Caribbean Headline News.....

Printed Sunday, March 9th 2008

In Jamaica, opposition Spokesman on Agriculture Roger Clarke said there is a need for change in the way resources are being spent on the eradication of ganja in the country.  Mr. Clarke pointed out that some of the resources being spent on eradicating ganja could be used to improve the agricultural sector.     The former Agriculture Minister said he was in no way condoning the illegal cultivation of ganja, but stated that with the increase in fertilizer and other inputs, farmers were finding it difficult to earn a reasonable livelihood.  He said with the increasing monthly bills and the need to find funds to educate their children, many legitimate farmers have turned to the illegal cultivation of ganja intermingled with legitimate crops.  Mr. Clarke's comments followed last Tuesday's fire in St. Elizabeth which destroyed 300 acres of farm land and vegetation spanning three constituencies.  Loss is estimated at $26 million.  The residents claim the fire was set by members of the Narcotics Police who were conducting a ganja eradication operation on six acres of land.  The police have strenuously denied carelessness on their part stating that when eradicating ganja they make sure that the fire is completely out before leaving the area.  Mr. Clarke pointed out that special efforts should be made to develop programs and give assistance to farmers in the areas where the Narcotics Police have placed high emphasis.

 

Despite a spike in crime in several Caribbean states like Jamaica and a move by some to hire law enforcement officers from overseas to help, two Caribbean leaders have insisted that the region is not losing the battle against crime.   The matter was put to Prime Minister of Barbados David Thompson and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning as they addressed the media in the Bahamas this week.  The Caribbean leaders are in the Bahamas attending the 19^th inter-session meeting of CARCICOM Heads of Government.   Mr. Thompson was careful not to criticize specific nations for hiring law enforcement officers from overseas, but he left no doubt of his own view.  It was a view shared by  Mr. Manning, who has lead responsibility for security matters within CARICOM.  The leaders agreed to convene a special meeting in April in Trinidad and Tobago to discuss the matter further.  

 

In Jamaica, a 17-year-old boy who the police claim was featured in a number of serious crimes in Clarendon was shot and killed in Old Harbour on Friday night.
He has been identified as Oshane Campbell otherwise called "Tally Bops" of an Old Harbour address.  It is reported that residents of Railway Line heard loud explosions and called the police.  The police said on their arrival nothing seemed out of the ordinary and so they left the area.  About 8 o'clock Saturday morning, the police revisited the community where Oshane's the bullet-riddled body was found.  It is understood that Oshane has had several run-ins with the law since he was 15-years-old and was in December released from jail for felonious wounding and gun possession.
 

A former premier of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir George Walter is dead.  Sir George who was 79, died Tuesday morning.  He had been hospitalized for a week prior to his death.  The former leader of the now defunct Progressive Labour Movement (PLM) served as Premier of the twin-island state from 1971-1976.  Following his party's defeat in the 1976 elections to the Antigua Labour Party, he and other members of the party were arrested and jailed on corruption charges stemming from alleged mismanagement in office.  He was later released on appeal.  Sir George was also a founding member of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers' Union the island's second largest trade union.

US President George W. Bush on Friday, March 7th scolded major democratic countries that do business with Cuba and spurned calls to overturn hard-line US policies with the end of Fidel Castro's rule.  Bush said it would be backward to overturn the US policies and what needs to change is Cuba.  Bush stated that all that has happened is Cuba has exchanged one dictator for another.  Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque announced in New York on Thursday, March 6th that he had signed the United Nations backed International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.   It was the first international act taken by the new leadership of Raul Castro, who on February 24 took over as Cuban president from his brother, Fidel Castro, ending almost 50 years under his rule.   For decades, Havana had refused to sign the pacts, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966, saying to do so would be to cede to US pressure. The minister said such pressure played no part in the decision to sign them. However, President Bush stated that the international community applauded Cuba for signing a piece of paper, but on the abuses that same week much of the world was silent.

 

In Jamaica, as the government steps up its drive against alleged tax dodgers, People's National Party (PNP) activist Paul Burke is the latest businessman to be hauled before the Tax Court.  Mr. Burke was arrested on a warrant this morning by the police and officials of the Inland Revenue Department.  Mr. Burke was taken before senior magistrate Owen Parkins at the Sutton Street Tax Court where he was offered $100,000 bail.  The Tax Department claims that Mr. Burke owes the government more than $40 million in outstanding General Consumption Tax (GCT), Income Tax and Education Tax related to his security company.  He is scheduled to return to court on March 25.  Mr. Burke is the latest businessman to feel the iron claws of the tax department.  On Tuesday six business operators were arrested on warrants and taken before the Tax Court.  The six reportedly owe the state a collective $40 million in taxes.  Shortly after it took office last September, the Bruce Golding led administration said it would be going after tax dodgers who owe billions.   Finance Minister Audley Shaw said the latest initiative is aimed at plugging a 15 billion dollar gap in the 2007/2008 Budget.   In the meantime, Mr. Burke is blaming his accountant for his arrest.  

The Guyana government says it is pleased with the way investigations into two recent massacres are being handled.  To date, an 18-year-old has been charged in connection with the killings in Lusignan where gunmen killed 11 people including children.  Several men believed to have been part of the gang that attacked Lusignan were shot dead by the police in a shoot-out.  This week the police recovered one gun which was stolen during the February 17^th massacre at Bartica three weeks ago where 12 people were killed.   An 18-year-old minibus conductor was charged with the murders of 11 people who were shot when armed gangs attacked homes in the village of Lusignan.   According to Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon, the authorities are quite satisfied with this and other stages of the investigations into the two incidents.   He added that he did not think there was any connection with this week's arrest of two former army officers Oliver Hinkson and Dorian Massey and the investigation into the massacres.

 

In Jamaica, Labour Minister Pearnel Charles said a committee headed by Information Minister Olivia "Babsy" Grange is to oversee the funeral arrangements for the 11-month-old boy who was killed on Thursday after being shot allegedly by a policeman in St. Catherine.  Both Ministers met with the baby's family in March Pen on Saturday.   The meeting followed instructions issued on Friday by Prime Minister Bruce Golding.  Mr. Golding said the State will take responsibility for burying the toddler.  Mr. Charles sought to assure the family members that the government was not on a political mission.  Thursday's incident prompted the Prime Minister to call for an immediate review of the policy governing lethal engagement by members of the Police Force.


On Thursday in the Dominican Republic, approximately 14,000 public health doctors began a 48-hour strike to support proposals for pay increases.   Union leaders are asking that doctors' salaries be roughly doubled to US$1,700 a month.  The strike is the second in two weeks.  Hundreds of patients at public hospitals and clinics were turned away Thursday, with staff seeing emergency and critical cases only.  The Dominican government has urged striking doctors to try to reach a compromise. 

In St. Kitts, a joint traffic control operation code-named “Operation 4-wheels,” has led to the arrest of two persons and the seizure of 30 pieces of crack cocaine.  Police said Wednesday that some 112 motor vehicles were stopped and searched on the island’s main road leading into and out of Basseterre.  The police said six drivers were ordered to remove heavy tint from their vehicles and two cars were impounded for traffic violations.   Police said no one was arrested for the 36 pieces of crack cocaine seized.