SmallShop Caribbean News

Antigua....A new witness was called to testify in the Electoral Commission Tribunal, after former Chairman of the United Progressive Party, Leon Chaku Symister, ended his testimony on Tuesday. Registration Officer for the St Peter's constituency, Coralita Shadrach, was questioned on the problems which she encountered relating to registration and transfer of electors.

JamaicaObserver.com : "THE Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reporting incidents of flood-related damage and hazards across Jamaica with roads blocked or made impassable, bridges collapsed and persons trapped by the rising waters:"

Caribbean360 : "A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands, northwestern and central Bahamas, and parts of Cuba.� Although Jamaica is not under any storm warnings, a flash flood warning has been issued by the country’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (OPDEM) as heavy rains drench the island. All schools are closed today as a result."

The Nassau Guardian : "The Bahamas Industrial Engineers Managerial and Supervisory Union(BIEMSU) yesterday accused Labour Minister Dion Foulkes of attempting to block it as the legal bargaining agent for middle managers at the Grand Bahama Power Company. BIEMSU President Pedro Edwards said the situation has the union'really disturbed.' Edwards alleged that Foulkes has attempted to revoke the certificate of BIEMSU, which represents some 30 employees at the company."

Amandala Online : "The body of Sherlock Syfox, 23, a Belizean laborer and recent deportee from the United States of America, was found around 6:00 a.m., on Sunday, September 26, 2010, dead and floating in the water behind the Bellevue Bar on Southern Foreshore, wearing only black shorts; his cause of death has not yet been reported, as the post-mortem results have still not been released."

Kaieteur News : "Just a few days after issuing a wanted bulletin for him, police have captured ex-soldier Keron Hebert, who is a suspect in the murders of Bartica gold dealers, Jainarine Raghubar and Ramdeo Deonarine. Kaieteur News understands that the 24-year-old Hebert was nabbed yesterday in Garnett Street Campbellville. He was on a motorcycle when police were closing in on him. According to a source, the former soldier left his motorcycle and attempted to flee on foot but was eventually captured."

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "THE REPORTS of several investigations into CL Financial subsidiaries, including insurance company Clico, are now in the hands of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said yesterday as he announced plans to unveil legislation to deal with the CL Financial issue in Parliament this Friday."

JamaicaObserver.com : "AT 10:00 am the centre of the 16th tropical depression of the 2010 Atlantic Hurriane Season was located near latitude 20.6 degrees north and longitude 82.5 degrees west or about 290 kilometres south of Havana, Cuba. The Meteoreological Service of Jamaica reports that the depression is moving toward the north-northeast near 17 kilometres per hour. A generally north-northeastward motion with some increase in forward speed is expected over the next day or two. On the forecast track, the centre of the tropical cyclone will cross Cuba tonight and be near southeastern Florida by tomorrow afternoon. However, in this case, most of the strong winds and heavy rains are occurring a couple hundred miles to the east and southeast of the centre."

n Honduras, more than 50,000 cases of Dengue Fever have been reported. MSF has set up an emergency ward for children to help local health efforts combat the outbreak. Special attention has also been paid to prevention efforts and education about the disease.

St Lucia connection big news in Italy! | St. Lucia STAR : "The meeting comes in the wake of the latest Italian scandal, dubbed the Monte Carlo House Affair, involving one of the country’s leading politician, Giofranco Fini. An apartment, once owned by Fini, is alleged to have been sold, for a figure significantly below its market value, to his brother-in-law Giancarlo Tullianio. Questions have arisen as to the clandestine nature of the dealings."

JamaicaObserver.com : "TAMPA, Florida — David Markus, the attorney representing Buju Banton, says he is confident that he can get a not guilty verdict for his client when the case is retried in December. 'We are confident, we can't wait for the next trial to prove that he is not guilty,' Markus told the Observer shortly after an announcement was made by United States Judge Jim Moody, that he had upheld the attorney's earlier request that a mistrial be declared." Related articles by Zemanta Buju Banton Lawyer Proclaims Client`s Innocence To Jury (news.smallshop.com)

Image via Wikipedia NationNews - Barbados : "BARBADIANS could soon find themselves facing increased taxation to pay for the Pierhead Marina Project that has now risen to a cost of $626 656 384, says former Prime Minister Owen Arthur."

Kaieteur News : "A 29-year-old teacher turned herself into a human torch at around 11:00 hrs yesterday, reportedly going berserk even as relatives were trying to solve a dispute between the victim and her husband. Rhondina Adams, 29, locked herself in the family’s Lot TT Bent Street home and set herself alight. Adams’ charred remains were found in her bedroom near a window after residents extinguished the blaze and prevented it from destroying the entire property."

Stabroek News : "Years of feuding between two women ended tragically last night at the Stabroek Market square when a man’s former girlfriend and mother of his child fatally stabbed his current girlfriend in the chest."

Image via Wikipedia The Associated Press "TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida judge on Monday declared a mistrial for Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton, who was accused of conspiring to buy cocaine from an undercover police officer last year. Related articles by Zemanta Mistrial in Buju Banton drug case (bbc.co.uk)

Kaieteur News : "Government is yet to pay millions of dollars owed to the Guyana Elections Commission—GECOM —for contractual services that were procured by the entity in preparations for Local Government Election. One Berbician said that she provided catering services to GECOM, and is owed $300,000 over several months, and is in need for her money. Several persons who provided catering services to GECOM are yet to be paid, along with contracted drivers who were paraded in the media are appealing to the relevant authorities to delve into their matter since they allege that they worked for months and have also not received any payment to date.

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "LEAKING gas from one of Petrotrin’s 12-inch gas lines yesterday caused a panic among residents of Cocoyea Village, San Fernando, who began to pack valuables to vacate their homes. It was at about 5.20 pm on Thursday when a sudden noise was heard and upon checking, residents of Inverene Road, saw a cloudy mist of liquid shooting out from the ground.

Stabroek News : "Opposition parties yesterday continued to call on the administration to agree to an international investigation into the actions of the ‘phantom squad,’ saying it should be eager if it has nothing to hide.

JamaicaObserver.com : "TAMPA, USA — A second anxiety-filled day has ended without jurors reaching a verdict in the cocaine trial of Reggae artiste Buju Banton. The jurors resumed their deliberations yesterday morning about 9:50 Tampa time after being unable to reach a verdict on Thursday. Yeaterday afternoon, anxious supporters appeared weighed down, some with their shoulders slumped, as the news was delivered by a worker at the Sam M Gibbons Court that no decision had been reached. Related articles by Zemanta Mistrial for reggae singer Buju Banton in U.S. (omg.yahoo.com) Buju trial jitters - jury unable to reach unanimous verdict (news.smallshop.com)

Image via Wikipedia NationNews - Barbados : "Ailing Prime Minister David Thompson said yesterday his condition had improved and he was feeling better. “I am feeling better and we are dealing with the complications and the continuing challenges,” he said from his room at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. In his first interview since his personal physician, Dr Richard Ishmael, revealed at a Press conference that the Prime Minister was suffering from pancreatic cancer, Thompson said that his condition had improved. Related articles by Zemanta Barbados premier diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (reuters.com) Mum holding on to hope (news.smallshop.com)

NationNews - Barbados : "POLICE HAVE LAUNCHED a massive manhunt for two armed men who robbed the RBTT Bank at Six Roads, St Philip, of an undisclosed sum yesterday. Reports indicate that just before midday two men wearing masks and brandishing firearms entered the bank and one of them screamed at customers to get on the floor. About 15 customers were in the bank at the time and complied with the instructions."

The Canadian Press "TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida jury is deciding whether Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton conspired to buy cocaine from an undercover police officer last year. The 12-person jury in Tampa federal court adjourned Thursday after three hours of deliberations without a verdict. They will reconvene Friday morning. Related articles by Zemanta Buju Banton testifies in drug trial: I'm no dealer (ctv.ca)

And the controversy with the Games doesn't end there. Organizers are struggling to bring the athletes village up to Western hygiene standards. Two athletes have already pulled out, citing concerns over health and security. Related articles by Zemanta Canadian athletes told to delay travel to Delhi (theglobeandmail.com) Commonwealth Games athletes' village is 'unfit for human habitation' (guardian.co.uk)

JamaicaObserver.com : "TAMPA, USA — Defence attorney David Markus slung his arms across the shoulders of his lanky Reggae superstar client ‘Buju Banton’ at the end of the morning session of his cocaine trial at the Gibbons US Court here yesterday. The gesture was one of support and reassurance after what appeared to be a tough first session for the defence. Related articles by Zemanta Buju Banton Lawyer Proclaims Client`s Innocence To Jury (news.smallshop.com) DEA agent testifies in Buju's favour (news.smallshop.com)

Image via Wikipedia abcactionnews.com "MIAMI - A low pressure system over the south-central Caribbean Sea is becoming better organized and could become a tropical storm within the next few days. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center say the system could become a depression before the day is over. There is a high chance - 60 percent - that it could become Tropical Storm Matthew within the next few days. Related articles by Zemanta Tropical Storm Lisa forms Trouble brewing in the Caribbean (news.smallshop.com)

Mike Fennell, the head of the Commonwealth Games Federation, is going to the Indian capital, New Delhi ,on an emergency visit ahead of the sporting event due to start on October 3. His trip coincides with mounting worries over the city's preparedness in hosting the Games. Several top competitors have already pulled out, and some are questioning the viability of the event itself. Al Jazeera's Azhar Sukri reports. Related articles by Zemanta Commonwealth Games president to visit New Delhi amid numerous problems (sports.espn.go.com) Commonwealth Games: India battle to restore confidence (vanguardngr.com)

NationNews - Barbados : "THE EFFECTS WERE less severe than they were last week, but it was quite evident that the island was under a flood warning yesterday. Several areas across the country experienced flooding. The high levels of water made some roads impassable. The flooding also caused a number of well inlets to be blocked with debris transported by the flowing water. Related articles by Zemanta Trents drenched (news.smallshop.com)

Stabroek News : "The Bharrat Jagdeo administration has rejected calls by Canada and the United Kingdom for independent probes into allegations of human rights abuses here, including murders and extra-judicial killings committed by members of the armed forces and a ‘phantom squad.’ Related articles by Zemanta U.S. calls on Guyana to investigate "death squads" (reuters.com)

JamaicaObserver.com : "Before the recordings were played yesterday, Johnson testified that he met Banton on a flight from Madrid, Spain, to Miami, Florida in July 2009. The flight lasted eight hours, Johnson said, and a conversation about drug dealing came up within an hour. He said it was the singer who raised the issue. Johnson, who avoided looking at Banton during his evidence-in-chief, said immediately after landing he informed the police about his conversation with Banton which jump-started the investigation that included the recordings. Related articles by Zemanta DEA agent testifies in Buju's favour (news.smallshop.com) Buju Banton Lawyer Proclaims Client`s Innocence To Jury (news.smallshop.com) Second Buju co-defendant to testify against him (news.smallshop.com)

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Questioned during the lunch break of the 2011 Budget debate at the public gallery of the Red House, Ramlogan said the status of law with regard to surveillance was clear. “Wiretapping and interception is in fact illegal,” Ramlogan said. “There is no legislative support for such activity. That is why we have decided to restructure and re-organise SAUTT.” Related articles by Zemanta Sautt Head Fired (news.smallshop.com)

The Trinidad Guardian : "Clico policyholders are demanding that the Government honour promises made to them by the previous administration. They are also calling for a meeting with Finance Minister Winston Dookeran in the next 48 hours.

Image via Wikipedia Stabroek News : "TAMPA, Florida (Jamaica Observer) — Drug Enforcement Agent Daniel McCeaffrey, yesterday testified that he had no evidence that Reggae singer Buju Banton, was involved in illicit drug dealing. McCeaffrey, who gave evidence on the first day of the trial at the Gibbons US Federal Court in downtown Tampa, said there was no evidence that Buju Banton — whose real name is Mark Myrie — received any money from any drug deal. He also said even though he was investigating Banton for a year, he could find no evidence that the artiste had collected any money from drug dealing.

Stabroek News : "A large gang of armed masked men invaded a Corriverton home on Sunday night, beating occupants mercilessly in a five-minute ordeal before escaping with cash and jewellery. Related articles by Zemanta Vigilance family beaten, terrorised by armed bandits (news.smallshop.com) Gunmen kill 8 in Jamaica (news.smallshop.com)

| NationNews  "ST GEORGE’S – The National Disaster Management Agency has evacuated people from the village of Telescope in the eastern parish of St Andrew after many of them were treated at hospital on Sunday after inhaling concentrated chlorine gas. Medical, disaster, fire and police officials rushed to the area after the residents complained that they were being badly affected by the situation. The Water and Sewerage Authority said tests confirmed a chlorine leak coming from the site where their tanks had been buried for more than two decades.

British Caribbean : "CaribWorldNews, TAMPA, FL, Tues. Sept. 21, 2010: Attorney for Jamaican-born reggae star, Mark `Buju Banton` Myrie, yesterday insisted his client is innocent of any participation in a conspiracy to sell cocaine, even though he said things to an informant about drug deals. Attorney David Oscar Markus made the statement to jurors gathered on the opening day of the federal drug trial of the Grammy nominated singer who has been jailed since last December.

The signs are'nt too encouraging. Under international pressure, the Castro brothers have released dozens of political prisoners this year and faced with bankruptcy, the Cuban state has also sacked 500,000 government officials. Fidel Castros return to the political mainstream after a 4 year absence has been marked with a series of sensationalistic statements. In Miami, home to the largest Cuban exile community, 800,000 Cuban-Americans believe the cracks are beginning to show and time for change has finally arrived... Related articles by Zemanta Will Obama Open Up All U.S. Travel to Cuba? (time.com)

BusinessWeek : "Upgrades at an airport on the tiny Caribbean island of Dominica mean planes can take off and land by night for the first time. Aviation Minister Rayburn Blackmore says he expects a boost to tourism. For now, only small aircraft will be allowed to land at the Melville Hall airport until 10 p.m. The head of the Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority says he expects the airport will receive clearance for larger aircraft within the next six months.

Examiner.com : "The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is issuing advisories on newly formed Tropical Storm Lisa located in the eastern Atlantic. Lisa became the 12th named storm of the 2010 hurricane season early this morning, not to long after being classified as tropical depression 14 at 11pm Monday. Tropical Storm Lisa is located 530 mile west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands and is moving very slowly towards the west at 5 mph.

Day 1 to Buju - Breaking & Current Jamaica News - JamaicaObserver.com : "TAMPA, USA — THE first day of the cocaine trial of Jamaican reggae superstar ‘Buju Banton’ ended with what the artiste’s lawyers and supporters described as a good day. The tension in the air during the morning session of the trial at the Gibbons US Court was all gone when court adjourned for the day, some minutes after four yesterday afternoon." Related articles by Zemanta Jamaican Reggae Star Buju Banton Begins Drug Trial in US (foxnews.com) Buju Banton's battle with Babylon | Philip Dayle (guardian.co.uk) 'Buju' stands alone (news.smallshop.com) Buju's trial stalls - again (news.smallshop.com)

Kaieteur News : "The arrest of a policeman who attempted to solicit money from a man he knew had committed a dastardly act, and the hunt for someone who was once trained to protect the nation—a former soldier- tell us that all is not well in the society. The situation tells us that people who should know better are mere products of the society; people who think ahead to pursue criminal activities ."

Stabroek News : "Rawle Newton was yesterday charged with murdering two gold dealers at Bartica, while four others, including a policeman, were accused of aiding and abetting in the crime." Related articles by Zemanta Bartica gold dealers bound, throats slit (news.smallshop.com)

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday fired Brigadier Peter Joseph as director of the Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT), appointed his second-in-command in charge and announced a probe of $1 billion spent by the elite unit.

NationNews - Barbados : "NOT TRUE. That was what police said yesterday in response to reports on some Barbadian blogs suggesting one of the six victims in the Campus Trendz tragedy at Tudor Street, The City, might have been intimately associated with the alleged killers. “There is no evidence of that,” head of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Senior Superintendent Haskell Bynoe told the DAILY NATION." Related articles by Zemanta St Michael youths charged with Tudor Street murders (news.smallshop.com) Silence - Tears flow as hundreds remember fire victims (news.smallshop.com) Hanging death linked to City tragedy (news.smallshop.com) Barbados police nab two suspects in Tudor Street robbery and blaze (news.smallshop.com)

Write text here... Related articles by Zemanta Storm summary: Powerless but safe (news.smallshop.com) Hurricane Igor leaves 3,650 without power early Sunday (news.smallshop.com)

Taiwan News Online : "Police in the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica say a mother has stabbed her two young daughters to death. Police spokesman Claude Weekes said Friday that the 23-year-old woman has not yet been charged in the killing of 2-month-old Sophie Vigilante and 5-year-old Rachel Vigilante. Her own full name was not released. Weekes says she is under police custody at the island's main hospital, where she is being treated for cuts to her wrist. He declined to say whether she had attempted to commit suicide.