARY 2006 STANDARD ¨ U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 7315

Tel: (305) 238-2868 1-800-605-7516 [email protected] We cover your world Vol. 17 No. 2 [email protected]

When America's largest mass tran- sit system was shut down for three consecu- tive days last month, it was Trinidadian Roger Toussaint who led the strike for more than 37,000 bus and subway employees, page 2. In just over a year, the Caribbean will host Cricket World Cup 2007, the one-day The trial of controversial game’s biggest spectacle. West Indies Jamaican Cricket Board President Ken Gordon cop Reneto Adams was (inset) believes the region, despite among the lingering problems such as the rising big stories coming out of crime rate and poor form of the West the Caribbean Indies team, is on track to put on a grand in 2005, another challenging year for the region as a whole, show for all the world to see, page 11. page 13.

Reggae superstar Shaggy will be among the top enter- tainers scheduled to visit the Caribbean in 2006, a year jampacked with attractions which should appeal to homesters and prospective visitors to the region, page 17. INSIDE News ...... 2 Feature ...... 12 Arts/Entertainment ...... 17 Youth/Education ...... 21 Local ...... 7 Food ...... 14 Health ...... 18 Sport ...... 23 Viewpoint ...... 9 Tourism/Travel ...... 15 Business ...... 19 Region ...... 25 Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 2

2 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Caribbean advocates condemn U.S. immigration bill as racist NELSON A. KING District in Brooklyn, which hiring of illegal workers by Senate, where Republican “Bush is pandering to predominantly comprises providing employers with a Majority Leader Bill Frist, of the conservatives,” he said, NEW YORK - A Congressional Caribbean immigrants, urged reliable method in determin- Tennessee, said he will bring adding, “these are some very bill that would tighten border the administration of President ing whether employees are up immigration legislation in dark clouds for Caribbean controls and prevent illegal George W. Bush to take a bet- legally eligible to work in the February that will provide a immigrants. It’s going to be immigrants from getting jobs in ter look at immigration on the country. framework for guest worker some very challenging times the United States has been whole, rather than pinning The bill is modeled on ideas. for our people.” condemned by Caribbean blame on poor immigrants legislation introduced by He said the most sweep- immigration advocates here as from the region and Latin California Republican BUSH’S PLAN ing provision of the House racist, discriminatory and America, who, he said, are try- Congressman Ken Calvert The Bush administration bill would be requiring all unfair. ing desperately to eke out a that makes mandatory an has proposed that undocu- employers in the country, Vincentian-born Dr. living. employment eligibility verifi- mented immi- more than seven million, to Kendall Stewart, chair of the “And they cation system, which is cur- grants be submit Social Security num- New York City Council on need to do so rently voluntary. allowed to get bers and other information to Immigration, said Caribbean in a fair and The new House bill three-year a national database to verify and other minorities are just manner,” increases civil and criminal work visas. the legal status of workers. unfairly singled out in the new he said. penalties for knowingly hiring Under Bush’s “That’s jealousy, avarice push to curb immigration. or employing an illegal work- plan, illegal and discrimination for those “To me, this is ridiculous RUSH JOB er. In addition, the bill incor- immigrants who sponsored and supported for them to criminalize people Just porates legislation originally could extend this bill,” he said, “because because they overstay their before the Stewart passed by the Committee on their visas for Claire you’re locking down the coun- time here,” he told CMC. Christmas Homeland Security, requiring an additional try, you’re sending people “This bill is not aimed at break, the U.S. House of mandatory detention for three years, but must return to underground.” Russians, immigrants from the Representatives rushed immigrants apprehended at their home countries for a Claire urged religious former Soviet Union and oth- through passage of the Border U.S. land borders attempting year to apply for a new work leaders, who support the Bush ers from Europe. Protection, Anti-terrorism and to cross illegally. That meas- permit. administration, to speak out “It’s ridiculous for them Illegal Immigration Control ure comes into effect on Oct. Irwin Claire, the forcefully against these “dra- to put blame on immigrants Act of 2005. Sponsored by 1, 2006. Jamaican-born managing conian measures.” for America’s problems,” he Republican Congressman The bill essentially makes director of the Queens-based added. “They’re trying to bet- James Sensenbrenner, of unlawful presence in America, Caribbean Immigrant - CMC ter their way of life.” Wisconsin, chair of the House currently a civil offense, a Services, said the entire immi- ✺ Stewart, representative for Judiciary Committee, the felony. gration matter is “a political the 45th City Councilmanic measure would combat the The bill next moves to the football right now. Jamaican ordered Trinidadian leads mass transit strike in New York extradited to U.S. NEW YORK, CMC – When on Dec. 22. Subway trains after three whose missions and consulates America’s largest mass transit immediately began to roll by workdays of in mid-Manhattan were system was shut down for midnight Dec. 22, and, by walking over closed, partially closed or on drug charges three consecutive days last rush-hour Dec. 23, officials bridges, shar- operated with very limited KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - month, it was a Trinidadian said all 139 were fully opera- ing cars with staff – joined in the elation. A 41-year-old man was late who led the strike of over tional. strangers, Aubrey Campbell, who heads last month ordered extradited 37,000 bus and subway Schools were back on jamming com- the Jamaica Information to the United States following employees. pre-strike schedules, and the muter hubs, Services (JIS) here, housed in reports of his involvement in As president of the driving restrictions into paying hiked Toussaint the Jamaica Consulate a conspiracy to smuggle more Transport Workers than 1,000 kilograms of mari- Union (TWU), Roger juana to Florida. Toussaint, who left his Presley Bingham, who is native country at the also known as “Butcherman” age of 17, gave the final or “Pressa” from the western signal to strike and to parish of St. James, was stop striking. In so ordered extradited when he doing, he had the entire appeared in a Corporate Area New York City in the court. Bingham, who was cap- palm of his hands. The tured in May last year, was city was thrown into indicted by a U.S. Grand Jury utter chaos. on Mar. 30, 2004, along with Seven million bus Norris “Deedo” Nembhard, and subway riders were Clasford Morris, Robroy left miserable – finding Williams and five others who grave difficulty getting are now facing extradition. to and from work, or Bingham eluded the conducting other busi- authorities for more than a nesses in bone-chilling year before he was eventually weather. captured by members of the The massive strike, Fugitive Apprehension Team which started on Dec. during a crackdown on the 20, left a $1 billion dent top drug dealers based in in the local economy. Montego Bay. After acrimonious The U.S. government spats with New York has submitted to the local City Mayor Michael police the names of a number Bloomberg and behind- of so-called drug kingpins the scenes maneuvers wanted to stand trial on drug with state mediators, trafficking charges. Last year, Toussaint – who partici- Toussaint, left front, gave the order for New York’s transit workers to go on strike. 16 fugitives were captured by pated in, and was influ- members of the Fugitive enced by, the protest move- Manhattan were lifted. taxi fares and braving the bit- General, said he was happy Apprehension Team. ment in Trinidad and Tobago ter cold on bicycles – rejoiced. the agonizing strike was over. ✺ in the 1960s – ordered 33,700 REJOICING Caribbean diplomatic rep- employees to return to work New Yorkers – fed up resentatives and staffers – (CONTINUED ON PAGE 6) Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 3

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 3

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4 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Jailed N.Y. cop seeks leniency Caribbean group condemns in brutal Haitian torture case firing of Haitian judges NEW YORK, CMC - station house in Brooklyn to jury failed to reach a verdict NELSON A. KING reassigned without their con- Prosecutors in Brooklyn have the bathroom, where he was on another count of perjury sent.” asked a federal judge to savagely assaulted in 1997. and on charges of violating NEW YORK, CMC – The Consequently, he said, the reconsider the five-year prison and conspiring to violate Brooklyn-based Caribbean government’s action “under- sentence imposed in 2002 on a FIRESTORM Louima’s civil rights by taking Guyana Institute of mines the rule of law in Haiti police officer convicted of per- In the case that triggered part in the 1997 assault. Democracy (CGID) has and has exacerbated political Under the agreement, the condemned as a portentous instability.” government dismissed the “return of the Francois ‘Papa three other counts, and Doc’ Duvalier era” the recent MANIPULATION Schwartz agreed not to appeal dismissal of five judges of the Though no official rea- the perjury conviction. Haitian Supreme Court. sons were given, the five Schwartz also agreed not to That era was character- Supreme Court justices – half ask the judge to reduce the ized by wonton “brutalization of the court – were fired five-year sentence, and the and lynching of political reportedly on the direct prosecutors said that if certain opponents,” said Grenadian orders of interim Prime conditions were met, they Robert Antoine, CGID’s Minister Gerard Latortue and would ask the Bureau of international director, in a his justice minister. The gov- Prisons to seek the sentence statement. ernment had assailed the deci- reduction. He said the United sion to allow Dumarsais to States-backed interim govern- contest this month’s presiden- NARROW ment’s removal of the judges, tial elections. INTERPRETATION after they ordered the rein- Antoine said Latortue’s But, unknown to both the statement of Haitian-born actions constitute “a crude, prosecution and defense, it U.S. millionaire Dumarsais meandering attempt to Haitian-born Abner Louima hospitalized after being tortured by New York City police. has been the practice of the Simeus in the forthcoming manipulate the electoral Bureau of Prisons to seek presidential race, is illegal. process in order to gain an jury in connection with the a firestorm of protests, prima- such reductions only in cases Antoine said, according unfair political advantage” in brutal police station house rily by Haitian and other of serious illness. That prac- to Title V, Article 177 of the the upcoming elections. torture of Haitian immigrant Caribbean tice, lawyers on both sides Haitian Constitution, “Judges “His machinations have Abner Louima. immigrants in contend, is an overly narrow of the Supreme Court are caused some of the presiden- In recently-filed papers, the U.S., interpretation of the law. appointed for life. They may tial candidates to boycott the federal prosecutors agreed another police Schwartz’s lawyers argued that be removed from office only elections,” he said, noting that with defense lawyers for the officer, Justin the Federal District Court because of a legally deter- the elections are the first since former officer, Charles Volpe, was judge who heard the case - mined abuse of authority or President Jean-Bertrand Schwarz, 40, who argued last convicted for Reena Raggi, who now sits on be suspended following an Aristide was deposed in Feb. month that the United States violating the U.S. Court of Appeals for indictment leveled against Bureau of Prisons erred in Louima’s civil the Second Circuit - should them. They may not be (CONTINUED ON PAGE 6) refusing to consider a 13- Schwartz, seeking rights by using vacate the sentence because month sentence reduction for a reduction of a broken both sides mistakenly believed prison time. Schwarz under a statute that broom stick to the Bureau of Prisons would Parents of Vincentian allows such reductions in sodomize consider the extraordinary circumstances. Louima, severely rupturing his reduction The prosecutors said in a 2001 internal organs. request. killed in British Army agreement with Schwarz’s Volpe is currently serving “The agree- lawyers that they would not 30 years in a federal lock-up. ment was oppose such a reduction. Louima, who spent sever- based on a denied view of The agreement was al months in hospital to repair mutual mis- reached after a jury in 2001 his spleen, bladder and other take, said convicted Schwarz of perjury internal organs, was, subse- Ronald son’s body for falsely testifying in an earli- quently, awarded over $7 mil- Volpe, sentenced Fischetti, who, er trial that he had not escort- lion by the City of New York to 30 years in along with KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, accompanied his son’s body ed Louima from the front desk to settle the civil suit. prison. Diarmuid CMC - The father of a indicated that he had died of the 70th Precinct (police) In the Schwartz case, the White, repre- Vincentian-born soldier says from multiple injuries. sents Schwarz, “and Judge he wants the British authori- “There is nothing here Raggi can now re-sentence ties to tell him exactly how his that actually states what he him to 47 months if she so son died in London last died from,” Prescod said, not- wishes.” month. ing that a local pathologist “The defendant’s consent Monroe Prescod said he had advised him to contact to a (five-year) sentence, and had been prevented from the relevant local authorities his agreement (to the condi- viewing the body of his son to get permission to contact a tions) were clearly premised Kerlon Shallow, who British second autopsy. on the possibility of a reduc- Army officials said died of But he said the second tion to 47 months,” said Eric “multiple injuries” sustained autopsy was not carried since Corngold, chief assistant U.S. in a vehicular accident at an the funeral home said that the attorney. unidentified army base on “body was too decomposed to Schwarz began serving his Dec. 8. Shallow had been a do a post mortem on. sentence on Dec. 27, 2002. member of the British Army “I said I am the father, Without a reduction, he will for three years, and he was here is the mother, can’t you remain in prison until May buried here on Dec. 22. at least let us peek at it? He 2007. But he could be released, But Prescod said an offi- said this body is too mashed with time off for good behav- cer of the British Army came up for you to see. I won’t even ior, in Jan. 2007, Fischetti said. to St. Vincent when Shallow’s let my enemy see it. The Louima’s lawyer Sanford body arrived on Dec. 17 and whole body is mashed up, real Rubenstein said his client is instructed a local funeral mashed up,” Prescod said he not commenting on the issue. home not to allow anyone to had been told by the funeral “Abner Louima is confi- view the body. home. dent the judge will do the “He wanted the body to Prescod said he is hoping right things,” Rubenstein said. be buried as soon as possi- to find answers through legal ✺ ble,” Prescod said, noting that or political channels. the death certificate that ✺ Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 5

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6 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS Fire kills three Caribbean Caribbean national sworn family members in Atlanta in as judge in Brooklyn NEW YORK - In an elaborate paign. he Caribbean communi- Gardens. During the Dec. 27 cere- ceremony that spanned almost “There is an old African ty in the United States Reports from the Dekalb mony, Plummer blamed the four hours, the first Caribbean- proverb, ‘It takes a village to suffered a tragic loss County Fire Department indi- devil for the loss of his family T born woman to be elected to raise a child’. Today, I’m that during the Christmas season cated that it was informed members, but refused to the Civil Court Bench in a child, and you’re my village. I when fire destroyed the about the fire at around 11 accept defeat. Brooklyn Borough-wide race promise you that I’ll be the Atlanta, Georgia home of p.m. Dec. 22, but by the time “It is the work of this was sworn into office last best judge that I can be.” Jamaican-born residents, they reached to the house it idiot devil,” he told the con- month. killing three of its occupants, was already in flames. The gregation, “but that devil is A capacity crowd wit- DESERVING including two children. three bodies were reportedly lost.” nessed the induction ceremo- Justice Hinds-Radix, who Tracey-Ann Plummer, 37, found on the second floor of Tracey-Ann Plummer was ny of Trinidadian-born lawyer was honored recently by the her son Dijon, seven, and her the house. remembered for her kind Sylvia Gwendolyn Ash, the Barbados government with stepdaughter Dilia, eight, died The cause of the fire was nature and love for her chil- daughter of a Grenadian the island’s second highest on Dec. 22 at the five-bed- still not clear up to press time. dren. Dijon Jr. was remem- mother and Vincentian father award, said Ash truly deserves room house. They were buried Dijon Plummer Sr., Tracey- bered as an energetic child. who considers herself “a true to sit on the bench. on Dec. 27, when hundreds of Ann’s husband, was not at the Dilia had traveled from St. Caribbean daughter.” “She has the judicial tem- people attended the New house at the time of the fire. Maarten to be with her father Ash, in her formative perament, intelligence and Hope Seventh-day Adventist The family previously and stepmother. years, lived in Trinidad and commitment of the people in Church in Atlanta to pay trib- lived in Fort Lauderdale ✺ Tobago, Grenada, St. Vincent mind,” said Hinds-Radix. ute to their lives. They were before moving to the Atlanta and the Grenadines and Last September Ash interred at Kennedy Memorial area a year ago. London, England. Her parents, resoundingly defeated African who brought her to New York, American lawyers Norma after migrating to London in Jennings and Sandra Roper in Jamaican killed by hit-and-run driver in New the early 1970s, are now the borough-wide race in the deceased. Democratic Primary. She then A virtual Who’s Who in went on to snatch the general York after giving out gifts on Christmas Day Brooklyn politics attended the elections in November in a NELSON A. KING leaving, she recalled. often volunteer to do house- event, as Ash took the oath crowded field of six candi- hold repairs for nearby resi- from Brooklyn Supreme Court dates, running on the NEW YORK – A Jamaican KIND dents and offered treats for Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, her Democratic, Republican, man was killed by a hit-and- Minutes later, Mills, who area youngsters. Barbadian-born Howard Law Independence, Reform and run driver on Christmas Day migrated from Jamaica when “Anything you ask Mr. School mate and friend. Conservative parties’ lines. while walking home on a he was 17 years old, was hit Mills to do, he’ll do willingly,” “My victory is your victo- Brooklyn Borough Brooklyn street after giving out crossing the busy thorough- said neighbor Elsa George. ry,” said Ash, a former super- President Marty Markowitz Christmas gifts, the police said. fare and dragged 100 feet. “When an ice cream truck vising attorney at District said, while he rarely endorses The police said Nevilly “The doctor said (the comes, he’ll buy ice cream for Council 37, after taking the candidates for the bench, he Mills, 70, was crossing driver) reversed back at him,” all the kids.” oath. “Each of you played an ✺had supported Ash. Rockaway Parkway, at Avenue Joysilin Mills said, adding, ✺ instrumental part in my cam- B in the Brownsville section of “the police tell me some kids Brooklyn, at 12:01 a.m., when a saw it and ran.” silver Nissan Murano struck Mills was rushed to the Toussaint is Everybody’s ‘Person of the Year’ him and sped away. nearby Brookdale University Hospital, but the doctors NEW YORK, CMC - A benefits, Toussaint and the to the chagrin of many union “He didn’t suffer,” said United States-based Transport Workers Union members who accused him of Neomi Mills, 71, his wife of 47 could not save him. “Everybody knew him,” Caribbean magazine has (TWU) demonstrated that “selling out”. years. “God knew what he named Trinidadian-born labor they are keeping alive the best was doing, and I have no con- said his grieving wife, as neigh- bors and family members leader Roger Toussaint as its traditions of the American APPLAUSE trol over that.” “Person of the Year”. labor movement”, the maga- “We applaud Roger The victim’s sister Joysilin filled the Mills’s residence on Rockaway Parkway, offering The Brooklyn-based zine said in a statement. Toussaint for the dignified Mills, 67, said her brother was Everybody’s magazine said The magazine said that way he conducted himself returning from her nearby condolences and remembering the popular retiree, who lived Toussaint, who last month led once the strike was called, during the 54-hour strike, his home after giving out holiday a three-day strike that para- Mayor Michael Bloomberg principled approach, his ora- presents – a toy truck and a in the same house for the past 30 years. lyzed New York City transit and New York State Governor tory and his effective commu- dancing doll for the children system, was chosen because George Pataki waged a “war nication of the transit work- and Christmas card and some Mills earned a living as a dockworker in New Jersey he is “a man of principle who of words” against Toussaint, ers’ demands”, the magazine cash for her. aggressively embraced the and “conveniently forgot” to stated. “He hugged me and for many years. Neighbors recalled a man who would American credo of bequeath- remind New Yorkers that it “Moreover, we salute said, ‘I love you,’” before ing a better future for tomor- was the “thug” Toussaint who, Toussaint and the selfless, row’s worker. in 2002, in the wake of Sept. valiant workers of the “By waging an honorable 11, 2001 terrorist Transport Workers Union.” Caribbean group condemns battle to maintain workers’ attacks, accepted a “modest” ✺ hard-won pension and other contract for his union, much firing of Haitian judges Trinidadian leads mass transit strike in New York (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4) sion of the Supreme Court symbolized a glimmer of hope 2004. in a society that has experi- (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) secretary, who live in the MTA’s contract offer, “CGID considers the Brooklyn and the Bronx, which guaranteed 11 percent enced an ongoing erosion of “Everything should be actions of the Haitian govern- respectively, were unable to in raises over three years, its essential political institu- back up to speed,” said ment unconstitutional and get to work. because management wants tions,” he said. “The political Campbell. inimical to the democratic new hires to pay a bigger witch-hunt, however, under- He disclosed that his process in Haiti,” he said. DUEL share of their pensions. mines this trust and creates a office staggered staff to cush- “The arbitrary removal of the The duel between But Toussaint ordered the political climate, characterized ion the effects of the strike. Supreme Court judges further labor and management, the workers back on the job with- by reckless disregard for the Crispin Gregoire, enfeebles the entire judiciary.” Metropolitan Transportation out any public announcement constitution, institutional Dominica’s ambassador to Antoine said the govern- Authority (MTA), began at 3 of an agreement with manage- legitimacy and people’s the United Nations, said on ment’s action would also lead a.m. Dec. 20 when workers ment, saying only that details rights.” Dec. 22 his offices were “tech- to further destabilization in walked off the job en masse will be revealing in coming ✺ nically closed,” because the the country. for the first time in 25 years. days. acting consul general and the “The independent deci- The TWU turned down ✺ Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 7

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 7

LOCAL www.caribbeantoday.com U.S. Congress honors Jamaica’s consul general in N.Y. NEW YORK - Jamaica’s launch the “Jamaica Consul General to New York Diaspora in Motion” Dr. Basil K. Bryan was last series in New York City month honored for his dedica- held at the Brooklyn tion and service to the Museum in Brooklyn, Jamaican constituency over- N.Y. seas by United States Congressman Owens Congressman Major R. called Bryan a consum- Owens. mate diplomat, an elo- The citation framed in a quent spokesperson for proclamation, was presented Jamaica and someone who to Bryan by Ruby Harrisingh, was always advocating to a member of the board of the overseas Jamaican directors of the Caribbean community the impor- American Program for tance of supporting the Empowerment (CAPE) USA, socio-economic develop- Inc., at a public forum to ment agenda in Jamaica. The Congressman, who represents the 11th Jamaica, U.S. Congressional District (Brooklyn), noted that he was honored to be able to conducting acknowledge the work of the consul general for study on ackee and on behalf of the peo- ple of Jamaica who make Ruby Harrisingh, center, reads the proclamation from U.S. Congressman Major R. Owens saluting Dr. Basil K. Bryan, second left. Also present at up a significant part of his KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - the ceremony were, from left, Jose Richards, president of Sons & Daughters of Jamaica Inc.; Imam Tariq Dawan (CAPE); and Amir Abdullah The Jamaica Exporters Muhammed Abdul-Akbar, executive director of CAPE (USA) Inc. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 8) Association (JEA) says it is conducting a study into the levels of a toxic substance found in ackees, a fruit used to prepare Jamaica’s national dish. The announcement fol- lowed the decision to recall a shipment of canned ackees exported to the United States after a high level of hypoglycin was found. The study, scheduled to begin this month, is a joint

Ackees effort between the JEA, the Jamaica Agro Processors Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The study will focus on how weather conditions result in higher levels of the harmful toxin in ackees. The recall of the ackees has sparked fears that the U.S. could impose another ban on the shipment of ackees from Jamaica. The canned ackees were distributed to outlets in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. Ackees are poisonous if eaten before fully mature. For many years, the U.S. banned all sales of ackees out of fear that it could poison many of its nationals. In November, the Jamaica Bureau of Standards (JBS) announced that it would be moving to stamp out the practice. ✺ Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 8

8 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com LOCAL A dream deferred: First-ever national study on African hairbraiders finds tangle of cosmetology laws ARLINGTON, Virginia - For led the way through this tan- As noted in “A Dream eral business requirements and bureaucratic red tape, there is more than a decade, African gled mess-exempting braiders Deferred: Legal Barriers to any applicable state health much work still to be done. hairbraiders - who create from all cosmetology require- African Hairbraiding regulations. But they no In nine states, braiding is attractive and artistic hair- ments and leaving them free Nationwide”, the freedom to longer need to take courses on included in the definition of styles without damaging to twist, lock, weave and braid has come in different unrelated cosmetology tech- cosmetology, either by statute, chemicals - have been hand- extend hair without unneces- forms: niques like permanent waves regulation or court decision- cuffed, arrested, thrown in jail sary and costly cosmetology • Simple exemption and chemical straighteners, meaning that braiders must or fined thousands of dollars licenses. Not only do these statutes in Arizona, which too often cost braiders submit themselves to the for practicing their cultural art states show no harm to con- California, Connecticut and thousands of wasted hours and onerous cosmetology laws if form in the United States. sumers after opening up the Maryland; dollars. Instead, braiders are they want to practice their But thanks to the market, but consumers are • Optional licensing in free to practice the skills many craft. In another 22 states, the advocacy of the Institute for better served by a broader Michigan; of them learned at their moth- laws are silent, allowing Justice and its clients, lawmak- choice of braiders and once- • Registration and/or ers’ knees. boards of cosmetology to ers and courts in a growing beleaguered braiders can posted brochures on common In its 15-page paper, the determine whether to prose- number of states are forcing freely practice their craft and sense sanitation guidelines in Institute for Justice summa- cute braiders or leave them in overzealous bureaucrats to set grow their businesses without Kansas and Mississippi; rizes the current state of cos- peace. braiders free. worrying that the next knock • Administrative exemp- metology laws and their rela- Late last month, the on the door might be a gov- tions in Minnesota, North tionship to braiding. In doing - AANEWSWIRE Institute for Justice issued a ernment regulator looking to Carolina and Washington. so, the institute notes that ✺ first-ever national study that shut them down. In each of these states, although braiders are making documents how 10 states have braiders remain subject to gen- headway through this maze of

Street Address: ‘E-Filing’ offers helpful options with immigration forms 9020 SW 152nd Street, Miami, FL 33157 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6010 ertain queries about • Form I-129, Petition for a • Form I-765, Application for tions. Miami, FL 33116-6010. United States immigra- Nonimmigrant Worker Employment Authorization Telephone: (305) 238-2868 tion matters can be • Form I-821, What do I need in order to E- (305) 253-6029 ¥ Fax: (305) 252-7843 C 1-800-605-7516 cleared up by going onto the Application File? Read the E-Filing Internet, instead of traveling for Guidance on the website for E-mail: [email protected] Send ads to: [email protected] to a U.S. government office. Temporary steps on how to E-File. The United States Citizenship Protected Vol. 17, Number 2 • JAN. 2006 and Immigration Services Status What does “Session Timeout” • Form I-907, mean? For security reasons, PETER A WEBLEY (USCIS) offers an electronic Publisher filing or “E-Filing” option Request for your session will automatically which is as easily accessible as Premium end (timeout) if your comput- Processing er is inactive for more than 20 GORDON WILLIAMS getting onto a computer in Managing Editor your home. Service minutes after logging in. This month, Caribbean Additional As long as you have not suc- Today offers insights into “E- applications cessfully submitted your appli- DAMIAN P. GREGORY Filing” through information and petitions cation to the USCIS, the work Deputy Managing Editor obtained from the USCIS’s will be made you’ve done on your applica- website at www.uscis.gov available for tion will be automatically SABRINA FENNELL E-Filing in the saved up to the point of the Graphic Artist What is electronic filing (E- future. last completed page. After Filing)? Electronic filing, or you log in to the E-Filing sys- DOROTHY CHIN Account Executive E-Filing, is the filing and sub- • USCIS will no longer accept Can anyone E-File? You can- tem again, go to the My mission of an electronic peti- I-129 petitions for the H-1B not E-File if: Forms screen to find your VERNAL GORDON tion or application for immi- category through its E-Filing • You are applying for a waiv- application. Account Executive gration benefits using the system. All I-129 petitions er of the filing fee; or Cellular: (954) 709-1661 Internet. E-Filing for immi- that fall under the H-1B • You are requesting that your How can I get help with E- gration benefits with the non-immigrant classification case be expedited (with the Filing? First, check the online SUNDAY SELLERS USCIS can only be done on (both new applications and exception of Form I-907, E-Filing Guidance and Form Account Executive the USCIS website. applications for renewal) Request for Premium Specific E-Filing Instructions. must be filed in paper. Processing). If you can’t find the answer AMANDA ECHEVERRI Which applications and peti- • Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant In addition, each form has dif- to your question, you can get Accounting Manager Petition Based on Blanket L ferent eligibility requirements. live assistance by calling the tions may I submit through E- Caribbean Media Source Filing? Currently, the follow- Petition Eligibility requirements are USCIS’s National Customer Media Representatives ing applications and petitions • Form I-131, Application for provided on each form’s Service Center toll-free at TOM JONAS Travel Document Form-Specific E-Filing 1-800-375-5283 between 8 a.m. 353 St. Nicolas Street, Suite 200 may be submitted through E- Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2P1 Filing: • Form I-140, Immigrant Instructions. and 6 p.m., Monday through Tel: (514) 931-0422 ¥ Fax: (514) 931-0455 • Form I-90, Application Petition for Alien Worker Friday. E-mail: [email protected] • Form I-539, Application What can I do if I am not eli- ✺ to Replace Permanent Jamaica Bureau Resident Card to Extend/Change gible to E-File? USCIS con- MARIE GREGORY Nonimmigrant Status tinues to accept paper applica- (876) 925-5640 P.O. Box 127, Constant Spring U.S. Congress honors Jamaica’s consul general in N.Y. Kingston 8, Jamaica Opinions expressed by editors and (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7) political process, a platform for tion and quality of life issues Nick Perry, Ruder Finn, LEM writers are not necessarily those of the empowerment. while promoting positive Accounting Service, Ruby publisher. district. The Jamaica Diaspora in images of the island nation Real Estate, Tower Isle Caribbean Today, an independent Jamaican born Yvonne Motion series, conceptualized overseas. Patties, Citibank NA and news magazine, is published every month Graham, deputy president for by Amir Abdullah Mohammed The program received Topaze Restaurant, Brooklyn. by Caribbean Publishing Services, Inc. Subscription rates are: US$20 per year the Borough of Brooklyn, Abdul-Akbar and Milford corporate support from The series is scheduled to joined Margaret Grey (repre- (Bulk); 1st Class $35 per year. Mahon, community activists Caribbean Food Delights, continue in each of the Caribbean Today is not responsible senting Councilmember Yvette with CAPE (USA), Inc., aims Grace Kennedy Remittance remaining four boroughs for unsolicited manuscripts or photos. To Clarke) and Jamaican-born to engage the New York Services, Dennis Shipping through this summer. guarantee return, please include a self- Chester County Legislator addressed stamped envelope. Jamaican community, through Company, Christopher ✺ Articles appearing in Caribbean Noel Spencer, in encouraging open fora, on such matters as Owens, Apel International Today may not be reproduced without the Jamaican community to economic development, educa- Travel, State Assemblyman N. written permission of the editor. become more involved in the Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 9

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 9

VIEWPOINT www.caribbeantoday.com No more wishing and hoping New Year GORDON WILLIAMS region should be proud and happy for what the Soca reflections t would be nice if the New Warriors have done, at least Year meant that much of for a while, and there are few I don’t care what anybody else Ithe Old Year did not exist. greater gifts that can be wants to say, 2005 really flew See, that’s what wish lists, bestowed on a people. off faster than you could say or New Year’s resolutions, are In 2006, the Caribbean new millennium. for – to pretend that things Single Market and Economy Hey, remember all the are different or are going to should hit its stride. The hubbub about the new millen- change dramatically. region has now become a big- nium and how people were So over a 24-hour period ger pie – much bigger – and running up and down buying – between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 more Caribbean people can new computers and expecting – all that was wrong for 365 have a piece. That sounds like the end of the world? All days (and sometimes even a good thing. Caribbean citi- that’s now a distant memory centuries before) will just van- zens, or at least some of them, as time marches on. ish – poof! - or can now be can travel to nations of the Did I say march, make people, it irks others, while it lent one made right if we just make a region to seek work without that more like a gallop, as it makes many very afraid. praising me. new list. much of a fuss. It’s about shar- moves faster and faster every Men and women are Same subject, It doesn’t really work that ing knowledge, skills and rev- year. No wonder some people always bombarding me with just different way. To paraphrase Bob enue. It’s also showing a unit- don’t even bother to take what’s wrong with their rela- gender bias. Marley in the song “Zion ed front to the world, a con- down their Christmas lights, tionships and keep telling me, Because Train”: “Two thousand years cept which has remained too but instead leave them up as a “You make sure and write of all this I’ve of history, could not be wiped foreign for far too long in the permanent fixture on their ‘bout what a tell yu, people been invited away so easily.” Caribbean. houses. must know what a gwaan to appear on So let’s not pretend that Speaking of togetherness, “Cho, me can’t bother tek behind closed doors.” TONY numerous the Caribbean’s ills of 2005 – another good thing to look down the lights yah man, for is The e-mails that I get are ROBINSON radio pro- with the frightening rise in forward to is the preparation too much trouble fi put dem oftentimes incredible as peo- grams, as if crime heading the list – can be for the Caribbean’s hosting of back up in a few months time.” ple relate their life’s experi- I’m some sort simply “wished” away. Let’s one-day cricket’s biggest show. That, I’ve heard. ences. Truth is indeed stranger of expert on relationships. try something else: like look- Although Cricket World Cup So now the end of yet than fiction. In another life I You know that I’m not, but I ing forward to a few promis- will be staged in 2007, the another year has come and could easily be a confessional keep my ears to the ground, ing developments that appear bulk of the work is to be done gone, and with boring regular- priest or write an advice col- listen keenly and love women to be awaiting Caribbean peo- this year. There is no more ity people are making their umn like Dear Pastor. can’t dun. That’s why they ple…if only we would time for squabbling and ego New Year’s resolutions in I must say that it gives me relate to me I suppose. embrace them. clashes. The only way for the order to be better persons for some degree of gratification Still reflecting, at times we event to be successful is for at least five days in the new when complete strangers will do and say things without WORLD WATCHING the entire region to work year before they resort to approach me and say, “Boss, is really knowing what effect For example, in 2006 together. Or everyone will their old bad ways. It won’t true wha yu say, is same way they have on different people. Trinidad and Tobago will play lose. Once again the eyes of happen. Just live with your- my woman gwaan, dat’s why I have written so much about in soccer’s World Cup final the world will be on the selves and accept who you me just show her de page and men and their bad ways, how round, the most popular Caribbean and, because “wi are. Or better yet, make reso- mek har see har bad ways.” they treat women badly and sport’s biggest stage. Unlike easy fi shame”, the region lutions every waking morning how women suffer at their the “World Series” of baseball cannot afford to fail. So there as opposed to every year. WOMAN’S WORLD hands. For this I get heaps of in the United States, the is ample incentive for the What I’ll do though, is I daresay that many men praises from the women, but entire world participates in region’s people to drive them- reflect a bit on the past year are appreciative, but moreso when the tables are turned it’s the World Cup, but only 32 selves towards the common and even before, and about women, as I seem to expose a different story, every single countries make it to the finals. goal of making CWC 2007 a things and times in general. the frailty, perfidy, weakness time. It’s like women must not This year it will be in success. Embrace that. First of all let’s take this col- and general bad ways of the be touched, they are above Germany and everybody will umn, my monthly rant, my male sex. reproach and nothing must be be watching, even the snob- OVERSEAS HELP scribbling, my dementia, my Our streets are living the- said about them. All men bish anti-soccer sentiment that As for the Caribbean catharsis. People come up to ater, and just a few moments cheat, that’s a given. All men unfortunately still runs diaspora in places like North me from all walks of life and spent listening to a group of sneak around and philander, through America. So T&T America and Europe, I sup- tell me all sorts of things. women prattling about their that’s okay to write about. But will have a chance to parade pose it would be easy to just From intellectual professors, relationships or hearing men dare I suggest that women do its soccer pedigree, but more give up on a region that seems to professed intellectuals, to gloat and lie about their the same thing? Dare I men- importantly, draw the spot- compelled to shoot itself in the man in the street, all hail prowess is better than any tion that women have affairs? light to the Caribbean. The the foot by, for example, fos- me up. Many ask me why I Broadway play. But don’t Of course not. I always ask Soca Warriors can show the tering an image of crime and always touch on relationships believe that I don’t get cussed the question, if men are so whole world in 2006 that the violence. But you know much and affairs of the heart. To tell too. Sometimes I get e-mails bad, who are they bad with? Caribbean and its people are better than that. For a region the truth, it was no plan, but from people that are as long Well, I guess it’s the price passionate and beautiful - still. so small, the Caribbean has the grist that feeds my mills as government’s five-year I pay. And yet, no one curses Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz did somehow always seems to plan, berating me about my and berates women like other (CONTINUED ON PAGE 10) just that in France 1998. The take that slant. It pleases some opinion. The irony is, I’ll get an equally lengthy and viru- (CONTINUED ON PAGE 10) Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 10

10 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com VIEWPOINT Caribbeans united in bumpy world trade ride LLOYD ROHLEHR Caribbean states. Banana pro- sugar producers on the one years later than had originally pled change to the African, duction makes employment hand and E.U. producers on been planned. Much of the Caribbean and Pacific/ orld trade ought not possible for over 85 percent of the other. blame for lack of progress has European Union sugar proto- to be only a matter the rural population and is the been put on the E.U., which col even as the E.U., with Wof exchanging primary source of employ- VULNERABLE had declined to further reduce respect to the achievement of desired goods for profit. ment for women. The Commonwealth trade barriers protecting its the Millennium Development It should also emphasize Speaking during the Sixth heads of government also farming market: a key Goals, is seen as wanting when the practice of accommodat- World Trade Organization strongly advocated that the demand of poorer nations. it comes to reflecting the con- ing one another. Ministerial Conference in E.U. take into account the Dame Billie Miller, senior cerns of small-states within the Self-protecting measures Hong Kong recently, vulnerable small states less minister and minister of for- process of World Trade obstinately pursued are often Caribbean foreign ministers capable of adjustment envis- eign affairs and trade of Organization negotiations. viewed as objectionable to the made cases of the impact on aged reform-timetable. Barbados, at Hong Kong other side. their respective countries and Helen Clarke, prime min- underscored that while HIGH STAKES The Caribbean community called for some attention to be ister of New Zealand, identi- Barbados was committed to At stake is global eco- is experiencing a bumpy ride in paid to the impact the new fied the need for E.U. to offer the process of trade liberaliza- nomic growth and develop- its topmost level of negotia- prices will have. more compensation to the tion, serious attention needed ment. Couldn’t the just-ended tions and is speaking with one When 53 Commonwealth states adversely affected by its to be paid to the specific trade round deliver more to voice – most commendably so leaders, presidents and prime sugar reform lest the conflict impact on developing coun- developing countries than – as commodities from which ministers, met in November in over sugar reforms scuttle the tries. Barbados was small and they have received from trade the countries get their liveli- Malta last year, there was a negotiations to take place in vulnerable, but committed rounds in the past? Hasn’t the hoods are at stake. Bananas concerted effort on their part Hong Kong. Indeed, some fully to trade liberalization, principle of partnership been and sugar, to name two. to influence the outcome of saw progress as unlikely at the which nevertheless had to be damaged? How can we move Agricultural trade is vital another meeting, due to take Hong Kong summit meeting. at a pace which is manageable the process forward? to developing countries. All place: the ministerial at Hong Worse still, previous and which would not be The question of develop- along the way, at conferences Kong. On the particular trade-liberalization talks at “detrimental to our economy ment was at the core when the and negotiations, Caribbeans question of sugar, Guyana’s Cancun, Mexico, in 2003 and and development goals.” round of negotiations started have held to this fact because President Bharrat Jagdeo, at Seattle, Washington in 1999, Caribbean community at Doha, the capital of Qatar. they know that challenges to strongly supported by other had collapsed in disarray. heads restated their case At least Caribbeans are uni- their markets could be very heads of the Commonwealth It was reasonable after against the decisions of the fied amidst the uncertainties serious. For instance, the governments, urged the those “bumps” on the world- E.U. In the case of sugar, the which abound. future trading regime for European Union to provide trade road to hold some cau- drastic 36 percent price reduc- bananas is naturally a cause transitional arrangements in tion that another failure could tion over four years starting Lloyd Rohlehr is a freelance for much anxiety to the peo- which there is symmetry seriously undermine a global this year. This, is seen within writer for Caribbean Today. ple of Dominica and other between compensation pro- free-trade agreement by the the Caribbean community as a ✺ vided to Commonwealth end of 2006 – already two radical unilateral and unprinci- No more wishing and hoping (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9) “farrin” to offer a bit more fifth or sixth offspring. Or before you throw out One more thing: Don’t than criticism for the region. Or contact the local chari- those used pairs of shoes make a wish list. Please. Just constantly reminded the world Help pay a needy Caribbean ties in the region and find out which you wore maybe once do it. of its wealth - in academics, child’s school fee, though his how you can help feed the or twice and then decided you sports, culture, everything. poor mother and father still hungry without depriving no longer liked, think about - Gordon Williams is Caribbean So maybe 2006 is a good haven’t figured out child rear- yourself of the regular mani- sending them home. A bare- Today’s managing editor. time for Caribbean people in ing expenses even after the cure or the sixth beer at the foot child, or his mother, may ✺ club. need them even if you don’t. New Year reflections (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9) Women are complicated, tific in her approach. I must women. That’s why so many but I guess it’s the same way admit that I felt a bit vulnera- women have told me that they we feel if an outsider talks ble and strange being scruti- prefer to work in a mostly about our country. It’s okay if nized and picked apart like male environment. we curse it, but don’t let any- that. What’s also very interest- one from another country Reflecting on another ing is that these same women dare speak ill about us. Even high point was when people will secretly agree with what I the Americans have a saying, from all walks of life told me say when we interact on a one “America, love it or leave that they cut out and keep to one basis, but, “It’s just that it.” every one of my columns. I don’t like to see it in print, it I mentioned earlier the Now that’s frightening. makes us look so bad,” they wide cross section of persons But our people are truly say. that I relate to, but I was real- gifted and talented in almost ly surprised and flattered everything that we touch. We when this British lady from can achieve so much when we the Department of put our minds to it. So much Language, Linguistics and so that everybody wants to Philosophy, University of the copy us. West Indies, contacted me Well, so much for my about my writing. She was reflections, I have no resolu- doing her doctoral thesis on tions except to perhaps be Jamaican creole or patois, more tolerant of fools. I have and was using my column as much thanks though, for the basis for her research. allowing me to relate and Placing me on the other side interact to you in this way, and of the table, she spent many to my parents for placing a hours interviewing me about book in my hands before I my style of writing and why could even walk or talk. Have and how I wrote the things a wonderful and safe 2006. that I wrote. What could I Later. say? As far as I was con- cerned I just wrote what I [email protected] felt. But she delved deeper ✺ and was analytical and scien- Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 11

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 11

VIEWPOINT www.caribbeantoday.com Caribbean well on stream for Cricket World Cup 2007 ~ Ken Gordon, West Indies Cricket Board president

The Caribbean is set to host being run at that point? renewed effort to get on top Cricket World Cup 2007, the K.G.: What we must remem- of that and address it, and I’m one-day version of the game’s K.G.: Well, the structures were ber is that the World Cup is seeing that effort in a number biggest showpiece event, the all in place, but as long as you one of the biggest undertak- of fronts. We have to ensure first time the region has been have differences at the top ings that anybody can attempt. that we get our act together, given such a job. West Indies you’ll always have a potential And therefore when you start, meaning the Caribbean. We Cricket Board President Ken difficulty. I was not around at you start with this huge task are speaking as a Caribbean Gordon talked about CWC the time so I can’t speak from ahead of you. And you have people now. We have to 2007 and other matters involv- first-hand knowledge. But what to prioritize things as you ensure that we are on the top ing West Indies cricket in an I met was that things were rea- go down. So many of the of this situation because we interview with Gordon sonably well advanced. I can’t improvements evolve. I would- can’t afford to have any seri- Williams, Caribbean Today’s say that I met any situation n’t regard it as somebody’s ous incidents during that peri- managing editor, conducted which was at the point of oversight or mistake or fault. od (CWC 2007)... on Nov. 12, 2005 in New falling away or any such thing. People had to address the crit- We have strong security Kingston, Jamaica. The follow- Nothing like that. ical things that were necessary. steps which are being planned ing is that interview, edited for But there were clearly As you went on and you and which will be in place. We clarity and space. problems in the environment. began to refine and you began have good reason to believe Gordon to discover that there were that we will remain on top of it. GORDON WILLIAMS: (In G.W.: Before you took over as some areas which really didn’t But even before that and we all have to address it’. 2005) you replaced Rawle chairman of the (CWC) have a voice, you move to cor- event comes up, we have to It’s no lack of concern. It is a Brancker as chairman of board, (in) the past adminis- rect it. send a message that the situa- difficult problem to identify Cricket World Cup 2007. tration there were differences. So I would regard it that tion is well under control. And and bring under control... There was a lot of publicity How would you describe your we have evolved in a very nat- we must do that by the way we So the short answer is I’m about a falling out between relationship - now that you are ural progression into being deal with the problems in our satisfied that all the countries him and Christopher Dehring, directly involved - with the sure that everyone is being respective countries. of the Caribbean are now seri- CWC’s chief executive officer. CEO, who was also involved represented. ous about it. I think some What were your personal in the past administration in G.W.: When the organizers of have dragged their feet a little impressions about how CWC that same position? G.W.: One of the reasons you CWC 2007 in the region, your- in addressing it, but I get a 2007’s board was being run are here in Jamaica was for self and your organizing sense of a new urgency in when you stepped in, and K.G.: Oh I enjoy an excellent the ground-breaking ceremo- board, when you go to the terms of getting on top of it. what is your impression now relationship with Mr. Dehring. ny yesterday (Nov. 11, 2005) in CARICOM level, the political And we must all give that that you have had a closer I think he is a first class execu- Trelawny. How would you rate level, how serious is your mes- every support that we can. look at the situation? tive. I could not ask for more the pace of the development sage to them as to the impor- support than is forthcoming of the whole project (of CWC tance and the urgency of mak- G.W.: Does a body like the KEN GORDON: The from him and his team; and he 2007 as we sit here Nov. 12, ing sure that there are no hic- ICC, looking on, seeing what is problem obviously was one has a first class professional 2005)? On a scale of one to cups on this level? happening, and they are here which surfaced between Mr. team. 10, could you say where we from time to time monitoring Brancker, as chairman, and are in terms of fully realizing K.G.: Oh, we do that constant- the situation, do they give you the CEO. There was a history G.W.: Speaking of the board, the target of being ready for ly, not only myself but the feedback on this and also, is to it, in that there were some there were four new members the World Cup in 2007? Ten CEO (Dehring). But at the there a contingency plan problems initially and this led added to the board. The total being the best case scenario. structural level, you’ve got regarding this issue of crime to an apology from Mr. is now 18. These new addi- people dealing with immigra- and violence? Is there a sce- Brancker to the CEO, and tions came into effect essen- K.G.: Rather than my rating, tion, with hoteliers and acco- nario, any kind of scenario, subsequently the difficulties tially when you became the which obviously would be modation and ministers of where you will say ‘maybe it is broke out again. And when chairman. It is more represen- thought of as biased, let’s look tourism...This is constantly time to bring in our outside this manifested itself in corre- tational, in terms of the region at how the ICC (International going on. help to help us deal with this spondence, which tended to itself...Was that your stroke, Cricket Council), who are the We have Derek Jones, issue before Cricket World undermine the CEO’s posi- your personal idea of what it monitoring people, it’s their who is our legal man, working Cup?’ tion, there was an issue and should be about and how is event after all. Let’s talk about with the various governments the board looked at it and the that working out? how they see it. They came to amend certain items of legis- K.G.: A couple of things. We board was in the process of down to do an evaluation and lation which are necessary for are a sovereign country and resolving a formula for it K.G.: I’m not sure it matters they’ve found it generally sat- movement between (territo- ICC or no one can come into when Mr. Brancker decided whose particular idea it was. isfactory. They’ve identified ries). There’s ongoing commu- countries and say it’s time for that he would resign. We’re a team. Somebody three or four weak spots, but nication with the various levels us to do anything. They are At that point, clearly one makes a comment, another basically they’ve identified of government. So the co-oper- here at the pleasure of our had to move very quickly to try takes it forward and out of it that the thing is well on ation has been excellent. governments. Let’s not forget and ensure that there was no you gel that direction. And stream and they were, not that. But let’s also remember fallout, or you minimize the fall- that’s how a team is supposed pleasantly surprised, but they G.W.: CARICOM leaders that crime is not unique to the out. And it was felt that, given to function. were pleased with what they have been involved in cricket, Caribbean. Whereever you’ve the fact that so much of what But I think what we all heard. more recently in attempting had games all over the place the World Cup Committee is agreed on was that you need- to resolve disputes between you’ve had all sorts of inci- doing, and has to do, as it runs ed to have every one of the G.W.: The Cricket World Cup players and the (West Indies dents...So while it is a heavy down to the event, so much of territories, in which any event is an event for the entire Cricket) Board...When you sit burden on all of us, let’s not this is tied in with representa- associated with the World Cup world, but for the Caribbean it down with them to talk about make it into something it isn’t. tion of the ICC. Given the fact is taking place, and therefore is very important. In recent issues, for example crime and It is not a threat to whether that we didn’t have a lot of time had to be accountable. We times, to be fair and honest, violence, and their responsibil- the games go on or not at this for anymore mistakes, it was felt wanted everyone of those ter- the region has experienced a ity to deal with that with the stage. It is a concern. It is a that the same person who was ritories to be represented on lot of crime and violence, World Cup coming up, what is concern we have to bring the president of the (WICB) the board. And that’s what we which can be a deterrent the impression that you get under control because we can- would be best suited to straddle set out to do. And that’s done. because tourism, after all, is from them? Is it that they are not afford, when we are on both camps. So that there’s no area, very important to the people more than willing to stop it the world stage, to have where there will be World in the region. How concerned now? wrong messages sent. If this G.W.: Meaning you? Cup activity, that does not are you about this image and would happen, then this now have representation on the effect it might have lead- K.G.: My impression is that would have a severe negative K.G.: Meaning myself. And it the board. So they can all be ing up to CWC 2007? every CARICOM leader to impact on our tourism. was in those circumstances sure that they are comfort- whom I’ve spoken is deeply So it’s not a matter of that I accepted the position. able. K.G.: We must all be con- concerned. And if you talk whether there is a risk of can- cerned about crime in the about one country they will celling the games or not, G.W.: What were your impres- G.W.: But, looking at it now, region, the effect that it is hav- broaden it, they say ‘it’s all of sions as to how everything was was that an oversight...before? ing. But I think there is a us, we all have this problem (CONTINUED ON PAGE 24) Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 12

12 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com FEATURE Onward, upward for Caribbeans in 2005

LLOYD ROHLEHR already functioning. With its Pacific (ACP) countries could a Caribbean Development attract big business, while St. seat in Port of Spain, Trinidad, harm the Caribbean’s sugar Bank report in May indicated Kitts is to have a multi-mil- he year 2005 saw the court has seven justices, trade significantly, affecting that levels vary between 17 lion-dollar tourist resort cov- English-speaking headed by Michael de la thousands of families, this, percent and 39 percent among ering 1,600 acres. TCaribbean states, as a Bastide, its president. It pointedly, came at a time its member-countries and The Oganization of grouping, facing challenges in when in St. Kitts 300 years of Eastern Caribbean States forging ahead with their own sugar processing was ending. (OECS) has issued a new Air regional relations as well as Said the World Bank at this Worthiness Certificate to confronting those coming juncture: the Caribbean is at LIAT, the Leeward Islands from the European Union and “a development crossroad” Air Transport, which is a the United States. and it must take significant regional airline. It was the The region’s global agen- and concrete steps to improve first OECS operator to da became more extensive, productivity and competitive- receive this recognition. complex and difficult to man- ness so as to accelerate or age, especially for small states even maintain past growth. CRIME with scant resources both Patrick Manning, the Bermuda’s Alliance for human and financial. prime minister of Trinidad Tourism called for zero toler- Diplomacy now transcends and Tobago, in the Red ance to crime against visitors if the management of external House took close to three the already-ailing hospitality relations and has itself diversi- hours to present his 2004-2005 industry is to recover. fied into such key fields as Jagdeo national budget, the package Manning Meanwhile, all over the finance, trade and sustainable being TT$27.9 billion. The Caribbean the incidence of development. People’s National Movement, crime, either apart from or The Caribbean must nego- undertakes an original as well his party, wants to diversify poverty-reduction needs to be including the illicit drug trade tiate as a bloc. Difficulties as an appellate jurisdiction. the economy and reduce the targeted. as well as money laundering, arise, but the journey has a It will not replace national dependence on the energy Trinidad and Tobago has caused governments to guiding principle, onward and courts. It will preoccupy sector. In the meantime, as the became the first CARICOM toughen up crime fighting . upward. If this month the itself with hearing disputes largest supplier of liquefied member-state to put into prac- Still, murders continue to rise. region implements the from individuals and compa- natural gas to the United tical effect the Free Trade It was reported in September Caribbean Single Market and nies relating to the operations States, the Caribbean country Agreement between CARI- that Jamaica is one of the Economy (CSME) on sched- of the CSME. signed a preliminary agree- COM and Costa Rica, which deadliest places for law ule it would, it is said, be the ment for the construction of does more trade within the officers. most advanced integration RIVALRIES a TT$550 million fertilizer CARICOM than it does with Kidnappings were repeat- arrangement in the Americas. However, it is in the plant. South America. edly linked to Trinidad and in It would come 16 years after nature of things that the Guyana, along with Jamaica and Venezuela, April motorists in the central the Caribbean community Caribbean shall go on collid- Honduras, Nicaragua and in August, agreed on the part of the island drove envisioned the free movement ing with inter-island rivalries, Bolivia, were among 18 poor broad outlines of an initial through their area with their of goods, services, capital and longstanding disputes over countries worldwide whose $200 million expansion of the lights blinking and their horns workers across the region. borders, migration and equity, multilateral debt was forgiven Petroleum Oil Refinery in popping during a protest Yet the real challenge, as the region confronts the as part of a deal announced Kingston. Thus, an analysis motorcade. some observers think, might fostering of a greater sense of by the Group of Eight said, Jamaica became the first The U.S. State Department lie with public opinion. With regional identity. wealthy nations. Caribbean nation to sign on again criticized Guyana for its all the necessary activities that When Guyana’s President Jamaica’s poverty rate to what is a new plan for the police abuses and prison condi- have been taking place, have Bharrat Jagdeo told the per- declined by over 60 percent. South American nation to tions in the 2004 country the grassroots people been manent council for the Government expenditure, supply oil to countries reports on human-rights prac- targeted in a more down-to- Organization of American which increased to more than throughout the region under tices, which it released early in earth way? States (OAS) that preferential $42 billion since 1992, has below-market terms. 2005. To the Caribbean commu- trade has its dangers and to been credited for this reduc- Barbados welcomed back A joint operation nity’s credit the Caribbean apply it to sugar exported by tion. the Hilton Hotel with a new Court of Justice (CCJ) is the African, Caribbean and On the subject of poverty, facility that it hopes will (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25) Fewer Jamaican women employed despite higher education ~ study KINGSTON, Jamaica -A new while females were outper- female counterparts. employed in the low wage tive instruments,” adding study in Jamaica has found forming their male counter- Dr. Ama said that women earning sectors. that as a result, women were that although women were parts and were better at attend- do not command lucrative In terms of decision-mak- exposed to sexual harassment accessing higher education ing educational institutions, positions in the labor market. ing, women tend not to be as at the workplace without hav- than their male counterparts, there was a tendency for them In 2004, males continued to represented as their male ing legal recourse for that there were fewer women in to choose the “soft” subjects. represent the majority of the counterparts whether it is in kind of offense. the labor force. “Even though women and employed labor force at 57.9 the corporate sector or in gov- In terms of discrimination The study says as a result, girls are outperforming their percent. When the differential ernment. Dr. Ama suggested at the workplace, she said women as a group are under- male counterparts in the edu- between women and men in that more women needed to there was also no legislative employed. cational system, they tend to the labor force is examined, it counteract the gender stereo- instrument in place and as The study, entitled “The do so in the traditional so- shows that the male unem- types of power when it comes such, people with HIV or Status of Men and Women in called feminized lines as they ployment rate was 7.9 percent to what positions they actually those of a cultural minority are Jamaica”, was conducted by mainly dominate in the whilst the female unemploy- go for in the education not protected. the Bureau of Women’s Affairs humanities and arts,” said Dr ment rate in 2004 was 16.4 system, noting that women Dr. Ama said that there and its findings were disclosed Ama. “This needs to be looked percent. tend to lack confidence when were no flexible hours for at the final of a series of gen- at critically in terms of re-eval- “When we look at occu- accessing power at the highest both men and women to work. der workshops hosted by the uating the education system.” pational segregation, there is a level of labor. She said one issue that is being bureau recently. She said that the study differential of 35.8 percent She noted that the occu- debated is whether flexi-time Consultant in Gender also highlighted that boys between men and women pations in which women domi- or paternity leave should be Studies Dr. Imani Tafari Ama, tended to drop out of school meaning that there are many nated tend to be un-unionized introduced. Another area that said that the National Gender at a higher rate than girls, and more unemployed women and this resulted in less repre- the bureau is contemplating is Policy would help to place the literacy level among men than men and also the sectors sentation for them to get the whether persons, who adopt gender and gender equality in and boys was much lower and levels at which they are best benefits. children, should also be the mainstream of major sec- than it was for women. employed is at a lower level awarded maternity and tors of society. Studies show that men in than their male counterparts,” SEXUAL HARASSMENT paternity leave. the 75 and over age group Dr. Ama said. Dr. Ama said that “the ‘SOFT’ were mostly functionally The research also suggests issue of sexual harassment has - CMC The study showed that illiterate in relation to their that women tend to be still not gone on our legisla- ✺ Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 13

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 13

FEATURE www.caribbeantoday.com 2005 ~ Another challenging year for the Caribbean PETER RICHARDS were called in to assist local European Union announced a quartered in Trinidad and zations which oppose the levy investigators. new import tariff of Euro 176 Tobago, functions as a trade to take all lawful and constitu- n 2005, both man-made ($206) per tonne, in respect of court to deal with issues aris- tional steps to peacefully and natural disasters took DRUG TRADE its tariff-only regime, to apply ing out of the CSME, and as protest by way of mass action Itheir toll on the Caribbean. The illegal drugs trade from Jan. 1, 2006 to bananas an appellate jurisdiction to were the government to pro- But the earthquakes, hurri- affected every Caribbean imported mainly from Latin hear civil and criminal mat- ceed to implement the levy canes and tropical storms states, and, in some cases, American or MFN suppliers. ters. It is expected to replace deductions or refuses to with- seemed mild as compared to police officers and foreigners The new import regime will the London-based Privy the murders and unfavorable were hauled before the courts also include a duty-free annu- Council, as the region’s final global trade rulings that on drug related charges. al import quota of 775,000 court of appeal. affected the region over the Noted Caribbean criminolo- tonnes for African Caribbean Regarding the CSME, past 12 months. gist Professor Ramesh and Pacific (ACP) bananas, regional countries agreed to For many Caribbean Deosaran by year-end was also to apply from Jan. 1, establish a $10 million states, crime continued calling for a Caribbean com- 2006. Regional Development Fund unabated. Both Trinidad munity (CARICOM) summit George Bullen, the (RDF) to assist the smaller and Tobago and Jamaica on crime to be held in 2006. Organization of Eastern Caribbean states participate in surpassed the 2004 murder Crime apart, politics, Caribbean States (OECS) the initiative. In December, figures of 262 and 1,451, trade, and in particular, the Ambassador to Brussels and the region’s finance ministers, respectively. Other territories chairman of the ACP group- meeting in Jamaica, said the like St. Lucia, St. Kitts and ing, labeled the E.U. deal RDF would be used to pro- Nevis and Guyana also strug- as “draconian,” while the vide financial and technical gled to cope with rising mur- Windward Islands Banana assistance to countries and ders. Development Company industries that stand to lose Mitchell Bomb blasts created the (WIBDECO) said it was dis- most on efforts to free up the new crime wave in Trinidad appointed with the new pro- movement of draw it.” and Tobago, where kidnap- posals. goods, skills and money across But the Mitchell adminis- pings for ransom also The Caribbean banana the region as part of the tration said the levy was nec- increased in 2005 and, despite producing countries have CSME. essary, and Finance Minister efforts by the government and already warned that they The leaders of the sub- Anthony Boatswain said the would not be relegated to regional Organization of government would not back Opposition to agree on new Adams legislative measures to deal a “position of third party Eastern Caribbean States down to an ultimatum given with the situation, by year-end bystanders” as Europe seeks (OECS) had hinted at the by the TUC. more than 375 murders had various rulings by the World to find a solution to its long- possibility of not participating During the busy six- been committed and 70 peo- Trade Organization (WTO) as standing battle to introduce fully in the CSME that month hurricane period, the ple abducted for ransom. they related to the region’s a single import tariff for Caribbean leaders say is an Caribbean suffered millions of There were no arrests banana and sugar industries, bananas. adequate response to a chang- dollars in damage as a number with regards to the bomb the launch of the Caribbean As regards sugar, the ing global environment. The of tropical storms and even attacks in and around the cap- Court of Justice (CCJ), all Caribbean said it has been $10 million dollar fund “is category five hurricanes made ital, Port of Spain. affected life in the region. By “woefully betrayed” by not the be all and end all their way through the island Jamaica’s crime situation the time Caribbean delegates Europe over the proposals to of it because there is a com- chain. The hurricanes also left worsened in 2005. Last year’s had joined their counterparts reform the sugar protocol, mittee led by the Caribbean thousands dead, demolished murder toll was surpassed in Hong Kong for the Sixth with Guyana’s President Development Bank (CDB) to infrastructure and forced the quite easily, even though the WTO Ministerial meeting in Bharrat Jagdeo, who has lead look at the formula for which displacement of people, main- authorities announced new December, the region had suf- responsibility for agriculture member states will make their ly in the U.S., even though measures to deal with the situ- fered blows to its two main within CARICOM saying, contribution through the fund some Caribbean states like ation. trading commodities – sugar “the whole issue is unfair.” and also among other things Jamaica, still recovering from The trial of Reneto and bananas. The African Caribbean to establish criteria as to how the passage of Hurricane Ivan, Adams, the controversial sen- The Caribbean countries and Pacific (ACP) states said to assess the fund,” a CARI- were not spared. ior superintendent of the had already signalled a loss of they had been “subsidizing COM official noted. Guyana started 2005 basi- Jamaica Constabulary Force confidence in the WTO the European consumers in The finance ministers cally under water, as heavy (JCF), was a major talking process, with the Barbados- exchange for long-term also agreed that a technical torrential rains, the most the point in Jamaica. Charged based Caribbean Regional access”, to the European team would study the country has seen in a century, with five other police officers Negotiating Machinery market for their product. Recommendations, including resulted in widespread flood- for the 2003 killing of four (CRNM), which coordinates “But it seems as though how funding would be arranged ing, especially along the East persons in the small district of the region’s position at inter- Europe has forgotten that, and how member states would Coast Demerara and parts of Kraal, the southern parish of national trade talks noting, and they think we are asking access the fund, with a report the capital. The authorities Clarendon, all six men walked “there is a feeling that issues for charity today. But the being submitted to CARICOM were forced to declare a num- free after the court, presided germane to these countries world today makes decisions Council for Finance and ber of places as disaster areas over by the Chief Justice have been sidelined”. unilaterally,” Jagdeo said. Planning on and appealed to the regional Lensley Wolfe, either upheld It was a sentiment echoed Caribbean countries say Jan. 24 in Jamaica. and international communities no case submissions or by all Caribbean states. they will lose $100 million for assistance. acquitted after the jury Dominica’s Foreign Trade annually as a result of the STORMY SEASON And as the year came to found the accused not guilty. Minister Charles Savarin said, E.U.’s decision to go ahead The unusually active 2005 an end, Guyana was again Immediately upon his release, “the region is in the throes of with a 36 percent cut in price hurricane season brought battling with severe weather Adams warned criminals to confronting what is an uncer- for sugar exported to Europe more hardship to Grenada, conditions, even as officials leave Jamaica. tain future, courtesy of the by ACP states. Ian McDonald, recovering from the devasta- noted that the East Demerara The St. Lucia law enforce- WTO.” the chief executive officer of tion caused by Hurricane Ivan Water Conservancy (EDWC), ment authorities paid money the Sugar Association of the the previous year. By year- which overtopped its dam and to persons who turned in their PEEVED Caribbean, described the end, the Keith Mitchell contributed to the devastating weapons, while in St. Kitts The Caribbean sugar and proposal as an “outrage,” administration was facing the floods in January was holding and Nevis Prime Minister banana countries have been saying it is a “betrayal of the prospect of labor unrest, as up to the December rains. Denzil Douglas appealed for peeved at the position of Cotonou Partnership, which the main trade unions were up national unity in the face of a Europe regarding the sale of advances the notion of safe- in arms at the government’s POLITICS crime situation he described bananas and sugar on the guarding the benefits of the decision to impose a five per- Politically, the region as foreign to the federation. European market, saying they Sugar Protocol.” cent levy on the salaries of ensured that democratic rule In Guyana, the crime situ- were being held to ransom by The launch of the workers that would be used as prevailed, even though by ation was highlighted by the the multilateral trading system Caribbean Court of Justice a contribution to the rehabili- year-end, there had not been murder of an American and that recent WTO ruling (CCJ) in April signaled the tation of the island. The Trade elections in Haiti and the healthcare consultant. Hubert have forced the E.U. to make region’s quest to establish its Union Congress (TUC) prognosis for that taking place Daniel Thompson, 55, who decisions that could influence own single market and econo- passed a resolution urging the in early January seemed as was found dead in his hotel the lives of the Caribbean my (CSME) by the start of mobilization of “all workers uncertain as the period before room. U.S. Federal Bureau of population. 2006 after many years of plan- and other sections of society Investigation (FBI) agents In late November, the ning. The CCJ, which is head- and to act with other organi- (CONTINUED ON PAGE 26) Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 14

14 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

FOOD www.caribbeantoday.com Chicken creole: tasty and healthy start to the new year “Down Home Healthy • 1 cup low-sodium chili sauce METHOD 10 minutes. Serve over hot, Cookin’” – recipes and healthy • 11/2 cups chopped green Spray deep skillet with cooked rice or whole wheat cooking tips – which will help pepper (1 large) nonstick spray coating. pasta. you sample a tasty meal that is • 1/2 cup chopped celery Preheat pan over high heat. Makes four servings. good for you. • 1/4 cup chopped onion Cook chicken in hot skillet, The main course is the 20- • 2 cloves garlic, minced stirring for three to five min- * You can substitute 1lb. minute chicken creole. • 1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil utes or until no longer pink. boneless, skinless chicken or 1 tsp. dried basil, crushed Reduce heat. Add toma- breasts, cut into one-inch INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp. chopped fresh pars- toes and their juice, low-sodium strips if desired. Chicken creole • 4 medium chicken breast ley or 1 tsp. dried parsley chili sauce, green pepper, celery, ** To cut back on sodium, try he new year is here. So, halves (1 ? lbs. total), • 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper onion, garlic, basil, parsley, low-sodium canned tomatoes. to start 2006 off right, skinned, boned and cut into • 1/4 tsp. salt crushed red pepper and salt. ✺ Caribbean Today will one inch strips* • Nonstick spray coating Bring to boiling; reduce T • 1 14-oz. can tomatoes cut up** heat and simmer covered for introduce readers to some ...and the side dishes are delicious too Garlic mashed potatoes until tender. Remove from utes. Peel and quarter. • 1 tsp. la. Pour the egg mixture over heat. Drain. Re-cover the pot. Meanwhile, in a four-cup vanilla the bread INGREDIENTS Meanwhile, in a saucepan glass measure, combine milk extract In a small bowl, stir • 1lb. potatoes (2 large) over low heat, cook garlic in and garlic. Cook, uncovered, • 1/2 tsp. together the cinnamon, nut- • 1/2 cup skim milk milk until garlic is soft, about on a 50 percent power (medi- cinnamon meg, cloves and two tea- • 2 large cloves garlic, 30 minutes. um) until garlic is soft, about • 1/4 tsp. spoons of sugar. Sprinkle the chopped Add milk-garlic mixture four minutes. Continue as nutmeg spiced sugar over the bread • 1/2 tsp. white pepper and white pepper to potatoes. directed above. • 1/4 tsp. pudding. Bake the pudding Beat with an electric mixer on Makes four servings. cloves Bread pudding for 30-35 minutes, until it has METHOD low speed or mash with a • 2 tsp. browned on top and is firm to Peel potato masher until smooth. Old-fashioned bread sugar the touch. potatoes; pudding Serve warm or at room cut in MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS METHOD temperature, with warm quarters. Scrub potatoes, pat dry INGREDIENTS Preheat the oven to 350 apple-raisin sauce. Cook, cov- and prick with a fork. On a • 10 slices whole wheat bread degrees Farenheit. Spray an Makes nine servings. ered, in a plate, cook potatoes, uncov- • 1 egg eight inch by eight inch baking small ered, on a 100 percent power • 3 egg whites dish with vegetable oil spray. Source for all recipes: U.S. amount of Garlic mashed potatoes (high) until tender, about 12 • 11/2 cups skim milk Lay the slices of bread in the Department of Health and boiling minutes, turning potatoes over • 11/4 cup sugar baking dish in two rows, over- Human Services, Public water for 20-25 minutes or once. Let stand for five min- • 1/4 cup brown sugar lapping them like shingles. Health Service, National In a medium mixing bowl, Institutes of Health. beat together the egg, egg ✺ whites, milk, quarter cup sugar, brown sugar and vanil- St. Lucia declares war on obesity CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – In November, Prime The government has declared Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony war on obesity, noting that it announced that pensioners is having a negative impact on suffering from diabetes and the country’s productivity. high blood pressure would no Health Minister Damian longer have to pay for their Greaves said government medication. Greaves, in wel- fears that it will eventually coming the cost the country huge sums announce- to treat affected persons ment, said and cautioned that more St. this would Lucians should be exercising go a long way and watching their diet in an in easing the effort to ward off what he says burden of is an epidemic affecting the those who Beaches entire Caribbean. cannot pay Greaves (pick up Dec.2005, Regional health experts and whose printer has ad) say that while attention very survival may be at risk. has, in the past few years, been focused on fighting COSTLY EFFECT HIV/AIDS, chronic diseases At the same time, the have quietly crept up on minister said St. Lucians could the Caribbean with obesity help reduce the likelihood of making a major contribution obesity contributing to chronic to illnesses such as diabetes. diseases like diabetes, which In a radio broadcast can impact negatively on the Greaves said: “It is time to nation’s productivity. launch the battle of the bulge “When you look at the with obesity being one of effects on the productive the major points of focus. capacity of the island and the We have to ensure that people morbidity rate in relation to see the need to exercise and the disease and ill health, the to facilitate this government cost is extremely prohibitive will be seeing to remove in the context of secondary import duties on exercise and tertiary care. equipment so that it becomes ✺ more affordable to the nation.” Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 15

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 15

TOURISM/ TRAVEL www.caribbeantoday.com Caribbean explores new multi-marketing tourism possibilities

WESLEY GIBBINGS Caribbean airlines, including ers at all levels” of develop- “very serious business for a lot myth that all backpackers are BWIA, LIAT, Air Jamaica, ments in the area of multi-des- of people in the world that can undesirables,” he said. FORT-DE-FRANCE, Caribbean Star and Air tination tourism marketing. be used to deliver additional Martinique - Caribbean Caraibe. Valide said one of “We also need to refine people to our regional destina- DIVING IN tourism experts exploring new the problems with moving our intentions into language tions.” Warren Solomon, former possibilities for this leading people smoothly through the to inform the hotel groups, senior Trinidad and Tobago economic sector are sug- region was that “we (airlines) the airlines, the ground han- TARGET tourism executive, proposed gesting that the market- He however pro- that marine tourism was ing of regional, multi- posed, “an important part of among the fastest growing destination packages, putting the packages together sub-sectors in the industry offers one of the better is to work out exactly who worldwide. He said more than possibilities for increas- you are going for. It is too 20,000 divers were being certi- ing financial returns from wide as a subject.” fied every month in the the industry. He focused on the single United States and it was esti- Optimism over the woman golfer, female single mated there were 1.6 million prospects of a new parent golfers, retirees and certified divers in Europe. thrust in this area led “golfing families”. Solomon said scuba divers Jasmin Garraway, sus- “To attract this niche, we had “a high propensity to tainable tourism director have to have certain amenities travel away from home to at the Association of including comfortable and dive” and were likely to pay Caribbean States safe accommodation,” he said. more for “environmentally (ACS), to conclude that “In today’s world safety is a friendly packages.” once its challenges are major component of anything Profiling the average trav- overcome it can “take we need to be successful.” elling diver, the Dive Training the tourism industry to He suggested that the Magazine executive said the another level.” countries that can be explored sport was moving away from for multi-destination packages being dominated by men, with But officials and The Caribbean is becoming a popular destination for visiting scuba divers. technocrats gathered in were Barbados, St. Kitts and women account for between Martinique recently for St Lucia. 25 percent and 30 percent of an ACS-convened conference do not talk to each other.” dlers and others,” the former Hiking was described by annual certifications world- on the subject, hosted by the Another difficulty, if agriculture minister said. Coathup as a “multi-billion wide, and that divers spend an French territory’s Regional Martinique were to be includ- Bertrand was however dollar industry” linked to cul- (CONTINUED ON PAGE 16) Council, suggested that the ed, would be the problems insistent that multi-destination tural heritage tourism. He said obstacles to success were not associated with receiving a tourism opportunities this was an area not being only numerous, but intractable. French visa to visit the island. in the Caribbean existed and adequately exploited by the Former airline executive, President of the Martinique had to be exploited despite Caribbean. Air Jamaica to development consultant Ian Regional Council Alfred the many challenges. His con- Among the advantages of Bertrand, for example cited Marie-Jeanne, who also heads sulting team presented a this activity were that it was resume flights the need for “consistent deliv- the independence-minded menu of “demonstration year-round, its participants ery of the basic airline prod- Patriot Party, was asked to packages” to prove that, in tended to be environmentally uct.” pursue the lifting of visa selected areas, the idea of conscious and the hiker has a requirements for intra-region- bringing extra-regional trav- greater propensity to interact to St. Lucia COLLABORATION al travellers. ellers to more than two with communities within their CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC In the end, it was pro- St. Lucia’s Consul General regional destinations was not destination of choice.” - Tourism Minister Phillip J. posed that greater collabora- to the French Antilles Cassius as remote as could be con- St. Lucia, Martinique and Pierre says Air Jamaica has tion among Caribbean airlines Elias said there were many strued. The activities selected Dominica were identified as agreed to be fostered and Marie Claude things that needed to be done by Bertrand and his col- key destinations for this activ- resume Valide, head of international to ensure projects such as leagues included golfing, ity. Coathup, however, said flights to St relations of the Martinique- these reach the stage of imple- diving and hiking. there also needed to a change Lucia early based Air Caraibe offered to mentation. He said the indus- Consultant David of mind-set on the question of this year. attempt the convening of a try had to “find a mechanism Coathup, who operates out of hiking tourists. While meeting of the indigenous to inform all the decision-mak- St. Lucia, said golfing was “We must explore the Pierre stopped short of providing any details of Pierre World’s largest cruise ship goes to St. Vincent the agree- ment in a statement made KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Centre. of Tourism Vida Bernard said. can handle a crowd of that last month, industry officials CMC - This eastern “A lot depends on the The vessel went to this magnitude and let the cruise told the Caribbean Media Caribbean nation last month product that we offer, the country just two days after the industry know that we are Corporation (CMC) that the welcomed to its ready to get even more airline return would coincide shores the ships in St. Vincent and the with the observance of St. world’s largest Grenadines,” Minister of Lucia’s 27th anniversary of cruise ship – Tourism, Glen Beache said. Independence on Feb. 22. Queen Mary 2 – “This will depend on how The package is expected with tourism we handle ourselves,” Beache to include at least two non- officials saying added as he encouraged stop services out of New the call this sea- tourism stakeholders to be York weekly and direct serv- son will “make- ready for the arrival of the ices out of Montego Bay hub it-or-break-it for vessel. in Jamaica. Pierre, in a state- St. Vincent and The tourism director ment last month emphasized the Grenadines.” appealed to stakeholders to the importance of the new Ahead of be honest in their dealings routes the Air Jamaica serv- the arrival of the with the tourists and not to ice was expected to provide vessel, authorities swindle them. to St. Lucia. in Kingstown “Do it for your country,” “This is a service that we embarked on a she said. “It is important that have always requested from virtual “operation Queen Mary II as Vincentians we give our Air Jamaica, given our popu- clean-up” with very best to the visitors when larity in the tri-state area vagrants and other socially dis- services that we give and the Christmas celebrations with they come.” and the fact that we have a placed persons being removed experience the visitors will get some 5,728 passengers and a ✺ plethora of hotel rooms com- wholesale from the streets and when they come to St. Vincent crew of 1,292. taken to the Mental Health and the Grenadines,” Director “We have to show that we (CONTINUED ON PAGE 16) Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 16

16 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com TOURISM/ TRAVEL TOURISM BRIEFS Auditions begin for new ‘Ivan Martin’ • Cruise ships boost same period in 2004. Bermuda’s tourism figures in ‘The Harder They Come’ Bermuda’s air arrivals • Chastanet calls 2005 a tumbled during the third good year for St. Lucia LONDON, CMC - A quarter of 2005 year by 9.5 Newly elected President of search is on in the percent over the same peri- the St Lucia Hotel and United Kingdom to od last year, but overall visi- Tourism Association Allen find an actor to once tor totals climbed by 1.2 per- Chastanet says despite a again bring to life cent, thanks to an increase in very active 2005 hurricane the character “Ivan the number of cruise ship season, the island’s tourism Martin”, in a stage passengers coming ashore. sector performed reasonably adaptation of the According to the well. 1970s iconic Jamaican Quarterly Bulletin of “For 2006 we are film the “Harder Statistics issued by govern- expecting a very strong They Come”. ment last month, a total of year, the U.S. dollar contin- “Ivan” was the 83,474 tourists arrived by air ues to be weak against the lead character played during the year’s peak sum- European currencies, and we by Jamaican reggae mer season (July to have the promise of a signifi- superstar Jimmy September). This figure was cant increase in airlift,” he Cliff, who developed down from 92,222 a year ago said. an international fol- and took the total air arrivals lowing after starring for the first three-quarters of - Compiled from CMC and in the 1972 film that 2005 to 215,005 - a marginal other sources. has become an inter- 0.5 percent decline from the ✺ national ‘cult’ classic written by Perry Henzell and Trevor D. Rhone. Auditions began last month in London and are a part of a nationwide search launched by the Theatre Royal Stratford East and U.K. Arts Productions for a young Jamaican actor The original “Harder They Come” poster. between the ages of 18 and 25 years to play the the country for a young, raw in Mar. 2006. It is a gritty peri- lead role of “Ivan Martin”. and talented Jamaican actor od piece set in Jamaica and A release from the capable of bringing ‘Ivan charts the story of the young Theatre Royal Stratford said Martin’ to life on stage. We protagonist Ivan Martin’s jour- outstanding acting, singing know he is out there and we ney from country boy looking and dancing skills are essen- are determined to find him,” for fame and fortune as a tial, as well as an ability to said Dawn Reid, associate singer in Kingston and his speak patois fluently. The suc- director, Theatre Royal. eventual corruption as all his cessful actor must be available “The Harder They Come” dreams are crushed. from Feb. 13 to May 6, 2006. is scheduled to open at the ✺ “We are searching all over Theatre Royal Stratford East Caribbean explores new multi-marketing tourism possibilities

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15) He said divers were in other packages at a major constant search of “rich, travel convention which the average of 60 percent to 80 healthy coral cover,” fish Regional Council agreed it percent more than regular diversity and clean water. He would host by May next year. tourists. proposed packages that cov- Solomon said the sport ered the islands of Tobago, St. - CMC was a highly regulated one, a Vincent and Dominica. ✺ situation that minimized the The conference proposed possibility of injury to divers. fuller elaboration of these and “The Caribbean,” he added, “is a hotspot for diving.” Air Jamaica to resume flights to St. Lucia

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15) but later returned to service Grenada and Barbados out of ing on stream,” he said. “We Montego Bay and New York. believe we can sustain a non- St. Lucia was not included in stop service out of New York, the return bout because the and we hope to get an oppor- airline said there was only one tunity to prove that this com- aircraft available to service ing winter.” the Eastern Caribbean route. Last year, Air Jamaica ✺ dropped the Eastern Caribbean from its schedule, Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 17

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 17

ARTS/ ENTERTAINMENT www.caribbeantoday.com BET joins JTB to boost Air J’s ‘Jazz and Blues Fest’ Jan. 26-28 lack Entertainment Jamaica for VH1 Soul this month. BET also recognize the work of Television in the several years. also will promote the festival Byron Lee, of Byron Lee and BUnited States has In addition in Atlanta, Georgia on KISS the Dragonaires, who is cele- joined forces with the Jamaica to a preview 104.1 FM. brating 50 years in the music Tourist Board to promote the show, which This year’s jazz and blues industry. Joining him for the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues was sched- fest will feature performers tribute will be The Mighty Festival to be held Jan. 26-28 uled to air on such as John Legend, Shaggy, Sparrow, David Rudder, in Montego Bay, Jamaica. the BET Jazz Nestor Torres, Lyfe Jennings, Arrow, Ernie Smith, Ken Cybelle Brown, vice presi- Channel last Morgan, Al Green, Air Supply, Lazarus, Keith Lyn, Pluto, dent of sales and marketing month, a fes- Bo Diddley, Nicole Henry, “Merry Men” and portrait with BET Digital Networks, tival com- Richie Stephens, James artist Jean Francois. said it is no surprise that her mercial is Ingram, Patti Labelle, Maxi For further information, network is involved in this scheduled to Priest, Kem and Reunion Jazz visit www.airjamaicajazzand- year’s festival since they have air on BET Quartet. blues.com produced the event for Air Jazz and Shaggy Patti LaBelle Festival promoters will ✺ Caribbean offers diverse, exciting entertainment in 2006 In 2006, the Caribbean will offer many Festival) 14th Annual Kite Flying Competition 14 – Martinique - Sugar Cane Crop Over 17 – Jamaica - Heritagefest entertainment events filled with the fun 23-Mar. 1 - St. Martin - Carnival 18 - Trinidad and Tobago - Buccoo Goat 17-24 – Bonaire - Dive Into Caribbean 20-22 - Cayman Islands - 10th and excitement of the region’s unique 24 – The Bahamas - Renowned Race Festival Adventure Bonaire Anniversary of the Sinking of the MV food, music, sporting and cultural heritage. Bahamian painter Alton Lowe Art 20-29 - Cayman Islands - Cayfest - The 20-21 - St. Martin - Summer Heat K.P.Tibbetts A listing of some of those events, Exhibition National Arts Festival Music Festival 21 - St. Eustatius - Antillean Day highlighted below, may serve as a guide 25 – Anguilla - St. Gerard’s Garden Party 28 – Bonaire - Simadan (Harvest) 21 – Suriname - Fete de la Musique - 22-28 – Dominica - Creole Week to aid prospective visitors when select- 25 – Curacao - Traditional “Midnight Festival in Rincon French Music Festival 27-Nov. 5 - Cayman Islands - Pirates ing travel dates and a destination of Ban Topa” in Otrobanda 28-30 – Grenada - 6th Annual Carriacou 29-July 2 - St. Kitts Music Festival Week Festival choice within the Caribbean. 25-26 – Martinique - Jazz Concerts Maroon Music Festival 30 – Suriname - Miss Alida Pageant 27-29 – Dominica - 10th Annual World 25-Mar. 1 – Martinique - Carnival 30-May 1 – Curacao - International Creole Music Festival JANUARY 26 – Aruba’s 52nd Grand Carnival Food, Beverage and Cultural Festival JULY 28 – Jamaica - Oktoberfest 4-14 - St. Maarten French Carnival Parade 30 - St. Eustatius Queen’s Birthday 1 – The Bahamas - Sir Lynden Pindling 9-15 - Barbados Jazz Festival 26 – Curacao - Gran Marcha “The Grand Celebrations Legacy Ball NOVEMBER 12-25 - Bermuda Festival of The Parade” 30 - St. Maarten - Grand Carnival 1 - Annual Bonaire Arts Day 1 - Antigua and Barbuda - Ceremonial Performing Arts 27 – Aruba - Old Mask Parade and Parade and Queen’s Birthday 1 – Jamaica - International Reggae Day Parade and Independence Food Fair 18-Feb. 1 - St. Vincent and the Burning of King Momito 2 - Antigua and Barbuda - Caribbean 8-12 - Anguilla - Tranquility Jazz Festival Grenadines - Mustique Blues Festival 27 – The Bahamas - E.C. Bethel Comedy Festival 13-27 – Suriname - Salsuri Festival - 19-22 - St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Arts Festival 3-10 – The Bahamas - Independence International Salsa Festival - Bequia Music Festival 27-28 - Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Activities 24-26 - Antigua and Barbuda - ‘Moods 28 – Guyana - Mash Jamboree/Junior 28 – Aruba - Old Mask Parade and 3 - Turks and Caicos - Annual Turks and of Pan’ hosted by Gemonites Steel Calypso Competition Burning of King Momo Caicos Music and Cultural Festival Orchestra 30-Feb. 3 – Curacao - Carnival Tumba 7 – Aruba - 17th Heineken Green Contest MARCH Synergy Festival DECEMBER 4 - Jamaica - Skazz Music and Food 7-8 – Aruba - 13th Annual Aruba Reef 1 – Bonaire - Bari Festival Period FEBRUARY Festival Care Project 3 - St. Martin - Miss Caribbean Hibiscus 1 – The Bahamas - Ebony Fashion Fair 5 - Antigua and Barbuda - Exhibition at 7 - Cayman Islands - Summerfest - Pageant Fashion Show Harmony Hall Featuring Melinda Hackett Little Cayman 13-Jan. 1 - St. Kitts and Nevis - 3-4 - St. Vincent and the Grenadines - 8-12 – Martinique - Foire Expo de 15-17 - Jamaica Food Festival National Carnival St. Vincent Blues Festival Dillion - Traditional exhibit and fair 16-22 – Jamaica - Reggae Sumfest 15-17 – Grenada - Carriacou Parang 5 - Antigua and Barbuda - Exhibition at 10-15 – Jamaica - Fun in the Son - 17-18 - St. Lucia Carnival 16-24 - St. Vincent and The Grenadines Harmony Hall Featuring Cristiano Baggio ‘The Premier Christian Festival in the 21-30 - St. Eustatius - Statia Carnival - National Christmas Festival - Caroling 6 – Jamaica - Bob Marley Celebrations Caribbean’ St. Lucia hosts its annual jazz festival in 23-Aug. 15 – Martinique - 17th Edition Competition 8 - Cayman Arts Festival - Cayman Brac 12-13 – Martinique - 15th Agricultural May. Cultural Nights 18 - St. Martin - Pudding and Tart 8 – Jamaica - Hague Agricultural Show Fair 28-30 – Montserrat - Cudjoe Head Competition 10-18 - Cayman Arts Festival - Grand 12-18 – Montserrat - St. Patrick’s Week MAY Celebrations 27-31 – Suriname - Surifesta End of the Cayman of Celebrations 1 - St. Martin - Fish Day at Cul de Sac 29 – Anguilla - Miss Ecstasy Beauty Year Festival 11 – Guyana - Masquerade Competition 15 - Cayman Islands - Cayman Food Village Pageant 31 – Jamaica - Harbour Fest and 11 - St. Martin - French side/Dutch side and Wine Classic 4-7 - Grand Bahama Gospelrama Fireworks on the Waterfront “Unity Jump Up” 16-19 – Anguilla - Moonsplash 5-14 - 15th Anniversary St. Lucia Jazz AUGUST 31 – Montserrat Festival Day 12-19 – Barbados - Holetown Festival 17-25 - Bermuda International Film Festival All Month - St. Martin - Film Festival 12 – Curacao - Horse Parade Festival 7-8 – Martinique - Beauty Fair 2 - Turks and Caicos - Annual 12 – Guyana - Police Band Concerts - 17-25 – Grenada - St. Patrick’s Day 11-13 - Cayman Islands - Batabano Underwater Photographic Competition Strings and Military Festival Carnival 3-13 - Anguilla Summer Festival 12-13 – Martinique - Wedding Expo 17 - Turks and Caicos - 15th Annual St. 13 – BVI - Spring Music Fest 6 – Jamaica - Heineken Startime 16 12 - St. Thomas, USVI - Annual Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl - Providenciales 13 - Cayman Islands - Little Cayman “Love is Overdue” Antiques, Arts and Collectibles Auction 23 - St. Martin - Red & White Jump Up Cook-off 14 – Dominica - Lady of Health Castle 17-Apr. 28 – Jamaica - Bacchanal 19-28 - Curacao Dive Festival Bruce Feast Jamaica Mas Camp and Road March March-April – The Bahamas - Circus of 20-29 - The Bahamas Film Festival 15 - Curacao Cuisine, Cultural Heritage 18 - Aruba’s Tivoli Lighting Parade the Stars 20-28 – Barbados - Gospelfest Festival 18-19 – Anguilla - ABC Annual Flower 21-26 - Cayman Islands - Inner Space 19 – Jamaica - Caribbean Model Search Show APRIL Week 2006 30 - St. Lucia - Feast of St. Rose De Lima 18 - Cayman Islands - Little Cayman 4-8 – The Bahamas National Youth Choir 21-22 - St. Martin - Nautical Fair Mardi Gras Annual Bahamian Cultural Show of 24-29 - Aruba Soul Beach Music SEPTEMBER St. Kitts and Nevis jump carnival in 18 – Curacao - Carnival Calypso Contest Music and Dance Festival 2006 16 - St. Martin - 3rd Edition of the Artist December. 18 – Guyana - Children’s Costume 12-17 – Suriname - ISFR Fly’s 26-27 - The 19th Annual Curacao Jazz Corner Parade Paramaribo - International Film Festival Festival 19 – Dominica - Carib Celebration 18 – Guyana - Calypso Final 13-17 - St. Vincent and The Grenadines 27 – Curacao - International Caribbean 24 – Curacao - Culture Week Compiled from the Caribbean Tourism 18 – Jamaica - Sugar Cane Carnival - Easterval, Union Island Gospel Festival Organization’s 2006 Caribbean Calendar 18 – Martinique - Nautical Week 14 - Bermuda - Annual Good Friday OCTOBER of Events. The CTO is the Caribbean’s 19 – Aruba – Children’s Grand Carnival Kite Festival JUNE All Month - Turks and Caicos - 10th tourism development agency and com- Parade in Oranjestad 14-May 2 - St. Maarten - 37th Carnival 4-July 2 – The Bahamas - Junkanoo in Annual Oktoberfest prises membership of 32-member gov- 19 – Curacao – Children’s Carnival 15-17 – Barbados - Oistins Fish Festival June Festival 3-4 – Martinique - Fashion Perfumes ernments and a myriad of private sector Parade 17 – Curacao - Easter Monday Harvest 7-11 – Jamaica - Caribbean Fashion Expo entities. For more information, visit 19 – Guyana - Police Band Concert for Parade Week 6-7 - 5th Aruba Music Festival www.doitcaribbean.com or the Elderly 17 – Martinique - Easter Crab Festival 10-18 – Jamaica - Ocho Rios Jazz 88 – Jamaica - Peter Tosh Symposium www.onecaribbean.org 19 – Martinique - Jazz Concert 17 - St. Eustatius - Easter Monday Festival 12 – Jamaica - Africa Jamfest ✺ 20-21 – Guyana - Steel Pan Competition Celebrations - Big Bam 10 – Montserrat – Queen’s Birthday 15-17 – Jamaica - Port Royal Annual 23 – Guyana – Mashramani (National 17 - Turks and Caicos Tourst Board’s Celebrations Seafood Festival Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 18

18 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com HEALTH Breathe easy ~ know all you can Bermuda approves about controlling asthma’s ‘triggers’ smoking ban sthma is a disease that shed any hair. can make it hard to HAMILTON, Bermuda, to give people the chance to breathe. Trigger – Molds (they grow on CMC - Smoking in public get used to them. A places will be banned in Introducing the bill, When you take a breath, damp materials. To con- air goes in your lungs through trol mold, you need to control Bermuda from next year after Government Senator air tubes in your chest. When moisture or wetness.) senators followed the lead of Raymond Tannock said: you have asthma, these tubes Action – Wash mold off hard Members of Parliament in the “Rights can be suspended in can become blocked, making surfaces and dry completely. House of Assembly and unan- the interests of public health it hard to breathe. Fix leaky plumbing or other imously approved tough new and it’s for the public health The tubes can get blocked sources of water. Keep drip tobacco laws. that I bring this before the due to smoke, dust, or other pans in your air conditioner, The new legislation, Senate.” things around you. refrigerator, and dehumidifier passed by the Senate (Upper He explained that the Common symptoms of clean and dry. Use exhaust House) last month, will make ban is part of a global health asthma may include coughing, fans or open windows in it an offense to light up in treaty – the Framework wheezing, tightness in the kitchens and bathrooms when bars, restaurants, hospitals, Convention on Tobacco chest and shortness of breath. showering, cooking or using hotels, offices and schools Control - which has been A person with asthma may the dishwasher. Vent clothes across the island. It will also signed by 168 countries even hear himself or herself dryers to the outside. result in cigarette vending and ratified by 115 of them, breathing or need extra effort machines banned, along with and involves the tightening to breathe. water and dry thoroughly. Trigger – House dust tobacco advertising at sport- of anti-tobacco laws. Italy, The most important thing Keep stuffed toys off bed. Action – Remove dust ing events, and will make it Ireland and Sweden are you can do to prevent asthma Keep humidity inside the once a week with a damp illegal to sell cigarettes to among the nations that have in your home is to control house at a low level. The best cloth and vacuum carpet and anyone under age 18. already brought in a ban indoor asthma “triggers” – the way to do this is with a dehu- fabric-covered furniture to The sales and advertising similar to the new one in things that can set off asthma reduce dust build-up. ban was scheduled to come Bermuda. symptoms. The following is a into force on Jan. 1, with the Tannock said five million list of the most common trig- The most important Sources: American Academy of other provisions coming on people across the globe die as gers and what you can do to thing you can do to prevent Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; April 1. a result of smoking each year, reduce them: U.S. Environmental Protection Offenders face a $1,000 and that 17 percent of the of asthma in your home is to Agency; The Allergy and Asthma control indoor asthma “trig- fine for breaking the law. Bermuda’s 65,000 population Trigger – Secondhand tobacco Network; and PBSKids.org are regular smokers with 28 smoke gers” – the things that can ✺ GRACE percent exposed to second- Action - Do not smoke in set off asthma symptoms. However, there will be a hand smoke. the home or car and don’t six-month grace period when ✺ allow others to do so either. the rules first come into effect This includes cigarettes, midifier that you can buy at cigars, pipes and other smoke- the drug store. You can also producers such as incense. try to identify where the humidity is coming from and PAHO launches ambitious Trigger - Dust mites (too solve the problem. small to be seen, but found in every home) Trigger – Pets HIV/AIDS project in Guyana Action – Use zippered, Action – Keep pets out of plastic or specialized covers the bedroom and other sleep- GEORGETOWN, Guyana, have also been identified. on pillows and mattresses. ing areas at all times. Keep CMC - The Pan American Health Minister Dr. Leslie Wash sheets and blankets in pets away from fabric-covered Health Organization (PAHO) Ramsammy said he is confi- hot water once a week. furniture, carpets and stuffed has launched an ambitious $35 dent that Guyana would Choose washable stuffed toys toys. If planning to buy a pet, million project to help stop achieve all identified targets and wash them off in hot make sure the pet does not the spread of HIV/AIDS in five years ahead of schedule. Guyana. “Guyana will meet most The 10-year, six-point of the targets set for Latin plan will end in 2015 and American and Caribbean by PAHO is projecting a 50 per- 2010. This will be achieved cent reduction in the estimat- through Guyana’s national ed number of new HIV infec- strategic plan, which will tions by 2010. begin this year and end 2010,” There are an estimated Ramsammy said. 18,000 Guyanese affected He said the Health Ramsammy by the HIV/AIDS virus. Ministry would also be paying PAHO’s Country Voluntary Counselling and 100 peer educators to inter- Manager Dr. Enias Baganizi, Testing (VCT). face directly with the public said the project aims to help As part of its target, offi- to complement the work of governments and organiza- cials said the reduction of the some 50 non-governmental tions working in the health organizations (NGOs) already sector to unify efforts, maxi- working to back national mize available resources and “Three hundred persons efforts. mobilize support. die a day in Latin America “Every single home must “Three hundred persons and the Caribbean from be visited and educated,” he die a day in Latin America HIV/AIDS and it is impera- said. and the Caribbean from tive that we take regional Ramsammy said Guyana HIV/AIDS and it is impera- action” is one of the few countries tive that we take regional - PAHO’s Country Manager where experienced physicians action,” he said. are available in all geographic Dr. Enias Baganizi regions to provide treatment BENEFITS to HIV/AIDS patients. Among the benefits of the incidence of mother to child “We are close to where project include HIV/AIDS transmission by five percent, we ought to be in 2010,” awareness and education; pre- and the incidence of congeni- Ramsammy said. vention of Mother to Child tal syphilis less than 0.5 cases ✺ Transmission (PMTCT) and per 1000 live births by 2015 Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 19

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 19

BUSINESS www.caribbeantoday.com Much-touted FTAA is on ‘life support’ ~ Bernal BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, joined Venezuela in structive” the work it out and we are pursing CMC - Richard Bernal, direc- seeking to establish negotiations that had encoun- that in the first quarter of the tor general of the Barbados- closer relations with tered initial problems. new year,” he said. based Caribbean Regional the grouping. “Yes there are differences, ✺ Negotiating Machinery Bernal said that the but we believe that we could (CRNM), says he is not so Caribbean did optimistic that the much-tout- “everything possible ed Free Trade Area of the to keep the FTAA Americas (FTAA) will alive,” adding “as BUDGET BRIEFS become a reality soon. an option we also He described the FTAA, have worked on the • St. Kitts presents $700M new tax measures and there which is being negotiated by preliminary stages package are unlikely to be many new 34 countries of the Americas in terms of informa- Prime Minister Dr. Denzil initiatives in the budget. He said and intended to be the most tion exchanges Douglas last month presented “the plan for the capital budget far-reaching trade agreement between MERCU- an EC$700.4 million ($259.4 is being completed with inputs in history, as being most defi- SOR and CARI- million) budget to Parliament from sector ministries. As nitely on life support. COM (Caribbean saying it promises hope and before, substantial investments “I am not sure what the community).” Bernal cheer to the entire society and would continue in the infra- future holds for the FTAA,” Bernal said “establishes quite clearly and structure and social services Bernal said in an interview that the region was MERCUSOR (countries) and unequivocally” the transforma- sectors…” with Trade Beat, the official Venezuela in having some sort also now prepared to hold The government has pro- organ of the CRNM. talks with Canada on an tion of the economy of the fed- of hemispheric trade arrange- jected that growth in the econo- Trinidad and Tobago has enhanced CARICOM- eration. ment. We will see early in the my for 2005 has shrunk “some- been pushing to become the CARIBCAN trade agree- According to the prime new year if these countries can minister, recurrent revenue for where in the vicinity of three headquarters of the FTAA get together,” he added. ment. He said the talks would and Bernal said no consensus begin “once the Canadian fiscal year 2006 has been esti- percent”, which Luncheon mated at EC$363.5 million blamed on the unprecedented had been reached at the recent CLOSER TIES elections are over and things ($134.6 million), representing a January floods which cost the Summit of the Americas held The MERCUSOR group- settle down there.” He also in Argentina on continuing the disclosed that “substantial 12.8 percent increase over the local economy some $15 mil- ing consists of Argentina, lion and spiralling fuel prices on negotiations to form the Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, progress” had been made on 2005 estimates. He said recur- the global market. FTAA. and in recent time Cuba, the Economic Partnership rent expenditure for the new “I believe however there is which is not part of the FTAA Agreements (EPAs) with fiscal year is estimated at a strong interest outside of the negotiations have Europe, describing as “con- EC$336.9 million ($124.7 mil- • BVI to spend $233M lion) an increase of nine percent Finance Minister Ron Skelton over the comparative estimate has presented a $233 million Domestication of foreign corporation – a last year. national budget for the 2006 “We are therefore project- fiscal year, saying it clearly ing a Recurrent Account Surplus reflects growth and optimism good pre-immigration tax planning strategy of EC$26.5 million ($9.8 mil- for the economy of the British lion),” he added. Virgin Islands (BVI). OSCAR I. ALFONSO & very onerous U.S. tax conse- treat Corporation T as an “S” Douglas told legislators He told legislators that MICHAEL ROSENBERG quences starting with corpo- corporation, and subject to that there had been “dramatic the budget with the theme rate ordinary income tax rates the following paragraphs, the improvement” in the perform- “Advancing Our Social s we have discussed in assuming the USRPI is sold at income earned by ance of the island’s main rev- Services” is a 7.4 percent many prior editions of a gain. Corporation T would “pass- enue earners and this trend is increase over the budgetary Athe Caribbean Today, Worse yet, without proper through” to H and would no expected to continue in the figure of $217million last year. there are many planning planning, the second level longer be subject to income 2006 fiscal year. Skelton said that the govern- strategies that a foreign indi- branch profits tax could result tax at the “corporate” level ment had decided against vidual for U.S. income, estate as might a third level dividend (unlike a “C” corporation). • No new taxes in Guyana raising taxes to improve the and gift tax purposes should tax upon payment of an actual Nevertheless, there are Guyanese can expect no new economy, but would encourage consider before immigrating dividend. certain limitations applicable taxes in the 2006 national economic growth through vari- to “S” corporations that to the United States. budget to be presented early ous measures. He said that the AVOIDING RISKS should be addressed. For Such planning can lessen this month, Cabinet Secretary budget is geared towards busi- the potential adverse U.S. tax In order to avoid the example, the “built-in gains ness people and would create above-described risks, as a tax” results in a corporate Dr. Roger Luncheon said. impact. Consider the follow- According to Luncheon, the employment. ing scenario: In 2006, H pre-immigration planning level tax and a shareholder tax strategy, H before immigrating if corporate assets that are government has projected that is a resident of Country X. positive growth in the economy H owns 100 percent of to the U.S., should “domesti- appreciated as of the date of cate” Corporation T by chang- the “S” election are disposed for 2006 would be some two - Compiled from CMC and Corporation T, which is a percent. other sources. Country X corporation. ing Corporation T into a U.S. of within 10 years of the “S” Finance Minister Saisnarine ✺ Corporation T owns a U.S. state corporation. Thereafter, election. However, even if a Kowlessar told his Cabinet col- real property interest (a once H becomes a U.S. resi- sale occurs within the 10-year USRPI). H is planning to per- dent taxpayer, H may elect to period, any double tax will be leagues that there would be no manently immigrate to the treat Corporation T as an “S” limited to the excess of the U.S. on Jan. 1, 2007, and for corporation. Please note that value of the assets on the first the year 2007, H will be con- certain complex U.S. tax rules day of the election. The cor- sidered to be a U.S. resident would need to be examined to porate level tax and share- for U.S. income tax purposes determine the overall tax cost holder tax would not apply if and a U.S. domiciliary for U.S. (if any) of the domestication. no sale occurs until after 10- estate and gift tax purposes. The domestication of a year period expires. Under the above scenario, foreign corporation can gener- The second limitation if no pre-immigration plan- ally be accomplished without relates to an “S” corporation ning is done, in addition to H any U.S. tax consequences that has accumulated earnings becoming subject to U.S. tax under the corporate reorgani- and profits at the close of a on his worldwide income for zation tax rules. In general, taxable year (as can be the 2007, Corporation T would under these reorganization case where an existing “C” become a Controlled Foreign rules, the new U.S. state corporation converts into an Corporation (CFC), thus mak- Corporation T would be treat- “S” corporation); however, ing H subject to the complex ed as a continuation of the old this special rule only applies if CFC substantive and report- foreign Corporation T. As a more than 25 percent of the ing rules. domestic corporation, H “S” corporation’s gross Also, ownership of the would no longer be subject to receipts are from passive USRPI in a CFC can result in the CFC rules. In addition, by electing to (CONTINUED ON PAGE 20) Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 20

20 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com BUSINESS St. Lucia’s Parliament approves Caribbean honors tax breaks to encourage investment top bankers CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC - ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC - Individuals, households, com- The Caribbean Association panies, sporting organizations, of Banking and Finance university graduates and per- Institutes (CABFI) has hon- ored several of the region’s sons trained by the National top bankers. Skills Development Centre “Candidates for consider- (NSDC) stand to benefit from ation had to be persons of amendments to the Income distinction in the profession Tax Act, which were passed in of banking and/or have con- the House of Assembly last tributed in a very significant month. way towards the advancement The amendments were of the knowledge of the theo- introduced by Prime Minister ry and practice of banking and Kenny Anthony, who said finance and/or have given dis- they were being proposed in tinguished and meritorious an effort to encourage private service to the banking and Clarke sector investments in persons, finance industry,” the CABFI Ronald Chan, chief executive organizations, clubs, sporting said in a statement issued last officer of Scotia Bank activities and sporting facili- month. Trinidad, and Ivan Browne, ties, and to benefit homeown- Among the bankers the head of the Antigua- ers who invest in solar power. honored were Dr. Marion based, Caribbean Union The bill authorizes tax Williams, governor of the Bank, were also recognized breaks for companies that central bank of Barbados; by the CABFI. invest in sporting organiza- Timothy Donaldson, the first They were all named tions and sporting facilities. governor of the central bank honorary fellows of CABFI It also encourages businesses of The Bahamas; William following their selection by a to employ NSDC graduates Clarke, chief executive of panel comprising Professor in return for deductions on Anthony Scotia Bank Jamaica; Dunbar Nigel Harris, vice-chancellor the salaries paid to such of the University of the The amendments, the prime minister said, “will help McIntyre, past chief executive individuals. West Indies, Professor Rex build synergies between the officer of Republic Bank in Nettleford and Sir Courtney private sector and the NSDC.” Trinidad; and Ronald Harford, Blackman. Another amendment chairman of Republic Bank. Chairman of the Royal The honorary fellow is sought to encourage house- bank of Trinidad and Tobago a lifetime award. holds to invest in solar energy. (RBTT) Peter July, as well as ✺ It specifically allows for per- sons purchasing solar water heaters costing up to $6,000 to claim a tax deduction for that Domestication of foreign amount when filing their income tax returns. ✺ corporation ...

and will allow further invest- (CONTINUED ON PAGE 22) ment without concern for this income. This special rule special rule, subject to a possi- then subjects the “S” corpora- ble Country X income tax tion to a corporate level tax associated therewith. on its net passive income in It is very important that a excess of 25 percent of its foreign person consult with gross receipts and could result competent U.S. tax counsel in loss of “S” corporation sta- before immigrating to the tus if the passive income U.S. in order to lessen the threshold is surpassed for U.S. tax consequences related more than three (3) years. to his immigration to the U.S.

‘CLEANSING’ Michael Rosenberg is a Needless to say, the easi- shareholder and Oscar I. est way to avoid this rule is for Alfonso is an associate with the foreign corporation to dis- the Coral Gables law firm tribute all of its earnings and of Packman, Neuwahl & profits prior to H becoming a Rosenberg and can be U.S. resident. This would reached at 305-665-3311. “cleanse” the foreign corpora- ✺ tion of its earnings and profits Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 21

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 21

YOUTH/ EDUCATION www.caribbeantoday.com Cooped-up kids: Rules for computer and television ids ages two to 17 computers in a society that ers are gone, no priate. Always check out com- spend an average of 19 can barely remember when a more screen puter games and Web sites Khours and 40 minutes mouse was merely a rodent, time until next before you let your child see watching television each but it’s important to use com- week. them as well. week. With rising concerns puters in proportion to their • Limit your • Control your screen about the diet and exercise true educational or entertain- own screen population - The fewer habits of kids, it’s important to ment value.” time - Set a screens you have in your have a strategy when you When cooped up inside, good example. house, the less important decide to cut back on televi- television and computer enter- Try taping your they’ll seem and the less sion or computers. tainment can be tempting. own favorite they’ll tempt you. Figure out Kristine Berggren, author Use these tips to help limit the shows to watch the minimum number of of “Strategies for Stay-at-Home amount of time your family after your kids screens that would serve your Parents” (Meadowbrook Press) spends watching the infamous go to bed, and family’s needs. offers five good ways to help “tube” or surfing the endless try not to aim- Of course, remember that your family cut back on “screen Internet. lessly surf the time spent doing homework time.” Keep in mind that • Set a time limit for your Internet too on the computer would not screen time is more than just child - Try using a simple much. count against your child’s lim- TV time; computer use can spi- chart to track screen time. Get • Establish its,” says Berggren. “Nobody ral out of control as well (there some stickers and assign a priorities - is denying that computers and are even computer addiction value to each. (Let’s say each Homework, television, when used correct- recovery camps for children). sticker represents a half-hour.) piano practice ly, have educational possibili- According to Berggren, Each week give your child the and other ties. But practicing modera- “It may seem counterintuitive appropriate number of stick- stickers on a chart as screen responsibilities come before tion can be very healthy.” to limit children’s access to ers. Have your child put the time is spent. When the stick- screen time. • Screen your child’s Author: FeatureSource Staff selections - Try to watch a ✺ Hip hop music empowerment conference program or movie before you let your child watch it so you celebrates life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can decide whether it’s appro-

he teachings and inspi- Will Hurt You; Economics – panelists. rations of late Manage Your Budget: $$$ The The conference will con- TAmerican civil rights Budget $$$; Social Style & clude with “The Remix” An leader Dr. Martin Luther King Artist Showcase beginning at Jr. will be celebrated this 3:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. featur- month through hip hop music. ing local artistes. The African American All participants are Research Library and Cultural required to register for the Center (AARLCC) in Fort conference. Registration Lauderdale, Florida will host forms can be obtained and its 1st Annual Hip-Hop Music returned to the AARLCC Empowerment Conference on between the following hours: Jan. 14. Monday through Thursday 10 The free conference will a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and present six workshops to intro- Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; duce participants to local DJs Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The conference will be and artistes in the industry King that can provide practical tech- held from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. niques to accomplish their Fashion – The Appearance; The AARLCC is located at goals of being in the entertain- Ownership – Own Your 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard. ment industry. The workshops Label/Copyright Your The organizers will pro- will include panel discussions Music; Creative Freedom vide participants with a gift on the entertainment industry & Power – Write Your Own bag and continental breakfast on the following topics: Lyrics/Making the Video. beginning at 9:30 a.m. Education – Read & Conference participants ✺ Understand Your Contract; will also have an opportunity Politics – Watcha Didn’t Know to participate in a question and answer session with the Baby at the center of legal battle dies PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, and his twin weighed approxi- sought legal assistance CMC - A baby whose health mately one pound 12 ounces. to allow her to treat the problems became a legal issue While his sibling died hours infant. after his parents refused to after birth, the child fought to Attorney General John have doctors give him a blood stay alive. Jeremie granted authorization transfusion, has died. Baby Amon shot into the for an application to the His death was made pub- national spotlight when his Family Court and subse- lic late last month. parents Joanna and Winston quemtly Justice Maureen Baby Amon, as he was Amon took issue with the hos- Rajnauth-Lee made the baby called, was made a ward of pital authorities refusing to a ward of the state in order the state last month after his use an alternative drug ery- for the blood transfusion and parents, followers of the thropoietin to treat their pre- other treatments to be admin- Jehovah’s Witnesses faith, mature infant. istered. refused to allow him to have a The court order placed life-saving blood transfusion ASSISTANCE the baby in the custody of to correct a low blood count. On Dec. 8, the Head of doctors at the Neonatal Unit, The baby was born three the Neonatal Ward of the Port where he remained until his months premature on Nov. 25 of Spain General Hospital Dr. death. with a low blood count. He Petronella Manning-Alleyne ✺ Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:16 PM Page 22

22 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com FYI FAMILY EDUCATION and comprehension skills. program for university stu- Automated information is Applicants will receive a NIGHT Interested parents should dents who are second or third available 24 hours a day, notice for a biometrics pro- “Building Literacy” will contact their child’s school for generation Jamaicans living seven days a week. cessing appointment at an be the theme of Miami-Dade more information. overseas. For e-mail access, visit: ASC and will submit their ini- County Schools’ “Family It is called the [email protected] Website of tial evidence during that Education Night” to be held ‘BIRTHRIGHT’ GraceKennedy Jamaican passport and other interna- appointment. from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jan. INTERNSHIPS Birthright Programme and is tional travel information is Applicants will receive 12 at some 30 sites in the GraceKennedy Ltd., one of open students between ages available at travel.state.gov their biometrics appointment school system. the Caribbean’s leading cor- 19 and 30 who are currently in the mail. Tips and tools will be pro- porate entities, is offering a enrolled in a university/col- NEW ‘GREEN CARD’ vided to help improve reading fully-paid summer internship lege (either undergrad or FILING GRANT WRITING post grad). They must have The United States WORKSHOP Jamaican parent/s or grand- Citizenship and Immigration A free workshop sponsored parent/s and must not have Services (USCIS) has by Miami-Dade County lived in Jamaica for more announced that aliens must Commissioner Barbara J. Dr. Leclerc Adisson, MD than six months. mail applications to renew or Jordan, to provide training Applications are being replace permanent resident to newly-formed community- Has retired from practice of medicine accepted for the 2006 pro- cards, commonly known as based organizations, faith- gram. The application dead- “Green Cards”, directly to the based organizations and com- line is Jan. 20. Los Angeles Lockbox. munity development corpora- Fax: Application forms can be The Lockbox is a process- tions interested in learning 954-452-4705 downloaded from: ing facility used by USCIS to how to write and apply for Cell: 954-445-8386 www.gracekennedy.com/GRA accelerate the collection of grants, will be held this month CE/corp_Birthright.htm applications and petitions. in Miami. The announced change allows The grant writing work- FREE FAMILY DAY the agency to improve the shop will be held on Jan. 18 at “Friendship Pins” will be the processing of Form I-90 the North Dade Regional theme of next month’s Family (Application to Replace Library, 2455 N.W. 183 St. in Day presented by The Art and Permanent Resident Card) by Miami Gardens. Culture Center of Hollywood, electronically capturing data Organizations with little Florida. and images and by performing or no grant application expe- During the Feb. 19 event, fee receipting and depositing rience, as well as those with children can create unique from one central location, some experience in securing and personal friendship pins rather than at the local district grants, will benefit from two using colorful beads. Supplies office, service center, or appli- separate sessions. The morn- will be made available on a cation support center (ASC). ing session, from 9 a.m. to first-come, first-served basis. Aliens filing a Form I-90, 1 p.m. , is for those organiza- It is scheduled to run regardless of their state of res- tions with limited or no grant from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in idence, must mail those appli- application experience. The its upstairs gallery, 1650 cations with an application fee afternoon session, from Harrison St. of $185 and a biometrics fee 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., is for those There will be free admis- of $70 to one of the following with previous grant writing sion to the center’s galleries. addresses: experience. For more information, call For U.S. Postal Service For more information, 954-921-3274. (USPS) deliveries: call 305-375-3521.

PASSPORTS • U.S. Citizenship and CRISIS HOTLINE The National Passport Immigration Services, P.O. Multi-lingual counselors Information Center (NPIC), Box 54870 Los Angeles, CA are available to respond per- the United States Department 90054-0870; sons suffering from stress or of State’s single, centralized Or for non-USPS deliver- needing help with housing, public contact center for U.S. ies (e.g. private couriers): food, child care, caring for passport information, is offer- teens or other similar prob- ing a toll free service and has • U.S. Citizenship and lems. expanded its service availabil- Immigration Services, Call 211 from a regular ity/options. Attention: I-90, 16420 Valley telephone or 954-537-0211 Persons with questions or View Ave., La Mirada, CA from a cellular. need status checks on pending 90638 The free service is being passport applications can call Applicants should not offered as part of Broward 1-877-487-2778. Customer include initial evidence and County’s helplines. service representatives are supporting documentation ✺ available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. when submitting the Form I- Monday through Friday, 90 to the Los Angeles excluding Federal holidays. Lockbox. Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:17 PM Page 23

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 23

SPORT www.caribbeantoday.com Former cricket legends salute Lara’s greatness

GORDON WILLIAMS able to attack the batsman. 365 not out - for most runs in gets on song he likes to go big. You want to try to keep him a Test innings. As he told it, “…The fact that he has etirement may have quiet, but it’s very difficult to they were at the Antigua scored that amount of runs, shifted them from the keep him quiet. He’s trying to Recreation Ground when his you don’t get there with not Rspotlight of interna- score runs. He’s trying to score team’s boss sounded an omi- being one of the best, if not tional cricket, but former top boundaries. So that’s very dif- nous warning. the best.” players have been following ficult.” “You know, we sat down ‘That amount of runs’ also the progress of Brian Lara Adams, who played many and the England manager, means Lara remains a puzzle and have high praises for the Test and one-day international Keith Fletcher, saw Brian and to opposing bowlers and cap- West Indies batsman who matches as Lara’s teammate, he just looked in a different tains, especially after he set- recently passed Australia’s sharing in several big batting zone,” Malcolm recalled. tles down at the wicket. Allan Border to become the partnership, called the “And he got to about fifty “Once he gets in, you can greatest run-scorer in the Test Trinidadian a special player and I remember the coach say, ‘how are you gonna get game. whose abilities are difficult to said ‘he’s gonna get a hundred him out?’,” Malcolm asked, Although ex-West Indies define. today’. But a pity, I wished he before offering his own captain Jimmy Adams, team- “Listen, I think only God only got a hundred, but he answer to cricket’s riddle that mate Nehemiah Perry, plus can separate genius,” Adams made about three hundred has become Brian Lara. the pair of Devon Malcolm told Caribbean Today when and seventy-odd, whatever it “He’s gonna get himself and Richard Illingworth asked to compare Lara with Lara celebrates was, in the end (actually out when his belly is com- would leave South Florida last the other greats of the game, 375).” pletely full.” month with mixed cricketing including former West Indies nerve of opposing teams. With well over 11,000 Test memories – Malcolm and captain Viv Richards. “…But I “Brian Lara is the greatest MORE TO COME runs and counting, and Perry Illingworth played for think it is fair to say, easily, batsman I’ve ever seen, I’ve However, not only those predicting that Lara has at least England in a 20/20 tourna- that Brian has proven that he ever bowled to,” said Perry, an with Caribbean connections five more good years at the top ment, Adams and Perry did is definitely one of the great- off-spinner. “I bowled to him are in awe of Lara’s talent as a although the batting genius has not, following the withdrawal est players ever in the game, and, I’ll tell you what, you batsman. Illingworth, who said he may not be around the of a West Indies masters team not only statistically, but in the really have to be on your Ps played nine Test matches for Test game beyond Cricket over a contract dispute – all manner in which he has and Qs because he has all the England as a left arm spinner, World Cup 2007, it may be safe took time out to recognize achieved his runs. shots. also admired Richards as to back Illingworth’s prediction. Lara’s monumental achieve- “I think anybody who sits “Even at times when you “special,” but added that Lara “I’m sure (Lara’s) ment. down anywhere in the world really think you have him, you was “extra special” with a gonna get 12,000 Test runs,” Malcolm, a tear-away fast to think about naming great probably have him there or huge appetite for runs. Illingworth figures. bowler who was born in players past and present, his there about, all of a sudden he “He gets greedy as well, Few would bet against Jamaica but played for name would definitely be in just cuts loose and three, four does Lara when he gets hun- him. England, called Lara the best there.” fours and a six and you’re dreds,” Illingworth told ever, a batsman so dominant really and truly all over the Caribbean Today. “Because, he could alter the mindset of BEST EVER place after that. So he can what’s he got, one hundreds, Gordon Williams is bowlers, as well as the course Perry, Adams’s former change games, he can change two hundreds, three hundreds, Caribbean Today’s managing of a game, once he settled in Jamaica and West Indies situations easily.” four hundreds, five hundreds editor. at the crease. teammate, was willing to Malcolm got an up close to his name? So he’s one of ✺ “(Lara) actually forced go a bit further, and he, like look at Lara’s dominance as a those batters that when he you to try and claw things Malcolm, is still amazed at the member of England’s touring back (play defensively),” ability of Lara – who moved team to the West Indies in Malcolm told Caribbean past Border’s world record of 1994, the year the master Today at Brian Piccolo Park. 11,174 with a double hundred batsman broke Sir Garfield “As a bowler you…want to be in Australia - to rattle the Sobers’s longstanding record - Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:17 PM Page 24

24 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com SPORT Caribbean offering sporting variety in 2006 Caribbean well on stream for Cricket World Cup 2007 The Caribbean will be the featured 19-20 – The Bahamas - The (CONTINUED FROM are now at the stage where we to work. And they are work- location for many sporting attrac- Annual International Dog Show PAGE 11) have to accelerate that whole ing at whether it is they’re not process and my hope is that using their feet well, whether tions this year. Caribbean Today and Obedience Trials because I’m sure the offers a glimpse at the wide range 25 - Jamaica Open and Pro-AM people will respond. it is they’re bowling fast but people who come to of upcoming events which potential Easter Scramble Golf Tournament they are not in control...There play will be well visitors to the region may find 27-April 2 - BVI Spring Regatta G.W.: Any particular reason is no substitute for work. protected, that’s not attractive. and Sailing Festival why you think the response The first thing you’ve got 31-April 1 – Aruba - Thifty Car the issue. It’s a mat- would have been not at the to do is to get the essentials JANUARY Rental Super Series Drag Races ter of do we want to pace you would have expected, right. You’ve got to resolve the 13-15 – The Bahamas - Jimmy take advantage of considering that cricket, after impasse with the players. We Garvin International Golf APRIL the opportunity to Tournament 1 – Curacao - World Cup all, is the one unifying force in think we’re in the process of present ourselves as 13-15 - Bermuda International Catch the excitement of thorough- Mountain Bike Race the region and everybody plays doing that. Then you’ve got to the kind of warm Race Weekend bred racing at the Sandy Lane 5-8 – The Bahamas - The Royal cricket here and everybody put them under contract and and inviting people 14 - Run Turks and Caicos 5K and Gold Cup in Barbados. Nassau Sailing Club Snipe watches cricket here? Why is you’re gonna work with them, 10K Bacardi Cub and Dudley we are, or are we that on this one big opportuni- and you’re gonna build them. 18-22 – The Bahamas - Annual Brietling Golf Gambling Series going to run the risk ty they’ve been slow to leave Fortunately we have a Tournament 7-9 – Curacao - International Tennis Tournament of all sorts of nega- the gates in terms of people young team. They’re talented. 21-22 - Antigua Yacht Club - Round the Island Race (Davis Cup) tive messages going 23-27 – Grenada - 37th Annual Spice Island Bill Fist 9 - Cayman Islands - Brack Turtle Triathalon talking about investing? But talent doesn’t go far enough. out there and dam- Tournament 9-13 - St. Vincent and The Grenadines Game Fishing They’ve got to become profes- aging ourselves. We 25 – Aruba - Betico Memorial 5K and 10K Run Tournament K.G.: Remember I did not say sional, like the Australians. We 27-31 – Grenada - 13th Annual Grenada La Source 11-17 – Bermuda - XL Capital Bermuda Open have a propensity to it was not as good as I expect. can’t expect that because we Sailing Festival 13-16 – Grenada - 4th Grenada Round-the-Island shoot ourselves in What I said was it is not as start this now that we’re going 29 – Jamaica - JSP High Mountain Coffee 10K and Easter Regatta the foot. We’ve got strong as you would hope that to, in two months, arrive. The 5K Road Races 13-17 - St. Vincent and The Grenadines - Bequia to realize that this is Easter Regatta it was, because there is a Australians took 20 years to get an opportunity to FEBRUARY 15-16 – Guyana - Bartica Easter Regatta build-up process and we are where they are. rise above that. 1 - Bahamas Wahoo Fishing Tournament 15-17 – Jamaica - Montego Bay Yacht Club’s Easter now at the point where we are 10-12 – Curacao International Tennis Tournament Regatta now going out to it. So it G.W.: I’m really puzzled by (Davis Cup) 15-17 - Jamaica Polo Association Pro/Am G.W.: Speaking of would have been a little that. You seem to be saying 10-12 - St. Vincent Yacht Club Regatta Tournament opportunities, follow- unnatural almost if it had that 15, 20 years ago, when 11-12 - Antigua and Barbuda - Jolly Harbour Yacht 20-22 – Jamaica - 5th Bowden Bay Marina Spring ing the trend in terms started before, because so far (the West Indies) was on top Club - Valentine’s Day Regatta Invitational Tournament of investment, are 11-14 – The Bahamas - Miami to Nassau Race 25-30 – The Bahamas - The Exuma Family Island people are hearing about the of cricket, up to late ‘80s, you satisfied with the Week Regatta George Town, Exuma World Cup. Now they are you’re saying that these pace of investments, 18-19 - The Bahamas - Valentine’s Day Sailing 28-May 1 - 35th Curacao International Drag Races identifying with it. Our task is nations buckled down and from each territory, Regatta 30-May 1 – Aruba – Queen’s Birthday and Labor to make them identify with it. decided that they wanted a Day Golf Tournament the people putting So from here on we would different approach, a more MARCH 30-May 1 – Suriname - OZON NICOPA Rally - Car money into efforts expect a building involvement. professional approach, and 3-5 - St. Maarten/St. Martin - 26th Heineken Regatta Rally with CWC 2007 in So if you ask me this question they’re getting the results now. 4 - Barbados Sandy Lane Gold Cup mind? 9-11 – Jamaica - The Royal Jamaica Yacht Club Compiled from the Caribbean Tourism in a year’s time, then we’d be What was (the West Indies) Spring Tournament 2006 Organization’s 2006 Caribbean Calendar of in trouble if it hasn’t been hap- doing at the time? K.G.: No I’m not. 11 - Antigua Yacht Club - Antigua International Laser Events. The CTO is the Caribbean’s tourism pening. But I think the build- But again I think, in Open development agency and comprises membership up should solve that. K.G.: That’s the point. That’s 12-17 – The Bahamas - Bacardi Billfish Tournament of 32 member governments and a myriad of pri- all fairness, there is where the problem started. 16-19 – Curacao - 40th Annual International Blue vate sector entities. For more information, visit a build-up and the G.W.: On the field the West That’s what I’m saying. It’s not Marlin Release Tournament www.doitcaribbean.com or first thing we have Indies has been in a prolonged the last board or the one 17-18 – Aruba - Banco Di Caribe National Drag Race www.onecaribbean.org to do as a board 19 - 21st Aruba International Half Marathon (21 KM) slump, as far as results go, before. It goes way behind. ✺ running it is to get nothing close to the heyday of We should have been doing that message over to the past...With the World Cup the same thing. people that it just over a year away, are (CWC 2007) is there any specific plans for the G.W.: (The WICB) didn’t do happening, it is team that will hopefully guar- its job? big, it’s an antee that the host nation, opportunity that meaning the West Indies, is K.G.: We didn’t do our jobs, no. people look for. not, let’s say, bumped aside in We just assumed talent would They’re won- the first round? continue to be the answer and dering if it’s an we have an unending reservoir opportunity for K.G.: Let’s understand, the which would throw up that tal- themselves. problems that we are experi- ent. It doesn’t work like that. They’re not encing now are not problems going to do it that you can blame the last G.W.: But how did that escape out of the good- board or the previous board, them?...How could they possi- ness of their or perhaps even the previous bly have missed something heart. They’ve board for. They go back to the like that? got to see the late ‘80s when we began to, opportunity and having dominating the scene K.G.: Winning could be a love- our task, the for so long, people who were ly thing, but it could be a very road shows that around i.e. the Australians unfortunate thing sometimes. we have started particularly, decided ‘we’re When you’re winning your recently, have not gonna lie down and let head (gets) stuck sometimes a been designed people run over us’. And they little too high in the air and for that purpose set out to find a formula. And you don’t look down. - to let the man they found their formula. And Of course, it’s easy for us to in the street they realized they had to level blame. But when things understand how employ people and make are going right, it’s not every- he fits into this, them work at cricket, the same body who stands back and says how he benefits way that you’re working now ‘well one thing I’m sure about is from it... and everybody else is working, they’ll start to go wrong at some Even though everyday. So you work at your time’. You tend to carry on. I told you that weaknesses, you build your I’m not satis- strengths, and that means put- (At the time of the interview fied, it doesn’t ting you under contract. That the West Indies was being mean that I feel means players starting, not whitewashed 3-0 by Australia we have been coming together for two in a Test series Down Under.) badly served by months at a time when you go ✺ it. What I do on tour, but everyday they go feel is that we Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:17 PM Page 25

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 25

REGION www.caribbeantoday.com CARICOM single market takes effect in six countries

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, extremely pleased if we had all the occasion. all participating member states. made by the region in getting CMC – The Caribbean com- on board, but I understand that Further, CARICOM this far. Narace was particularly munity (CARICOM) single in life things don’t always go NO RESTRICTIONS nationals now have the right to pleased by the level of commit- market takes effect this month the way we want them to. With the advent of the sin- establish businesses, provide ment shown by the region’s with six of the 15 members of Carifta started with three coun- gle market, which was first services and move capital in leaders, saying Caribbean the regional bloc on board. tries, CARICOM with four, mooted in the Grand Anse any member state of the com- nations have demonstrated a Effective and if the CSME (CARICOM Declaration adopted by CARI- munity under the same terms seriousness Jan. 1, 2006, Single Market and Economy) COM heads of government at and conditions granted to the never before seen. the partici- starts with six or a few more, their 1989 meeting in Grenada, nationals of that country. “Even though it is only six pating coun- then I am happy,” he said. restrictions on provision of Like Carrington, head of of us we can still feel proud at tries are Meanwhile, new CARI- services, free movement of cap- the CSME Unit in Trinidad, this tangible success,” he said. Barbados, COM Chairman Patrick ital and of approved categories Ambassador Plenipotentiary ✺ Belize, Manning said the coming into of skilled CARICOM nation- Jerry Narace, said he too was Guyana, being of the CSME was a sig- als, have been removed among pleased with the progress Jamaica, nificant step Suriname along the and Trinidad road of Carrington and Tobago. regional inte- DEA may set up office in Guyana Although CARICOM gration. GEORGETOWN, Guyana, keep on top of narco traffick- could be done soon,” Secretary General Edwin “With CMC - The Guyana govern- ing (and) money laundering in Luncheon added. Carrington said the event the Single ment says it is holding discus- the Americas,” Luncheon He said that the DEA’s would not be marked in any Market now sions with the United States said. presence in Guyana would significant way, leaders will in force, work regarding the possibility of the enhance the local drug and attend a special launch in continues U.S. Drug Enforcement PROBLEM law enforcement agencies in Jamaica on Jan. 23. Carrington with a view to Manning Agency (DEA) establishing a Luncheon told reporters the committed and combined said while he was happy about bringing into presence in the country. that none of the countries fight against money launder- the event, he would have pre- being the CARICOM Single Head of the Presidential in the Americas, including ers and drug traffickers. ferred if all of the 15 members Economy by 2008,” said the Secretariat Dr. Roger Guyana, could state that they Guyana and the U.S. have were on board. Trinidad and Tobago prime Luncheon said the govern- were satisfied been exploring the idea of “I would have been minister, in a statement to mark ment has recognized the with the level establishing a DEA office important role and ensuing of national here since 1999, as the country benefits the DEA’s presence efforts in became a trans-shipment Onward, upward for Caribbeans in 2005 would have in the fight against fighting point in the narco and money the illegal drugs trade in narco-traffick- laundering trade. An (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12) officially took over control of Guyana. ing and International Narcotics between Britain and Jamaica the JLP on Feb. 20 and is now “We are in discussions money laun- Control Strategy Report helped cut the amount of Jamaica’s leader of the with the Americans and the dering. released by the U.S. Bureau cocaine smuggled into the Opposition. American Administration and Luncheon “I don’t have for International Narcotics Caribbean from Colombia by Shirley Chisolm, former some small details need to be a problem in and Law Enforcement Affairs 80 percent. A Royal Navy U.S. congresswoman born in addressed for us to see that recognizing that we need a in the first quarter this year spokesman said, “This was a New York to West Indian par- the plans come to fruition,” he DEA in Guyana; in fact we cited Guyana as a major trans- Jamaica initiative and we ents and educated partly in told reporters late last month. need two DEAs (because) it shipment point for South were very happy to help Barbados died in 2005. “I don’t believe it is a probably would have been American cocaine destined for them.” Death also claimed another great concession that the facil- even better,” Luncheon said. North America, Europe and Government and famous Caribbean woman of ities and skills available in “I think if one were to the Caribbean. It said the Opposition in Guyana aligned politics, Dame Eugenia Third World and developing factor in the desire, if one joint U.S./Guyana operations for a national workshop spon- Charles, 86, who was prime countries to deal with the were to put in the need, then in combating narcotics were minister of Dominica. Like sored by the private sector to trans-national money launder- they would have probably “quickly compromised due to Lady Thatcher, a former fight the crime scourge. ing and narco-trafficking are been here two years ago, but corruption”, which triggered a prime minister of Britain, Proposed legislation for a gun obviously inadequate and one we still have to deal with the growing interest and involve- Charles got the nickname the and kidnapping court and can then concede some merit details and often times the ment by the DEA in Guyana Iron Lady in politics. new police reform bills retain- in the U.S. Government acting delay lies in the details. We over the past two years. At the age of 82, Allan ing the Police Service as a sort of international or still have to iron out some ✺ Rae, a West Indies opener Commission were among the hemispheric policeman to issues and hopefully that package of nine bills that and pivotal West Indies Opposition and government Cricket Board of Control agreed to bring to Parliament president during the 1980s, to stem rising crime in died. With Jeff Stollmeyer Trinidad and Tobago. he formed the opening pair Eight out of 10 Guyanese on the England 1950 tour graduates live abroad, accord- which inspired the joyful ing to the findings of the latest calypso, “Cricket Lovely annual report on trends in Cricket”. Robert Christiani in international migration by the Canada departed this life at Organization for Economic the age of 84. “R.J.” to his Cooperation and Development, friends, he was a versatile covering Europe, U.S.A., cricketer, primarily a bats- Canada and Australia. man, from Guyana. He, too, Caribbean countries coming was on the victorious 1950 after Guyana in this report West Indies tour of England. were Jamaica, Haiti and Meanwhile, also in 2005, Trinidad and Tobago. Bob Marley’s mother Cedella In his final address to Booker rejected any idea of Jamaica’s Parliament, removing the remains of the Opposition Leader Edward late reggae superstar from Seaga of the Jamaica Labour Jamaica to Ethiopia. Party (JLP) returned to a familiar theme as he chal- Lloyd Rohlehr is a freelance lenged the Members of writer for Caribbean Today. Parliament to address the ✺ persistent problem of “two Jamaicas.” Orret Bruce Golding, 57, Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:17 PM Page 26

26 CARIBBEAN TODAY January 2006

www.caribbeantoday.com REGION Jamaica gains record as world’s murder capital in 2005

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – ber one problem for a decade, der rate initiatives, was not impressive. trafficking, illegal gun-running With a homicide rate of 60 with an average of five people climbed. He said that the unit should and extortion. What we should persons per 100,000 popula- being killed each day in 2005. In an do much more work to win do is consolidate intelligence tion, Jamaica holds the unen- The murder toll pushed the interview public support. collected years ago on these viable distinction of being the country ahead of South Africa with The “I won’t say they haven’t organizations, analyze it and murder capital of the world. and Columbia this year to Gleaner been doing some good work, develop operational approach- Last year more than 1,600 become the world’s murder newspaper but it’s not at the point where es to create new leads,” he people were murdered in the capital. here, I’m totally acclaiming them,” added. Caribbean island and there is Derrick Smith said. Meanwhile, the trail of growing frustration among EXPERIMENTS Smith, the Smith “The mandate is to really blood from last year has fol- Jamaicans at government’s During last year, the Opposition dismantle the major criminal lowed the country into 2006, seeming inability to bring the country experimented with a Jamaica Labour Party’s networks and we estimate that with some four persons being problem under control. number of initiatives to stop spokesman on national securi- there are 13 such major net- killed on New Year’s Day, Crime, specifically mur- to the flow of blood. But ty, said the work of Operation works operating in Jamaica. Jan. 1. der, has been the island’s num- despite those efforts, the mur- Kingfish, one of the anti-crime They were all involved in drug ✺ 2005 ~ Another challenging year for the Caribbean

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13) Grenadines. Apart from the the country. But a commission charges arising out of the alle- Prime Minister Sir John and immediately following the Cayman Islands, where the of inquiry found no evidence gations. Compton, who regained the controversial removal of for- Opposition People’s Progressive to link the former government Basdeo Panday, who was leadership of the main mer President Jean-Bertrand Movement (PPM) led by Kurt minister to the squad. replaced as leader of the Opposition United Workers Aristide from office in Feb. Tibbets, romped to victory, the There were also threats United National Congress Party (UWP), made a return 2004. incumbent governments in the of fresh elections in the (UNC) in Trinidad, will, along to active politics. By year-end, it was other countries were able to Caribbean with Antigua and with his wife, Oma, and sever- Former Dominica Prime announced that the elections, hold off determined challenges Barbuda’s Prime Minister al ministers in his administra- Minister Edison James was which were set for Jan. 8, from their opponents. The two Baldwin Spencer indicating he tion, appear in court in the replaced as political leader of were postponed for the fourth main political parties in Guyana would be seeking afresh man- New Year on fraud related the UWP in that country by time. Delays in the distribu- continued to trade words on the date as controversy swirled charges arising out of the con- Earl Williams, a former com- tion of voter-identification efforts to ensure smooth and over the construction of an troversial multi-million Piarco munications and works minis- cards, a lack of voting centers transparent general elections airport terminal building. Airport rehabilitation project. ter. Lester Bird survived a and errors in the voting rolls scheduled for next year. Trinidad and Tobago’s challenge to his leadership of are among the main problems Guyana Opposition politi- Prime Minister Patrick the Antigua Labour Party blamed for the postponement. cal parties were also calling for Manning was forced into a (ALP), but by year’s end, was Notwithstanding the prob- the removal of the Cabinet of mini-Cabinet re-shuffle after staving off attempts by dis- lems in the former French the ruling People’s Progressive his Communications and gruntled members in the colony, the Caribbean kept up Party administration, following Works Minister Franklin Parliament to torpedo present the tradition of changing gov- the resignation of embattled Khan resigned amid allega- Opposition Leader Robin ernments by democratic means. Home Affairs Minister tions that he and another sen- Yearwood. During 2005, elections were Ronald Gajraj, who was impli- ior minister received a bribe Sadly in 2005, the held in Anguilla, the Cayman cated in the activities of a from a governing party offi- Caribbean bade farewell Islands, Dominica, Suriname, “death squad” blamed for cial. By year-end, Khan had to a number of prominent and St. Vincent and many extra-judicial killings in been slapped with six criminal personalities, including Dame Eugenia Charles, the former prime minister of Dominica, her Grenadian counterpart, Arthur Ben Jones, Hector McClean,

REFERENDUM At the start of 2005, Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur had indicated that the issue of a referendum “died with the last Parliament” and that there would be such a vote before the island becomes a republic. However, when he addressed nationals on Independence Day on Nov. 30, Arthur said that a referendum would be held this year to decide on the island’s constitu- Charles tional status. Arthur said he was now the former speaker of the looking forward to a “lively Trinidad and Tobago House and enlightened debate” on of Representatives and former the issue, adding that he West Indies Cricket Board viewed the move to republi- President Allan Rae, of can status as “a statement of Jamaica. confidence in our future.” The media also lost some In 2005, there were politi- stalwarts. Alister Hughes of cal comebacks for some and Grenada, Keith Sheppard of talk of retirement for others. Trinidad and Tobago and the Jamaica’s Prime Minister P.J. Antigua-based St. Kitts-born Patterson will in 2006 hand journalist Norman “Gus” over the leadership of the rul- Thomas” all died in 2005. ing People’s National Party (PNP) to an elected successor, - CMC while in St. Lucia, former ✺ Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:17 PM Page 27

January 2006 CARIBBEAN TODAY 27

REGION www.caribbeantoday.com Caribbean could benefit from the court ‘brain gain’ migration ~ U.N. from polit- ical input” UNITED NATIONS, CMC – izations, civil society and aca- cal upheavals, socio-economic • “If someone is lying to me - Michael The United Nations Economic demia, examined the relation- differentials, social ties and he will lose his job” De La Commission for Latin America ship between migration, the opening of international –President Bharrat Jagdeo Bastide, a and the Caribbean (ECLAC) human rights and develop- markets. threatening to dismiss any judge on the says in a new report that ment. “However, quite often official who deceived him as Caribbean Caribbean countries, with one The experts focused in decisions taken at the individ- Guyana continues to deal Court of of the highest net-migration particular on the state of ual level appear to counter with floods in three commu- Justice, seek- rates in the world, may benefit knowledge of migration; socio-economic conditions,” nities east of the capital. ing to dispel what he says are from this movement by estab- migration policies from a the report said. misconceptions and igno- lishing “brain gain” networks regional and global perspec- The report said one-third • “I am optimistic that we rance about the court. for their diaspora and provid- tive; migration and human of Caribbean migrants reside do not have long to wait” - ing health and education serv- rights; and specific country in Trinidad and Tobago, about Attorney General John • “Let me reiterate that the ices for foreigners. studies on migration. one-quarter in the U.S. Virgin Jeremie last month saying E.U. has no hidden agenda, Within the Caribbean The ECLAC report said Islands, and one in 10 in Trinidad and Tobago will no quest for commercial area, the free movement of more studies are also needed Barbados. The major sending resume hanging of convicted gain in the Caribbean. These people presents both opportu- on the remittances sent by countries include Grenada, St. killers soon. markets are too small” - nities and obstacles, the report migrant workers overseas and Vincent and the Grenadines, Karl Friedrich Falkenberg, said. It said that many in the the socio-economic impact on and Guyana. deputy director general for Caribbean see the benefits of the receiving country. Some islands, especially • “We pay homage to the memory of Eric Williams, trade at the European free movement, but also admit those with growing tourist sec- Commission, last month that given the multicultural HEAVY LOSSES tors, such as the British Virgin Errol Barrow, Forbes Burnham and Michael claiming that the European nature of the sub-region and Caribbean countries Islands and Anguilla, along Union had no desire to its many different languages have a long-standing history with Antigua and Barbuda, undermine the economies of and cultures, the issue of mul- of emigration to Europe and the Dutch dependencies of the Caribbean and was not ticulturalism needs to be fur- Northern America. The fig- Aruba and the Netherlands seeking any commercial gain ther addressed. ures released in 2003 by the Antilles, have resident popu- in the region. The report, based on an U.N. Population Division indi- lations in which one-third or expert group meeting held in cate that the region has lost more are foreign-born, the • “As a political retiree Sir Trinidad and Tobago in mid- more than five million people report said. John should just cool out September, will be presented at over the past 50 years. But it said that while and take it easy” - St. the next Ad Hoc Committee on While these small regional some countries benefit from Vincent and the Grenadines Population and Development countries lose nurses and these migratory flows, through Prime Minister Dr. Ralph during the ECLAC meeting in teachers to Canada, the remittances or the influx of Gonsalves locking horns April. It will also be presented United Kingdom and the skilled people, other nations Manley” – Cuba’s President with former St. Lucia Prime to the U.N. General Assembly’s United States, the health and have been suffering severe Minister Sir John Compton high-level dialogue on interna- education sectors of these consequences from the brain Fidel Castro last month com- mending CARICOM leaders over statements made about tional migration and develop- countries are suffering from drain, especially from their the conduct of recent general ment during its 61st session in worker shortages, the report public health and education for being his country’s elections in his country. September. said. sectors. staunch ally for more than The meeting of experts The report said migration ✺ three decades. - Compiled from CMC and from government, interregion- is often driven by external fac- other sources. al bodies, international organ- tors, such as social and politi- • “I am not exaggerating, in ✺ terms of the measures which St. Vincent adds two to new Cabinet have been taken to insulate KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, National Security and the CMC - The Cabinet of Prime Administration Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of Seaports and Airports.” REGION BRIEFS was sworn into office last Sir Vincent Beache, who month reflecting what the St. bowed out of politics ahead of • Gov’t, Opposition agree on Golding made the announcement Vincent and the Grenadines last week’s elections, held this new T&T crime measures in his New Year’s message to the government leader said were responsibility and Gonsalves The Trinidad and Tobago govern- nation. relevant and fresh appoint- said he would be holding dis- ment and Opposition have agreed ments. cussion with Sir Vincent with to legislation that would deny bail • T&T’s Manning promises The new Cabinet includes a view to retaining his a con- to kidnappers. full employment in 2006 12 ministers as compared with sultant to the office of the They also agreed to support Prime Minister Patrick Manning is 10 in the previous govern- prime minister. Gonsalves also the Bail Amendment Bill, which promising full employment for all ment. Gonsalves said his new announced that he had was tabled in Parliament last and a reduction in poverty in administration would also advised the governor general month. 2006. include a minister of state, to appoint four senators, In his New Year’s message, three parliamentary secre- Gonsalves including Julian Francis, who • JLP discloses committee which was broadcast to the taries and the attorney gener- lost his bid to unseat NDP on crime nation on Dec. 31, Manning iden- al, in comparison to three Dec. 7 polls. The other three leader Arhmin Eustace in the Leader of the Opposition Jamaica tified the reduction of unemploy- ministers of state, an attorney seats have gone to the main East Kingstown constituency. Labour Party (JLP) Bruce Golding ment and poverty as major general and no parliamentary Opposition New Democratic The prime minister said has revealed the full committee weapons in the fight against secretaries in last government. Party (NDP). that his administration would established by his party to formu- crime. He conceded that crime, Gonsalves has created said. this month establish a late an action plan on crime. particularly the drug trade and its new ministerial portfolios Directorate for Grenadines The members of the turf wars along with kidnappings including that of national LETTING GO Affairs located in the Office of team, led by former Police was the biggest challenge facing mobilization, non-governmen- Gonsalves, who was criti- the Prime Minister. He said the Commissioner Colonel Trevor the government. Some 375 peo- tal organization relations, cized for holding 60 percent of ULP candidates Herman McMillan, are management con- ple were murdered and about 70 urban development and infor- the ministerial portfolios dur- Belmar and Edwin Snagg who sultant Dr. Henley Morgan; crimi- kidnapped in this oil rich twin- mal human settlement. ing his first term, said he had failed in their bid to represent nologist and University of the island republic in 2005. The ruling Unity Labour decided to give up four port- the two Grenadines constituen- West Indies lecturer Dr. Anthony Party (ULP) was returned to folios “to accommodate the cies would occupy the two top Harriott; management consultant Compiled from CMC and other office by the same 12 to three workload and responsibility, positions in this directorate. Margaret Orane; and insurance sources. margin it enjoyed in the previ- which come with the assump- ✺ executive Peter John Thwaites. ✺ ous Parliament following the tion of the portfolios of Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:17 PM Page 28

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REGION www.caribbeantoday.com Bermuda’s dead-beat parents run IDB promises flexible up millions of dollars in arrears lending to Caribbean HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC - owe more than $5,000. ing at how the arrears can be The Bermuda government is Records showed that last reduced and the system of collec- NELSON A. KING IDB member countries can chasing more than $13 million year more than 30 deadbeat tions improved. Those involved count on the bank to be at from dead-beat parents who dads were jailed for failing to include Transport, Labour and WASHINGTON, CMC - The their side as they consolidate have failed to keep up with make child support payments Home Affairs, Court Services and Inter-American Development the recent gains of the past child support payments. while 91 parents were locked up Corrections,” the spokeswoman Bank (IDB) says a new two years and adopt strategies Figures released by the gov- in 2003 for the same offense. said. administration and new lend- and programs to ensure that ernment showed that, while A government spokes- But Shadow Home Affairs ing framework in the New the benefits of growth reach payments totalling $4.3 million woman confirmed that officials Minister Michael Dunkley, Year would permit greater all of our citizens.” were made by parents in the were now examining how the described the statement as “yet flexibility and sharpened IDB lending reached $7 first seven months of this year, a system of collections could be another broken promise by this country focus for loans and billion during 2005, a 17 per- whopping $13.1 million was still improved. government.” grants to support economic cent increase compared with owed by over four thousand “The Minister of Justice has ✺ and social development in the 2004, when lending reached $6 parents. Nearly 700 of those an inter-ministry committee look- Caribbean and Latin America. billion. More than 50 percent IDB President Luis of lending during 2005 was Opposition parties form alliance to contest elections in St. Lucia Alberto Moreno, who, on Oct. targeted to poverty reduction 1 assumed office as head of the and social equity programs, CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC - The agreement was scheduled to break away St. Lucia Labour world’s oldest and largest region- exceeding guidelines set by Two of the island’s three be brought to the party executive Party Minister Sarah Flood- al development bank, said the the Board of Governors. Opposition political parties are by early this month for endorse- Beaubrun. bank would continue its role as A total of 92 projects getting set to announce the forma- ment. “We have a problem with a major contributor in assisting were approved, compared tion of an alliance in preparation d’Auvergne, who has long ONE because the political the region increase its growth in with 77 in 2004. In addition, for this year’s general elections, expressed his interest in forming leader of that party is unwilling a framework of stability, poverty the bank approved 390 techni- which are constitutionally due by an alliance with the UWP, has to make certain adjustments. reduction and modernization. cal cooperation projects dur- December, but which Prime also made known his willingness There is a contention with the “We live in a time of ing 2004 for a total of $83.5 Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony says to merge. Central Castries seat. She will important changes and chal- million, compared with 340 he would called much earlier. Up to press time Sir John not let go off that seat and we lenges to our region, with projects, totaling $56.7 million Leader of the main said that the details of the agree- already have our endorsed can- many of our countries electing during 2004. Opposition United Workers ment would remain under raps, didate for that area. She missed new leaders,” he said in his ✺ Party (UWP) Sir John Compton and the NDP when contacted the boat,” Sir John said. New Year’s message. “The has confirmed that he has put a appears to have taken the same The UWP’s endorsed candi- seal on a tentative agreement approach. date for Central Castries is Dr. between his party and New Sir John said that the UWP Vaughan Lewis, who Flood- Democratic Movement (NDM) so far has no relationship with Beaubrun twice defeated under Abu Bakr’s retrial in T&T led by former Permanent the third Opposition group, the an SLP ticket in the last two Secretary in the Ministry of Organisation for National consecutive general elections. Finance Ausbert d’Auvergne, Empowerment (ONE), led by ✺ High Court this month PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC - The controversial Anthony supports election finance reform Jamaat al Muslimeen Leader Yasin Abu Bakr is to face the CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC - John said he was convinced that ‘COME CLEAN’ Trinidad and Tobago High Prime Minister Dr. Kenny “big bucks will talk” in this Prime Minister Anthony Court this month for a retrial Anthony says he is interested in year’s elections in St. Lucia. But said that he was convinced that on the charge of conspiracy to the matter of election financing the prime minister shot back at this was the purpose of Sir murder. and has already given thought Sir John, suggesting that he was John’s visit to St. Vincent earli- Bakr, who remains behind to introducing a law prohibiting creating a smoke screen. er this month when he met with bars at the state’s maximum governments from financing “One of the things I think the president of Taiwan. security prison, is also facing political parties. we need to consider very seri- “Sir John should come six counts of sedition and arms Abu Bakr Prime Minister Anthony ously, and we discussed it at a clean and tell the country and ammunition charges aris- was reacting to leader of the recent Caribbean meeting, is whether that was the nature of responding to a question posed ing from a statement a made Opposition United Workers whether we should pass a law his talks with the president of by Opposition Senator Wade recently. Party (UWP) and former Prime to prohibit governments from Taiwan: election financing in Mark who questioned why no The conspiracy to murder Minister Sir John Compton, financing political parties as it return for support for Taiwan steps had been taken to re-list charge was laid against him who called for the introduction is likely to happen in the case over the Peoples Republic of the retrial of Abu Bakr. on June 4, 2003 when Bakr of measures to control election of the next general elections China should his party win the Bakr is still awaiting bail on was charged with conspiring campaign financing from third in St. Lucia,” Dr. Anthony general election,” Anthony said. the recent charges and has been to murder two expelled parties. said. locked up since November after ✺ Muslimeen members, Salim In an earlier statement, Sir threatening war against rich Rashid and Zaki Aubaidah, Muslims who refuse to pay his son-in –law at his (Bakr’s) Zakat, Islamic charity for the mosque at Citrin Drive Diego poor. New court to settle disputes in Bermuda Martin. Bakr who led an unsuc- HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC - will came into effect on Jan. 1 Another change will see a cessful coup against the gov- SPLIT VERDICT Bermuda is to establish a new and update existing rules that modern costs system intro- ernment in 1990, in which sev- A nine-member jury who commercial court to deal with came into force 20 years ago. duced that would enable win- eral people lost their lives, had heard evidence against trade disputes, Chief Justice ning parties to recover a “real- could face up to 25 years in Bakr returned with a split ver- Richard Ground has confirmed. CHANGES istic portion” of their legal prison if found guilty. dict 6-3 on Mar. 16, 2005, Ground said the court would Other legal changes include expenses. The majority of fixed Following his arrest on causing trial judge Mark resolve business cases and is an “over-riding objective”, scales of allowable expenses Nov. 7, police and soldiers Mohammed to order a retrial. expected to mainly handle com- enshrining the main aim of the would be swept aside and the raided the Jamaat compound The disclosure that the plaints involving the island’s huge court to deal with cases fairly, court registrar would have the in St. James and seized a Mulsimeen leader’s matter will insurance and reinsurance indus- save expense and come to a ver- final say on what legal expenses rifle, a hand grenade and 500 be heard in January came after try. The chief justice will assign dict as quickly as possible. should be allowed, official said. rounds of ammunition during Public Administration Minister judges, known as commercial Government Spokesman The new rules also bring the operation. He has been Lenny Saith informed the judges, to the new court. John Burchall said, “although Bermuda into line with other charged with possession of Senate that the Director of The creation of a commer- these principles have always worldwide commercial centers, these items. cial court is part of a series of been implicit in the administra- updating the guidelines govern- Public Prosecutions (DPP) ✺ rule changes designed to mod- tion of justice, it is felt by ing when the court can serve Jeffrey Henderson was await- ernize the day-to-day workings spelling them out they can be proceedings out of its jurisdic- ing word from the criminal reg- of the Supreme Court. Drawn more readily understood and tion, they added. istry on the date of the retrial. up by senior legal officials, they applied.” ✺ Minister Saith was Jan2006.qxd 1/5/06 12:17 PM Page 29

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