Caribbean Headline News...

Updated Friday, June 13th, 2008

Over $1.4 Million Award In Jamaica Grade 6 Achievement Test Case

In Jamaica the Ministry of Education has agreed to award Kristi Charles, 11, $205,000 a year for the next seven years in lieu of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholarship it denied the top performing student last year.  Minister of Education Andrew Holness announced the specially created scholarship award at a low-key on the morning of Thursday, June 12th.    Little Kristi Charles and her parents were beaming as they realized that their efforts to seek justice for her were bearing fruit, in fact, over $1.4 million worth of fruit towards her Harvard education.  Kristi Charles and her family took on the Ministry of Education after the Ministry refused to grant her a government scholarship although she recorded the highest scores among girls island wide.  Another girl was given the title "Top Performer" as the Education Ministry claimed that Kristi did extra lessons at a centre where the Ministry claimed teachers had seen the exam papers.   But the Ministry's claim was based on flimsy evidence, and after a fierce legal battle, the Supreme Court ruled in Kristi's favor.  The court said the Minister of Education and the Permanent Secretary failed to conduct proper investigations into the allegations of cheating and that they were mistaken in concluding that Kristi's grades were the result of examination fraud.

International non government organizations are calling on the world's richest nations to cancel Haiti's debt.   Twenty-six NGOs from Canada, Europe and the US have said that it is not acceptable for Haiti to continue making payments of US $1 million per week to the World Bank and other institutions, while the people of the country suffer.  Coordinator of Haiti Advocacy Platform Ireland-UK, Anne McConnell, said the NGOs have presented their case to G8 finance ministers, ahead of their meeting in Japan on Friday. G8 is an international forum for the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the US.  Haiti is scheduled to make over 50 million US dollars this year on debt repayments.  Advocates argue that these funds would be better spent on food, health and other social services.

More Police To Patrol TT Streets

Trinidad and Tobago's National Security Minister Martin Joseph is responding to the violent outburst of murders and kidnappings with additional police, guns and ammunition.  Mr. Joseph said Thursday, the government intends to put more than 570 police officers on the streets to help combat the country's crime problems.  He told a news conference that 226 people have been killed there so far this year, compared to 124 for the same period last year.

Douglas Pleased With New System

The Kittitian Prime Minister Denzil Douglas has expressed confidence in the country's new voter registration management system.  Dr Douglas has told parliament that the new system had been able to detect attempts by individuals to register multiple times and in multiple places.  He said the examples included two people who were confirmed in St Kitts having attempted to register for a second time in Nevis.

Cash Plus Receivership Case Postponed

In Jamaica the legal battle between the authorities and Cash Plus boss Carlos Hill over control of his cash-strapped company was postponed until July 21 in the Supreme Court.  The hearing date was set Thursday, June 12th when lawyers for Mr. Hill and the Co-receiver/manager appeared in court.  Mr. Hill's lawyers submitted affidavits challenging the decision of the High Court to place his company into receivership.  During the month of May the lawyers filed action in Court challenging the takeover of the company by the authorities.  They objected to the take-over during a hearing involving High Court Judge, Justice Marva McIntosh and Co-Interim Receiver/Manager of Cash Plus, Keven Bandoian.  Mr. Hill's lawyers said the decision to place Cash Plus into receivership is based on a lawsuit filed by an employee of the company.  They argue that only shareholders, directors or creditors can file for liquidation of a company and not an employee.  However, lawyers representing the Mr. Bandoian claim that the employee who applied for the receivership is also an officer of the company and the action is therefore valid.  Embattled Cash Plus boss Carlos Hill was present in court Thursday morning.  It is also understood that Mr. Hill's personal assets have been placed into receivership.  This is due to a lawsuit filed against Mr. Hill in May, 2008, the lawsuit was filed by an investor who has more than $20 million tied up in Cash Plus.  The action prevents him from disposing of any personal assets.  Mr. Hill was charged in April with fraud following the collapse of the multi-billion dollar alternative investment scheme.
 

Greenpeace Criticizes Suriname

Suriname is coming under increased international pressure to adopt an anti-whaling position, ahead of this month's meeting of the International Whaling Commission.   Greenpeace activists on Thursday, June 12th launched a protest outside the Surinamese embassy in Brazil, and the venue of this month's IWC meeting in Santiago Chile, demanding that the south American country adopt a pro-whaling stance.  Suriname is known for its proactive approach for safeguarding its environment, but Greenpeace says its policy at the IWC threatens the international whale stock.  Earlier this week, Dominica announced that it would abstain from voting at the IWC.

Legalizing Marijuana Sparks Fury In Grenada Ahead Of Polls

Ahead of Grenada's July 8 poll, politicians in Grenada are quarrelling over allegations that one party would legalize marijuana.  The ruling New National Party (NNP) claims that its main rival, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) would legalize ganja.   However, the NDC has dismissed that claim.   "That is not an issue in the election and anybody would say that the NDC would have to be crazy to think about legalizing drugs in a situation where we're having so many drug related problems in our society," said Deputy Chairman of the NDC Ferron Lowe.  "We're a third category, a developing country ... not one of those mature democracies where you can say well, people can handle anything. It is really out of order and should surprise the Grenadian people," said Mr. Lowe.
 

France Funds Anti Insecticide Campaign

The French government is providing funding for an action plan to assist Martinique and Guadeloupe in their efforts to reduce exposure to the banned insecticide Chlordecone.  Paris expects to spend more than 33 million euros over three years to help strengthen the monitoring of the population's health on these two islands.   Chlordecone pollution has been a major concern in Martinique.  The banned pesticide has not been used there in ten years, but environmental groups say tests have shown that it has polluted Martiniquan soil.  That island set up a commission on the use and dangers of pesticides last year, after a cancer expert warned of increased cancer and infertility rates

Fair Salaries & Bonuses For Cubans

Cuba has broken with one of the principles at the heart of its communist system by abolishing equal pay for all.  The government announced that workers would be offered bonuses and there'd be no ceiling on salaries.  The concept of equal pay had been in place since the revolution of 1959.  The decision to abandon it is the latest in a series of measures introduced by President Raul Castro since he took over full power from his brother, Fidel, in February.  The deputy labor minister, Carlos Mateu, said egalitarianism was no longer convenient, and wage differentiation should be seen as a tool to improve production and services. The average wage in Cuba for everyone - from doctors to farm laborers - is about $20 (£10) a month.

Party objects to OAS official

In Grenada, the campaign for July's general election has been dominated more by allegations of death threats and improper electoral practices, than by policy issues.  The latest controversy is over the suitability of the number two man at the Organization of American States to lead a polling observer mission from the hemispheric body.   The opposition National Democratic Congress claims that Surinamese Albert Ramdim, who was the Caricom nominee for the OAS post, may have links to key figures of the governing New National Party.

Trinidad May Get UK Visa Warning

The UK Financial Times reports that Trinidad and Tobago is among countries that could face tough UK visa restrictions, because of immigration abuses by their nationals.  The FT says Britain is set to deliver an ultimatum to 11 nations to address the problems within six months.  The abuses are said to include persistent overstaying by nationals of the countries, which include Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and South Africa.   Opponents of the plan have warned, however, of the risk to relations with key trading partners, and even undermining England's bid to host the 2018 football World Cup.

Jamaica Cop Allegedly Kills Herself With Gramoxone

In Jamaica, the suspected suicide of a policewoman has grieved her colleagues in Clarendon.  Constable Petal Russell, who was assigned to the May Pen Police, died in the Mandeville Hospital on Wednesday, June 11th after reportedly ingesting the weedicide - Gramoxone earlier this week.  Constable Russell has been described by her colleagues as someone with a cheerful disposition, who always carried out her duties in a professional manner.  CCN Liaison Officer for Clarendon Constable Kamay Watson said she is saddened by her colleague's death.  According to reports, Constable Russell was being treated for a mental condition.  She was on leave at the time of her death.
 

King Visits Taiwan

The St. Lucian Prime Minister, Stephenson King, was due in Taiwan on Thursday at the start of an eight-day visit.  It's the first by a St Lucian head of government since the two countries re-established diplomatic relations a year ago.   That decision opened up deep cracks in the government and led to the dismissal of foreign minister Rufus Bousquet.  He is alleged to have disobeyed a prime ministerial directive to stick with archrival China.  Mr. Bousquet was recalled last week to the cabinet in an attempt to heal the rift.  Meanwhile, China and Taiwan have agreed to set up permanent offices on each other's territory to handle contacts between them.   The agreement was reached in Beijing at the first formal talks between the two sides for nearly a decade.

ILO Campaigns Against Child Labor

The International Labor Organization is marking a World Day against Child Labor by focusing on the importance of education.   The ILO says universal access to school education is critical to eradicating the use of children in the work place.  The organization says worldwide more than seventy million children of primary school age do not receive any education because they are sent out to work -- particularly girls living in rural areas.

Two Double Murders In St. Catherine, Jamaica

In Jamaica, St. Catherine recorded two double murders in the space of 14 hours.  One incident occurred on the morning of Thursday, June 12th in the upscale community of Ensom City in Spanish Town.  Two men Andre Gardener, 28, otherwise called "Bunny" and Kimar Whitely, 20, both of Ensom City, were killed in the incident.   It is reported that at about 11:20am, both men were sitting under a tree on Riverside Parkway when they were approached by three men who opened fire hitting them.  They were taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where they were pronounced dead.  No motive has been established for the killings.  Gunmen also struck in West Prospect on the outskirts of Bog Walk, St. Catherine on Wednesday night leaving two persons including a teenager dead.  A man was also injured in the shooting.  Those killed are O'Neil Gordon, 29, a higgler and Wazel Walker, 15, a student of the Bog Walk High School.  Both Mr. Gordon and Wazel are from Culture Road in the community.  The brutal attack occurred just after 9pm when the three were reportedly among a group of persons sitting on a verandah at Mr. Gordon's house when gunmen entered from nearby unoccupied premises.  They opened fire on the group, and at the end of the shooting Mr. Gordon was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.  Wazel and the other man were also taken to hospital where the teenager later died and the man was admitted.