Cuba approves, makes available lung cancer vaccine

Cuban scientists said on Tuesday the first vaccine to extend lives of lung cancer patients has been approved by Cuban authorities for use and is available in the island's hospitals. The drug, CimaVax EGF, has been shown to increase survival rates on average four to five months and much longer in some patients, they said in a news conference at Cuba's Center of Molecular Immunology. In contrast to chemotherapy, the traditional treatment for lung cancer, they said CimaVax EGF has few side effects because it is a modified protein that attacks only cancer cells.

Exploration for oil to begin offshore Havana

The Cuban capital Havana may become Cuba's third largest oil producing territory, after Matanzas and La Habana provinces, said experts of Cuba Petroleo Company (Cupet). CUPET experts said five off-coast exploration wells are to be drilled in Habana del Este, Cojimar, Alamar, Bacuranao and Tarara, at the so-called heavy crude strip, reports Prensa Latina news agency.

Guyanese and Trinidadian airport plot suspects plead innocent

Three men accused of plotting to blow up New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport pleaded not guilty on Wednesday after they were extradited to the United States from Trinidad. Trinidadian Kareem Ibrahim, 62, and Guyanese citizens Abdul Kadir, 59, and Abdel Nur, 57, were flown by private jet overnight to Miami International Airport en route to JFK, the same airport they are accused of plotting to bomb. At a hearing in Brooklyn Federal Court, the three men pleaded innocent to involvement in a plot to blow up buildings, fuel tanks and pipelines at the top international air passenger gateway to the United States. All three were held in custody and did not apply for bail.

End of EU sanctions on Cuba deals U.S. a setback

The European Union's decision to lift sanctions against Cuba dealt a setback to U.S. diplomacy after Washington failed to convince eastern European allies to block the move, analysts say. "It was a failure for American diplomacy, which did everything possible through pressure on eastern European countries, like the Czechs and the Poles, to get a different result," said Janette Habel, an analyst with France's Institute of Higher Learning on Latin America.

IMPACT ON GUYANA

Jagdeo ran from ‘jumbie’ but met with coffin — PNCR

Despite leaving Guyana for the Conference of the Caribbean in New York President Bharrat Jagdeo could not avoid the consistent picketing exercise by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). Jagdeo was greeted by a protest demonstration in New York two Thurs-days ago as he arrived at the Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street in the busy downtown Brooklyn, New York area. The picketing demonstration was carried out by a group of concerned Guyanese in the Diaspora, including members of the PNCR groups in New York and New Jersey, and also attracted a crowd of curious New Yorkers.

The Anne Blue Scholarship Gala highlighting young scholars

By Allison Skeete

The Blue family gala again celebrated the life of the late Anne E. C. Blue at their Annual Dinner Dance; the sole source of funding for The Friends of Anne Blue Scholarship Fund, established in 1993. To date, scholarships and contributions have been made annually to students in Guyana who excel at various exams. Winners are selected in the interest of education development, academic excellence and community service. The CXC winner gets G$250,000; the outstanding 2nd year law student at UG is awarded $75,000; the top performing student in Common Entrance Exams at St. Gabriel’s $20,000 and $30,000 goes to the outstanding student for 'O' Level performance at Bishops’ High School.

Guyanese authorities deny involvement in miners' murder

Call for end to public speculation

Guyana’s Joint Services has "unequivocally denied" being involved in the murder of the eight miners found murdered in a Lindo Creek mining camp two weekends ago. Joint Services Public Relations and Press Officer, Ivelaw Whittaker said in press release issued on June 23 that the law enforcement agency did not commit the crime, adding that the Joint Services personnel were "highly and specially trained and experienced in the execution of their duties whether in urban or rural terrain." This followed widespread speculation as to the manner in which the men met their demise, which still remains shrouded in mystery, as authorities have not yet offered a motive for the crime.

Shot cop still critical, magistrate arrested

Gordon Giljuys   Police corporal Mark George, who was shot by Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys on Thursday night, was showing slight signs of improvement over the weekend, giving his relatives a glimmer of hope that he might pull through safely.

George, a member of the Tactical Services Unit and a resident of 2033 Humming Bird Street, Festival City is currently a patient at the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Hospital on a life support machine. Several of George’s vital organs were damaged and he has already had one operation. His relatives said they had been required to donate blood for him.

Guyanese Miners Association calls for answers on murder of eight miners

In the wake of the recent slaughter of eight miners at Lindo Creek in the Berbice River area two Saturdays ago, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has issued a call for a thorough investigation into the mass murder. Executive Director of GGDMA Tony Shields says the shooting had made other miners fearful and it has significantly hurt the industry. Shields told a local media house that since the authorities have failed to say anything on the incident, miners have chosen to abandon camps until they get answers.

GCA FOLK FESTIVAL HONORS THIRTEEN UNDER CARIFESTA BANNER

By Staff Reporter

The colorfully decorated Union Temple Hall in Brooklyn captured the essence of Carifesta, under whose banner the Guyana Cultural Association Folk Festival kicked off its season with a gala awards presentation that honored 13 Guyanese with the 2008 Wordsworth McAndrew award. The Sunday, June 22, event handed out awards to: Sammy Baksh, singer; Tangerine Clarke, journalist; (Cultural Enabler); Impressions Dance Theatre Inc., (Dance, Youth Award); Dr. Evelyn R. John, (singer, Cultural Enabler); Avis Joseph, (Musicology); Laparkan Trading Ltd. (Business, Cultural Enabler); Bill ‘Crooner’ Newman, (singer, Composer); Ivor Thom, (sculptor) and Sir Ian Valz, (playwright, actor).

Guyana commits to funding US$450m hydro-power project

Guyana’s president Bharrat Jagdeo says with the rising fuel and energy prices his government will ensure the Amelia Falls hydro-power project becomes a reality. According to the Government Informational Agency (GINA), the Guyanese leader, while addressing residents in Berbice over the weekend, said before he leaves office he wants to ensure that he builds the hydro-electric power facility, estimated to cost in the vicinity of US$450 million. On May 7, when he announced additional measures to cushion the impact of rising food and other prices, Jagdeo had noted that Guyana has a very high consumption of fuel per capita. The president noted that the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) has requested additional subsidies, and that the administration will have to channel another $700 million into the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in order that water cost will not increase.

Guyana Day 2008 Presentation Luncheon

Some of the happy artistes with their proclamations in hand with the committee members at back

On Saturday, June 21 at the Flavor of India restaurant in Floral Park, Queens, NY, the Guyana Day Committee headed by Harry Bissoon thanked the artistes, sponsors and the media for contributing to one of the most satisfying and successful presentations of Guyanese folk/art. Mr. Bissoon, a recent honoree at City Hall, reminded the audience of around 50, mostly participants at the 8th annual Guyana Day Event to mark Guyana’s 42nd Independence anniversary held at York College, Jamaica on May 18th, of the need for harmony among the different peoples of Guyana. Flanked by Committee members - Chuck Mohan, Mel Carpen, Harald Surajnarine, Loncey Conyers, Aftab Karimullah, and Jeany Persaud in the audience – the artistes were presented with citations from the New York City Council. Councilman Kendall Stewart, in the aptly named Caribbean Month, embraced the vitality of Guyanese culture in New York and commended the artistes presented with awards.

Forming Global Community Alliances — Guyanese-American Business and Professional Council Launched

By JOHN AARON

In picture above Roy Thomasson, CEO of YABT, Dr. Thomas Auer, Shanie Persaud, Hon. Ralph Ramkarran, President Helen Marshall, Lata Singh Vasconcellos, Don Marshall and Dr. Vincent Adams

The recent launching of a network group named the Guyanese-American Business & Professional Council in New York is a welcome sign for a shrinking world where humankind is becoming ever so interdependent. The saying that a man is not an island could not be more apt, with the launching of GABPC at the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia a week ago. Global warming, increasing food shortages, the current fuel crisis, the internet, geo-politics and our quest for basic survival, places all of us firmly in situations where we must form alliances and pursue networking opportunities, as never before done.

Guyana to seek US forensic assistance in solving murders

Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo says he has asked for forensic assistance from the United States to help determine how and who killed eight miners whose charred remains were found at Lindo Creek. The president’s comments came amid speculation that the massacre of the eight miners was an act of the Joint Services forces currently combing that area for the notorious Rondel Rawlins gang. But Jagdeo at a press conference on Wednesday urged people to desist from such speculation as the investigations are underway and disclosed that the government has already requested forensic assistance from the US. Jagdeo also condemned the slaughter and said it was a brutal killing. He stated firmly that his administration intends to investigate the matter fully.

Former Guyana President Arthur Chung dies at 90

Arthur Raymond Chung, the first President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, died at his home in Bel Air Springs, Greater Georgetown, on Tuesday, June 24. He was 90. Arthur Chung was sworn in as President on March 17, 1970, at Parliament Buildings in Georgetown. He was a ceremonial President, with executive powers in the hands of then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham. Arthur Chung held this position until October 6, 1980, when a new constitution made way for Mr. Burnham to become Executive President. President Arthur Chung delivered his inaugural address from the balcony of Parliament Buildings soon after his swearing-in, as hundreds of Guyanese crowding the street outside cheered wildly.

IMPACT ON JAMAICA

Jamaica must be first in line to take advantage of EPA, says minister

As CARIFORUM countries prepare to sign and implement an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Ken Baugh, has emphasised that Jamaica must make every effort to be first in line with projects to take advantage of assistance under the agreement. "The Caribbean is the first and only region to have signed a comprehensive EPA agreement with the European Union. It should be in the interest of the European Union as well as CARICOM to make sure that this works effectively," the Minister said. "Therefore, we are hoping that under EPA trade and other facilities provided for the development of capacity - to modernize our factories, to build competencies, to modernize our equipment and to make sure that we are in a position to expand and diversify our exports - that this will be treated properly," Baugh said.

Banks urged to provide more loans for productive sector in Jamaica

Audley Shaw (right), Minister of Finance and the Public Service shares a light moment with (from left), Manager of the branch of First Caribbean International Bank in Liguanea, Lorraine Ashwood; Milton Brady, Managing Director, First Caribbean International Bank (Jamaica) Limited and Dr. St Aubyn Bartlett, Member of Parliament, at the opening of the branch.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has called on commercial banks to revisit their role in the development of Jamaica by providing more loans for the productive sector. "I think we have reached the point where our commercial banking sector needs to aggressively reassess its own role in the economic development or prospects for our country," Shaw said as he addressed the opening of First Caribbean International Bank's 13th branch in Liguanea, St. Andrew on June 22.

Jamaica and CARICOM partners to negotiate free trade agreement with Canada

Jamaica and its CARICOM partners are poised to commence negotiating a free trade agreement with Canada, which is the region's third largest trading partner. Speaking in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Dr Ken Baugh informed that the negotiations with Canada have been in the pipeline since 2001 and, although Canada obtained a Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) waiver in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for CARIBCAN up to 2011, they have already indicated that they will not be renewing this waiver. "This leaves Jamaica and the region with little option but to negotiate an arrangement with Canada, which will be WTO compatible, meaning a free trade agreement," Baugh said.

Jamaican to receive CARICOM triennial award for women

An outstanding Jamaican woman, Barbara Bailey, will be awarded the Caribbean Community’s Triennial Award for Women for her sterling contribution to national and regional development, especially in the field of education and research. The award was conferred on July 1, 2008 at the Opening Ceremony of the Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, in Antigua and Barbuda. She has for many years been at the forefront of advocacy for gender equality and equity through her teaching and research activities. She will be the second Jamaican to receive this prestigious Award and will be joining the ranks of eight other outstanding women who have received the Award since its inception in 1983.

IMPACT ON BARBADOS

GOVERNANCE ADVISORY BOARD SET UP IN BARBADOS

A Governance Advisory Board has been established by the Barbados Cabinet to deal with a number of issues, including Freedom of Information, Defamation and Integrity draft Bills. This is according to Chairman of the Board, Senator Orlando Marville, who was speaking at a press conference at Government Headquarters on Tuesday. The other members of the Board are: The Very Rev. Dean Dr. Frank Marshall; the Permanent Secretary (Special Assignments) Prime Minister’s Office; Captain Randolph Straughan; Calvin Springer; Shantal Munroe-Knight; Professor Eudine Barriteau and Attorney-at-law Monique Taitt.

NO VENDING will be allowed outside Trimart Supermarket

Citing losses of over $100,000 a month, owners of the Bridge-town complex have made it clear they can no longer afford to allow vending outside of the property. That was the clear message sent in a letter to Minister of Agriculture Haynesley Benn by one of the directors of NSR Limited, the company that owns the Trimart supermarket properties in Bridge Street, The City and at Haggall Hall, St Michael. "We reserve our rights as the property owners at Bridge Street not to allow any vending, soliciting or loitering under the overhang of our building," wrote director Everick Eastmond.

TAX EASE FOR PHILANTHROPISTS AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

The kind-hearted may soon be in for tax eases or exemptions from the Government. Philantropists and charitable donors in Barbados have been earmarked for relief as Government looks to revamp laws relating to philanthropy and charities. Prime Minister David Thompson, who will present his Budget proposals in Parliament this week, said his administration would reform a "pretty cumbersome" system of taxation through the use of covenants, so that individuals can make contributions and receive tax benefits to help the work of organisations like the Salvation Army.

A hole lot of trouble

Residents of Syndicate Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, are fearful of an eight to ten-foot deep hole in their community. The hole, which is about four feet wide and filled with water, resulted from work done by the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) in response to a burst main a few weeks ago, residents claimed. Concerned residents said yesterday they feared children in the area might be hurt if the problem was not dealt with immediately. One in particular, Anderson Bovell, said the BWA visited the area on Friday after the main burst again.

IMPACT ON T & T

Investment bank confirms interest in new Trinidad and Tobago Financial Center

Trinidad and Tobago Minister of Finance Karen Nunez-Tesheira recently announced that Lehman Brothers, a global investment bank, has expressed interest in joining the Trinidad and Tobago International Financial Center (TTIFC). In a letter to Nunez-Tesheira, Lehman Brothers Managing Director Ernest Green said, "We have considered your country’s plans for a world class Trinidad and Tobago International Financial Center and confirm Lehman Brothers interest in being one of the TTIFC’s anchor tenants and collaborating with your government in the plans you have developed for an international center of finance in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.’’ "Lehman is very interested in implementing our business model in Trinidad and Tobago aligned with the TTIFC, as it develops in accordance with the current plan and strategy,’’ the company said, adding that it would attend the launching ceremonies for the TTIFC later this year.

TT cops rescue kidnapped woman

In a camp hidden deep inside a forested area in a precipice off the North Coast Road, police officers rescued 22-year-old Avita Bissoondatt, last Thursday evening. And in the search for the kidnapped student, police killed one of her captors, while three others were said to be on the run. Dead is a 25-year-old career criminal with the alias "Sandman" known to police for previous crimes including kidnapping, robbery, and the trafficking of illegal drugs. Bissoondatt, who lives with her grandmother at Soledad Road, Lange Park in Chaguanas, went missing two Saturday evenings ago.

6 shot in shooting spree

Four separate shooting incidents, between Fri-day and Saturday night in east Trinidad, have left six people nursing injuries. In the first incident, around 9.45 p.m. Friday, 23-year-old Clint Collins, a Maloney resident, was ‘liming’ downstairs in Building 21 in Maloney when a gunman approached. Collins was shot three times in the chest and slumped to the ground. The shooter then ran off. Collins was at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope in critical condition. Almost 24 hours after that incident, around 9 p.m. Saturday, Jason Thomas, 28, was walking in Maloney Gardens, when he too was approached by a gunman.

No motive yet in Morvant killing

A young Morvant man was shot dead early Sunday morning but the police were unable to determine why. His murder brings the toll so far to 258, according to the Sunday Express count. The Homicide Bureau's toll is 254. Police said that shortly after 1 a.m., Akeil Olsop of Sawmill Avenue, Morvant was sitting on a bench at the Morvant junction when a man approached him and fired several shots.

EMANCIPATION DAY – CELEBRATING THE TRANSITION OF AFRICANS FROM PROPERTY TO PERSON

By Sodesaya

Emancipation Day was enshrined in Trinidad and Tobago’s history in 1938, when then governor Sir George Fitzgerald Hill issued a hastily drawn proclamation to stem the tide of Africans who were rising up against the "apprenticeship" period that followed slavery in the region. Britain had proclaimed freedom, he said, with immediate effect.

Consequently, August 1, became a milestone in African history as the enslaved could legally turn their backs on the sugar plantations, which had been the centerpiece of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the Caribbean. On that day, colonial powers in Trinidad and Tobago and other countries of the former British Empire ended a brutal economic system which involved the kidnaping of Africans from their homeland, the theft of their labor to build Europe’s wealth and an "apprenticeship" period to allow the plantocracy a transition period.