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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 74 - Wednesday December 12, 2005 |
The News in Brief from The Dominican.net News Desk
St Joseph � December 06, 2005
Police Intercept Five Men with Guns and Illegal Drugs
Police intercepted a vehicle close to the Hillsborough Gas Station carrying five men and several guns and illegal drugs.
A police search of the vehicle revealed among other things, Euro 11, 360, a riffle, a 12-gauge shot gun, a computer and a large quantity of marijuana and hashish.
The five men were charged with among other things, evasion of Customs and possession of narcotics and will shortly appear before a magistrate.
In other police news, the police are investigating an apparent homicide after the body of a young man of La Plaine, Chad Baron was found with multiple gunshot wounds.
Roseau � Decemebr 06, 2005
Government to Enact Laws to Allow Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to Operate
The government of Dominica will on December 19, 2005 enact laws to allow the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to operate in the country.
According to Attorney General Ian Douglas, the government will amend existing legislation, which will allow Dominica�s laws to be in conformity with that of the other Caribbean Islands.
The legislation is seen as critical in the run-up to the Caribbean Single Market (CSM), scheduled to come on stream on January 1, 2006. The CCJ is expected to, among other things, mediate on trade and other disputes arising out of the single market arrangement.
Roseau � November 29, 2005
Earl Williams Challenges for Leadership of the United Workers Party
The nominations committee of the United Workers party (UWP) voted 11 � 10 in favor of Earl Williams versus Julius Timothy to replace outgoing leader and former Prime Minister Edison James.
However, the committee fell short of recommending Williams to be the next leader of the party opting instead to allow the decision to come to a vote at the UWP delegates conference scheduled for December 12, 2005.
Julius Timothy a former finance minister under the UWP government originally decided not to contest for the leadership but yesterday was reported as saying that he would keep the option open.
He also stated that Williams could not be considered the leader designate since �anything could happen at the delegates� conference�. Timothy has claimed that the rank and file membership was not in favor of Williams succeeding James and that this would be made clearer at the delegates� conference.
For his part, Williams, a former communications and works minister called a press conference and insisted that the nominations committee had given the green light for him to succeed James.
Under the voting process, the nominations committee comprising of party chairmen in the twenty-one constituencies nominates the leader and submits his name for ratification by the delegates� conference. However, because the voting was so close, they have decided to allow the general membership of the party to vote on the leader at the delegates� conference.
It is also conceivable that someone other than Williams or Timothy could be put forward at the delegates� conference to become leader.
Former Prime Minister Edison James has led the party since its formation in 1988. He first contested the 1990 general elections and won six seats. Five years later, he formed the government winning 11 of 21 seats. He however, failed to win reelection in 2000 and again in 2005.
Roseau � November 29, 2005
Nine Former Police Officers Honored
Nine former officers of the Dominica Police Force were honored at a special ceremony held in the nation�s capital. The nine including former police chief Desmond Blanchard was cited for their long commitment and dedicated service in the interest of the state.
Blanchard was forced into early retirement following the report of a Commission of inquiry that was set up to investigate corruption in the force. He was never charged with any wrong doing, but several other officers were at the time brought before the courts.
Adelaide � November 29, 2005
West Indies Lose Three- Match Series Amidst Umpiring Controversy
The West Indies lost their third and final test to Australia despite a record breaking performance by Brian Lara, which saw him become the highest run scorer in the history of the game.
The series was marred by several questionable decisions by the umpires, which has prompted members of the public to call for an investigation by the International Cricket Council. Coming in the wake of a number of other decisions that went against them in the series, most notably three questionable dismissals of star batsman Brian Lara, the Caribbean side had good reason to feel aggrieved at the standard of officiating in the three Tests.
But it was in the final test that the umpiring efforts were most outrageous. After trailing on first innings by 23 runs, the tourists were the victims of three umpiring mistakes in their second turn at the crease that accounted for vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, middle-order batsman Dwayne Smith and wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin.
The West Indies efforts at defending a target of 182 were hindered by two more lapses, which resulted in Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey being ruled not out when television replays confirmed that they should have both been dismissed off Sarwan's part-time leg-breaks.
Hayden went on to score an unbeaten 87 while Hussey followed up his first innings century with 30 not out to guide their team to victory 16 minutes after lunch on the last day of the third Test.
Following the game, Australian captain Ricky Pointing observed that there was a need for more top-rated umpires since the seven umpires on the international cricket panel were necessarily overworked.
It is not clear what action, if any the West Indies Cricket Board will demand.
Roseau � Dominica
PM Skeritt Discusses Banana Situation with Britain�s Tony Blair
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt is one of several CARICOM government heads of state holding discussions with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London.
The CARICOM delegation is discussing the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on bananas, which threaten several Caribbean economies. Discussions are also centered on the sugar quotas and the European Union stance on trade issues as they relate to the Region.
Caribbean economies are increasingly being threatened in the wake of several WTO rulings on bananas and sugar quotas. For several years, Windward bananas received preferential treatment on the British market, but these will come to an end in 2006 as the WTO ruled them to be unfair practices. Many fear that the end of the preferential treatment will deal a death blow to the island economies, which rely heavily on the export of bananas.
Bahrain � November 16, 2005
Trinidad and Tobago Qualifies for 2006 World Cup
Trinidadians were dancing in the streets today as their country qualified for the 2006 football World Cup when they defeated Bahrain 1-0 in Bahrain. The �soca warriors� won with a 2 -1 aggregate after drawing with Bahrain in Port-of Spain over the weekend.
Trinidad and Tobago with a population of 1.1 million will be the smallest country represented at the 2006 World Cup and becomes only the fourth Caribbean country to make it to the World Cup. Cuba qualified in 1938, Haiti in 1974 and Jamaica in 1998.
Roseau � November 16, 2005
Billy Doctrove to Officiate in First test Between Australia and South Africa
Dominican Umpire Billy Doctrove will officiate in the first test between Australia and South Africa scheduled for Perth on December 16.
Doctrove is a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) panel and has stood in four tests and forty-six limited-overs internationals.
Roseau � November 15, 2005
The Opposition United Workers Party to Appeal Election Ruling
Deputy leader of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Julius Timothy has announced his party�s intention to appeal a high court judge ruling on the conduct of the May 5, 2005 general elections.
The UWP will take its appeal to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal in an effort to overturn the ruling by the lower court on its petitions concerning the May 5 general elections.
Following the general elections in Dominica, the UWP challenged the results in five constituencies citing irregularities with respect to voter registration, the conduct of the Returning Officers, and the voting of the Diaspora in those constituencies. However, a high court judge ruled that the claims were baseless in fact and concluded that the elections were free and fair.
Timothy felt that it was important to take this course of action to ensure that �future elections in Dominica are conducted fairly�. He was particularly concerned about the voting by persons who were residing outside of Dominica for many years before returning to vote.
According to Timothy, the UWP will closely scrutinize all future voter lists and oppose the inclusion of any persons who are not currently residing in the country.
Roseau � October 31, 2005
High Court Judge Rules Against the Opposition UWP on Election Challenge
A high court Judge in Dominica has ruled against the United Workers Party in their court petition to reverse some of the results in the last general elections. The court ruled that there was no basis for setting aside the results of the general election, and that the charges brought against the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) were in fact baseless.
Following the general elections in Dominica, the UWP challenged the results in five constituencies citing irregularities with respect to voter registration, the conduct of the Returning Officers, and the voting of the Diaspora in those constituencies.
In the Castle Bruce constituency for instance, the UWP lost by one vote and blamed the defeat on the large number of returning Dominicans who illegally participated in the election. Lawyers for the UWP also argued that the Presiding Officer had erred in declaring Lorraine Bannis of the DLP the winner.
The high Court Judge however ruled that the elections were in fact free and fair and that the evidence did not point to any irregularities. The Judge�s ruling is expected to put to rest the results of the hotly contested May election in which the DLP won 12 of the 21 seats contested and the UWP won 8, with an independent candidate securing the other seat.
Roseau � October 31, 2005
Twenty Prominent Dominicans to be Honored for Their Outstanding Contribution to Public Life
More than 20 Dominicans will be honored during the 27th anniversary of Dominica�s Independence.
Those slated to receive Dominica�s second highest (Sisserou) Award are former legal affairs minister Henry �Babs� Dyer, Dr. Phillip Griffin, Conrad McIntyre and representative Urban Baron. Others will be honored with long service awards and for their service to public life.
Roseau � Dominica, October 28, 2005
Will Smith Visits Dominica During World Creole Music Festival
Will Smith the American movie icon visited Dominica as activities reached fever pitch during the build up to the World Creole Music Festival.
Smith, the well known actor with movie hits like �Men in Black� and �Independence Day� was in Dominica just one day after Alphonso, who played "Carlton" and Titiana who played "Ashley" on �Fresh Prince� as well as several other noted stars from various daytime soaps visited the island and participated in the �Creole in the Park� festivities sponsored by Cable and Wireless.
Meanwhile, thousands of visitors and Dominican alike are participating in the �Creole in the Park� festivities, which feature local Dominican cuisine, cultural activities and a veritable line-up of Dominican artists. The Creole in the Park activities come to an end with musical entertainment by the Burning Flames.
Over the weekend, these festivities will give way to the �World Creole Music Festival� as music artists from around the world participate in three nights of a non-stop Creole musical extravaganza.
Roseau � Dominica, October 28, 2005
The Dominica Tourist Board has announced that the country will have a new nonstop daily service from Caribbean Sun Airways beginning in December 2005
Starting December 15, 2005 Caribbean Sun flight #502 will depart San Juan, Puerto Rico at 2:50pm, arriving in Dominica at 4:30pm. The flight will then continue on to Barbados, departing Dominica at 4:55pm and arriving in Barbados at 5:55pm.
Beginning on December 16, Caribbean Sun flight #503 will depart Barbados at 11:00am, arriving in Dominica at 12:00pm and continue on to San Juan, Puerto Rico departing at 12:25pm and arriving in San Juan at 2:05pm.
Both flights will be operated using a 37-seat DH8-100 aircraft and will be available for booking starting on October 25, 2005.
Caribbean Sun has a code share agreement with US Airways, so these flights will also sell as US Airways daily weekday connections from the cities of Philadelphia and Charlotte and weekend connections from New York (LaGuardia International Airport), Pittsburgh and Washington DC (Dulles Airport).
"We are extremely pleased to introduce this new service from Caribbean Sun, which opens up key new markets on the East coast of the U.S. for tourism to Dominica," commented Yvor Nassief, Minister of Tourism for Dominica.
ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) � October 27, 2005
Dominica signed a co-operation agreement with France yesterday to help combat human trafficking in this Caribbean island nation
Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the agreement involves, "Joint patrols by the French and Dominican coast guards and the sharing of intelligence between the police departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique and Dominica."
Two years ago, Dominica began requiring visitors from Haiti and the Dominican Republic to pay a US$400 (euro330) deposit upon their arrival in Dominica.
But critics have said the government was merely profiting from the trade, having made some US$4 million (euro3.3 million) in unclaimed deposits since the measure was imposed.
The visitors were supposed to have collected the money before their departure, but some 11,000 Haitians never did and most likely left the island illegally.
Over the years, hundreds of migrants from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and China have reportedly entered the islands legally, but left illegally to neighbouring islands as they sought reach wealthier islands or the United States.
Roseau � October 16, 2005
Cable and Wireless Presents Creole in the Park
Cable & Wireless Creole in the Park is scheduled for October 23 -30, 2005 and it is well on its way to becoming one of the major events during Dominica�s celebration of the Creole Music Festival and Independence celebrations.
For six days, Cable & Wireless Creole in the Park offers an unprecedented cultural entertainment; live music from local and regional artistes, delectable Creole food and the expert handicraft of Dominican men and women.
You can expect to see families sitting on the grass, pre-schoolers dancing to our own cultural music, the older folk listening to cords of bouyon and cadence-lypso, others strolling through the grounds savouring the ambience, appreciating the creativity of our people.
Local, aspiring cultural groups will present Creole folklore, dancing, and music. Creole Cuisine from Dominica�s finest restaurants and vendors will be spread beautifully for presentation and consumption and Craftsmen and women will showcase their expert handiwork.
Read more of the EARLIER NEWS IN Brief
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