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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 93 - February 13, 2007 |
The News in Brief from The Dominican.net News Desk
St Georges � February 7, 2007
Privy Council Overturns Death Sentences of Bishop Alleged Killers
The United Kingdom Privy Council has overturned the murder convictions of thirteen former civilian and military officers convicted of the 1983 murders of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and several of his Cabinet colleagues.
The thirteen includes former deputy prime minister Bernard Coard and are part of an original group of nineteen sentenced to death following the failed 1983 coup.
In 2000, the government released the wife of Bernard Coard on humanitarian grounds to seek treatment for cancer. Three years ago, five other detainees were released for good behavior.
The Privy Council, which serves as the highest court of appeal for the Eastern Caribbean ruled that a lower court erred in pronouncing the death sentences and that the individuals should instead be sentenced to life imprisonment.
The rulings appear largely academic since there were no attempts underway to actually carry out the death sentences.
Roseau � February 7, 2007
Chinese Government Pledges US $12 million for Road Project
The Chinese government has committed US $12 million toward the rebuilding of the West Coast road according to public works minister Ambrose George.
The road will run from Colihaut to Portsmouth and work is expected to be started shortly. Meanwhile, a team of Chinese engineers were expected in Dominica to undertake further preparatory work for the building of the road. They will work closely with local engineers to complete the pre engineering works before construction begins.
Roseau � February 7, 2007
Government Places Temporary Ban on Poultry Imports from the United Kingdom
The government of Dominica has placed a temporary ban on the imports of poultry parts from the United Kingdom following the outbreak of Bird Flu on a British farm.
Dominica imports most of its poultry from the United States with the United Kingdom a close second.
Washington � February 6, 2007
Tour Operator Teams up with NDC to Create Ecotourism Packages
Tour operator Caradonna Dive Adventures has teamed up with the Dominica National Development Corporation to create ecotourism packages for the Eastern Caribbean country.
After all, tropical forests cover two thirds of the island, where there are also waterfalls, 365 rivers, and mountain peaks up to 5,000 feet high.
Caradonna's new five- or seven-night packages combine accommodations with excursions to natural attractions--exactly what depends on what's near the chosen hotel.
This deal covers American Airlines flights from Miami or New York to Roseau (via San Juan), transfers, seven nights at The Hummingbird Inn, breakfast daily, and five guided activities, such as a kayaking trip on a crater lake, an afternoon whale-watching cruise, and a hike to the 200?F waters of Boiling Lake.
When: Until Dec. 21. Other Gateways: Boston (add $54), Chicago (add $127), Philadelphia (add $153), L.A. (add $213), Dallas (add $230). Contact: Caradonna Dive Adventures, 888/262-6611,dominica.caradonna.com.
St Georges � February 5, 2007
Taiwan National Anthem Played in Chinese Hand Over of National Stadium
Prime Minister of Grenada Dr. Keith Mitchell apologized profusely to the Chinese government and officials following a diplomatic incident in that country.
The Royal Grenada Police Force band inadvertently played the National Anthem of Taiwan during the handing over by the Chinese government of the country�s national stadium.
The US $40 million stadium was built by China and will be one of the venues for the upcoming World Cup competition.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mitchell convened a top level Cabinet meeting to discuss ways to deal with the diplomatic fall out.
Before officially establishing ties with China over three years ago, Grenada had diplomatic relations with Taiwan for more than two decades.
Roseau � February 5, 2007
Nine Calypsonians Qualify for Finals on February 17, 2007
Three women Calypsonians were among the nine finalists in the semi finals of the 2007 Calypso competition. The nine will attempt to unseat three-time calypso monarch De Dice in the February 17 finals.
The women Tarina, Leandra and Singing Sandy will join The Web, Son of the Saints, The Bob, Daddy Chess, Observer and Hunter in what many expect to be a top rated affair.
Roseau � February 5, 2007
President Hugo Chavez to Visit Dominica
President Hugo Chavez is expected to pay a state visit to Dominica on February 10, 2007. The announcement was made by Venezuela�s Vice President for Foreign Affairs during a recent visit to Dominica.
While in Dominica, President Chavez is expected to sign a number of agreements with that country�s government.
In the past, Venezuela has provided oil, asphalt and money for housing to the government and people of Dominica.
Roseau- February 2, 2007
Williams Files Suit against Attorney General and House Speaker
Leader of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Earl Williams has filed lawsuits against Attorney General Ian Douglas and Speaker of the House Alix Boyd Knight.
According to Williams, legal action was taken by his party against the two after his party representatives in the House of Assembly were thrown out from a House sitting late last year.
Williams told the local press that there was �no natural justice� and that the representatives were �thrown out without a fair hearing.�
Meanwhile, Attorney General Ian Douglas has reiterated that the action taken by the Speaker following his request was justified. �The standing orders (of the House) are clear. Whenever members refuse to obey the rules, the Speaker can have them removed.�
He went on to say that he was �confident the Courts will rule in our favor.�
The Speaker of the House also explained that she was well within her rights to have the parliamentarians thrown out after they refused to go along with House rules.
The case will come before a Judge in the Roseau High Court on February 23, 2007.
Roseau � January 31, 2007
Use of Visas during Cricket World Cup Unlikely to Affect Dominica�s Tourism
Rayburn Blackmore, coordinator of Dominica�s national security during the upcoming 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup has assured Dominicans that there will be no negative impact on Dominica�s tourism during the hosting of the event.
According to Blackmore, government has put in place a system that would allow visitors to receive the visas on arrival at the country�s ports.
CARICOM has taken the decision to issue visas to all non nationals coming to the Caribbean for the competition.
Dominica will not be hosting any of the matches but is hoping to benefit from the massive inflow of spectators to the region during the March 12 - April 28 event.
Roseau � January 31, 2007
Dominica Protests the Exclusion of Acting Chief Justice Brian Alleyne from the Nomination to Serve as Chief Justice
Dominica�s Attorney General Ian Douglas has expressed his government�s regret at the failure of regional authorities to nominate Brian Alleyne to the post of Chief Justice of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Court of Appeals.
Alleyne, a former Attorney General and government minister under the Dominica Freedom Party during 1980 to 1985, has served as the acting Chief Justice for almost two years. However, when nominations for the permanent filling of the post were made earlier this month, he was not among the two nominees.
Meanwhile, William Para Riviere, Coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Movement is calling on Prime Minister Skeritt to officially nominate Alleyne to the post. According to Riviere it is not enough for government to simply announce support for Alleyne, but rather it should move to include his name among the list of nominees.
It is not clear when the new Chief Justice will be announced.
Roseau � January 31, 2007
Cuba Donates Thousands of Energy Saving Bulbs to Dominica
Thirty Cuban social workers are currently in Dominica to assist in the installation and distribution of over a quarter million energy saving bulbs donated by the Cuban government.
The bulbs which cost an estimated EC $1.5 million will assist government�s efforts to reduce its escalating energy costs.
While in Dominica, the Cubans will also participate in various cultural activities throughout the island.
Roseau- January 18, 2007
Exile One Releases New Album
Gordon Henderson and his musical group Exile One has released a new album featuring a number of memorable Cadence and Zouk renditions.
Exile One was founded by Gordon Henderson who coined the name "Cadence-Lypso" for the music that they created. He defined the music as "a synthesis of Caribbean music in particular and tropical music in general".
Cadence-Lypso the precursor of Zouk and Soca is the foundation of modern Creole music, which is the most popular music form in the French Antilles and throughout the French speaking world.
Readers are encouraged to Listen to a sampling of the latest album and visit the Exile One website for information on arguably one of Dominica�s greatest musical legends. Exile One Website
Roseau � January 18, 2007
Dominica Association of Teachers to Decide on Government�s Offer of a 6 percent Wage Hike
Public Relations Officer of the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) Francis JnoLewis has announced the holding of a public meeting to discuss government�s latest wage hike offer.
According to Francis, government has offered wage increases of 3 percent, 1 percent and 2 percent for 2007-09. For their part, the DAT was asking government for a 9 percent increase over the three-year period. Francis said that the 6 percent been offered by government was not representative of the large increases in the cost of living during the recent past.
In addition, the DAT was also asking government for quicker appointments for teachers as well as medical insurance. Teachers from around the island are expected to meet on Friday to decide wether to accept government�s offer or to keep negotiating.
The DAT became the official union of teachers throughout the island after breaking away from the Civil Service Association, which represents other government workers.
Roseau � January 18, 2007
Blows Founder Dead at 70
Glenis �Blows� Bellot who started the herbal company Blows Agro Products is dead at the age of 70. Bellot died after a prolonged illness. He was buried in Roseau on Thursday afternoon.
Bellot who is a rastafarian, started the company by growing his own herbs and bagging them from his home. Blows has since grown into a major small business on Dominica marketing several herbs and teas for the local and overseas market.
Madrid � Spain January 15, 2007
Cuban Leader Castro Said to be in Critical Condition
Cuban leader Fidel Castro suffered from a serious infection of the large intestine and remains in critical condition, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported Monday.
The newspaper quoted two sources at a Madrid hospital, where a doctor, who visited the Cuban leader last month, works. The report said Castro had suffered complications after three failed surgeries to correct the problems.
The paper reported that Castro suffered from diverticulitis, an inflammation of sacs on the large intestine that can rupture and cause bleeding. The infection spread to the tissue on the walls of the abdomen, a condition called peritonitis.
The infections, the paper said, have impeded the healing process.
The report was posted on the newspaper's Web site.
Late last month, Dr. Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, chief of surgery at the public hospital Gregorio Maranon de Madrid, said that Castro is recovering from his ailments and does not have cancer. Castro is doing "fantastically well" with his treatment, the doctor said.
Castro, 80, underwent intestinal surgery on July 31, and has not been seen in public since. The Cuban government has released at least one video of him.
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua � January 11, 2007
Liat Shareholders consider offer from Texan billionaire
Shareholder governments in the regional air carrier, Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) were meeting here on Wednesday to consider a new financial proposal put forward by the Texan billionaire Allen Stanford to assist the cash-strapped carrier.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that serious consideration was being given to the proposal by Stanford, which aims to assist LIAT in meeting its immediate debts.
As LIAT prepares for a merger with Stanford's Caribbean Star airline, the Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur also sounded a warning that bold decisions now need to be taken in the regional interest.
"I am not prepared to seek to cross a chasm in a series of small jumps. We have reached a stage where there is a chasm to be crossed. We either jump across it or you don't jump and we are at that moment.
"There are proposals before us that will allow us to deal with it and we will deal with it," Arthur said.
The meeting is hosted by the Antigua Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer, whose government also has significant interest in LIAT.
The merger is seen as a way out of financial difficulty for both LIAT and its closest competitor Caribbean Star, which virtually operates the same route as LIAT and has a similar schedule.
Among the money matters to be settled is the issue of severance for workers who will not form part of the merged entity, as well outstanding obligations to creditors that still need to be addressed.
While suggesting that favourable consideration was being given to the Stanford proposal, Gonsalves confirmed that a second option was earlier put on the table by the government of Trinidad and Tobago but he said this did not bear fruit.
"It doesn't appear that what is on offer there merits the specific problem which we are faced with," Gonsalves told CMC at the start of Wednesday's meeting.
Pressed on the issue, Gonsalves said the Trinidad proposal was not as "immediate' as the LIAT shareholder governments would have liked. Therefore, he said, the Stanford offer would take precedence.
Asked whether there would still be a "merger of equals", Gonsalves would only say that the region's interests would be protected. He also said regional governments would seek to maintain "dignity" in the negotiating process with Stanford.
Roseau � December 27, 2006
Tsunami Early Warning System for Dominica
Dominica recently received a Tsunami early warning system as part of its disaster preparedness program. The announcement was made by Cecil Shillingford, president of the Dominica Disaster Preparedness Committee.
Shillingford indicated that the setting up of the system on the island was part of a wider network set up throughout the Eastern Caribbean. According to Shillingford, the presence of a tsunami early warning system on Dominica was a timely one especially considering that scientists were now predicting that the Caribbean region was the most likely place to experience the next �big� tsunami.
He also indicated that Dominica had been hit twice in the last two hundred years by tsunamis, first in 1755 when 30 persons were killed by rising waters and again in 1865. There was little or no damage from the later tsunami, which was triggered by an earthquake in Portugal.
Roseau, Dominica � December 22, 2006
Government Sticks to One China Policy
Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit has stated that his Government has �no interest, or no intention or no thoughts, no aspiration to seek to play the Two-China game�.
The Prime Minister made that announcement at the Post Assumption Reception in honour of new Chinese Ambassador, His Excellency, Deng Boqing last Wednesday evening.
Speaking in the presence of well over 200 invited guests which included members of the Opposition United Workers Party, the Prime Minister reiterated the sincerity of his Government in its support of the One-China Policy.
�This Government is very sincere in its support of the One-China policy. This Government does not pretend in public and in private say something else. We are true to our word, we are sincere to our word and we shall stick to our word.�
The Government�s commitment to the One-China policy comes at a time when there is speculation that the present leader of the United Workers Party, Hon. Earl Williams visited Taipei at least once since the May 2005 General Elections.
CASTRIES, St Lucia, December 12, 2006
Sir John Compton Reelected Prime Minister of St. Lucia
82-year old Sir John Compton made a victorious return to party politics by guiding his United Workers Party (UWP) into office following general elections in St. Lucia on Monday.
"Age is not a factor here, I am not here running for the Olympics. Age is really in the state of mind, I am giving my experience and my intelligence that God gave to me. I am not going for a marathon, I am not going for the Olympics," said the politician who guided the island into associated statehood and then independence from Britain in 1978.
Sir John, who in 1996 resigned as prime minister, had returned to active politics "at the behest of the people" following the resounding defeat of the UWP in the general elections of 1997 and 2001.
Preliminary results indicate that the party has won 11 of the 17 seats at stake in the election and in the process handing a defeat to former prime minister and UWP leader, Dr. Vaughan Lewis, who had switched allegiance and contest the poll on behalf of the outgoing St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) government.
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands � December 10, 2006
Cayman Cabinet Meets with High Level Dominica Delegation
Dominica and the Cayman Islands held discussions on several subject matters when delegates from both countries met in Grand Cayman last week.
The Cayman Islands� Leader of Government Business, Hon Kurt Tibbetts, and his Cabinet held talks with Dominica�s Prime Minister, Hon Roosevelt Skerrit, and his delegation.
At the end of the three-day visit, both sides would only say the talks were fruitful and further discussions would take place at a later stage.
Mr Skerrit and his delegation also met with the Cayman Islands Governor, H.E Stuart Jack, during the 29 November to 1 December visit.
Accompanying the Dominican leader were Minister of Community Development, Hon Matthew Walter; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Steve Ferrol; and Assistant Chief Welfare Officer, Martin Anthony.
While in Grand Cayman Mr Skerrit and his team held talks with Dominica�s Ambassadors-at-Large, Susan Olde, OBE; and Graeme Thomson; both based in the Cayman Island.
On Friday, Mr Skerrit � a trained educator � attended the morning session of the annual Education Conference at the Mary Miller Hall in Red Bay.
Mr McLean, who is a close, personal friend of Mr Skerrit, facilitated the visit of the Dominican officials.
The four-member Dominican delegation left here on Friday for Roseau.
Roseau, Dominica - December 9, 2006
Cell Phone Rates in the Caribbean to be Slashed Almost by Half
Cell phone users in the Caribbean should expect to see a drop in their high rates according to Vincentian Minister of Telecommunications Dr Jerrol Thompson. A study commissioned by the CARICOM Council of Ministers of Telecommunications is to be released next week in which the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) has made a case to slash cell phone rates almost in half.
He revealed that in Dominica Cable & Wireless had already applied to the regulatory body there to cut the rates but the question is how fast the approval will take. He said it could either be fast tracked or it could go through a consultative process to allow other interest parties to have a say and this will take months.
"In the past there was a old costing model which allowed Cable & Wireless to charge and fix a certain type of rate and we felt their cost was much lower," he was quoted in today's edition of the Searchlight newspaper.
"The study has indicated that there is no reason why there should be an international rate of 37 cents and a local/regional domestic rate of 62 and 55 cents depending on the time of day or time of week and their conclusion is that the cost should not be any higher than 37 cents and in fact it should be lower because the 37 cents is usually split between the carrier abroad and here. We are very keen on rates being lowered as soon as possible."
Roseau, Dominica � December 6, 2006
Government Hands Over EC $4 million to Government Housing Loan Board
A little over a month after announcing the start of a major housing revolution in Dominica, Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit on Monday handed over a cheque for $4 million to the Government Housing Loans Board (GHLB)for lending to public officers earning $30,000 or less per annum.
The amount of $ 4 million represents the first tranche of a total amount of $7 million that the Government has promised the GHLB for the purpose of providing low cost mortgage financing to certain categories of public officers, namely, teachers, junior clerks, police officers, fire officers among others.
An amount of $29.4 million is being provided by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, $22 million represents a grant and $7. 4 million represents the loan component, which is being provided at an interest rate of 2 per cent. The People�s Republic of China has contributed an amount of $3 million towards Government�s ambitious housing programme.
Through the Government Housing Loans Board, public officers earning $30,000 or less per year will be able to obtain a loan at up to seven times their annual salary at 4 per cent interest rate, more than 50 per cent less than what can be obtained at the traditional financial institutions.
Read more of the EARLIER NEWS IN Brief
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