SmallShop Caribbean News

St. Lucia to create tourism police unit following attacks on foreigners - News & Features - International Herald Tribune : "CASTRIES, St. Lucia A new police unit will be assigned to protect tourists in this Caribbean nation after recent high-profile attacks on foreigners, including the killing of a British woman. "

The Nation Newspaper Jagdeo's back : "GEORGETOWN – It's official. President Bharrat Jagdeo's incumbent People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is back in government for a fourth consecutive term. "

Reuters AlertNet - Guyana president cruises toward easy election win : "GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo was cruising on Wednesday toward a strong re-election victory and his chief opponent appeared to signal defeat in Monday's general election. With around 75 percent of ballots tallied, election officials said, Jagdeo's People's Progressive Party/Civic had more than 175,000 votes to 105,000 for the main opposition People's National Congress Reform"

Body found in St Lucia identified as British woman - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "CASTRIES, St Lucia (AP) - A British woman whose body was found at the bottom of a cliff in St Lucia appears to have been murdered, officials said Tuesday, adding to fears about rising crime on the small Caribbean island. Patricia Ann Lee, a retired registrar from Exeter, England who had lived on the Caribbean island for more than a decade, went missing August 10. Lee's body was found last Thursday, about three kilometres (two miles) from her home in the upscale northern town of Cap Estate, after police received a tip. She was identified through dental records."

The Nation Newspaper Looks like Jagdeo again : "GEORGETOWN – The incumbent People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of Bharrat Jagdeo was last night heading for a fourth consecutive term in government with at least 33 seats, based on the results of the more than 50 per cent of votes counted from Monday's presidential and parliamentary elections. "

Cayman Net News: Litterers to be given tickets : "Just like traffic tickets, law enforcement officials in the Cayman Islands could soon be dishing out tickets for littering, said MLA for George Town and Minister of Education, Hon Alden McLaughlin. Litter tickets could become a fixture in the Islands as Government accelerates its plan to halt the indiscriminate disposal of litter especially in the capital, George Town."

guyanachronicle.com --Peace holds as results unfold- By Sharief Khan THE calm that has surprisingly dominated the 2006 elections held yesterday as the nation awaited the final official results of Monday’s general and regional voting, with normalcy slowly returning to Georgetown and other parts of the coast."

The Trinidad Guardian "Although autopsies resumed at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday, the pathology department remains overburdened. A hospital source said that specimen testing dating back to four months was being backlogged. The increasing problem, the source said, had forced cancer patients and others to seek medical attention at private facilities. "

The Trinidad Guardian "Although autopsies resumed at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday, the pathology department remains overburdened. A hospital source said that specimen testing dating back to four months was being backlogged. The increasing problem, the source said, had forced cancer patients and others to seek medical attention at private facilities. "

Antigua Sun : "A local student was hospitalised at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica on Sunday, after she was brutally stabbed in her room on the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus."

The Nation Newspaper LOW SHOW : "GEORGETOWN – Contrary to all earlier expectations, Guyanese voters had a big surprise yesterday with an estimated 20 to 25 per cent no-shows at the polling stations. While both the chairman and chief elections officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) were reluctant to go on record last night at a media briefing on the overall voter turnout, the unofficial reports attributed to commission sources placed the total at no more than 65 per cent. "

The Nation Newspaper LOW SHOW : "GEORGETOWN – Contrary to all earlier expectations, Guyanese voters had a big surprise yesterday with an estimated 20 to 25 per cent no-shows at the polling stations. While both the chairman and chief elections officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) were reluctant to go on record last night at a media briefing on the overall voter turnout, the unofficial reports attributed to commission sources placed the total at no more than 65 per cent. "

: " Guyana’s elections come to a close The polling stations have now closed in Guyana where the 490,000 registered voters headed to the polls to exercise their franchise. Despite rain and several hitches, the authorities there appear to be satisfied with the day’s proceedings. Security was a major concern ahead of the general election in Guyana and all stops were reportedly pulled out to ensure a peaceful and orderly process."

Florida braces for Ernesto : "MIAMI -- Florida residents rushed to fill their prescriptions and stood in long lines for gasoline, food and other supplies Monday as officials warned people not to wait for Tropical Storm Ernesto to become a hurricane again before taking precautions."

www.guyanachronicle.com "Guyana votes today THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday reassured that all the technical and administrative arrangements are in place for the holding of today’s national and regional elections in Guyana in a free, fair and transparent manner, which meets international best practice."

Jamaica Gleaner News - Jamaica spared again - 'Ernesto' veers away from island - Monday August 28, 2006 : "Once again Jamaica was spared the full impact of a hurricane as 'Ernesto' - albeit downgraded to a tropical storm yesterday - shifted further away from the island but maintained a path which, after its overnight dousing of south-western Haiti, would today take it across Cuba and towards Florida. "

PM takes aim at Garvey's trial - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, fulfilling a promise that could improve her political stocks, has commissioned a legal study of court documents from the United States trial of Marcus Garvey, hoping to find that the National Hero was unfairly convicted of mail fraud. Indicating she was serious about clearing Garvey's name, Simpson Miller put the project into the hands of one of Jamaica's brightest legal minds, Professor Stephen Vasciannie who works out of the Attorney-General's chambers."

BBC NEWS Americas Caribbean on alert as storm hits : "Caribbean on alert as storm hits Ernesto is expected to reach Florida on Tuesday One person has died after Tropical Storm Ernesto hit Haiti as it moves across the Caribbean. Ernesto is expected to strengthen as it heads towards Cuba and possibly regain hurricane status by the time it reaches Florida on Tuesday, forecasters say. "

Ernesto is now a category one hurricane and will strenghten.Some residents in Haiti have been evacuated.Jamaica has been placed on alert.

Stabroek News : "The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) yesterday morning held a 21-year-old woman of Mocha Arcadia East Bank of Demerara as she tried to board a BWIA flight to Barbados with a quantity of cocaine in her stomach. "

ABC News: Tropical Storm Strengthens in Caribbean : "SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Aug 26, 2006 (AP)— Tropical Storm Ernesto strengthened over the Caribbean Saturday as it headed toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, threatening to become the first hurricane of the 2006 Atlantic season, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. "

SciGuy: Chances of Ernesto weakening now slim Although it is too early to tell where Tropical Storm Ernesto will make landfall, it's becoming increasingly clear that the storm will probably not break apart. As a result the entire Gulf Coast must be on alert because a powerful storm is likely to enter the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday morning.

www.guyanachronicle.com --- : "BRITISH High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. Fraser Wheeler, yesterday appealed to leaders of political parties contesting Monday’s general and regional elections to urge their supporters to maintain the peace after the polls. He lauded the current general atmosphere in the run-up to the elections, saying it is more positive and favourably different from that of racial and political violence that characterised previous elections here."

The Nation Newspaper Blair's son in QEH : "ONE OF THE SONS OF British Prime Minister Tony Blair was reported in stable condition last night after undergoing abdominal surgery earlier in the day in Barbados, according to reliable sources. The unidentified son, who was vacationing in the island with his parents, was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Barbados' main health institution, yesterday morning. "

The Nation Newspaper Raging water flood streets : "TORRENTS OF RAIN imprisoned hundreds of Barbadians in their homes yesterday and made travelling across the island one soggy mess. From St Lucy in the north, to St Philip in the east, roads and driveways were transformed into swimming pools as householders rolled up their pants legs and waded through ankle deep water to get in and out of. "

Gusts from tropical wave injure four in Trinidad - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) - Strong gusts from a tropical wave injured four people in Trinidad and damaged the roofs of several homes as the storm moved across the southeastern Caribbean, officials said yesterday. The system, which had sustained winds of 35 mph to 40 mph, could become a tropical storm as it travelled over the Windward Islands and into the warm waters of the Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami."

ABC News: Depression Strengthening in Caribbean : "MIAMI Aug 25, 2006 (AP)— Tropical Storm Debby was expected to remain in the open Atlantic, but another system north of Venezuela was on the verge of strengthening into a named storm, forecasters said Friday. The depression, which formed Thursday, had maximum sustained winds near 35 mph, below tropical storm strength of 39 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was expected to become Tropical Storm Ernesto later Friday. "

Independent Online Edition > UK Politics : "Barbadian leader honeymoons in Birmingham (while Blair holidays on his Caribbean island) By Guy Adams Published: 24 August 2006 For the Prime Ministers of Britain and Barbados, the past week will go down as the ultimate lifestyle-swap. As Tony Blair lapped up the sun at Cliff Richard's Caribbean holiday villa, his opposite number, the Rt Hon Owen Seymour Arthur, was enjoying a romantic honeymoon - on the rainswept streets of Birmingham. Mr Arthur and his bride, Julie, who married in Bridgetown on 12 August, used their first foreign tour as man and wife to enjoy a mini-break in England's second city. In place of a barbecue on the white-sand beaches of their home country, the happy couple spent Monday visiting the city centre, before a reception at the grandly-named Mayor's Suite of Birmingham Council House. Then the 56-year-old Prime Minister whisked his bride off on a whistle-stop tour of the working-class suburb of Aston....

Tropical wave heads for Caribbean, eclipsing Debby US News Reuters.com : "NEW YORK (Reuters) - A strong tropical wave approaching the Windward Islands could strengthen into a tropical depression or tropical storm Thursday, eclipsing Tropical Storm Debby, which was spinning in the Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. NHC said in a tropical weather outlook the wave was well-organized and heavy squalls were beginning to spread over the islands. The Windward Islands include Martinique, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Saint Vincent, The Grenadines, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago."

Jamaica sure to benefit from China's growth, say local execs - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Jamaica sure to benefit from China's growth, say local execs Julian Richardson, Business Observer reporter Wednesday, August 23, 2006 Nanjing, China - A bank worker sorts out stacks of Chinese renminbi at a bank in Nanjing eastern China's Jiangsu province on August 18. China raised interest rates Friday for the second time in four months, stepping up efforts to cool off an economic boom that the government worries could spark a financial crisis. (Photo: AP) Jamaican corporate executives believe that the robust growth forecast for China's economy in 2006 and beyond is bound to have positive implications for Jamaica in areas such as trade, tourism and manufacturing. Last week, the World Bank raised its 2006 growth forecast for China's economy to 10.4 per cent from 9.5 per cent. In its most recent quarterly update on China, the organisation also revised its projections for growth...

Tourism - Dominican Today : "Toronto.� Toronto will be able to experience the sights, sounds, colors, culture and unique vacation attributes of the Caribbean with the celebration of Caribbean Week from Thursday, October 12 through Sunday, October 15, 2006. Arranged by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Caribbean Week 2006 features a series of events highlighting the Caribbean vacation experience, food, entertainment and a Caribbean wedding! Tourism Officials, the media, artists, performers, sponsors and strategic partners will converge on Toronto for a week of Caribbean hospitality."

Cayman Net News: Caribbean faces unfair practices from outside sources : "Caribbean faces unfair practices from outside sources Wednesday, August 23, 2006 Chief Justice, Dr Anthony Smellie (l) and CCLW organiser, Harris Wineberg, confer before the conference. Hon Dr Anthony Smellie, Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands, opened the first working day of the Eighth Annual Caribbean Commercial Law Workshop (CCLW), on 21 August 2006, hitting hard against extra-regional, external financial agencies. Addressing some 150 Attorneys-at-Law from 16 different countries, gathered at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Dr Smellie described the emergence of several of 'our Caribbean States as jurisdictions of choice for international financial business' as giving, 'clear legitimacy of our Region's right to compete in the global economy.'"

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "CONTROVERSIAL CALL...Douglas calls for decriminalisation of homosexuality, prostitution Monday August 21 2006 by Corliss Smithen As the Caribbean continues to grapple with controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS, seemingly without much success, St. Kitts/Nevis leader has come up with a very bold and dramatic approach which he thinks would be effective in stymieing the pandemic. Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas recently led a Caribbean delegation to the 16th annual conference of HIV/AIDS which was held in Toronto from 13 � 18 Aug. In one of the presentations he delivered as the chair of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) and as Caricom�s lead spokesman on health issues, including HIV/AIDS, the PM alluded to the idea that legalising homosexuality and prostitution could help to stem the epidemic. "

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "Astaphan to be laid to rest Tuesday August 22 2006 BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (CMC) � A post-mortem Monday has confirmed that a heart attack killed Dr. Jamie Astaphan, who gained notoriety through his association during the 1980s with drug-banned world sprint star Ben Johnson. Dr. Astaphan, the brother of St. Kitts/Nevis Minister on National Security Dwyer Astaphan, was found dead at his home last Thursday night. He was 60 years old. "

Jamaica Gleaner News - GUYANA: Opinion poll predicts easy victory for President Jagdeo - Tuesday August 22, 2006 : "GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC): President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to be easily returned to office, but his ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will not have an overall majority of seats in the Parliament, according to the latest opinion poll published here yesterday. The poll by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) and published in the privately-owned Stabroek newspaper, showed that the PPP/C and the newly formed Alliance For Change (AFC) parties have made gains, while the main opposition People's National Congress Reform-One Guyana(PNCR-1G) has lost ground since the last poll was conducted two weeks ago. "

Bradenton Herald 08/21/2006 Tropical wave off the Cape Verdes is developing, forecasters say : "Tropical wave off the Cape Verdes is developing, forecasters say MIAMI - A storm approaching the Caribbean Sea is organizating, and development is possible, hurricane forecasters say this morning. So energized is this storm - the first in weeks to threaten to become a tropical storm - that forecasters in Miami led off their morning advisory by calling it a 'vigorous tropical wave.'"

SUN Weekend : "There will be life after sugar: Dr. Harris Sunday August 20 2006 Corliss Smithen The closure of the sugar industry, which has been the mainstay of the island�s economy for centuries, has prompted Dr. Timothy Harris to organise a series of public programmes to inform his constituents of the opportunities available. The third in the series of the public education was held on Wednesday night at the Violet Petty Primary School at Lodge Project. Dr. Harris, the minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry and Commerce, told the audience that the town hall meetings are planned and organized with you the public in mind. "

The Nation Newspaper Island 'won't import inflation' : "Island 'won't import inflation' Published on nationnews.com: 8/21/06. by Tony Best BARBADOS and its Caribbean neighbours, already hurting from high inflation, should not worry too much about importing cost-of-living increases from Trinidad and Tobago. That reassurance, of sorts, has come from Standard & Poor's, which has just affirmed Trinidad and Tobago's long-term A- foreign credit rating, one of the highest in the developing world."

Migrants and HIV, a wake up call for the Caribbean - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Migrants and HIV, a wake up call for the Caribbean Monday, August 21, 2006 TORONTO, Canada - Policymakers are being warned to be mindful of the health implications of the increasing movement of people from the poorer to the richer countries of the Caribbean. Although no studies have been conducted on the issue, the high prevalence of HIV in the region and particularly among the poorer countries is cause for concern, experts say."

Trinidad New trinidadexpress.com : "WICB: We never gave approval Friday, August 18th 2006 The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said they did not agree to the Stanford Super Match, to be contested between a Stanford XI and South Africa, on November 10. On Wednesday, the Antigua-based Texan billionaire Allen Stanford issued a letter written to the WICB on January 22 that informed the regional association of the ICC approval for Stanford to host the Super Match on the 'open' dates of November 10-12. "

World record again! - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "ZURICH, Switzerland (CMC) - Jamaican sprint ace Asafa Powell equalled his own 100-metre world record again when he ran 9.77 seconds to win the event at the Zurich Golden League yesterday evening. Powell, who set the world record mark of 9.77 in June last year in Greece and equalled that time in London on June 11 this year, defeated Americans Tyson Gay (9.84) and Leonard Scott (9.97) to score his fourth consecutive win in the Golden League Series."

Stabroek News : "Ethnic voting patterns Saturday, August 19th 2006 One of the premises of the argument for executive power sharing is that ethnic voting patterns have been established and will continue to prevail and that this undermines the concept of rational majoritarianism which undergirds the Westminster model of democracy in which the winner takes all. In other words if people vote for ethnic reasons and not on the basis of the policies or competence of the competing parties and their leaders democracy becomes a farce, or an ethnic census as it has been called, and there is a danger that a large ethnic minority can be effectively disenfranchised. "

The Nation Newspaper 'SOFT' DEBT : "'SOFT' DEBT Published on: 8/19/06. by ALBERT BRANDFORD GOVERNMENT says those concerned about the growth of the national debt, which doubled from $2.5 billion in 1994 to almost $5 billion at the end of last December, should look not just at its size but at its structure. This advice came from Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Clyde Mascoll, who delivered what he called a 'tutorial' on the debt in his first major Press conference as a Cabinet member yesterday at Government Headquarters, Bay Street, St. Michael. "

Barbados Advocate : "Commercial banks very profitable in 2005 Web Posted - Fri Aug 18 2006 COMMERCIAL banks in Barbados have continued to do well. Results on their operations in 2005 revealed combined net profits of $139 million, the most the banks have ever made in Barbados. This amount represents a six per cent increase on the 2004 net profits of $132.2 million. The story of their performance is contained in the 2005 Pricewaterhouse-Coopers (PWC) Banking Industry Highlights. The six commercial banks covered in the report are Bank of Nova Scotia, Barbados National Bank, Butterfield Bank, First-Caribbean International, RBTT Bank and Royal Bank of Canada. "

Jamaica Gleaner News - GUYANA: Suspected bank robbers shot dead - Friday August 18, 2006 : "GUYANA: Suspected bank robbers shot dead published: Friday August 18, 2006 GEORGETOWN (AP): Guyanese security forces killed two more suspected gang members and bank robbers in a shoot-out early yesterday near the border with Suriname, police said. The killings bring to five the number of alleged thieves shot by police and soldiers in their search for money and suspects in two bank robberies in eastern Guyana. Authorities have scoured the jungle since several heavily- armed gunmen simultaneously robbed the banks - Republic Bank Limited and Demerara Bank - one week ago in Rose Hall, a town 85 miles (135 kilometres) south-east of Georgetown. "

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "Douglas: Caribbean youngsters still careless about HIV/AIDS Thursday August 17 2006 TORONTO, Canada (CMC) � St. Kitts/Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas Tuesday said greater efforts would be needed to get young people of the Caribbean adopt preventive measures against the deadly HIV/AIDS virus. �Our goal is to devise a new strategic framework (for the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS, PANCAP), one with continuing efforts at prevention...,� Douglas, the Caricom spokesman on HIV/AIDS and PANCAP chairman, said. "

Caribbean gays reject Beenie Man- from Pink News- all the latest gay news from the gay community - Pink News : "The organisers of the current Stanford 20/20 Cricket Tournament in the Caribbean have been urged to drop dancehall music star, Beenie Man, as the singer of the official tournament anthem because of his homophobic lyrics. The call comes from C-FLAG, the Caribbean Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays. It wants a worldwide boycott of all artists who promote hatred and violence against people because of their sexual orientation."

Cayman Net News: Rollover spurs sham marriages : "Questions continue to be raised over the effectiveness of the seven-year term limit and now the Immigration Department is investigating a number of marriages that appear to have taken place to avoid the rollover policy. Although the Chief Immigration Officer, Franz Manderson, declined to comment on whether these investigations were specific cases of matrimony for sale - he made it clear that the Immigration Department is not investigating couples who have some history of dating."

The Nation Newspaper RUN OUT? : "RUN OUT? Published on: 8/17/06. by HAYDN GILL THE STANFORD 20/20 TOURNAMENT has claimed its first casualty. Clive Lloyd, the outstanding former West Indies captain, has resigned from the Stanford 20/20 board of directors. The DAILY NATION understands that Lloyd was asked to resign in the aftermath of a Press conference Monday when he appeared to be contradicting remarks by Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire who was the creator and financier of the tournament. "

Antigua Sun : "Airport officials amend security procedures Wednesday August 16 2006 by Hazra C. Medica The new security measures which were swiftly implemented at the V.C. Bird International Airport in response to the foiled transatlantic bomb plot has seen some changes. In a press release yesterday, Aerodrome Superintendent, Leon Smith, revealed that due to the makeup of the departure lounge at the V.C. Bird International Airport, the security checks of prohibited items must be done by the air carriers that fly into the United States and its territories at the departure gate immediately before boarding the air carriers."

Jamaica Gleaner News Online - Wednesday August 16, 2006 : "A massive multi-unit operation in St. Catherine, Clarendon, and Trelawny over the past two days has resulted in the seizure of more than $205 million worth of compressed ganja and the arrest of five persons, including a Bahamian national. "

Taxi Terror Bogus drivers robbing and raping Carolyn Kissoon South Bureau Wednesday, August 16th 2006 Police were last night searching for a 'bogus taxi-driver' who has been preying on young couples, robbing the men of money and jewelry and assaulting the women. Less than 24-hours after a couple reported that they were taken to a lonely road in Marabella, where the man was robbed and dropped off and the woman taken to another deserted area and raped, police were called out to investigate a similar incident on Monday night. "

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday : newsday.co.tt : : "3 murders in 24 hours Saturday, August 12 2006 Two persons, one a woman and the other a man, were injured in a two-car smash up along the South Trunk Road in La Romaine at about 3 pm y...THREE persons were murdered in three separate incidents at Sea Lots, Belmont and St Augustine between Thursday night and yesterday, pushing the country�s murder toll for this year to 241. Police reports revealed that about 7.45 pm on Thursday, labourer Acawu Cornwall, 29, was on duty at Barana Fisheries at Sea Lots when he had an argument with a man."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Pregnant teen is accused gunslinger POLICE yesterday took into custody a pregnant teenager who, while accused of taking the life of at least three persons, has given life to two of her own - a 10-month-old and a two-year-old - in a bizarre case."

: "Fri Aug 11, 2006 �Tony Blair � no threat to Caribbean� A British envoy says Prime Minister Tony Blair's presence in Barbados is not a threat to the region. The British Prime Minister is currently vacationing on the island. British High Commissioner to Barbados and the eastern Caribbean, Duncan Taylor, says Mr. Blair is not a security risk. Mr. Taylor told the Caribbean Media Corporation that even while on vacation Mr. Blair is constantly being briefed by authorities in the United Kingdom."

Advocate : "Terror plot leads to travel delays Web Posted - Fri Aug 11 2006 The disruption of a terrorist plot to blow up several planes bound for the United States (US) yesterday, led to delays at airports and new security requirements for passengers around the globe, including Barbados Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA). Flights to and from the US and the United Kingdom (UK) suffered delays, however, Marketing and Communications Manager for GAIA, Leslie St. John, said yesterday that there were no cancellations, but the new security requirements would impact the speed of processing passengers. "

SUN Weekend : "A haul of five wickets for 15 runs from former West Indies leg-spinner, Mahendra Nagamootoo and a knock of 49 from opener Lennox Cush, helped to steer Guyana to a six-wicket victory over Grenada and a spot in Sunday�s final of the Stanford 20/20 Cricket Tournament. Both teams met in the first of two semi-finals at the Stanford Cricket Grounds last night. "

Lara's celebrity party attracts thousands - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Lara's celebrity party attracts thousands CMC Wednesday, August 09, 2006 BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) - West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara held a celebrity party on Sunday night which attracted an audience of over 3,000 at a historic house on the island's lavish west coast. The double world record-holder was the star attraction of the evening at the 18-acre Ebworth House, as tickets went for US$125 each."

CNN.com - At least�6 killed in Guyana newspaper attack - Aug 9, 2006 : "GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) -- About 10 men with automatic weapons stormed Guyana's largest newspaper, killing at least six people and wounding three in an attack that may be linked to a simultaneous protest at the South American nation's main prison, authorities said Wednesday. The gunmen attacked just before midnight Tuesday, ordering employees in the printing department of the Kaieteur News to lie on the floor before shooting them and fleeing, acting Police Chief Henry Greene said."

Jamaica Gleaner News - Twenty20 fever hits Caribbean - Saturday August 5, 2006 : "The Stanford 20/20 Cricket Tournament, organised by billionaire American Allen Stanford, has taken the Caribbean by storm. Clothing in the national colours of the participating teams, night cricket, entertainment between innings, a popular theme song by Jamaica's Dancehall King Beenie Man and a big replay screen have all been attracting the fans in droves at the picturesque Stanford Cricket Ground in St. John's, Antigua. Fans have flocked to the Eastern Caribbean island from Bermuda, Jamaica, Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and the other small neighbouring islands, including St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Nevis and Dominica. "

Barbados to assist Grenada with CWC accomodation - CBC.bb : "Officials from Barbados and Grenada preparing for the 2007 International Cricket Council's cricket world cup are looking at a joint arrangement to accommodate the large numbers of visitors coming for the tournament. Chief Executive Officer for the Grenada local organizing committee, Roy O'Neale, says that plans are in the works for persons to stay in Barbados and travel to Grenada to attend matches during the super eight phase of the tournament. "

There is no doubt that the Caribbean is using the hosting of the cricket world cup coming in 2007 to transform and propel it forward. It is quite interesting to see the level of enthusiasm and excitement being generated now in countries who have always seem to pay lip service to the importance of sport. It is quite ironic to see the level of underdevelopment of cricket venues in islands, which once boasted of having the strongest cricket team in the world for an unbroken spell of over ten years. I remember an old proverb that says it is better to be late than never. I hope that remains true in this case also.

Jamaica Gleaner News - Trinidad's booming economy faces rising inflation - Friday August 4, 2006 : "Trinidad and Tobago's fast growing economy is facing a serious inflation threat brought on mainly by soaring food prices, according to the Central Bank. Last month the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that the energy-driven economy, projected to exceed 12 per cent growth at the end of this year, is operating near capacity.'Inflation has accelerated, real estate prices are rising, capacity constraints have become evident in some sectors, and the labour market has tightened, ' the IMF said in a statement following the IMF review. "

IOL: Sixteen hurt as building collapses in Jamaica : "Kingston - Firefighters on Thursday removed concrete rubble after a part of a huge resort hotel under construction in northern Jamaica collapsed, killing one worker and injuring 16 other people, police said. The collapse on Wednesday evening was the latest misfortune to hit the Bahia Principe, a planned 1 918-room hotel in Runaway Bay in what is expected to be Jamaica's largest resort. Firefighters searched for bodies or additional survivors. It wasn't clear whether any workers were missing."