SmallShop Caribbean News

Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez reports from Havana on the easing of some restrictions by Raul Castro in a series of reform packages for Cuba. Investment and private enterprise was till recently "unthinkable" in communist Cuba until the lifting of some restrictions was announced by Castro. The younger generation of Cubans are more hopeful for a prosperous country, one in which they can afford luxury goods.

St. Lucia Star "On Sunday afternoon the bodies of two men were brought to Victoria Hospital morgue. Both were victims of gunshot wounds. One was a police officer, the other was unemployed. The police officer, 27-year-old Lester Remy was attached to the CID. He had joined the Royal St Lucia Police Force when he was only 17. He is described by colleagues at the Major Crime Unit as a dedicated officer who loved policing. On Sunday, even though he was off-duty Remy had joined other police officers on a raid at a home in Ciceron. Their intention was to take a resident in for questioning in connection with two recent cases of rape at Coubaril."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "A stop notice is to be served today on the Spanish-owned RIU Hotel near Montego Bay, St James, ordering the operators to halt construction of an unapproved fourth floor of the hotel, which is directly in the flight path to the Sangster International Airport. The decision followed confirmation of several building permit breaches by a trigonometric heighting team who visited the construction site yesterday and took height measurements above ground level, said Montego Bay mayor, Charles Sinclair."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Thousands of job applicants turned out at the headquarters of the Christian Fellowship Outreach Ministry in St Andrew yesterday morning, hoping to snatch a place among the 200 being recruited as warders for the Department of Correctional Services. Nickeisha Barnett was among the more than 3,000 individuals who showed up. Standing outside the gates of the church property, with a letter-size envelope containing some of her most important documents, the 21-year-old high-school graduate watched as several young applicants, like herself, were turned away."

The Trinidad Guardian "OPERATIONS at Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope came to a virtual standstill yesterday as scores of patients were turned away and referred to other facilities, because of a crippling staff shortage."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Only children 16-years-old and younger received emergency attention at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope yesterday after sick-out action taken by nurses crippled the health system forcing scores of patients to be turned away unattended."

Stabroek News "The ruling People’s Progressive Party says it is dissatisfied with the pace of several parts of the house-to-house registration and contends that at this rate GECOM will not be ready to hold local government elections this year or even next year."

The Nation Newspaper "HUNDREDS of schoolchildren and residents in Rendezvous, Christ Church, and surrounding districts were evacuated from schools and homes yesterday to avoid toxic fumes from a chemical fire at Graeme Hall, Christ Church."

Jamaica Gleaner News "People's National Party (PNP) President Portia Simpson Miller has rejected claims that the party was in disarray. Simpson Miller was responding to questions from journalists as the party launched the celebration of its 70th anniversary at its Old Hope Road headquarters in St Andrew yesterday."

Guyana OnLine : "ONE of the three Jamaicans busted with cocaine in a dartboard, at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, last week Friday, was yesterday sentenced to four years imprisonment."

the Daily Mail : "A Jamaican soldier who claims he suffered racial abuse at the hands of superior officers is suing the Army for £50,000. Private Kerry Hylton said he was called a 'black bastard' and other racist insults while serving at barracks in Birdcage Walk, near Buckingham Palace. The 33-year-old also claims his wife and children were left in fear after locks at their married quarters were repeatedly super glued shut in a hate campaign."

Jackson says Haiti suffering 'horror' - The Rev. Jesse Jackson is calling on the Bush administration... : "MIAMI, April 30 (UPI) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson is calling on the Bush administration to address the 'horror of hunger' in Haiti. 'People are literally starving to death. Some are eating mudpies as a staple diet,' said Jackson said at a news conference in Miami after arriving from a three-day visit to Haiti, The Miami Herald reported Wednesday"

Global Politician - "Beginning early April, Haiti was gripped by a nation-wide mobilization to protest high food prices, reaching a crescendo on Thursday the 10th, as thousands of people took to the streets. Some protestors burned tires, blocking national highways and city streets in Port-au-Prince, and a few looted local stores. Clashes with police and UN troops resulted in an official count of five dead. The media covered these events during the days of the crisis but offered little information to explain the protests. This superficial coverage tells an all-too-familiar story of Haiti. The media swarmed to cover the high drama of UN troops breaking up demonstrations with rubber bullets, and the U.S. State Department warning its citizens not to enter the country. Then, almost as quickly as it appeared on the news, Haiti disappeared, leaving the residual image of being hopeless, violent, and dangerous.".........

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "It is now official that Glen ‘Ghost’ Phillip will run against People's Action Movement (PAM’s) Political Leader Lindsay Grant in Constituency # 4. Labour’s selection of Phillip was made abundantly clear last Thursday at a public meeting in Old Road, when Phillip used the podium to informally launch his political career. Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas did not launch Phillip as Minister Rupert Herbert’s successor, as was anticipated by the large crowd that turned out to the event. However, the PM did say a giant would be Labour’s candidate in that constituency and Phillip is well over six feet tall."

SUN Weekend : "Yesterday, a man identified as Ives Kirby, was shot by the police in the Ovals area. According to a police release, at approximately 4:15 p.m. yesterday, Sergeant Parillon from the Gray’s Farm Police Station was on patrol in the Ovals area when he observed Kirby with a bag in his hand. “The sergeant became suspicious as Kirby is known to police and approached Kirby and asked to search the bag,” the release stated."

Antigua Sun : "A driver remains in critical condition at the Holberton Hospital after sustaining massive facial injuries in a single car accident on the Sir Sydney Walling Highway yesterday morning. The injured man is Calpher Anthony, 31, a Skerritts Pasture resident."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Jamaicans will this Thursday start paying almost 30 per cent more for water as the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has granted a 23 per cent increase in rates to the National Water Commission (NWC) and approved the introduction of a five per cent charge - called a K-Factor - which the water company said it needed to fund the rehabilitation of its network in order to increase efficiency."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Consumers will have to pay 28 per cent more on their water bills. The National Water Commission (NWC) yesterday announced a 23 per cent rate hike, plus a further five per cent charge for the newly introduced K-factor programme. This means an additional $200 for most households."

The Trinidad Guardian "FOUR secondary school students in Tobago were knocked down yesterday afternoon, when a car ploughed into them. Police said the students were standing outside Scarborough Secondary School, around three o’clock, when the driver reportedly lost control of the car and crashed into them."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "AGRICULTURE, Land and Marine Resources Minister Arnold Piggott yesterday announced that his ministry is reviewing subsidies pertaining to rice farmers to assist in meeting the needs of citizens. Meanwhile, empty shelves, where flour and rice are usually packed, greeted customers at some of the larger groceries yesterday."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Tears of joy, smiling faces and long embraces greeted Chris Joseph, Winston John and Natiba Mc Clean, after they were freed of murder yesterday, and walked out of the Hall of Justice. Joseph, John and Mc Clean were charged with the murder of SRP Steve Douglas on October 21, 2005."

Reuters : "HAVANA (Reuters) - As global fears about food security mount with riots in Africa and panic buying elsewhere, one world figure can sit back and say he warned a year ago of a coming food crisis -- Fidel Castro."

Macleans.ca - : "KINGSTON, Jamaica - Thousands of mourners paid tribute Sunday to the mother of reggae superstar Bob Marley, whose renowned music promoting social justice and 'one love' made him one of Jamaica's most beloved sons.Cedella Booker's casket was draped in blue, red, yellow and black clothes, the colours of the Rastafarian faith, and"

washingtonpost.com : "PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- President Rene Preval on Sunday chose an international banking official to be the troubled country's next prime minister, a Haitian lawmaker said. Preval has designated Ericq Pierre, a senior official with the Inter-American Development Bank, to succeed ousted Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis, said Stephen Benoit, a member of Preval's Lespwa party in the lower house of Parliament."

: Stabroek News : "Weeks after gunmen invaded their township killing 12 people in a one-hour rampage during which large quantities of gold and guns were stolen, Barticians are still living in fear. And as the security forces struggle to capture the killers, one of the victims of the attack said he was convinced that the gunmen deliberately dropped a stolen weapon in Linden to place blame on another group."

Stabroek News "Dead is Travis Parks, a mini-bus conductor and part-time labourer of Rasville. According to residents after being pulled out of a bushy lot where he had gone to relieve himself and accused of stealing a gold chain, Parks was allegedly shot in the back as he was being led to the security firm’s vehicle."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "ROCHELLE Batten and twins Venecia and Valecia Johnson have three things in common: They are 17 years old, receive support from the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation Poor Relief Department, and last year they excelled in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams, giving the department a sense of triumph for its efforts."

Jamaica Gleaner News "THE JAMAICAN Government has reached out to Guyana for assistance to resume rice production locally, a move which has already received support from private sector companies which have pledged funding for the venture. This is according to Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "A 56-YEAR-OLD father of one was stabbed to death outside a Sangre Grande rumshop on Saturday evening following a heated political argument he had with another man over last week’s dismissal of Trade and Industry Minister Dr Keith Rowley."

The Nation Newspaper "NO MATTER how tough times become, Barbadians must remember they are in a position to be conquerors."

The Democrat Newspaper : "A Las Vegas-based travel agency has kicked off a boycott of St. Kitts'' tourism product, prompted by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), saying that it will not be recommending travel or booking trips to the Caribbean island to its 300,000-plus clients. Holiday Systems International (HSI) signed onto the campaign on April 17th which PETA has launched because of what it said is the deliberate mutilation and killing of sheep, donkeys, and goats at the island''s Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine."

Reuters : "PORT-AU-PRINCE, April 27 (Reuters) - Haitian President Rene Preval named a new prime minister on Sunday after lawmakers fired his predecessor to quell violent protests over rising food prices in the impoverished Caribbean nation."

The Nation Newspaper "FISH! FISH! Catch them at a lower dollar! That was the scene early yesterday morning when 100 flying fish were selling at $20 at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex on Princess Alice Highway."

The Nation Newspaper "NEW CAR DEALERS made a proposal to the Government to restructure the excise tax and environmental levy on new and used vehicles back in 2004. The proposals outlined by the new car dealers back then, recommended an increase in the environmental levy from $150 to $1 000."

Jamaica Gleaner News new dispute over the leadership of the People's National Party (PNP) is threatening to open old wounds and cause more bloodletting. The Sunday Gleaner has confirmed reports that PNP vice-president Dr Peter Phillips is facing mounting pressure to launch another bid for the leadership of the party."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "A mysterious construction plan which was signed, stamped and apparently back-dated but did not go through the established channels is being used to build an unapproved fourth floor on the multi-million dollar RIU Montego Bay Hotel in St James."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Lady Diana Ross, the diva of divas, captured the hearts of the more than 9,000 strong audience at the Plymouth Jazz Festival on Friday night with a seemingly effortless performance as she segued from hit to hit to hit, much to the delight of the crowd that had surged to their feet the moment she made her dramatic entrance on the Tobago stage."

The Nation Newspaper : "BARBADOS' FOOD IMPORT BILL is a staggering $1/2 billion, but efforts are on to reduce it. In the wake of global food shortages, Barbados recorded a whopping $494 096 394 food import bill last year, the highest documented in six years."

Antigua Sun : "Positively identified sightings of the Giant African Land Snail, the recently discovered agricultural pest, have been reported in two other areas in St. Mary’s South. A press release said as of last week Thursday, the Plant Protection Unit (PPU) within the ministry received and investigated reports of snail sightings – which proved to be true in two separate locales – Bolans New Extension and the Jolly Harbour Area. Two shells were recovered along with three live snails. Plant Protection Officer Dr. Janil Gore-Francis informed the Ministry of Agriculture that the latest discoveries are the largest to date, measuring approximately five inches in length."

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas announced this week that he opposes the idea that anyone with dual citizenship hold the position of prime minister of St. Kitts/Nevis. “I, Denzil Douglas, do not agree that someone who has renounced our citizenship is fit to be the prime minister of the country,” the prime minister said. “I would like to make that very clear from the beginning.”

St. Lucia Star "On buses, in cars, at the local watering holes, radios are tuned to this year’s Budget debate. St Lucians appear to be listening intently to what our elected representatives have to say about Prime Minister Stephenson King’s 2008/2009 plan for the country. Rumours have been flying for weeks about possible upsets in the House this session. There have been suggestions that two government MPs, namely Rufus Bousquet and Marcus Nicholas, may not support the budget. There were even stories about a possible no-confidence vote in PM King."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "THREE children - Tyrese Johnson, 5; Moesha Davis, 3; and Daysha Davis, who was said to be less than one year-old - were unable to escape and reportedly hugged each other closely as fire burnt the three-room house where they were left without adult supervision yesterday. When the mid-afternoon fire was finally extinguished, only the charred remains of the three little ones were found, bringing tears to the eyes of many people gathered at 38 Crescent Road, an impoverished section of Kingston, the Jamaican capital."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Tragedy struck on Crescent Road, off Waltham Park Road in St Andrew yesterday afternoon when three children, all under the age of 10, perished in a fire that gutted the five-bedroom house which they occupied with their mother and other family members. Dead are four-year-old Moesha Davis, one-year-old Daysha Davis, and their five-year-old half brother who was only identified yesterday as 'Tyrese'."

Stabroek News "A fire that started just before midnight last night, destroyed Hamson’s General Store and on Regent Street leaving millions of dollars in losses. Up to press time this morning the building next door was still burning."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "POLICE are treating the death of an 89-year-old woman as a suspect murder after the wooden home in which she lived with her niece and nephew was maliciously set on fire on Thursday evening – two days after two young men threatened to harm the elderly woman."

The Trinidad Guardian "Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Orville London is not ruling out negative political implications within PNM at the upcoming THA elections. He made this comment yesterday in the wake of the dismissal of Dr Keith Rowley as trade and industry minister by Prime Minister Patrick Manning on Wednesday."

The Nation Newspaper "BARBADIANS will be paying 20 cents more for a pack of hamburger buns from Monday, as increased prices come into effect. This is just one of the new prices announced yesterday at the island's leading bakery, Purity."

SKNVibes.com : "PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – POLICE are keeping a tight lid on information regarding the condition of a woman who was found yesterday morning, just hours after she was abducted by a man posing as a taxi driver. The woman is said to be in her early twenties and she along with a coworker boarded what they thought was a taxi at approximately midnight Tuesday. The women reportedly caught the ‘cab’ in front of a Chaguanas guesthouse where they worked and were heading to Curepe."

St. Lucia Star Online "On buses, in cars, at the local watering holes, radios are tuned to this year’s Budget debate. St Lucians appear to be listening intently to what our elected representatives have to say about Prime Minister Stephenson King’s 2008/2009 plan for the country. Rumours have been flying for weeks about possible upsets in the House this session. There have been suggestions that two government MPs, namely Rufus Bousquet and Marcus Nicholas, may not support the budget. There were even stories about a possible no-confidence vote in PM King."

The Trinidad Guardian : "Diego Martin West MP Keith Rowley was fired because of atrocious, “wajang” behaviour in a five-minute “tirade” which he displayed at a recent government meeting, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said yesterday. “He (Rowley) behaved worse than Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday did in the Parliament (on the laptop issue),” Manning said at a Whitehall media briefing."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday said he fired Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley as Minister of Trade and Industry over alleged unruliness in a meeting of a sub- committee of Cabinet."

Jamaica Gleaner News - "Up to last night there was no response from Finance Minister Audley Shaw to Opposition claims that he does not have the moral authority to oversee the proposed commission of enquiry into the financial sector meltdown of the 1990s and the subsequent creation of the Financial Sector Adjustment Company (FINSAC)."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "FOUR schoolboys have been seriously injured after two days of violent clashes among students of St George's College and Kingston College (KC) in downtown Kingston, which has reportedly spilled over into neighbouring schools. Students from both high schools told the Observer yesterday that there was a growing unease since the violence started, with some fearing they could become the next victim of the reprisal stabbings and beatings which have been taking place since Wednesday."

Radiojamaica.com... "Jamaica has been called on to give a helping hand to Haiti in dealing with its food crisis. Haitian authorities have reportedly asked local egg producers to export supplies as part of efforts to ease the country's food shortage."

the Daily Mail : "The distraught parents of a British toddler killed by a speedboat that mounted a Bahamas beach vowed today to continue their fight for the truth after a judge acquitted three men over his death. The parents of two-year-old Paul Gallagher declared the decision a 'miscarriage of justice' in angry remonstrations at the Supreme Court in capital Nassau. The judge had effectively 'sentenced children to death' on Bahamian beaches, they said."

Antigua Sun : "A Greenbay woman luckily escaped serious harm late Tuesday night when she was shot in the foot by an unidentified gunman. According to information from the police, the incident is reported to have taken place sometime between 9 and 10 p.m., as she was walking along Baker Street on her way home. According to a statement issued by the police last night, the woman, whose identity was not released, was approached by a masked gunman, dressed in all black."

casinocitytimes.com : "JAMAICA -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has said the Government has taken the decision to permit the licensing of casinos in Jamaica and has already approved proposals for a major new investment predicated on the granting of a casino license. The Prime Minister, who was making his contribution to the 2008/09 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives April 22, said the decision was based on a review of the issues surrounding casino gambling."

MiamiHerald.com : "NASSAU, Bahamas -- The moonlight illuminated her fellow passengers, scattered through the chilly ocean 15 miles from the nearest land. Some of them screamed for help. Others bobbed silently face-down in the water. As the voices grew quiet one by one, the high school student clung to the only life preserver she could find: the lifeless body of a Haitian who had shared her American dream. ''I was holding onto a dead woman to keep afloat,'' said Rodene Fileresaint, 23."

St. Lucia Star "Sir John Compton, in what would turn out to be the final budget address he would deliver to St Lucia, said: 'These are challenging times, but exciting times.' The last year has certainly been challenging for the UWP government that he brought out of political exile in December 2006. Arrests of several ministers, leadership ‘struggles’ and the rise in cost of oil and consumer goods are just a few of the issues the government has had to weather. Sir John’s death last September had seemingly sent the UWP into a tailspin with no clear path. In fact many believe that the government has yet to settle into tangible work. (But that could just be poor public relations. Did someone say ‘Jeff’?)."

MiamiHerald.com : "Yet again, Haitians have died as they desperately tried to leave an impoverished and violent home for a chance at a better life. How many more innocent people have to die before the United States reviews its discriminatory immigration policy and welcomes those who want a better life and are willing to work for it?"

Stabroek News : "A member of the special constabulary is among four persons arrested by the police during a search at a Princes Street house on Tuesday night in connection with the abduction of Jiffi Lubes owner, Farouk Kalamadeen. An unlicensed .32 pistol along with five matching rounds was also seized from the house, a police statement yesterday said."

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas made a plea yesterday to the citizens of St. Kitts/Nevis to get back to traditional values, so as to reduce the occurrence of violent crimes in the Federation. PM Douglas made this request during his monthly press meeting at Government Headquarters."

Antigua Sun : "Police say they cannot rule out foul play after the body of a Yorks man was found yesterday. Sixty-seven-year-old Hoppseph Joseph was found dead in his home, after he had not been seen by neighbours and friends for nearly two days."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "MONTEGO Bay Mayor Charles Sinclair has ordered an investigation into possible breaches of a building permit that could result in a stop-order on construction of the Spanish-owned RIU Hotel in Montego Bay, St James. Sinclair, who personally visited the construction site at Mahoe Bay east of the tourist resort city, said he could confirm that a breach of the building permit had taken place, because the hotel was putting up four floors instead of three, as approved on June 29, 2007."

Jamaica Gleaner News -"OFFICIALS OF the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) could meet shortly to try to resolve the crisis surrounding the eligibility of some sitting members of parliament (MP). PNP President Portia Simpson Miller has already indicated her willingness to discuss a settlement, and yesterday Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced he had mandated the party's general secretary, Karl Samuda, to enter into discussions with the Opposition."

The Nation Newspaper "PORT-OF-SPAIN – Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Patrick Manning has fired his Trade and Industry Minister Dr Keith Rowley. He has replaced him with the veteran politician Dr Lenny Saith."

The Panama news : "The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) stands at a turning point in the history of its existence of over three decades. The year 2008 will see the majority of its citizens living in cities and towns, and by 2015 I estimate that three-quarters of the Caribbean's population may be living in urban areas."

Amandala Online : "Normally when we hear about multiple weekend fatalities, we think about guns and bullets fired wantonly on the City’s Southside, but this weekend, the triple body count was as a result of three separate traffic accidents out in the districts. Like murder, traffic accidents have become one of the leading causes of death in Belize, and this weekend’s victims are Dinsdale Quiroz, 15, a resident of Burrell Boom, Belize District; Kenroy Peyrefitte, 21, of Camalote, Cayo; and Durbin Manuel Moreno, 21, of Santa Rita area, Corozal Town."

The Bahama Journal : "The Bahama Journal understands that Mr. Williams, who replaced former BTC head Michael Symonette, was asked to resign on Thursday. BTC’s executive team and its board later met on Friday and yesterday to reportedly further discuss the matter."

The Trinidad Guardian "It would be impossible to have any “urgent reduction” in Government spending since development of roads, healthcare, education and security systems are necessary to make T&T a developed country, says Works Minister Colm Imbert."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "FOOD prices have skyrocketed over the past few months with citizens also being forced to reckon with the impending hike in electricity rates. However, consumers will soon be able to conserve energy and save some dollars as solar cookers emerge as the cheaper, easier and more eco-friendly alternative to gas and electrical cookers."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "MINISTER of Legal and Consumer Affairs Peter Taylor yesterday urged citizens to adapt their taste towards locally-grown food-crops in order to tackle food shortages and price-hikes that are occurring locally and globally."

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "Following last Friday’s shooting death of 32-year-old Charles Benjamin Mathew alias “Abaloo” of Cunningham Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts, police now have “a person of interest.” Investigations have led security forces to carry out a search warrant for 24 year-old, Basseterre resident Wycliffe Liburd alias “Wicked” for suspicion in “Abaloo’s” murder. The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m. at the junction of Cunningham Street and Shaw Avenue, in close proximity to the deceased’s home. Individuals who have information on the whereabouts of “Wicked” are asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 465-2241 ext. 220, 230 or 236 or the crime hotline at 707."

Antigua Sun : "Police say they cannot rule out foul play after the body of a Yorks man was found yesterday. Sixty-seven-year-old Hoppseph Joseph was found dead in his home, after he had not been seen by neighbours and friends for nearly two days. He was discovered by a friend at approximately 8 a.m. and was pronounced dead by District Doctor Evans Moulon later that morning. The brother of the deceased, Barry Joseph, identified the body. The Antigua Sun was told Joseph was found with bruises to the face and head, and it was because of these injuries that the police will not rule out foul play until an autopsy is carried out to determine the cause of his death."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "GOVERNMENT'S decision to grant licences for the operations of casinos in Jamaica yesterday provoked members of the religious community. Prime Minister Bruce Golding, making the announcement in his contribution to the 2008/09 budget debate in Parliament yesterday, said the economic benefits were enormous and that revenues from casino operations would be put in a special fund to finance health, education and security."

Jamaica Gleaner News "MIDDLE-INCOME Jamaicans who benefit from National Housing Trust (NHT) mortgages will pay up to 33.3 per cent more in interest rates on loans, Bruce Golding announced in his debut Budget Debate presentation as prime minister yesterday. The revised interest rate structure, which takes effect on June 1, will see mortgages in the five per cent interest rate band moving to six per cent, and those in the six per cent, range moving to eight per cent, the prime minister told the nation during a marathon presentation in the House of Representatives."

Advocate : "BARBADOS has done reasonably well over the past few years in managing crime, at least from a regional point of view. That's the view of Commissioner of Police, Darwin Dottin. Dottin spoke on the issue of local crime recently, where he outlined the need for hard work to keep crime and disorder at bay."

The Bahama Journal : "According to police, around 5am, individuals on a vessel travelling in the area reportedly heard sounds of people shouting in the water. A search was carried out during the dark, but no one on the passing vessel saw anything, according to police reports. However, they contacted the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA), which was assisted by the US Coast Guard, police said. According to police, those agencies responded immediately and conducted a search and found bodies floating in the water."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "On the night of April 22, 1978, at the National Stadium in Kingston, 32,000 people gathered to witness the One Love Peace Concert, an event that was of extraordinary significance to Robert Nesta Marley, a concert, which has been voted the World's sixth 'Rock Concert' of all time. Bob had left the island of his birth in 1976, after an attempt was made to assassinate him."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "GOVERNMENT prosecutors pursuing a multi-million dollar fraud case against controversial businessman Danhai Williams and six other accused persons who have been fingered in the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC)/Operation PRIDE scandal, were yesterday given an ultimatum by a judge to be ready for trial next Monday or have the matter thrown out."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Local rice distributors and importers of the staple from Guyana have thrown their support behind Government's decision to apply to CARICOM for an immediate suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) on the commodity. The move, announced yesterday afternoon, is being made to secure supplies of rice, from outside the region, for Jamaican consumers."

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "“(I) just talk to him, (I) just leave him there”, was the cry of one woman, after a broad daylight shooting last Friday morning that left one man dead. The deceased is 32-year-old Charles Benjamin Mathew alias “Abaloo” of Cunningham Street, Basseterre. “Abaloo” is the seventh murder victim for the year. Matthew was said to have been killed not more than a minute’s walk away from his house. Though information regarding the exact gunshots received were not immediately available, nearby residents claimed to have heard four to five shots fired."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "TRINIDAD-born Nobel Lau-reate Sir VS Naipaul was sexually molested as a child by a male relative for years, a new authorised biography published this month reveals."

The Nation Newspaper "The usually simple task of buying fish turned into a pricing wrangle between boat owners and fish vendors at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex yesterday. And now, almost 20 fishing boat owners want an urgent meeting with Acting Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Agriculture, Senator Haynesley Benn."

MiamiHerald.com : "The U.S. Coast Guard has found 20 dead migrants floating in the water about 15 miles northwest of Nassau, a spokesman for the agency said. They are all Haitians. There were three survivors: two Haitians and a Honduran."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Disgusted with what they describe as an 'indecisive' school board, teachers at the Pembroke Hall High School will today wear black as a form of protest. A member of staff, who asked not to be identified, told the Observer that the decision was taken after three 11th grade boys, who on Wednesday last week ganged and beat up a male teacher, were only suspended."

Jamaica Gleaner News "The Jamaican Government is now aggressively moving to arrest child pornography in the wake of a wave of electronic circulation of sexually explicit material. The Child Pornography Act, which will make it illegal to produce, possess or circulate pornographic materials involving children, has now been drafted and sent to stakeholders for their input, according to Children's Advocate Mary Clarke."

St. Lucia Star "From the UN Scandal to last year’s Bruce Duane Tucker exposÈ, who better than Rick Wayne has in-depth details of Rufus Bousquet’s tenure in politics? It is fair to say that after 30 years as a journalist Wayne knows better than most our current and past crop of politicians. Famous for pushing the proverbial envelope Wayne’s expressed opinions on issues of day are almost guaranteed to spark controversy."

Stabroek News "Looking to begin life anew after separating from an abusive husband, a 22-year-old woman was instead found dead yesterday, her throat slit, after she had gone to her former home at Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) to collect her clothes. The body of Shaneiza Khan, the mother of a five-year-old girl was discovered by her sister, Faneeza, at Khan’s former Enmore residence, a home that she had shared with her reputed husband for four years before moving out a month ago."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "NORTH EASTERN Divisional Task Force officers have slammed the Coast Guard for failing to respond to a bulletin about three men in a pirogue who had dropped off eight crocus bags containing over $2 million in compressed marijuana along the north coast in Las Cuevas, during the wee hours of yesterday morning."

The Trinidad Guardian "Police seized about $2 million worth of compressed marijuana during an early morning stake-out yesterday on Las Cuevas beach on Trinidad’s north coast. Police reported that officers from the North-Eastern Division Task Force, acting on information, went to the beach around 3 am and concealed themselves."

The Nation Newspaper "GET YOUR OWN school buses and take the pressure off the Transport Board. This is the message which Noel Smith, a former manager of the board, has for the Ministry of Education."

SKNVibes.com "BASSETERRRE, St. Kitts - CONTRARY to previous reports published by SKNVibes, the findings of Barbadian Forensic Pathologist Dr. Stephen Jones revealed that Gregory Anthony Zakers died of an injury caused by a “blunt object”. Unofficial reports received by this media house were that Zakers’ body bore what appeared to be gunshot wounds. However, according to police, Dr. Jones performed an autopsy on Zakers’ remains on Thursday and “he reported the cause of death to be severe traumatic head injury caused by a blunt object”."

Stabroek News "It is a familiar sight in many depressed urban communities and increasingly in rural areas as well: idle young men sitting at street corners all day. It is these groups, observers believe, that churn out Guyana’s ever-growing criminal class. Facing hopelessness in a social and political system that offers little opportunity, most start out by begging and eventually graduate – some to petty crime, others to drugs, guns and unspeakable violence. And observers’ views vary only slightly on the path that takes them there."

Amandala Online : "For the first time in Belize’s history, public officers submitted affidavits in court against a Minister of Government –two, to be exact. The affidavits highlighted irregular behavior by the two PUP Ministers, that occurred just about a month before general elections."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Thousands of commuters who travel on public passenger Coaster and Hiace buses operating as stage carriages on our nation's roads each day, may not be compensated if the buses crash and they are injured, regulatory bodies have confirmed."

Jamaica Gleaner News "CASINO GAMBLING could soon become legal in Jamaica. The Government has given approval for a group of international investors to establish the island's first legal casino. Prime Minister Bruce Golding is expected to announce the decision and provide details during his presentation in the Budget Debate on Tuesday."

The Trinidad Guardian "A big waste! Money down the drain. That’s how most Tobagonians are describing the millions of dollars already spent on the new Scarborough Regional Hospital. And despite assurances last week by Health Minister Jerry Narace, after touring the site of the incomplete structure, that they will have a new hospital in two years, residents are not convinced"

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "TWO UNPOPULAR choices with the audience walked away with the top prizes at the end of Friday night’s Pan in the 21st Century Competition, prompting panmen involved to question whether or not the annual event serves to foster or stifle the versatility of our national instrument."

The Nation Newspaper "LOOK FOR PRICE INCREASES in beef, lamb, pork, eggs and possibly chicken by next month – along with major challenges for small farmers – since the price of animal feed has just gone up by 25 per cent."

The Nation Newspaper "GLOOMY ECONOMIC FORECASTS internationally are casting their own dark clouds on Barbados' economic climate. With recent price hikes in fuel, flour and cement, many have been postulating on the possible backlash for the local economy."

The Trinidad Guardian "SAMDEO RAMLAL, the man highlighted in last week’s Sunday Guardian with an unknown skin disease, is now warded at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Admitted to Ward 43 last week, a biopsy was performed on Ramlal’s hands and feet to determine his condition. Ramlal was first examined by a dermatologist at the St Joseph Health Centre at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex on Monday."

The Trinidad Guardian "NINETEEN Colombian women were nabbed yesterday when officers of the Central Division raided a hotel in central Trinidad. Police said the women were sex workers."

International Herald Tribune : "HAVANA: First comes the stink of diesel, then a metallic roar, and finally a tower of black smoke that tells you the 'camello' — the camel — has reached your stop. These hulking 18-wheeled beasts, iron mutants made of two Soviet-era buses welded together on a flatbed and pulled by a separate cab, have long been Havana's public transport nightmare — bumpy, hot and jammed with up to 400 passengers at a time."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Kingston businessman Alexander Haber has filed suit in the Supreme Court to recover close to J$30 million from fraud suspect Carlos Hill, who, he claimed, 'induced' him into investing in the ailing Cash Plus Limited last year by means of 'fraudulent misrepresentation'."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Despite the failure to join of several bargaining groups, including the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), National Workers' Union and the Nurses' Association of Jamaica, the third public sector Memorandum of Understanding (MOU3) was signed yesterday at Jamaica House."

The Nation Newspaper "NEXT TO JESUS CHRIST, Nelson Mandela is the greatest man in the world, says construction magnate Sir Charles Williams. He made the statement yesterday as he officially handed over an acre of land in St Thomas to the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, with the condition that any facility built there must bear the name of the former South African president."

St. Lucia Star "After a year and a half, three different ministers and more than a handful of problems with Keith Mondesir, Darrel Montrope has officially been transferred from the ministry of health to the tourism ministry. From his first day back in the tourism building, Montrope and his new minister, Allen Chastanet, pronounced a fondness for each other and predicted a wonderful working relationship to come. But as the Permanent Secretary post at the ministry of health remains vacant, questions over the working relationship between staff and Mondesir still surface. ....

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Eleven-year-old Sarah Sieuchan and her brother Sean, nine, moved mourners to tears as they screamed for their father, Sharma Keith Sieuchan, shortly after his funeral service ended at the home of his parents in Longdenville yesterday. Doctors felt it would help the children to heal emotionally if they got to say goodbye to Sharma and allowed them to leave the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital, Mt Hope, to attend his funeral, even though they were still suffering the effects of ingesting a meal of dumplings and pig-tail soup which their father had laced with lanate last Saturday. Sharma, 38, died after drinking the weedkiller"

The Trinidad Guardian "In the face of spiralling food prices Prime Minister Patrick Manning said last night that it is very unlikely his government would subsidise food to effect a reduction in its cost. Manning said such a move would lead to corruption. He also said the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) was not an option."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "It was a scene played out before, only this time it was the worst ever. A frontal system that moved across the island Wednesday night dumped several inches of rain on St Ann's northern coastline, resulting in tons of mud being deposited in the resort town of Ocho Rios, bringing all business activities to a halt along the lower section of Main Street yesterday."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Hundreds of individuals from more than 50 homes and business places across sections of St Ann were yesterday left to battle flood waters after heavy rains lashed the parish between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning."

The Nation Newspaper "WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE for bringing the almost 100 Africans to Barbados' shores could well face criminal prosecution. In addition, it may cost Government upwards of $2 million to get the stranded visitors back home. 'Serious investigations will be done to identify who has taken advantage of these men as well as of the good name of three countries [Ghana, Nigeria and Barbados],' said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business Christopher Sinckler."

The Nation Newspaper "BY THE END OF TODAY, 2 095 people who have lived in their National Housing Corporation (NHC) units for 20 years or more, will become proud legal owners of their homes. An emotional Mary Brown, of Bagatelle Gardens, St James, was the first to get her letter of intent yesterday afternoon. 'I live here for longer than I can remember and I feel so glad for this,' she told Minister of Housing and Lands Michael Lashley, who visited five other Government housing estates to deliver letters to elated recipients."

Stabroek News : "Gunmen yesterday afternoon killed two Brazilian miners and injured a third during a robbery at a guest house on Regent Street before escaping on a motor bike despite police foot patrols in the city."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "The Government will be providing over $1 billion in loan packages to help farmers meet the challenges of the State's food security programme for 2008/2009, minister of agriculture, Dr Christopher Tufton, revealed yesterday. The minister, speaking in the budget debate at Gordon House, said that the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) has approved a $250-million loan package to be channelled through the People's Cooperative (PC) banks, credit unions and other micro financing institutions to farmers."

Jamaica Gleaner News "AN APPEAL for Jamaican consumers to decrease their dependence on food imports was yesterday put out by Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, who warned that the developing world food crisis posed a 'clear and present danger' to the nation."

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "The Federation recorded its seventh road fatality on Monday evening when a single vehicle accident claimed the life of a Jamaican native.

Antigua Sun : "Amidst an ongoing conflict between a few local contractors and the government, a number of heavy-duty vehicles were removed from the port on Tuesday evening destined for the expansion project at the country’s lone airport. The vehicles were transported to an enclosed area just around the Shell Beach area. Some of the local contractors reportedly expressed their displeasure over the decision to allow V. C. Bird International Airport (VCBIA) contractor Andrade Gutierrez to import a number of the sizeable heavy-duty machinery."

Advocate : "LAST Friday morning, the 'Hotpot' was almost fully enclosed with a bank of sand following high seas the week before. This enclosure has given bathers a greater sense of security as they perform their daily ritual. An interview with the Barbados Advocate revealed that over the years, many Barbadians have come to view the popular bathing spot as the their own pool of Bethesda."

The Nation Newspaper "EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN WARNED to expect demands for higher wages as a result of spiralling food and fuel prices. Leading trade unionist Sir Roy Trotman gave the alert yesterday, saying that double-digit increases were necessary to help bottom-of-the-ladder workers cope with the price shocks."

St. Lucia Star "SHE Caribbean magazine—with it’s sultry covers that have featured some of the hottest models and celebrities—stands out as being the only magazine focusing exclusively on the Caribbean woman. Some of the most talked about SHE Caribbean covers have featured the ever so dreamy Jamie Foxx, a simply stunning BeyoncÈ Knowles, Caribbean it-girl Rihanna, among other stars. SHE Caribbean magazine is also known for helping to launch the careers of now famous Caribbean models."

Antigua Sun : "While negotiations between the flour mills and Antigua and Barbuda continue to stall, the country has run out of bakers' flour, which has brought on an emergency situation in the baking industry. Negotiations are underway with the mills to arrange an emergency shipment of flour by the weekend. General Manager of Inter Island Sales and Supply Ltd Adolph Audain said that its supply of 100-pound bags of flour has run out and the same goes for the other importers namely Mitchell A. Michael and Gloria’s Ltd."

English News from Austria : "The Prime Minister of the Caribbean island nation, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, met with President Heinz Fischer and Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik on Monday. Increased cooperation between the Caribbean and Austria were discussed, as well as the current situations in Cuba and Haiti."

The Trinidad Guardian : "He begged his killers to spare his life. He also begged that his mother be left alone. But the assailants were unrelenting. Bent on carrying out their deadly mission, the attackers turned their weapons on 16-year-old Ariston “Tiny” Michael and his mother, Malina Maragrite Michael, 36, at their home in Lopinot, Arouca, on Monday night."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Gunshots, screaming children and the discovery of the bullet-riddled bodies of Vanessa Melina Michael and her 16-year-old son Aliston shattered the peace of the village of Lopinot on Monday night. Michael’s three other children, ages two, five and 13, escaped the shooting and are now in hiding at a relative’s home. Residents yesterday struggled to come to terms with the double murder and the rise in crime in their community on the outskirts of Arouca."