SmallShop Caribbean News

Jamaica Gleaner News "A stinging accusation has been made by an Opposition senator that some hoteliers have not been turning over gratuity payments due to their employees. In a fiery contribution in the senate last Friday, Navel Clarke, People's National Party (PNP) senator, alleged that some hotels were taking more than half the gratuities due to employees and using it unlawfully for their own purposes."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "The brazen murder of Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) chairman, Douglas Chambers, has stiffened the resolve of the bus company to move ahead with unpopular plans to rid it of corruption. Chambers was assassinated in plain daylight last Friday, apparently because he stuck doggedly to a raft of initiatives to trim the JUTC of excess staff and end the corruption from which it had been financially bleeding in recent years."

The Nation Newspaper : "THE KIND-HEARTED may soon be in for tax eases or exemptions from the Government. Philantropists and charitable donors in Barbados have been earmarked for relief as Government looks to revamp laws relating to philanthropy and charities."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Nadia Pooran made a blood curdling confession to a pastor — she had been involved in murdering a man. The pastor told her that she shouldn’t worry, that God would take care of her. A few days later police arrested Pooran for the murder of retired school teacher Ralphie Ramcharan. His battered naked body had been discovered in a pool of water near the Barataria Roundabout"

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "A 17-YEAR-OLD unemployed mother of one was stabbed to death Friday night at a house in Vistabella following an argument with another teenager. Dead is Crystal Navisha Bedasie, mother of a 20-month-old baby girl. Bedasie is originally from Penal. A 15-year-old boy who was described as a secondary school drop-out, has since been assisting police with their investigations."

The Nation Newspaper "THE CONTRACTOR whose complaint indirectly led to a strike by workers at the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) last week, says he wants what's owed him. Acting general manager of the SSA, Stanton Alleyne, was fired last week and SSA workers walked off the job in protest after contractor Andrew Thomas produced cheques that led to allegations of the breach of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Alleyne. Alleyne was reinstated on Friday and workers went back on the job, but Thomas says his main focus now is to recover over $74 000 owed to him by the Government statutory corporation."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) chairman Douglas Chambers' murder was supposedly ordered and carried out by members of Spanish Town's notorious Klansman gang, highly reliable sources in that violence-plagued town have told the Sunday Observer."

Jamaica Gleaner News "PRIME MINISTER Bruce Golding has scheduled an urgent meeting with Minister of Transport, Mike Henry, and members of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company's (JUTC) board tomorrow to discuss the future management of the state-owned bus company after the brutal slaying of its Chairman Douglas Chambers at the company's depot Friday afternoon."

The Grenada election is heating up and so is Caribbean Political Central. Getting news from all around to ensure that you are kept informed of the happenings within the region.

Source: CCTV.com |Visiting senior Communist Party official He Guoqiang says China is ready to boost its relations with Trinidad and Tobago to a new level. He Guoqiang, a member of the Political Bureau of Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee, met with Trinidad and Tobago's President George Richards Wednesday in the country's capital city Port of Spain. He Guoqiang says the Chinese government attaches great importance to its relations with Trinidad and Tobago, and China will enhance high-level contacts, political trust and economic and trade cooperation. He noted that since China and Trinidad and Tobago set up diplomatic ties 34 years ago, their bilateral relations have developed steadily. He added Trinidad and Tobago has become one of China's most important trading partners in the Caribbean region. He also expressed his appreciation for the its government's adherence to the one-China policy. He Guoqiang says the Chinese government will work with the government

Reaction to the killing of Douglas Chambers

Antigua Sun : "The Ministry of Education will not tolerate intimate relationships between teachers and students. This was the proclamation of Minister of Education Bertrand Joseph yesterday, after news broke that a female teacher at one of the nation’s secondary schools was being disciplined for a relationship with a teenaged student. Addressing the issue of inappropriate relationships between teachers and students, Minister Joseph said he was aware of the matter of alleged sexual contact currently being dealt with."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "With crime at its highest ever, Trevor Paul has quit as Commissioner of Police breaking the year-long extension he had to continue to serve as head of the Police Service. Paul advised the members of his executive of his decision during a meeting at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain on Tuesday."

The Nation Newspaper "In all the talk of the high cost of living, there's one thing that's not going up – the price of telephone talk. Thanks to the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), telephone subscribers won't have to fear higher phone rates until December 31, 2009."

The Trinidad Guardian "THE Police Service has now found itself in an awkward position as Police Commissioner Trevor Paul gets set to leave office on Monday without a confirmed replacement for the top post. And a source in the Police Service Commission said the entire situation was now “in a mess.” The spokesman said this was so because a certain government official wanted a foreigner as the next commissioner"

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "THE Jamaican Government, which is already grappling with the fall-out from the global food crisis and rising oil prices, yesterday appealed to the parliamentary Opposition not to mislead the country in terms of the nature of the problems as the country faces a 22 per cent inflation rate."

Jamaica Gleaner News - LAWYERS FROM the private Bar have hit back at the president of the Resident Magistrates' Association, Marlene Malahoo Forte, who has described some of them as 'hustlers'. In a statement yesterday, president of the Jamaican Bar Association, Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, chided Malahoo Forte for using the public media to 'denigrate' the legal profession as a whole."

Usain Bolt prepares for the Olympic Trials. Last month, the Jamaican sprinter broke the world 100 meter record, more or less on a whim, as he ran the distance to sidestep his coach's request to run the 400 meters as training. Experts consider 100 meters ill-suited for taller athletes because of the premium placed on exiting the blocks quickly. At 6'5'' tall and rising, Bolt holds the fastest times on the year in both events.

The Trinidad Guardian "The three men wanted on charges of plotting to blow up John F Kennedy International Airport in New York last year were extradited last night in a special operation involving 15 FBI agents and local enforcement officers. Just one day after their appeal was struck out in the Court of Appeal, Trinidadian Kareem Ibrahim, and Guyanese Abdul Kadir and Abdel Nur, were flown by private jet to Miami International Airport en route to JFK Airport—the same airport they are accused of plotting to bomb."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "THE Law Association yesterday questioned the legality of the “lock down” of Richplain by the Defence Force who set up camp in the Diego Martin community after the Father’s Day murder of Corporal Ancil Wallace and his best friend Noel Charles."

Amandala Online : "Tomorrow, Tuesday, BTL goes back to the Magistrate’s Court to answer for two judgment summonses that had been issued for February and March – totaling $4.5 million. Government sources report that BTL has been assessed for a further $4.2 million for April and May, even though judgment summonses are pending."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "The entire Air Jamaica board was yesterday asked to resign amid growing concerns within the Government that the ailing national carrier is being badly managed, a highly placed source confirmed to the Observer last night. 'Yes, a new board is being put in place' the source, who opted for anonymity, responded to an Observer query."

Jamaica Gleaner News "The president of the Resident Magistrates' Association has blasted some of the island's attorneys, labelling them 'hustlers'. Marlene Malahoo Forte, who sits in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday told a Gleaner Editors' Forum at the newspaper's North Street office in Kingston that lawyers were largely responsible for the wide-scale breakdown of the justice system."

The Nation Newspaper : "THE ACTING GENERAL MANAGER of the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA), Stanton Alleyne, has been fired and documents pertaining to his dismissal handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The decision was announced yesterday by the SSA board in a Press statement, following a week of speculation about the fate of the senior civil servant."

The Trinidad Guardian "Western peninsula clubs have discriminated against patrons based on their gender and race including charging some people double or triple, so says Independent Senator Dana Seetahal."

The Trinidad Guardian "Two prostitutes who killed an ex-school teacher were described, yesterday, as “wicked and demonic” by High Court judge Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, who ordered them to serve 20 years each, with hard labour. Nadia Pooran, 27, and Shelly Ann Anganoo, 23, showed no emotion as the judge imposed the lengthy prison sentences on them for killing Ralphy Ramcharan, 41, more than five years ago."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "A gunman went on a rampage yesterday and shot dead a foreman and wounded two workers as they and the rest of their crew were repairing a retaining wall at Upper Wharton Street, Laventille yesterday. The gang of workers attached to the Infrastructural, Renewal and Irrigation and Developmental Programme (IRAID) were sent scampering when the gunman opened fire with a sub-machine gun, killing the foreman Herbert John."

Caribbean Net News: "GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Local police have launched an investigation into allegations that Guyana’s Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud received a threatening text message allegedly from the country’s most wanted man, Rondel ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins. The minister reportedly received the message on Friday and, according to investigators, it originated from an IP address used by the Kaieteur News, one of Guyana’s leading newspapers"

globeandmail.com: "There are scarcely more than 2.5 million people in Jamaica (about 600,000 in Kingston), and you may become suspect simply by being seen talking to or hanging with the wrong person. That's what happened to Mr. Henry. He grew up in St. Mary's, a small town on the island's north coast, his mom still a teen when she gave birth to him, his father a man he doesn't want to talk about."

Yahoo!7 News : "PORT-AU-PRINCE (AFP) - Haitian President Rene Preval has designated Michele Pierre-Louis as his new prime minister, parliament leader Kely Bastien said, after the body turned down two other candidates in the past month. Pierre-Louis, 61, is a close friend of Preval who since 1995 has headed FOKAL (the Foundation of Knowledge and Liberty), a non-governmental organization financed by American billionaire George Soros. She is the third person chosen by Preval to succeed Jacques-Edouard Alexis, who was removed from office March 12 by a censure motion in parliament."

MiamiHerald.com : "In the overcrowded streets of Port-de-Paix, Haiti, spigots that once gushed with clean drinking water run empty, distribution lines are broken and the only source of potable water is private vendors. The U.S. government is to blame for the lack of access to drinking water, according to several human rights groups, who on Monday accused American officials of delaying the disbursement of $54 million in loans to improve water access in Port-de-Paix as leverage for political change in the hemisphere's poorest country."

The Bahama Journal : "Police were on Sunday probing the murder of a 50-year-old Market Street man. The murder occurred at his home early Saturday morning during what police said was an apparent robbery attempt. When the Bahama Journal arrived on the scene at Market Street and Bahama Avenue around 4am, there was wailing in the streets and a small crowd was standing behind police tape near the man’s home."

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "A student enrolled at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine was killed yesterday in a traffic accident which occurred at approximately 12:20 a.m. According to an official police release, the accident occurred on the Island Main Road in the vicinity of university and involved motor jeep P2145 driven by Austin Gumbs of Shadwell Housing, and a motor car which was driven by the student. Investigations reveal that the jeep was travelling from Old Road to Basseterre when there was a collision with the car which was travelling in the opposite direction."

Antigua Sun : "“No comment,” was the response of Minister of Health John Maginley when asked of the status of the Mount St. John Medical Centre, a week before the opening deadline set by Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer. The minister of health dismissed inquiries by the Antigua Sun, as well as questions raised by the Antigua/Barbuda Employers’ Federation last month on what they called the “secretive approach” to plans for the facility."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "UNITED NATIONS (AP) - A tense debate gripped the UN Security Council yesterday as the US and European countries called on nations to recognise Zimbabwean Opposition Leader Morgan Tsvangirai as that country's rightful president. Western powers expressed outrage and pushed a draft statement saying that 'until there is a clearly free and fair second round of the presidential election, the only legitimate basis for the Government of Zimbabwe is the outcome of the March 29 election'."

Jamaica Gleaner News "A NEW debate has emerged on whether public servants should be allowed to express a personal or professional view on an issue that may run counter to government policy. Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Sunday charged his Cabinet secretary to remind public officers of the provisions of Government's Staff Orders concerning utterances on policy issues."

The Nation Newspaper "ANY DEVIATION from a new standardised dress code for high school students will be met with punishment, whether it be corporal, suspension or otherwise! That's according to president of the Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools (BAPPSS), Jeff Broomes, who was speaking yesterday at the launch of the new standardised dress code at the Barbados Union of Teachers' (BUT) headquarters, Merryhill, St Michael."

Jamaica Gleaner News 'A THREAT to democracy.' That is how Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Ken Baugh, has described the situation in Zimbabwe, which caused Opposition Leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his Move-ment For Democratic Change (MDC) to announce it will not contest the run-off election on June 27."

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Kaieteur News : "Speculation is rife as to how the miners met their end. One theory is that they were slain by fleeing gunmen who were being pursued by the Guyana Defence Force Special Forces Unit. The other theory is that the miners were mistakenly slain."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) has thrown the weight of its support behind new Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker, saying that it stands ready to work with him to clean up what it describes as an extremely corrupt customs system. At the same time the chamber - a grouping of businesses and professionals involved in retailing, manufacturing, distribution, food services, finance, law and other interest areas - advocated harsh penalties, including the seizure of assets, for anyone involved in corruption"

Jamaica Gleaner News "KINGSTON IS the 31st most dangerous city in the world to live in, according to a global ratings agency report issued earlier this month. On the quality of life scale - surveying crime, health and sanitation, among other socio-economic indices - Kingston is ranked 137th out of 215 cities."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "A MASSIVE manhunt, complete with elite anti-kidnapping officers and a police helicopter, was launched yesterday afternoon in the deep forests of north-eastern Trinidad as the search for two missing school friends intensified. Police officers on Saturday discovered the burnt-out wreck of a Nissan Almera that was driven by 21-year-old Avita Bissoondath before she went missing. The car was discovered in the Tappana forest, Valencia by local villagers who alerted the police"

The Nation Newspaper "WHEN THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR starts on September 2, all secondary school students have to wear the correct uniform right down to their shoes. 'All schools will enforce the same dress code. All secondary school principals have agreed on the same rules,' principal of Garrison Secondary School Matthew Farley told the DAILY NATION yesterday."

Antigua Sun : Friday June 20 2008 "Members of the Syrian community are mourning the death of one of their own, following what appears to be the country’s fifth murder, allegedly in execution style. Reports are that 46-year-old Tony Louisa of Radio Range was found dead in his apartment on Wednesday night. Louisa, a welder by profession, was found face down by his cousin in a pool of blood in an apartment they share in Radio Range. His cousin, according to reports, stumbled upon Louisa’s body sometime about 12:30 a.m. after returning home from a night out with friends."

Stabroek News : "Eight diamond miners are believed to have been killed at Lindo Creek, located 10 miles downriver from Christmas Falls where wanted man Rondel ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and his gang had earlier been hiding out. Among the dead are thought to be the son and brother of the Lindo Creek dredge owner, George Arokium – Dax, 28, and Cedric Arokium, 46. According to George, the names of the other men are Kampton ‘Tona’ Spiers and Drakes of Meten-Meer-Zorg, Berry Wong, Lancely ‘Piggy’ of Tucville, ‘Bonny’ Harry of Annandale and a teenager from Kwakwani."

Jamaica Gleaner News "The POLICE ARE overlooking some major clues in their efforts to crack the guns-for-drugs trade between Jamaica and Haiti, an insider tells The Sunday Gleaner. Chief among the clues is the quantity of gasolene being purchased at various service stations to fuel the trade. Significantly, more gasolene is purchased"

The Nation Newspaper "THE NEW BOARD at the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) has asked acting general manager Stanton Alleyne to resign by tomorrow. But the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) has given notice that the board will have a fight on its hand if Alleyne is forced to go."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "In its first show of unity, trade union leaders yesterday called for a nationwide strike in order to force Government to deal with the runaway crime rate, child abuse, escalating food prices and misuse of the nation’s natural resources."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "MONTEGO BAY, St James - A week after embarrassed education ministry officials awarded a scholarship to a top-scoring 11-year-old girl who they had denied a bursary last year on the basis that she was exposed to the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) papers before sitting the test, the ministry's choice of top performer in this year's exam is being challenged by the parent and teacher of an 11-year-old boy in Montego Bay. According to"

Jamaica Gleaner News "PROPOSED PLANS by the Government to use technology, through video link, to encourage witnesses to come forward, has received the full backing of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn. The DPP argued yesterday that the fear of giving evidence in court rendered the judicial system impotent."

The Nation Newspaper "A NEW MEDIUM-TERM economic strategy for Barbados is on Government's drawing board to deal aggressively with crucial issues raised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The issues of debt and inflation, as well as Government's deficit raised by the fund came as no surprise to Prime Minister and Minister of Finance David Thompson, or his Cabinet."

Stabroek News : "Magistrate Oneidge Walrond–Allicock yesterday ordered that the pit bull that attacked a jogger last year October be put down, failing which the owner would face a fine for each day the dog is kept alive. In addition Vilton Bourne who was charged with suffering a ferocious dog to be at large and not muzzled was fined $15,000 or six months in prison after he yesterday admitted ownership of one of the two dogs that carried out the attack, leaving miner/furniture manufacturer, Lennox Wade unable to use one of his hands. Wade had also suffered deep wounds and scratches to his legs, feet, back and neck during the early morning attack that lasted for about 13 minutes."

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The Trinidad Guardian "The T&T Regiment has come out in full defence of its soldiers, saying they were conducting lawful duty while searching for the killers of their murdered colleague Ancil Wallace. Acting commander of the T&T Regiment Lt Colonel Colin Mitchell said “brutalising people” was not the policy of the Regiment."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "FORMER ATTORNEYS General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday condemned the Government for not protecting the nation’s children by taking seven years to implement a package of children’s legislation which both of them had been instrumental in developing under the former UNC government."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "DECRIMINALISATION and taxing of prostitution could bring an estimated $3 billion a year into the government's coffers, a senior health ministry official suggested yesterday. Dr Kevin Harvey, senior medical officer in charge of the health ministry's National HIV/STI Programme said regulating sex workers would also mean that the country would no longer have to look to external funding agencies to finance that programme."

Jamaica Gleaner News "The Government is facing stinging backlash over its proposal to increase the time the police can hold persons in detention before charging them. At present, persons have to be charged within 48 hours after they are detained but, on Tuesday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding told the House of Representatives that consideration is being given to a system of preventive detention, which would allow the police to hold persons for a longer time."

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "Following a trial that lasted less than two days, a jury took less than 15 minutes to return with a guilty verdict against Shawn “Handsome” Phillip for shooting a defence force soldier. Justice Albert Redhead immediately slapped him with an eight-year sentence. The trial started on Monday with all the witnesses, including the victim, Chelston Richardson, testifying on that day. Richardson, who is no longer enlisted in the army, testified that on his way home on the evening of 27 March, 2007, Phillip shot at him while he was in the Newtown area."

Antigua Sun : "Painful cries resonated throughout the walls of the High Court as the murder trial of a 16-year-old girl came to an end with the teenager pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. The teen, 15 at the time of the incident, was charged with the murder of 16-year-old Kerry-Anne Lewis of Swetes on 29 Sept., 2006. The trial commenced yesterday morning with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Anthony Armstrong calling five witnesses. As the sixth witness was about to be sworn in, defence attorney Steadroy 'Cutie” Benjamin asked for an adjournment, which the court granted until 2:30 p.m."

The Nation Newspaper : "ON THE SAME DAY Barbados opened the bidding process for rights to offshore blocks for oil and gas exploration, an Internet newsletter was reporting that Venezuela was laying claim to two of the 26 blocks. Petroleumworld.com, a Latin American energy, oil and gas newsletter, suggested that two of the blocks – Bottom Bay Ad I and Ad II – were in Venezuelan waters."

The world is getting its first new images of Fidel Castro in more than five months.Cuban television released this silent video of the communist leader chatting in a garden with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Chavez told reporters after their 2 hour meeting...that the two are working on an energy sharing proposal.He didn't reveal any details about about Castro's health.

SUN St.Kitts & Nevis : "With the 11th murder recorded last week and a number of gun-related incidents taking place last weekend, Leader of the People’s Action Movement Lindsay Grant said government’s policy against crime has failed the nation. “… It feels futile, repetitive and hopeless to again cry out to our leaders to initiate some form of response to this bloodletting,” Grant said. “It is obvious that whatever is now being done is completely ineffective….” Grant extended his sympathy to the family of Leon Hendrickson who was gunned down in Nevis last week."

The Trinidad Guardian "Heavily-armed soldiers, sporting ski-masks, have reportedly gone a step further with their lockdown of Richplain Road, Diego Martin, and have now reportedly imposed a curfew in the community. This is was the claim made yesterday by angry residents as the military officers continue to hunt down the killers of their murdered colleague Ancil Wallace and his best friend Noel Charles"

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "The bitter dispute over job cuts at the cash-strapped Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) came to an amicable end yesterday when company officials and unions agreed that 450 workers will be sent home on June 30 with redundancy payments instead of lay-off letters as was initially planned."

Jamaica Gleaner News "A mysterious bomb blast in the commercial district of Morant Bay, St Thomas, yesterday afternoon has left two women injured and members of the business fraternity horrified. Reports are that the loud explosion, which left a plume of thick black smoke in the air, sent scores of persons running for cover."

Jamaica Gleaner News : "On May 16 and again on June 1, a Gleaner news team visited the commercial district of Montego Bay, St James, and noted the level of lawlessness along Market, Church and St James streets in particular. In Sam Sharpe Square, there were a number of persons vending illegally, while scores of motorists were involved in acts of indiscipline. All this was happening under the watchful eyes of uniformed policemen."

Advocate : "GOVERNMENT wants a cap put on wages and price increases. Prime Minister David Thompson issued the call yesterday and received immediate support from Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr. Marion Williams, who urged caution in the upcoming wage negotiations for public sector workers."

The Nation Newspaper "'A growing number of houses have barely enough money to [meet] their month's expenses, for example, paying bills to finance mortgages or to cover the expenses associated with raising a family,' he observed."

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Turks and Caicos

REPORT: Since 2 months Cubans are permitted to own and use a cell phone.....

The Nation Newspaper "A JOKE! That is how Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy has described Barbados' mass casualty programme that was part of the $26.5 million package approved by the previous administration for the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup 2007"

Jamaica Gleaner News "CIVIL SOCIETY is being encouraged to continue working towards the dismantling of garrison constituencies, even as their calls for additional support get louder. Major Richard Cooke of the Joy Town Foundation, who was speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum held yesterday at the newspaper's central Kingston offices, said political leadership has to be a key aspect of dismantling garrisons, but 'has to go far beyond the members of parliament'."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "POLICE were yesterday questioning a man believed to be of unsound mind, who reportedly killed a wheelchair-bound man in Cross Roads, St Andrew on Sunday evening. According to police reports the paraplegic - who was one of three men stabbed to death Sunday - was in a wheelchair begging at the intersection of Tom Redcam and Caledonia Avenues, when he was approached by the man and stabbed repeatedly. The attacker then sprinted off in the direction of Up Park Camp."

The Trinidad Guardian "Ancil Wallace was eagerly anticipating his infant son, Jaydon, turning four months today. Wallace, 46, an army corporal assigned to the Training Company of the Support and Service Battalion at Teteron Barracks, showered love on little Jaydon. But on Sunday—Father’s Day—Wallace’s dreams for his son were suddenly shattered, when the first-time father and his best friend Noel Charles were sprayed with bullets around 7.30 pm."

Stabroek News : "A small fire at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) last night damaged the stage and curtains and led to the shocking discovery of an apparent explosive device underneath the stage."

DominicanToday.com : "SANTO DOMINGO. - Police chief Rafael Guzmán said Monday crime in the Dominican Republic has been considerably lowered, and that the country is one of Latin America’s safest, according to international studies. He said it’s possible to observe a rise in crime in the media, which he affirms isn’t so, since the Police works to guarantee order, peace and the security."

Trinidad Express : "MEMBERS of the Regiment were conducting searches of the Richplain, Diego Martin, community last night, as they hunted for the killers of one of their colleagues, Regiment Corporal Ancil Wallace and his friend Noel Charles. Wallace, 42, and Charles, 44, were gunned down outside a christening party for Wallace's son on Sunday night."

St. Lucia Star Online : "One of the more exciting events for St Lucia’s carnival and one with a long history where the event is concerned is the annual carnival queen pageant. Eight contestants will participate in the national pageant organized by the Cultural Development Foundation, the main organizers of St Lucia’s carnival, in collaboration with the St Lucia Tourist Board."

SKNVibes.com "BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A three/man/nine/woman jury is expected to retire for deliberations sometime tomorrow to decide on the innocence or guilt of Shawn ‘Handsome’ Phillip who was charged with “shooting at with intent”. Phillip’s case began today and, according to the prosecution, he, on the night of Tuesday, March 27, 2007 sometime after 10:00, shot at Chelston Richardson who was at the time a member of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force attached to the Strike Force."

CBC.bb : "The practice by some women stopping fathers from seeing their children will soon be a thing of the past. Family Minister Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo says her ministry is looking at legislation to deal with access for men to their children."

Radiojamaica.com "Five year old Sudane Reid of Free Hill, St. Mary perished in a fire Monday afternoon. About 1:30pm, residents saw fire coming from the three apartment board house. It is reported that the child was left at home with his 15-year-old brother."

The Democrat Newspaper : "There have been over 118 killings in our Federation since 1995, a record that has tarnished the name of our Nation. There have been 44 killings for the past two and a half years and this year appears to be no different. Meanwhile, the Government remains silent on the upsurge in criminal behaviour and has failed to present any realistic and workable solutions to fight crime. The Minister of National Security continues to mouth off and blame others except his Labour Party Administration for the escalating crime wave that is hurting our fragile economy and driving fear into the hearts and minds of families. Our streets are no longer safe."

St. John Source : "-- The Finance Department and Internal Revenue Bureau let big bucks slip through their fingers because they didn't properly deal with bad checks, according to an audit released Monday by the V.I. Inspector General's Office."

Caribbean360.com : "PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, June 16, 2008 - A group of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called for Haiti's debt to be cancelled."

Kaieteur News : "Police officials said yesterday that they had captured two men whom, they say, are top lieutenants of fugitive Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins. It is unclear when and where the men were captured, but Kaieteur News understands that the two men were held and interrogated under tight security for several hours yesterday at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. Heavy security was also in place at the Brickdam Police Station, where the high-profile prisoners are to be detained. One of the men is said to be a suspect in several murders, including the August 30, 2007 murder of businessman Kumar Singh, called ‘Mango Man,’ who was shot dead at his Cove and John, East Coast Demerara home."

Poverty On The Rise : "More and more Bahamians are buckling under the weight of the rising cost of living and slipping below the poverty line in The Bahamas, a senior government official has confirmed."

Virgin Islands, : "ST. CROIX - A 29-year-old JFK housing community resident was shot to death in the parking lot of a Castle Coakley nightclub Sunday morning, police said. Emelda Wells was shot and killed about 4 a.m. Sunday outside Penthouse Rooftops, Police Department spokeswoman Melody Rames said"

Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez Arrived in Cuba : "HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 16 (acn) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias arrived in Havana this Monday afternoon, to hold talks with top Cuban government officials on the aggravating world crisis and the bilateral relations between his country and Cuba."

The Haitian Times : "Fred Blaise said at least 36 people were kidnapped in May but many cases go unreported. The most recent was a kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl who was killed. It is estimated that as many as 15 percent of the victims are children, who are often killed even if the ransom money is paid."

The Sunday Herald "Indications are that there is a split between the Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration and the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) over proposals that would give the police powers to detain suspects without charge for up to six weeks, as part of its efforts to curb the island’s crime wave."

TVJ News

Stabroek News : "The battered and naked body of a 15-year-old girl was found early yesterday morning on the lonely Hope Estate Access Road, East Coast Demerara. The body of Sheliza Khan called ‘Shelly’, who only turned fifteen last April, was discovered lying face down hours after she went missing from a Mahaica Chinese restaurant."

The Trinidad Guardian "A top-level probe has been ordered at the Morvant Police Station, after reports that two murder suspects were released without proper clearance from senior officers. One of the suspects had been spotted running away from the scene where Morvant taxi driver Clyde Greer was killed around 1 am yesterday."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "OVER 4,000 Sixth Form students are expected to re-sit the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Communications Studies Paper II today which marks the start of the new timetable for all CAPE exams. This comes six weeks after all CAPE exams were postponed following confirmed breaches in the Communications Studies paper and suspected breaches in other subject areas. Five students have since been charged in relation to the breach and are expected to appear in court."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "A controversial project to translate the Bible from English to Jamaican patois will cost $60 million and take 12 years to complete, the organisers of the project said. But the Kingston-based Bible Society of the West Indies (BSWI) was upbeat about the project, based on a commitment from its parent body, the United Bible Societies (UBS), to contribute a significant portion of the necessary funding."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Woburn Abbey. The name at the entrance to the property harks back to an old English manor with draughty walls and ineffective fireplaces. But the name belies the love and warmth inside. There lives Dr Polly Bowes-Howell, a woman who has done the same, at sometime or another, to more than 50 children. Whether 'at-risk' or just needing a warm place to stay, Bowes-Howell has risen to the challenge of saving as many children as she can."

DominicanToday.com : "Santo Domingo.– An increasing number of Haitian immigrants in the northern part of the Dominican Republic are testing positive for HIV, Ministry of Health officials said recently."

The Nation Newspaper "THIS WEEK, PRIME MINISTER David Thompson and other Caribbean Community leaders may use the upcoming Caribbean summit in New York to send a key message to American senator Barack Obama."

Stabroek News : "More than a month after city businessman Farouk Kalamadeen was found beheaded the police have made no progress in the probe but one senior police officer says it is patently clear that the method of killing was the trademark of organized criminals. While the police continue to follow different lines of inquiry, none has borne fruit following the discovery of the body on Cowan Street on the morning of Wednesday April 30, nearly a month after he disappeared."

The Bahama Journal : "Kayla Hepburn, the allegedly abused woman who was charged with murdering her husband four years ago, walked away a free woman from the Supreme Court on Friday after a two-man, ten-woman jury unanimously found her not guilty. Tears streamed down Hepburn’s face as the verdict was delivered. She and her family and friends immediately left the courtroom and got into cars."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Five murders, and a shooting and wounding have all occurred in the country within a 20-hour period. This brings the murder toll for the year so far to 227. Three of the victims were shot on the proverbial “Black Friday” night into Saturday morning, while the other victim was murdered in broad daylight."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "SHERENE Jackson is hoping that the peace will last inside her volatile community in Central Kingston. For the past 37 years, Jackson has been living in Southside, and witnessed more violent incidents than she cares to remember. Much of this violence has been linked to the ongoing bloody turf war between Southside and neighbouring Tel Aviv."

Jamaica Gleaner News "NINE MONTHS after leading her party to a narrow defeat in a general election, Portia Simpson Miller has cemented herself in the position of president of the People's National Party (PNP)."

The Nation Newspaper "LAWS that make homosexuality and prostitution criminal offences in Caribbean countries are to be reviewed soon by the region's attorneys-general."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "More than 500 police officers have had their vacation leave cancelled and they have been called out to duty to help combat the spiralling wave of violent crime, National Security Minister Martin Joseph announced yesterday."

Antigua Sun : "Four men were jointly convicted of attempted murder and shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm at the conclusion of an eight-day trial in the High Court."

Stabroek News : "The Teaching Service Com-mission (TSC) dismissed 30 teachers in the first quarter of this year on a variety of grounds including three accused of sexual molestation. In a press release yesterday, the TSC said that 80 teachers have been disciplined for various reasons in the first quarter."

The Nation Newspaper "WOMEN played a decisive role in the outcome of the January 15, 2008 general election, won by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP). That is borne out in the statistical data and is also the view of noted pollster Peter Wickham, a political scientist and director of the Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES)."

Jamaica Gleaner News "Fathers should be pampered too. Father's Day is usually celebrated with less fanfare than Mother's Day. This Sunday, let fathers know that being a dad is appreciated."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "KRISTI Charles, the 11-year-old girl who was last year denied a scholarship despite scoring the highest mark in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), scored a major victory yesterday."

Until recently the idea of having a black president seemed unlikely. Instead American popular culture was constantly bombarded with images of down-at-heel black men. However, With Barack Obama being the presumptive Democratic nominee, is blackness being redefined in America?

Until recently the idea of having a black president seemed unlikely. Instead American popular culture was constantly bombarded with images of down-at-heel black men. However, With Barack Obama being the presumptive Democratic nominee, is blackness being redefined in America?

Jamaica Gleaner News "Grameen Bank's founder and chief executive officer, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has urged local financial institutions to adopt a social banking policy similar to that which the Bangladesh-based entity has mastered in providing funds for the poor to establish small and micro businesses."

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM : "WITHIN hours of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and Finance Minister Audley Shaw making up, a second business group has lashed the minister for his sharp criticism of those not paying their taxes."

St. Lucia Star "It’s hard for St Lucians to forget the messenger and listen to the message as Leader of the Opposition Kenny Anthony found out yesterday. After he held a press conference calling on Lady Janice Compton to turn over any files she has relating to the Taiwan-China issue, some callers to talk-shows questioned Dr Anthony’s own background of accountability to the people in his nine years as prime minister."

The Nation Newspaper "A MONTH of anxiety and anticipation came to an end yesterday when more than 3 000 students who wrote the Barbados Secondary Schools' Entrance Examination (Common Entrance) just under a month ago received their results. There were lots of tears – some of disappointment, but many of joy, as the students were told their marks."

Environmentalists are arguing that the bauxite mining industry in Jamaica is having a devastating impact on the environment and surrounding eco-systems. It is also posing serious health problems for local communities. The sun baked sludge contains heavy metals and other pollutants. Al Jazeera's Anand Naidoo reports from central Jamaica.

The Bahama Journal : "Police investigations continued Sunday into the discovery of a woman’s body in the Cowpen Road area Saturday afternoon."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Sherdeena Durant yesterday struggled to understand why a gunman shot and killed her five- month-old baby son Zion and his father Anthony Jones. “This is too much to bear. How could a man watch an innocent baby sleeping in the arms of his father and shoot that child?” Durant asked, after she viewed her son and his father’s bodies at the Forensic Science Centre, St James."

The Trinidad Guardian "Additional facilities being constructed at the Prime Minister’s official residence and Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s have raised questions on just how much this could hike the final cost of the facility from its initial $148 million figure."

St. Lucia Star "After almost one year of being out of the Cabinet of St Lucia since his controversial firing in 2007, Choiseul MP Rufus Bousquet is back. The resignation of Senator Ausbert d’Auvergne had set things in motion and Prime Minister Stephenson King had announced that Bousquet would help ease the load by taking over as Minister for Trade, Commerce, Industry, Consumer Affairs and Investment."