Clairmont Lye returns national award-cites governmental excesses, withdrawal of SN ads

Businessman and civil society activist Clairmont Lye, a recipient of a national award for his role in the fight for democracy, has returned it "in protest against the excesses of the government over the past years, but more specifically because of the withdrawal of advertisements from the Stabroek News." In returning the award, the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH) - the third highest national award - to President Bharrat Jagdeo, Lye said in a letter to the President dated January 25, 2007 that it was "with great regret and sadness that I return the Cacique Crown of Honor conferred on me by President (Dr Cheddi) Jagan in 1993.

Even a small rise in the world's sea levels, predicted as a result of global warming, could make environmental refugees of people in some Caribbean countries, a World Bank economist said on Tuesday in Washington.
If seas rise as little as 39 inches (1 meter) this century, as forecast in some scientific models, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, and the Bahamas would be among the countries severely affected, said Susmita Dasgupta, author of a report on the impact of sea level rise on developing countries.


Security on target for CWC matches - Caricom

The Caricom Secretariat says Caribbean countries hosting the Cricket World Cup (CWC) will get security assistance from a number of states and the region already has about 400 "roving" security officials for the matches. A press release from Caricom said to date South Africa has committed to making 70 security experts available to the region to help to strengthen security. The South African team will be incorporated into the armed forces and, to this extent; amendments to some existing legislation will have to be introduced in some parliaments. Barbados Attorney General Dale Marshall made this announcement last Thursday after a tour of that country's Grantley Adams International Airport to observe operations at the facility on the day that the Single Domestic Space started.

This is a very special year for St. Lucia and St. Lucians. You have heard it before but it is worth repeating – St. Lucia Nice!!! By the time this issue gets to the newsstands, Valentine would be a memory. Whether you are in love or not, if you are old enough to have experienced love at one time or another, even if it is a memory, I wish you had a Happy Valentine! With the French history, St. Lucians are very special lovers and love was truly in the air for Valentine. We missed your presence with us but the question still remains - when you coming? It is said that there is never a dull moment in Paradise. This year many of the activities here in St. Lucia will be duplicated around the region. Cricket World Cup 2007 will be hosted in nine Caricom States and Jazz Festivals in several of them. When CWC 2007 is all over, I believe that we will deliver the Greatest World Cup Experience Ever and deliver beyond visitors’ expectations, making it a very difficult performance to be duplicated in the future. When St. Lucians would have delivered with all the obvious challenges that have to be surmounted, it would have to be a moment of glory.

Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda and a fistful of other territories host some of the best Carnival celebrations in the region. But they will soon have some fierce competition as St. Lucian tourism officials are redoubling efforts to make St. Lucia Carnival their premier event and a top celebration in the region. New Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Senator Allen Chastanet, described Carnival spin-offs as potentially greater than the world renowned St Lucia Jazz festival. "I would like to see our bands develop their own kaiso and calypso sound ... so we can export our own music," said Chastanet, who noted that there was real value to be found in creativity and intellectual property. Chastanet, Air Jamaica's former Vice President of Marketing Sales, and who developed Coco Resorts in St Lucia, added that arts and crafts also need revitalising and Carnival provides a boost for them. "In creating masks, costumes, paintings around the Carnival season, arts and crafts are more beneficial and meaningful," said Chastanet, who said Carnival is more indigenous to St Lucia than jazz.

The Government is pumping millions of dollars into a renewed thrust to promote abstinence as a tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Since September last year, the authorities have been busy cementing ties with the Church and schools to further promote the importance of abstinence and faithfulness to one uninfected partner in an effort to reduce the spread and discrimination against HIV/AIDS.

Officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Superintendent Marlon Dietrich and Corporal Sylvester Grant with 336 pounds of ganga seized on a boat near Kingston en route from Grfuyna to Trinidad

Officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Superintendent Marlon Dietrich and Corporal Sylvester Grant with 336 pounds of ganja seized on a boat yesterday near Kingston, en route from Guyana to Trinidad. - Photo by Ross Sheil

Compressed ganja worth an estimated US$536,000 (J$32 million) was seized yesterday by the Jamaican marine police on a ship destined for Trinidad. This is the second such incident within a week.

Buggery blocked - No gender-neutral definition for rape

The definition of rape, under Jamaican law, is likely to remain restricted to situations in which the female is the victim and the male the offender. That would represent a setback for those lobbyists who have been calling for the legislation to be gender-neutral. On the other hand, it would be an important victory for those who want to avoid unintended consequences arising from the change in definition originally proposed.

Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, has said that the region must come to a decision regarding arrangements with its traditional economic allies and trading partners, before the full implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) in 2008. "We have to put in place a new relationship with Europe beginning the first of January 2008.  Our relationship with the United States of America is in a position of uncertainty," he said, adding that the region’s relationship with the global economy, through its participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO), would also have to be clearly defined by next year.

Disaster fund to help Bajans

A LIFELINE IS COMING for lower-income Barbadians whose properties are destroyed by fire or some other form of disaster. Speaking in the House of Assemby yesterday, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Clyde Mascoll said the new Catastrophe Fund Bill 2007 was triggered by the need for over 25 000 Barbadian households to have some form of insurance in the event of unfortunate circumstances. Noting that only 25 per cent of the 33 000 chattel houses were covered by insurance, Mascoll said: "The Catastrophe Fund is to provide financial aid to any lower income earners who own and occupy a chattel house valued at not more than $125 000, where that house is damaged or destroyed by a catastrophe within the meaning of the bill.

IMPACT ON GUYANA

There could be a break-through in the dispute between the Starbroek News newspaper of Guyana and the government, over the Guyanese government’s decision to reduce advertisements to the newspaper. Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo is now in St Vincent attending the 18th Intercessional Meeting of CARICOM and he met yesterday with representatives from the Caribbean media, at their request, as they sought clarification on his government’s decision. The Caribbean media delegation comprised Harold Hoyte of One Caribbean Media, Newton James of the Gleaner Group of Jamaica, Dale Enoch of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers and Rickey Singh, independent Caribbean journalist.

Bosai Minerals of Chongqing in China is buying Omai Bauxite Mining Inc. (OBMI) with the sole purpose of continuing its operation and increasing sales and a joint statement with the current owners says the building of an alumina refinery is set for the end of 2009. The Guyana Government, IAMGOLD of Toronto, Canada and Bosai executed a Letter of Agreement on Monday signaling that the parties had reached "an amicable and honorable solution" regarding the sale of IAMGOLD's interest in OBMI and Omai Services Inc. (OSI) to Bosai, said a press release jointly issued by the parties through GINA.

Custom officers at Coventry Airport, England last Monday discovered 30,000 pounds sterling worth of cocaine hidden inside more than 140 prunes that had arrived from Guyana.

Authorities in Suriname are imposing stiffer sanctions against boat operators on the semi-legal backtrack route between Suriname and Guyana who are violating their licences. The sanctions come on the heels of a boat accident two Fridays ago on the Corentyne River, in which two Guyanese women perished. Boat operators who are violating the regulations will have to pay a fine or have their licence revoked.
Meanwhile, Members of Parliament are calling for a total close down of this border crossing.

 

Roger Khan being housed in ‘terrorist’ cell - lawyer

Roger Khan's US lawyer Robert Simels has written to New York Judge, Dora Irizarry complaining about the drug accused businessman's transfer from the Nassau County jail to the Special Housing Unit (SHU), a cell designated specifically for terrorists at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre (MCC) located in Manhattan, New York. Khan was moved recently from the Nassau County jail to MCC, a move, which was viewed as an effort to boost security around the Guyanese who is likely to go on trial for conspiring to import cocaine into the US by the middle of this year.

Tapping into the Diaspora

We often make jokes about our mythical Region 11, whether it be Queen's, New York, or as we say for everywhere Guyanese find themselves overseas, "Foreign". Joking apart, Guyana is in fact more than the 83,000 square miles of our official land mass. And by extension, we are more than the roughly 750,000 people, who inhabit our country.

IMPACT ON TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Some 50 heavily armed police officers yesterday swooped down on the Masjid Al Tawbah mosque in Tobago. They were in search of arms, ammunition and other illegal items. During the 90-minute search of the mosque's hall and compound at Hampden, Lowlands, police seized two masks, duct tape, a dozen tights, number plates and maps in the roof of the hall which also houses the mosque's learning centre and pre-school.

Dookeran: Democracy for candidate selection

"No one will be imposed on you," Congress Political Leader Winston Dookeran said at the formal opening of the party's Mayaro constituency office last Saturday at Tabaquite Road, Rio Claro. Dookeran urged Congress members present to begin the process of consultation with the people of Mayaro, Rio Claro and all the adjacent areas, so that they can arrive at the best candidate.

THE MANAGEMENT of Caribbean Airlines Invaders Steel Orchestra is hoping that their panyard and home would be preserved and declared an historical site by Government. In a release on Monday the band announced that they may lose the 147 Tragarete Road, Woodbrook, property, the band's birthplace and "home" for 67 years, after they were informed that the lease had been sold to an unknown buyer. The band's manager Michael Dinchong said yesterday that the owner had informed him that the transaction would be sealed after Carnival.

Former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik has been warned by several businessmen that his mission to fight crime in Trinidad and Tobago will be a daunting task. But Kerik says he does not feel threatened and promises to work "day and night" to find solutions to the crime situation. Kerick said his team recently signed an agreement with Opposition United National Congress financier, Jack Warner, and would be doing research and assessment of the crime situation during the next 11 to 12 months. He was speaking at a town meeting hosted by Chaguanas Mayor, Suruj Rambachan, at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation two Tuesdays ago.