Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois claimed the Democratic presidential nomination on the night of Tuesday, June 3rd night, and by doing so, shattered a barrier more than two centuries old to become the first black candidate ever nominated by a major political party in the USA for the nation’s highest office. "After 54 hard-fought contests, our primary season has finally come to an end,” Obama told cheering supporters in a victory celebration in St. Paul, Minn., at the site of the convention that will nominate his Republican opponent in the fall, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.  "Tonight, I can stand here before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America.”   Obama, 46, of Illinois, hailed his Democratic rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, for having “made history in this campaign, not just because she is a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she’s a leader who inspires millions of Americans with her strength, her courage and her commitment to the causes that brought us here tonight.”   “Our party and our country are better off because of her, and I am a better candidate for having had the honor to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton,” Obama said.   But after splitting the last two primaries of the election campaign with Obama, Clinton refused to give him the unalloyed victory he sought.   In a speech to supporters in New York, Clinton said it had been “an honor to contest these primaries with him” and declared that she was “committed to uniting our party so we move forward stronger and more ready than ever to take back the White House this November.”   But she emphasized that she had won more votes in primaries and caucuses than Obama, and she pointedly said she would “be making no decisions tonight.” Instead, she said she would consult with party leaders in the next few days to determine her next step.   Aides said that was a strategic decision to preserve her leverage to negotiate over policy disagreements and the possibility that she would join Obama’s ticket as the vice presidential nominee.  Meanwhile, in a speech Tuesday night in New Orleans, McCain welcomed Obama to the general election campaign as a “formidable” opponent, but accused Obama of unfairly trying to tie him to the policies of President Bush. "But the American people didn't get to know me yesterday, as they are just getting to know Senator Obama,” McCain said.

June 4 - (Observer Cartoon)

In Jamaica, rear Admiral Hardley Lewin took an about-turn on Tuesday, June 3rd and returned to his post as police commissioner, after raising alarm bells Monday with his letter of resignation to the Police Service Commission.  In a statement to the House of Representatives on the issue on Tuesday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said that Lewin's change of mind followed talks involving himself, the commissioner, members of the Police Service Commission and minister of national security Colonel Trevor MacMillan.  "Rear Admiral Lewin has withdrawn his resignation and will continue to serve as commissioner of police," Golding informed the House to loud applause. He said that the commissioner has been assured of the full backing of the Government and the Police Service Commission, but now needs similar assurances from the men and women of the police force, as well as all well-thinking Jamaicans.  Lewin's action, however, seemed to have pushed the Government to give priority to promised resources for the police in a number of critical and strategic areas as well as to invite the participation of the Opposition in discussions on the strategic review of the police force.  Both Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and spokesman on national security, Dr Peter Phillips, welcomed the invitation.  Simpson Miller said that the Opposition stood ready to participate whenever a meeting is called to discuss the recommendations.  Lewin's resignation came amidst a spike in the murder rate which sparked a volley of criticism of the Government for its seeming lack of action to stem the violence.  Golding said that the Government's support would include additional resources to increase mobility, technical support for operational activities and legislative changes.  "A number of legislative changes will be brought to Parliament to strengthen the capacity of the police to apprehend those engaged in violent criminal activity, especially those involving gun crimes and to keep them off the streets," Golding said.  He said that arrangements were being made to expedite the trial of cases involving gun crimes to ensure that those who are guilty "are not allowed free rein to continue their mayhem while the judicial process grinds slowly"

June 4 - Cuba's President Raul Castro on Tuesday, June 3rd, celebrated two anniversaries, his 77^th birthday and his first 100 days in office, since formally taking over from his brother Fidel, in February.  Cubans and the rest of the world focused more on the latter milestone, as they monitor the changes Mr. Castro has made so far.  He has implemented agricultural reform to address the food crisis, giving farmers better pay and allowing them to acquire machinery.  Cubans can now buy computers, own mobile phones, hire cars and stay in hotels.  Mr. Castro has also commuted 30 death sentences and freed some political prisoners.  The reforms have been welcomed by many in Latin America, but the United States has dismissed them as cosmetic.  Washington said Mr. Castro needs to do more, before the economic sanctions can be lifted.
 

June 4 - In Jamaica, thieves robbed a Digicel Store on Main Street in St Ann's Bay on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 3rd.  The police report that shortly after 12pm, workers were in the store preparing a lodgment for the bank when three men entered brandishing hand guns.  They held up the staff and demanded money which was handed over.  The gunmen left the building with more than $55,000 in cash and 20 cellular phones valued at over $66,000.  The police were alerted and a manhunt was launched.  The police later said that two men were held and are to face identification parades.  This is the second major robbery in St Ann in as many days.  On Monday, a security guard was killed and an armored vehicle commandeered.  In that incident robbers made off with thousands of dollars.

June 3 - In Belize, four persons were killed and two others missing during the passage of Tropical storm Arthur on Monday.  The remnants of Tropical Storm Alma swept over Belize hours before Tropical Storm Arthur formed unexpectedly on Saturday in the Caribbean and roared ashore at the Mexico-Belize border.  The United States National Hurricane Centre said another tropical storm could form off the Caribbean coast of Mexico and Belize or in the Gulf in the coming days.  The weekend storms took most of Belize's 300,000 residents by surprise.  Early Monday morning, flash flood waters swept away a home in southern Belize's Stann Creek Valley, killing a man, his wife and their 14-year-old daughter.  The couple's 12-year-old son is also missing and presumed dead. 
Officials were also searching for a young boy who was pulled from his father's arms by floodwaters as the two tried to reach safety.    The rising waters also left dozens stranded on the roofs of their homes, washed out a key bridge to the southern section of the country and damaged highways. 

June 3 - Bahamian Samuel Knowles, who has been designated a Drug Kingpin by the United States was on Monday, June 2nd sentenced by US District Court Judge James Cohn to 35 years imprisonment.  He was also ordered to forfeit nearly US$14 million.  In March, a jury found Knowles guilty of conspiracy to import and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.  In 2006, the Bahamian government extradited Knowles to the US to face federal drug trafficking charges pending against him in Miami, Florida.  At the trial, the government presented evidence claiming that Knowles was the leader of a sophisticated, multi-national drug trafficking organization that used go-fast boats to transport multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia, Jamaica, and the Bahamas to the United States.  Once the cocaine reached the United States, the prosecution said Knowles' organization collected, stored, and distributed thousands of kilograms of cocaine in South Florida. After the cocaine was distributed in South Florida, tens of millions of dollars in drug profits were shipped back to Knowles in the Bahamas.  US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alexander Acosta commended the cooperation and investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Drug Enforcement Administration, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and The Royal Bahamian Police Force.   Knowles had lived in Jamaica for several years but was extradited to the Bahamas in 2000 to face charges there.
     

June 3 - Guyana is allowing scrap metal dealers to export iron again, but is retaining a four-month ban on aluminum and copper.  Spokesman for the Scrap Metal Dealers' Association Raymond Gaskin said vandalism is still a concern.  The South American country imposed the ban last year to limit robbery of copper and other materials from the airport, public utilities and private homes.  It later lifted the ban but enforced it again earlier this year.   Thieves had stolen so much wiring from traffic lights in Georgetown that police had to direct traffic for more than a year until the government installed new lights.  Mr. Gaskin said the Association is working with police to expose illegal dealers.