SmallShop Caribbean News

St. Lucia Star "The jury is still out on what effect Stephenson King’s latest address to the nation will have on the people’s perception of him as Prime Minister. Did he still sound like a man wearing shoes that his feet were unable to fill? The speech the PM delivered last Tuesday certainly only did more damage to his already tattered reputation. The following day the reviews were far from flattering. It didn’t help that people were also quite upset that the speech was two and a half hours late."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Stung by the spiralling murder tally, Minister of National Security Colonel Trevor MacMillan yesterday vowed to use the full force of the law to stop the bloodshed he described as one of the worst in Jamaica's history."

Jamaica Gleaner News : "Disaster management officials are facing a number of challenges going into the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins tomorrow. There are 16 storms predicted for 2008, two to five of which are expected to become major hurricanes, but the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) says preparations for the upcoming season are not ideal."

The Nation Newspaper "TOMORROW IS 'D' DAY – diesel day, that is. It is the day when Prime Minister David Thompson said diesel fuel prices would be cut for public service vehicles (PSVs), fishing boat operators, registered farmers and sectors of the manufacturing industry."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "A wet weekend is likely to usher in the Atlantic Hurricane Season which officially begins on Sunday, June 1. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) said yesterday that the National Met Service advised that the unstable weather condition affecting Jamaica was caused by outer bands associated with Tropical Storm Alma, which dumped heavy rains on several central American countries yesterday. Alma, though not a threat"

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "A jury found Garvey Rogers guilty of attempted murder yesterday and a judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Rogers of Conaree Village was charged with attempting to murder Devon Roberts by shooting him four times in the back. The shooting incident took place on 29 Oct., 2007 in Conaree Village."

Stabroek News : "A teenager was remanded yesterday after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of the 79-year-old Wakenaam, Essequibo Island woman who was found dead in her Sans Souci home on Monday. Latchman Persaud, 17, called `Saramakatoy’ was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "The Government came under increased pressure yesterday to deal decisively with the growing crime wave as gunmen continued their reign of terror between Wednesday night and yesterday morning, killing three people, injuring three others and fire-bombing four houses in separate incidents in the capital, Kingston."

Jamaica Gleaner News "The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) yesterday demanded that the Government share with the country its approach to curb the escalating crime wave. However, Prime Minister Bruce Golding is insisting that the development of a crime plan is not the remit of his administration, but that of the police."

The Nation Newspaper "POLICE HAVE TURNED DOWN the volume in the hub of musical entertainment amid the heat of Crop-Over. Nightclub owners in St Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, were recently ordered by the Royal Barbados Police Force to lower their music by 2 a.m. and cease playing altogether an hour later, following numerous complaints by residents and hoteliers."

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "“Even if we try to fool ourselves into thinking that crime in St. Marten, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Bahamas and Jamaica is plenty worse (than it is here) and they have very big and successful tourism industries, we cannot look at that and be complacent.” That was the view expressed by Minister of National Security Dwyer Astaphan in an interview with Sun St. Kitts/Nevis focussed on crime and its negative impact on tourism."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Gunmen killed two more Jamaicans yesterday and seriously injured five others in a drive-by attack on a group of persons at Prince of Wales Street in the tough Allman Town community in Central Kingston. The latest incident of bloodletting occurred on the same day that Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, in an address to rank and file cops on the other end of the island, heightened fear among Jamaicans by declaring that the crime wave will get worse before any anti-crime strategy can start having a meaningful effect."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Director of Public Prosecution Geoffrey Henderson last evening ordered the police to charge a 28-year-old man with the murder of eight-year-old Hope Arismandez. The man, who had been a friend of Hope’s family and lived with her, her mother Sherma Rajoon and her brother, will appear before a Chaguanas magistrate this morning."

The Trinidad Guardian - "The death of little Hope Arismandez, 8, has cast a veil of sadness at Carapichaima RC School where she was a Standard One student. Hope disappeared on Saturday night from the apartment where she was staying with her mother Stacey Rajoon, 48, her brother Kirk Rajoon, 14, and a male relative."

The Nation Newspaper "TWO VICE-PRESIDENTS and four senior managers have been made redundant the local operation of Cable & Wireless (C&W). Yesterday, the six senior staff at the British-owned telecommunications company were informed they would be leaving the company by weekend."

The Trinidad Guardian "Girls attending Junior Secondary Schools are more likely to engage in transactional sexual behaviour and their male peers are more prone to gang activity in schools. This was the conclusion drawn from a recent study conducted in 14 Junior Secondary Schools regarding violence and sexual behaviour among school children."

Trinidad Express : "THREE Tobago nationals can be extradited to the United Kingdom to face drug trafficking charges, Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls ruled yesterday."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "RUDOLPH Brown may have had plans to have his two teenage daughters by his side when he celebrates his 70th birthday today. Instead, the grief-stricken old man may have to start making funeral arrangements for his little girls -17-year-old Lisa and 19-year-old Christina - who were brutally slain shortly after 5:00 pm yesterday when three armed men entered the family's home on Henderson Avenue in Kingston and sprayed them with bullets."

Jamaica Gleaner News : "Prime Minister Bruce Golding has turned down two invitations to have face-to-face talks with United States President George W. Bush. This has sparked concern of a possible rift in the relationship between Jamaica House and the White House, particularly as Golding has jetted off to Havana, Cuba; Lima, Peru, and London, England, since declining the invitations to meet Bush."

The Nation Newspaper "A day late and a dollar short! That was how Opposition Leader Mia Mottley described Prime Minister David Thompson's announcement Monday that Government was removing price controls on wholesale chicken and cutting the price of diesel for Public Service Vehicles and fishing boat operators"

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "The Federation was forced to relive yet another incident of industrial death last Friday morning when a truck toppled over at the Government’s Quarry, claiming the life of a 37-year-old man. A little over a week ago, the bridge portion of the West Basseterre By-pass road project collapsed killing one man and injuring two others."

Antigua Sun : "A 19-year-old Liberta man is in police custody after allegedly slashing the throat of a 38-year-old man and causing his death yesterday. Daverson “Acre” Thomas, who lived in the Table Hill Garden area of Liberta, was murdered some time around 2 a.m. yesterday, following a verbal altercation with the teen."

Stabroek News : "A policeman yesterday morning shot dead a Riverview, Ruimveldt fisherman, accus-ed of stealing a generator and other items from a liquor bar, but residents said the man committed no such act and chided the police for unnecessarily using deadly force."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "TWO men who police believe were involved in the murders of two policemen on Labour Day in Trench Town, Kingston were among nine people killed between Sunday night and yesterday as the island continued to experience a level of blood-letting that has driven fear into the hearts of many people."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Following yesterday's fatal shooting of two men implicated in Friday's gun murders of two policemen in west Kingston, the police are imploring Jamaicans to know their neighbours. Warren 'Border Hittis' Failey, 32, and Seamel Tycon, both of Trench Town, west Kingston, addresses, were killed in a police/ military operation in Westmore Gardens, near Spanish Town, St Catherine, yesterday."

The Nation Newspaper "CHICKEN FARMERS and consumers can breathe a sigh of relief. So can Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and fishing boat operators – along with sectors of the manufacturing industry. This follows an announcement yesterday by Prime Minister David Thompson that price controls would be removed from the sale of wholesale chicken and that diesel fuel prices would be cut for PSV and fishing boat operators."

Jamaica's attitude towards homosexuality is supposed to be moving towards providing equality before the law. So would Bruce Golding ever appoint a homosexual to his Cabinet?

Excerpts from an interview with Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, who visited the Commonwealth Secretariat on 21 May 2008

Antigua Sun : "Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to China David Shoul accused the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) of seeking to undermine the relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and China and to derail the related projects. “I influenced no contracts. I gave no contracts,” the ambassador said, breaking months of silence on the ALP’s accusations that he was involved in questionable contracts associated with the new stadium's ancillary work and roads, professing his innocence and defending his relationship with the preparatory works for Cricket World Cup 2007."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "IT was a chilling funeral service yesterday for Stacy-Ann Clarke, the 10-year-old who died of injuries she received last month when gunmen traded bullets in the depressed Seaview Gardens Kingston community she called home."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Esther Tyson, principal of Ardenne High School in St Andrew, said in addition to the long-standing issue of paternal absenteeism, a growing number of mothers have joined the mass exodus in search of better economic opportunities."

The Nation Newspaper "MORE THAN 40 POLICE OFFICERS will move up the ranks this week. Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin told the DAILY NATION yesterday at a brunch at Hilton Barbados that promotions ranging from sergeants to senior superintendents would be announced later this week."

The preliminary 5.6-magnitude quake shook buildings and sent many residents running into the streets. (May 25)Roads closed....and buildings turned to rubble.These are the scenes after Colombia's capital was rattled by a moderate earthquake Saturday that killed at least six people...And left more than ten others injured.Many scared residents flocked into the street and simply waited....as structures above began to crumble.The 5 point 6 magnitude quake's epicenter was just outside of Bogota --- And officials say it struck at a depth of just 6 miles underground, a relatively shallow depth for an earthquake.Shallower earthquakes are felt more strongly than those that occur deep in the earth.The rumblings lasted for about 40 seconds. ___ ___, The Associated Press.

The Nation Newspaper "SMALL and fuel-efficient. These are the two essentials Barbadians in the market for new cars say are 'must-haves'. With oil prices in the United States hitting a high of US$133 a barrel last Wednesday, Barbadians are paying more attention to the money they spend at the pump. This, coupled with the hike in gas and diesel prices in April, has motorists becoming more circumspect when hunting for vehicles."

The Trinidad Guardian "A Chaguanas couple have become the country’s latest murder victims. The bodies of Antoinette Nedd, 40, a pre-school teacher, and Anthony Charles, 39, an employee of Reno Racing Pool, were discovered lying in a pool of blood in the bedroom of their home at Enterprise Street, Chaguanas, yesterday morning."

MyWire AFP: "HAVANA (AFP) — About 1,800 Cubans are over 100 years old, making it the country with the highest rate of centenarians, an expert said Saturday. Eugenio Selman-Housein, chairman of the 120 Years Club and previously head of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro's medical team, also said 'life expectancy has gone up to almost 80 years' on the communist-run Caribbean island."

The Trinidad Guardian "Jack Warner is the man funding the private investigations into Udecott, says Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj. Maharaj revealed yesterday that the Chaguanas West MP was the man who spent a “substantial amount of money” to hire the private investigator to track down information to show that Udecott was involved in wrongdoing. He was speaking with the Sunday Guardian after a walk through the streets of Chaguanas on his way to Curepe."

Stabroek News "From a convicted felon who fled justice in the US, Shaheed Roger Khan rose to become one of Guyana’s wealthiest citizens within a decade. Did the authorities pay any attention to his swift climb up the economic ladder?"

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "An 18-year-old woman, employed as a trainee at the Ministry of Education, and a 20-year-old student of a private school have been placed on a collective bail of $2 million after they were charged yesterday with the unlawful possession of CXC English A and Mathema-tics exam papers."

St. Lucia Star "The late delivery of the prime minister’s address on Tuesday evening was hardly a surprise. The prime minister’s reputation for lateness has been established. Even the governor general on occasion has been forced to await his arrival at official functions. The prime minister’s heavily advertised address, came around 10:45pm, nearly three hours behind schedule. Throughout American Idol on Channel 34 a scroll pleaded with viewers to stay tuned for the promised speech. Meanwhile, on Channel 37, Denis Dabreo was explaining the program’s lateness. Finally the National Anthem signaled the start of the prime minister’s highly anticipated address to the nation."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "RESIDENTS of Third Street in Trench Town yesterday came out swinging against cop killers, saying they would find no sanctuary inside that inner-city community. A group of placard-bearing women and children staged an unusual demonstration to register their disgust over the murders of constables Cornel Grant, 34, and Delano Lawrence. The two were ambushed and cut down inside that violence-prone south-west St Andrew community on Friday."

Jamaica Gleaner News "RESIDENTS OF trench Town in south St Andrew, where two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) were fatally gunned down on Friday, are not prepared to allow the ghastly incident to sour the relationship between them and the police, according to social activist Dr Henley Morgan. 'I was just talking to members of a gang and the leader told me that 'wi nah trade nuttin fi go back',' said Morgan yesterday. He has been spearheading a culture of renewal within the community."

The Nation Newspaper "UP TO LATE LAST NIGHT all efforts were being made to save the house belonging to the late Roland Edwards – the man who composed the music to Barbados' National Anthem."

Jamaica

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "“I think the premier embarrassed himself, he embarrassed his office and all Nevisians.” Those were the words by Leader of Opposition – the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) Mark Brantley in describing Premier Joseph Parry’s behaviour at the opening ceremony of a week long medical outreach programme underway in Nevis."

Antigua Sun : "What started off as a peaceful picket of the office of Ambassador David Shoul by the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) degenerated into conflict, when one of the party’s supporters was accused of kicking in the door that leads to the ambassador’s office."

The Nation Newspaper : "FRANK EMMANUEL DUNCAN, the most vocal Ghanaian among the 90 West Africans recently stranded in Barbados, has been charged with two counts of fraud in relation to the controversial trip here."

The Trinidad Guardian "The world has lost its values. And the sad thing is society hasn’t realised this, said Roman Catholic Archbishop Edward Gilbert at the Corpus Christi Mass and procession in Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Speaking from a stage erected in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception’s car park for the open air Mass, Gilbert said: “There is something wrong with the world and the basis of it is a loss of values.”"

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Hours after Roman Catholic Archbishop Edward Gilbert lamented the daily count of murder victims, gunmen shot dead a contractor with the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) during a wappie game at the infamous Lucky Jordan Recreation Club in Port-of-Spain yesterday."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "United States-based law professor David P Rowe has sued the failed investment scheme Cash Plus Limited and its embattled head Carlos Hill to recover a whopping J$117 million, making his the largest suit filed so far by a disgruntled lender to the scheme."

The Trinidad Guardian "SPORTS Minister Gary Hunt claimed yesterday that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) could rake in US$40 million (TT$250 million) or more from television rights for the T&T-England clash at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on June 1."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "THREE students of the Excel Composite Secondary School were chased by a group of students from St Mary’s College (CIC) and were eventually subdued and held by members of the Coast Guard following a stabbing incident which occurred at the Pembroke Street entrance of the college yesterday."

Stabroek News : "Under pressure to do more to probe the over 200 murders allegedly committed by a squad connected to drug-accused businessman, Roger Khan, the police yesterday said that they had requested information from the US on killings linked to him."

Jamaica Gleaner News "PETER BUNTING, Member of Parliament for Central Manchester, yesterday retracted statements he made last week accusing Finance and the Public Service Minister Audley Shaw of misleading the House with his claims about a so-called 'sweetheart deal'. In a statement to the House, Bunting said there was a 'misunderstanding on my part as to the transaction the minister was referring to'."

The Nation Newspaper "TWO BUSINESSMEN have joined forces to offer farmers feed at cheaper prices and a market for their produce. Andrew Bynoe, managing director of Emerald City and Carlton & A-One Supermarkets, and LaRon Gibbs, managing director of Cheapside Supplies, are now importing all types of animal feed out of Jamaica and they are selling it, in some cases, at almost 25 per cent cheaper than current market prices."

Haitian food crisis and globalisation

AlJazeera speaks with the hip-hop megaster about a new plan to end the food crisis in Haiti.

St. Lucia Star "The long standing controversial matter involving the comptroller of customs and the Castries Central MP Richard Frederick has apparently been resolved by Prime Minister Stephenson King. The matter began in June 2007 when the MP was arrested and taken to the Gros Islet police station where he was interrogated for several hours before being released. No charges were lodged but the MP was required to surrender himself to the police one month later. Again, he was set free without charge."

Stabroek News : "Two persons died yesterday morning and six were injured when a Route 72 minibus headed to Georgetown collided with a Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Land Cruiser, on the Mahdia trail a short distance from the bridge crossing."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Prime Minister Bruce Golding's firm stance against homosexuality in Jamaica on an international talk show has drawn both support and sharp criticism from within the nation and the diaspora. Yesterday, president of the Jamaican Diaspora Foundation in Canada, Phillip Mascoll, argued that while same-sex marriages were allowed in Canada, buggery remained a crime in Jamaica and the law should be obeyed."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Prime Minister Bruce Golding has forcefully reiterated that homosexuals have no place in his Cabinet, even as he sought to assure gay people that attitudes towards same-sex unions are changing in Jamaica and that the state respects their right to privacy."

The Nation Newspaper "THE FORENSIC INVESTIGATION into Hardwood Housing Factory Inc. (HHFI) has begun. Prime Minister David Thompson made the confirmation on Sunday to the DAILY NATION."

Antigua Sun : "The local cruise sector stands to lose millions of dollars during the winter season with the recent cancellation of Norwegian Cruise Lines. The cruise line makes approximately 18 calls to destinations including Antigua and Barbuda. This is according to President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association (ABCTA) Nathan Dundas."

St. Lucia Star "As we go to press rumours abound, among them that a deal has been cut, that Rufus Bousquet has accepted Prime Minister Stephenson King’s offer of the ministry of trade, commerce and industry.

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "CASH Plus Limited (CPL) only had J$3 million in cash at the end of March this year, according to the receivers of the company, and based on its assets, which was estimated at J$4 billion at March-end, will only be able to pay a maximum of 16 cents on every dollar owed to its creditors."

Jamaica Gleaner News "CASH PLUS lenders have received more bad news as the report of the receiver/manager for the failed entity found that the company will not be able to repay its depositors until it acquires a substantial portion of the real estate and recovers deposits it made on failed transactions."

The Trinidad Guardian "BRITISH arbitrator Ian Mill, QC, ruled yesterday that 16 members of the Trinidad and Tobago World Cup squad are entitled to 50 per cent of the net profits Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) derived from the Road to Germany 2006 campaign."

Advocate : "BARBADIAN are being called upon to become more culturally diverse, in this age of Globalisation and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) where many non-nationals are making contributions to the advancement of Barbadian communities."

The Nation Newspaper "THE SCHOOL DAY could start and end earlier. The Ministry of Education is closely monitoring two St Michael secondary schools which have carried out the experiment. If the earlier start and finish at The St Michael School and St Leonard's Boys' Secondary School get a passing grade, more schools could be following suit."

The Trinidad Guardian "Despite the Government’s move to offer tertiary education for all citizens, Trinidad and Tobago is still a backward country, says President George Maxwell Richards."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "A 32-YEAR-OLD woman was raped at her home by a bandit while his two armed cohorts terrorised the woman’s relatives before making off with cash, jewelry, household items and the family’s pick-up van on Saturday night."

The Nation Newspaper "THE ANGLICAN CHURCH will continue to make spots available for the public from its glebe land wherever possible."

The Trinidad Guardian "A Debe businessman is calling for more police patrols at Valencia quarry, after he was hijacked, gagged, beaten, robbed and dragged through the forests on Friday. Raj Kanhai, 43, spent more than half- an-hour in the hands of his abductors after he was hijacked along Benny Road in Valencia."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Drama erupted in downtown Port-of-Spain yesterday when a police constable attached to the Repeat Offenders Programme (ROPE), slipped and fell while pursuing a bandit and was shot four times about the body. The gunman, who was armed with a Taurus pistol, reportedly emptied the 14 rounds of ammunition in the direction of Constable Nigel Wilson, but he was only struck four times in the leg and lower body."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "JODEX Ferron would have turned 11 at the end of this month, and she was really looking forward to her birthday. She would have enjoyed it too, since her family planned to surprise her with the one thing on her wish list - her very own cellphone."

Jamaica Gleaner News "ADAMANT that she still enjoys the support of the majority of the People's National Party (PNP) members, President Portia Simpson Miller is in no mood to set a departure timetable."

The Nation Newspaper "EASE THE PRESSURE on Barbadians by resuming the subsidy on diesel and removing the taxes imposed on April 13. Opposition Leader Mia Mottley yesterday called on Prime Minister David Thompson to do this, asking him to reconsider the fuel price hikes he announced on what the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) termed 'Black Monday'."

Portia says Chicken Back was cheap under PNP Government. Most sensible people know that Globally everywhere chicken back and other commodities have increased

Peak Oil News "...'In a lecture in 2001, I tried to explain that oil prices would increase to US$80 per barrel. (This indicates a US$3 billion dollar increase to the airline industry alone in operational expenses as a consequence for tourism in the Caribbean). I shall like now to suggest that according to our analysis at the Landfall Centre, we expect oil prices to hit between US$150-US$200 per barrel in the next three years.'"

The Trinidad Guardian "Five people were murdered in separate incidents in North, East and Central yesterday. Among those killed were were a 23-year-old woman of Couva, and a Morvant man who was shot after putting his girlfriend in a taxi. This means that 180 people have been murdered for the year."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "A Couva woman succumbed to gunshot wounds at the San Fernando General Hospital yesterday, hours after her boyfriend shot her and wounded her brother in a fit of rage over her family’s efforts to break up their relationship. The woman’s boyfriend committed suicide shortly after he shot her."

Yahoo!7 News : "Dominican President Leonel Fernandez, widely credited with pulling his Caribbean country out of a deep economic slump, cruised to a re-election victory on Friday, winning more than enough votes to avoid a run-off."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "THE Court of Appeal yesterday gave the People's National Party's (PNP's) Phyllis Mitchell the go-ahead to proceed with an election petition to have the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP's) Desmond Gregory Mair disqualified as MP for North East St Catherine, because of his alleged holding of dual citizenship."

Jamaica Gleaner News "PEOPLE'S NATIONAL PARTY (PNP) caretaker for St Catherine North Eastern, Phyllis Mitchell, yesterday received the green light from the Court of Appeal to challenge Gregory Mair's eligibility to sit in Parliament."

St. Lucia Star "Okay, maybe he’s just too nice. Well, either that or he’s just plain too soft when he needs to be hard. Which would make him a wimp. But then wimps just don’t spring out of nowhere into the prime minister’s chair. That takes guts. A whole lotta guts. Which, as we can plainly see, our PM has in abundance. So now, how to explain that whole episode on the final night of St Lucia Jazz?"

Stabroek News : "Gunmen last night attacked the Ministry of Culture, throwing two channa bombs into the compound shortly after blasting off shots at the nearby WaterChris Hotel."

The Nation Newspaper "MORE THAN 15 teachers from St Christopher's Primary School, Bourne's Land, Christ Church, were marked absent yesterday. That was confirmed by several parents who called THE NATION yesterday during and after many of them had to return to the school to pick up their children."

Failed Haiti PM nominee lashes out : "PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - An international banker whose nomination for Haiti's No. 2 political post was rejected by the lower house of Parliament said Thursday he was hamstrung by corrupt legislators. Ericq Pierre, who was President Rene Preval's first pick for prime minister, accused lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies of demanding cash, Cabinet positions and projects that could smooth the path to re-election."

Epoch Times "SANTO DOMINGO—Three people, including a former congressman, were shot and killed as violence marred the close of campaigning before Friday's presidential election in the Dominican Republic, authorities said."

The Trinidad Guardian "Martin Joseph was a model young man, the hoped-for saviour of his Beggs Trace, Toco, community. Brilliant, respectable and diligent, he excelled in the O-Level examinations at Toco Composite School two years ago."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "The recent postponement of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) exams reportedly led a 16-year-old student of the Toco Composite High School to commit suicide yesterday. Martin Joseph, a Sixth Form student, was found hanging from an electrical cord which was tied to the roof of his bedroom yesterday morning. Martin, who recently wrote the CAPE Communications Studies examination, was said to have been frustrated after reports surfaced that students would have to re-sit the exam. This comes after students were able to buy copies of the exam paper prior to the sitting of the exam."

The Trinidad Guardian "THE DREAM of a 15-year-old boy becoming a fireman was shattered yesterday when he was stabbed to death at St Joseph Street in Arima. Alonzo Pierre, a pupil of Barataria Secondary Comprehensive School, was killed during an argument over a pair of sneakers. His death pushes the murder toll to 171 for the year."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Jamaica is expected to push for a review of the United States' economic embargo against neighbouring Cuba at this week's summit of European, Latin American and Caribbean countries in Lima, Peru."

Jamaica Gleaner News - "The Court battle for the West Portland seat has intensified with Member of Parliament (MP) Daryl Vaz filing a surprise appeal yesterday, seeking to overturn the April 11 court ruling, which ousted him from Parliament. Vaz filed the appeal in the Court of Appeal yesterday, a day after Abe Dabdoub, who represented the People's National Party (PNP), made good on his promise to appeal against chief justice's ruling that a by-election take place to determine the MP for the constituency."

The Boston Globe : "BOKOZEL, Haiti - Although her countrymen can no longer afford the imported rice that has come to dominate their diet, Josiane Desjardin sees little hope of reviving the domestic crop that once grew abundantly in the fertile estuary of the Artibonite River.

TrinidadExpress : "Hilton Tobago employees are now up in arms, after being told that they will no longer receive severance as part of their separation packages when Hilton International pulls out of the island."

Stabroek News : "Gunmen opened murderous fire at a police checkpoint set up at Middleton Street, Campbellville last night killing a man and injuring three others in a lightning strike that sent shivers through the city. Riddled with bullets, Arjune Narine Singh called “Ryan”, age 21, of Duncan Street, Campbellville, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital minutes after the attack that was executed just as a lone policeman in plain clothes had pulled over three vehicles checking for documents in a lit section of the street. Singh died while receiving treatment."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Speaker Delroy Chuck has called an emergency meeting of the House of Representatives' Ethics Committee for Monday morning to discuss Finance Minister Audley Shaw's allegations that Opposition spokesman Peter Bunting's former investment house, Dehring Bunting and Golding (DB&G), benefitted from a 'sweetheart deal' with the previous Government."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Sociologists and children's rights advocates are calling for more aggressive legislation and stricter penalties to control the sale of pornographic and other sexually pervasive material to underage children in the wake of an increase in the number of incidents involving students performing sexual deeds in the island's schools."

The Nation Newspaper "THE Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) says it is running out of land for the Land For The Landless programme."

Jamaica Gleaner News "A FLORIDA man awaiting sentencing for illegally exporting military items to the United Arab Emirates is facing new federal charges after prosecutors say they discovered evidence of a deal to sell ammunition to Jamaica."

CBC.bb : "While Barbadian students were sitting their Common Entrance Exams, thousands of students in Trinidad and Tobago won't be allowed to take the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams. Someone stole at least one of the papers and was selling copies to students. Officials of the Barbados-based Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) arrived in Trinidad to hold an urgent meeting with Education Minister Esther Le Gendre over the leaking of this year's Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) papers. CXC had earlier announced that it was cancelling all CAPE examinations in Trinidad and Tobago."

Caribbean Net News: "HAVANA, Cuba (ACN): The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, arrived in Havana on Monday for an official visit at the invitation of Cuban President Raul Castro."

Radiojamaica.com "St. Lucia Prime Minister Stephenson King on Tuesday denied reports that he is considering resigning over the current crisis within his government that was sparked by calls by some disgruntled legislators for the dismissal of Economic Affairs Minister Ausbert D'Auvergne."

The Trinidad Guardian "A fuming PNM MP Keith Rowley yesterday completely rejected Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s offering of a Joint Select Committee to examine the affairs of the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott"

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "LOCAL Fraud Squad detectives are investigating a possible e-mail link in the leak of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Communication Studies examination paper."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "“PRESS THE BUTTON! Press the button! Take it off! Take it off ...please somebody!” These were the words which echoed throughout the Rodmill and Cold End Department by Anil Bickramdass at Arcelor Mittal Steel plant, before his head was crushed between coil compactor No. 3 early yesterday morning. Bickramdass, 38, a mechanic and father of a three-year-old girl was due to collect his confirmation letter at the end of his six-month probation period which ended yesterday."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "SENATOR Trevor Norman Neville MacMillan was sworn-in as minister of national security yesterday and immediately warned bad cops in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to leave of their own accord or be made to leave."

Jamaica Gleaner News "The leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is closing ranks today in the face of growing criticism of its handling of the change in leadership of the national security ministry."

The Nation Newspaper "A CELEBRATORY MOOD prevailed in Barbados yesterday afternoon as thousands of 'relieved' pupils and their parents left the 22 Common Entrance Examination centres and headed home, to restaurants and other treats."

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "Since its construction in 1840, “the prison has outgrown its usefulness,” head of Her Majesty’s Prison, Superintendent Franklyn Dorset told Sun St. Kitts/Nevis in an interview last Friday. He said the standing population of the prison – initially built to house 60 prisoners – is presently the home of 200 out of the Federation’s 240 prisoners, with the exception of two women detainees. Dorset said, in addition to its overpopulation, the prison is faced with a number of challenges with which his limited manpower has to contend."

Antigua Sun : "A woman narrowly escaped serious injury early Saturday morning when a bullet from the gun of a masked home invader grazed her stomach. Yvette Jacobs and her young daughter came face to face with the gunman after he entered their Greenbay home and demanded money."

St. Lucia Star "Just when it seemed the Rufus Bousquet-Stephenson King brouhaha had been resolved, a whole new tsunami now threatens the government. When he appeared on NewsMaker Live on Wednesday, the Choiseul MP seemed unusually subdued. He seemed to hedge his answers, even with questions that he had easily dealt with many times before."

Reuters : "PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haitian lawmakers rejected President Rene Preval's candidate for prime minister on Monday, undercutting his efforts to establish a stable democracy in the deeply impoverished Caribbean country."

DominicanToday.com : "SANTO DOMINGO. – While the price of oil has skyrocketed as high as 125 dollars per barrel in just one week, the Industry and Commerce Ministry today announced that fuel prices will remain unchanged from Saturday, the 10th to Friday the 16th, day in which Dominican voters choose their next president."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "FORM SIX students from several schools yesterday expressed outrage and disappointment yesterday over plans to have all Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) exams carded between May to June 13, rescheduled. The Education Ministry announced on the weekend that all CAPE exams would be postponed after it was reported that students were able to buy copies of the Communication Studies exam paper as well as other papers prior to sitting of the examination."

The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0 : "HOUSE SPEAKER Barendra Sinanan is clearly mellowing as the Ninth Parliament progresses. Sinanan showed at Friday’s sitting he was prepared to impartially crack the whip, dispelling the notion raised recently that having come from the bowels of the PNM he was keen to shelter ruling party MPs from Opposition criticism."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "IT was like a scene from a movie as a woman shook uncontrollably before throwing herself to the ground and letting out a loud wail. '.Dem kill 'Rudie'. Lord God, dem kill Rudie,' the woman hollered."

Jamaica Gleaner News - "Derrick Smith, who shadowed the former government's ministers of national security for the better part of two decades, was yesterday shuffled out of the security ministry in favour of Colonel Trevor MacMillan, who will be sworn in as government senator and minister today. MacMillan will replace Ian Murray, who will give up his seat in the Senate."

The Nation Newspaper "TODAY IS Common Entrance Examination Day in Barbados. It is the day when 3 704 Class Four pupils are expected to write the annual composition, mathematics, and English exam that determines which secondary school they will attend in September."

NYdailynews : "PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Haiti's food protests - which killed at least six - ended a month ago, but signs of them linger throughout this capital city. From the posh suburb of Petionville to seaside slums, graffiti denounces lavi chè - the high cost of living. Storefront windows are boarded up. And the entire nation is waiting to see whether the Chamber of Deputies, the lower legislative body, will confirm President René Préval's choice for a replacement prime minister. (Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis resigned as a result of the protests.)"

MiamiHerald.com : "BON REPOS, Haiti -- Some arrive on foot, walking for miles in the scorching Haitian heat. Others come by way of bicycles and even donkeys."

Shanghai Daily 上海日报 "AN OVERLOADED ferry capsized off the coast of southern Haiti, killing at least 11 people, UN and Haitian authorities said Sunday."

The Trinidad Guardian : "KIDNAP VICTIM Talma Philippa got the best possible Mother’s Day gift yesterday: her freedom. The 45-year old businesswoman was released by her abductors yesterday just in time to be with her family for the special day."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "ALL CARIBBEAN Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) scheduled today, May 12 to June 13, 2008 in Trinidad and Tobago have been postponed by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) based in Barbados. At least 4,000 students will be affected by this decision."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Former police chief, Colonel Trevor MacMillan, last night confirmed that he will replace Derrick Smith as minister of national security after reports of the switch emerged last Friday."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Montego Bay, St James - In his most scathing remarks yet against the detractors of casino gambling, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, on the weekend described their objections as irrational and illogical and maintained that the attraction would be controlled."

The Nation Newspaper : "PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS have so far cleared the 70-odd West Africans who left Barbados last week of any wrongdoing. According to sources close to the probe headed by former deputy police commissioner Charles Blades, the Africans, who were left stranded in Barbados for over two months, were apparently unwitting victims of a promotional holiday special package to Barbados"