SmallShop Caribbean News

Jamaica Gleaner News "All eyes in Jamaica should be on Hurricane Tomas this week as it continues its threatening run towards the island. Yesterday, Tomas lashed Eastern Caribbean islands dumping heavy rain, ripping off roofs, downing trees and power lines on a track that could put it close to Jamaica by Thursday. Related articles Hurricane Tomas bearing down on St. Lucia, St. Vincent (news.smallshop.com)

Associated Press "CASTRIES, St. Lucia -- Hurricane Tomas headed deeper into the Caribbean early Sunday after storming over a cluster of islands at the sea's eastern entrance, tearing off roofs, damaging houses and downing power lines.

Image via Wikipedia CNN.com "After intensifying into a hurricane, Tomas was nearing the northern Windward Islands on Saturday, taking aim at St. Lucia and St. Vincent, forecasters said. Earlier, as a tropical storm, Tomas damaged homes and downed power lines on Barbados, according to the Miami, Florida-based National Hurricane Center. As of 11 a.m., Tomas was located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south-southeast of St. Lucia and about 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of St. Vincent, the Hurricane Center said. Its maximum sustained winds were at 75 mph (120 kph), making Tomas a Category 1 hurricane, although it is expected to further intensify." Related articles Tomas: Atlantic Season's 12th Hurricane (time.com)

JamaicaObserver.com : "BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Tropical Storm Tomas has blown off the roofs of several buildings, uprooted trees and utility poles and made several roads impassable in Barbados as it makes its way towards the northern Windward Islands at hurricane strength today. Rescue and medical officials were warning Barbadians and visitors alike to remain indoors and Judy Thomas, Director of the Department of Emergency Management said “this is not a time to venture outside”." Related articles Tropical Storm Tomas buffets Barbados, heads west (msnbc.msn.com) Tomas close to hurricane strength (cnn.com) Tropical Storm Tomas forms in the Atlantic (cnn.com)

Wikinews, the free news source : "The Haitian cholera outbreak has killed 292 people and infected over 4000, according to the Haitian government, although there are no new cases in the earthquake ravaged capital, Port-au-Prince. Neighboring countries, Dominican Republic and Jamaica have begun to implement measures to prevent the disease from spreading. The Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Jon Andrus said, 'health aides are in Haitian camps, educating people about proper food, water and waste treatment.' He also added that 'the goal is to provide 24-hours-a-day medical care.' Related articles Almost 300 dead in Haiti cholera crisis (edition.cnn.com) Cholera feared near Haiti capital (bbc.co.uk)

JamaicaObserver.com : "Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered its rating on Barbados to the brink of junk territory, saying the island nation's debt burden will increase at least in the next two years. The ratings agency said the higher debt will occur because of delays in the government's fiscal-consolidation efforts and a slower-than-expected economic recovery. Tourism is critical to the Caribbean nation, but the U.S. recession reduced business and leisure travel. That has led to an increasingly pessimistic view from ratings agencies. Related articles S&P cuts Barbados rating to 'BBB-minus' (reuters.com)

Image via Wikipedia Anguilla News "David Thompson's departure at 48 lamented unfilled potential but I think many of his goals were actually accomplished, and he has left a vision, a distinct road map and a sound foundation on which to build the future of Barbados. The Lord certainly knows best, and with David Thompson now called to Higher Service, we owe it to him and leaders past to make our contribution to our island home. Let's join hands and show how much we cared for David Thompson and show our appreciation for his shining service to Barbados. By so doing we honour him, his family and the country to which he gave so much of his life, talents and love. Related articles Saint Lucia Mourns The Passing Of Barbados Of Prime Minister David John Howard Thompson (harlemworldblog.wordpress.com)

Image via Wikipedia New York Daily News "It may be news to some, but reggae music owes a great debt of gratitude to the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. For decades, Carlyle McKetty and Sharon Gordon of the Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music have recognized his influence and continue to pay him tribute.

guardian.co.uk : "Twenty-seven years ago, on 25 October 1983, US president Ronald Reagan – with the active encouragement of his allies in the Caribbean region, Dominica, Barbados and Jamaica in particular – invaded Grenada with more than 8,000 land, sea and air forces. They were responding to the execution of prime minister, Maurice Bishop, who had led the island's revolutionary regime for four years. The US troops battered the island for several weeks, amid fierce resistance from the Grenadian people's revolutionary army and the 1,000 Cubans who had been building the island's international airport.

Image via Wikipedia BusinessWeek : "A Caribbean appeals court ruled Wednesday that Antigua and Barbuda's prime minister and two other ruling-party lawmakers were properly elected last year, apparently ending attempts to call fresh elections. The Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal overturned an Antigua High Court judge's decision earlier this year voiding March 2009 election results in three constituencies, including Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer's St. John district.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife Stabroek News "Guyana stands a fifty percent chance of being hit by a tropical cyclone in the Atlantic Ocean within the next 48 hours, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said last evening on its website.

Cover of Gregory Isaacs BBCCaribbean.com "Reggae legend Gregory Isaacs died Monday morning after a battle with lung cancer. Isaacs, who was 59 years old, died on Monday morning at his home in London where he spent part of his time. Related articles Reggae Star Gregory Isaacs Dies (sugarslam.com) Gregory Isaacs Dead At 59 (VIDEO) (blippitt.com)

Everyone was evacuated from Handyman's Hardware despite erroneous social network messages that reported people were trapped in the building.

Image via Wikipedia Barbados Free Press : "BARBADIANS WILL start to pay their last respects to the late Prime Minister David Thompson before next Wednesday’s 9:30 a.m. state funeral at Kensington Oval, as his body will lie in-state from tomorrow and condolence books will be open at various locations." Related articles Barbados in mourning: PM Thompson is dead (news.smallshop.com)

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "FREUNDEL Jerome Stuart is now the Prime Minister of Barbados – the seventh person to hold that office in the island state. The St Philip-born attorney-at-law and father of one takes over at the helm of the Democratic Labour Party-led Government, following the passing of Prime Minister David John Howard Thompson last Saturday morning at the age of 48." Related articles Barbados in mourning: PM Thompson is dead (news.smallshop.com)

AFP: "WASHINGTON — The United States on Saturday offered condolences to the Caribbean island nation of Barbados after the death of prime minister David Thompson, who passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. 'On behalf of President (Barack) Obama and the people of the United States, I offer my deepest condolences to the people of Barbados on the passing of Prime Minister David Thompson,' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said." Related articles Barbados in mourning: PM Thompson is dead (news.smallshop.com)

Image via Wikipedia JamaicaObserver.com : "FORMER prime minister of Jamaica, P J Patterson says the death of Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson has left the region 'poorer'. 'The region is the poorer for the early departure of one who was so well equipped to continue making a significant contribution to refiguring the contours of Caricom (Caribbean Community) to meet the challenges of a world in the process of rapid transition,' Patterson said in a statement yesterday." Related articles Saint Lucia Mourns The Passing Of Barbados Of Prime Minister David John Howard Thompson (harlemworldblog.wordpress.com)

Jamaica Gleaner News "The untimely, if not entirely, unexpected death last weekend of Prime Minister David Thompson of Barbados robbed him of time to leave a distinctive and indelible mark on his country. Nor did the wider CARICOM family ever know what contribution he might have made to the region." Related articles Barbados in mourning: PM Thompson is dead (news.smallshop.com)

Image via Wikipedia Go-Jamaica "The Government of Jamaica is to open a condolence book in memory of the late Barbados Prime David Thompson. The book will be opened at the residence of the Barbadian consul in Norbrook, St Andrew." Related articles Barbados in mourning: PM Thompson is dead (news.smallshop.com)

Barbados Free Press : "Well, that’s what Hartley Henry said… With the death of Prime Minister David Thompson early last Saturday, Henry yesterday declared: “The kingmaker dies with the king”. “My tenure ends with David Thompson, so I am not going to work with anyone else,” he said last night in an exclusive DAILY NATION interview. Hartley Henry as quoted in The Nation article: Henry quits"

The Trinidad Guardian : "Two young boys watched in horror yesterday as a close relative killed their mother, stabbing her 15 times about the body at her workplace, before turning the knife on himself. Saidan Mitchell, 10, and Seph Mitchell, 11, of Fonrose Street, San Fernando, tried to beat off the attacker as he shoved their mother Sabrina Lalla-Mitchell, 31, on the floor and plunged a knife repeatedly into her chest and abdomen. The knife ripped through her heart and lungs"

Stabroek News - Guyana : "As Howes Street, Charlestown residents settled into their morning routines yesterday a man who reportedly `tripped out’ went on a chopping rampage which left two dead, two injured and many, who were chased by the cutlass wielding attacker, in shock. Cedric Blackman, a 72-year-old shop owner, was the first to be hacked to"

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday : newsday.co.tt : : "Two young boys yesterday witnessed the brutal murder of their mother Sabrina Lalla Mitchell, 35, who was stabbed to death by a man with whom she ended an abusive relationship six months ago. Eleven-year-old Seth Mitchell and his brother Shayden, ten, watched as the man repeatedly stabbed their mother after he confronted her at her workplace at Bavarian Motors, Todd Street, San Fernando, where she was an assistant manager."

Image via Wikipedia nationnews.com : "Barbados has been plunged into mourning with the death of Prime Minister David Thompson. He died this morning at 2:10. According to reports, he died at his home in Mapps, St Philip with his family by his side. Thompson served as Prime Minister of Barbados from January 2008 when the Democratic Labour Party won the government. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September. It was during May that Thompson, accompanied by his personal physician Dr Richard Ishmael, announced to Barbadians that he was not well and was seeking medical attention." BBC News - Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson dies of cancer : "The prime minister of Barbados, David Thompson, has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 48. He died at his home in St Philip on the Caribbean island. He had been ill since March and had travelled several times to New York for treatment. Mr Thompson was elected prime minister in January 2008. Governor General S...

A cholera outbreak in Haiti has killed scores of people in just two days. The main hospital in the town of Saint Marc has been overwhelmed, with about 1,400 people trying to get treatment for severe diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. Al Jazeera's Sebastian Walker reports from the hospital, about 70km north of the capital Port-au-Prince. Related articles Cholera Outbreak in Haiti (outsidethebeltway.com) Haiti's cholera death toll mounts (bbc.co.uk)

Kaieteur News : "The trial of a 27-year-old carpenter accused of killing another man at a wedding house started yesterday before Justice Winston Patterson, but the opening proceedings came to an abrupt end when the main witness told the court that he is fed up of lying. On trial for the murder is Lokenauth Dyal, of Canal Number Two, West Coast Demerara. The indictment accuses Dyal of killing 36-year-old Farzan Khan, on February 2, 2008, at Clay Brick Road, Canal Number Two, West Coast Demerara."

Stabroek News - Guyana : "Relatives of 81-year-old Reverend Walter Stapleton, the passenger who passed away in Puerto Rico after he fell ill during a flight from Guyana to the United States on Tuesday, were yesterday making arrangements for his burial. The man’s daughter Carol Smith told Stabroek News yesterday that her father, who lives at Lot 244, Jamoon Drive, Meadow Brook Gardens in the city, went into a coma while on the Delta Airlines, DAL 384 flight to the United States. He died shortly after the aircraft landed in San Juan, Puerto Rico where the fight was diverted to because of his failing health."

JamaicaObserver.com : "JAMAICA, already facing a $12-billion repair bill for damage caused by last month’s flood rains from Tropical Storm Nicole, was last night bracing for another battering with the development of Tropical Storm Richard south-west of the island. By last night rains from Richard — the 17th named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which is forecast to develop into a hurricane tomorrow — had begun affecting western parishes, inundating roadways and causing huge landslips." Related articles Tropical Storm Richard soaks Honduran coast (seattletimes.nwsource.com) Tropical storm Richard nears Honduras (cbc.ca)

Image via Wikipedia nationnews.com : "DOZENS of Barbados Labour Party (BLP) faithfuls made the trek to Parliament yesterday for the first sitting after the summer recess and most of them had eyes only for a rejuvenated Owen Arthur. Reassigned by a majority vote from his parliamentary colleagues to the leadership of the Opposition, Arthur arrived right on time for the 10 a.m. start of the Lower House." Related articles Barbados opposition picks ex-PM as leader (foxnews.com) Barbados opposition picks ex-PM as leader (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "MINISTER in the Ministry of National Security Subhas Panday yesterday gave a stern warning to maxi-taxi drivers not to molest the children they are hired to carry from school, as he piloted a Bill in the Senate to help rape victims testify in court."

Image via Wikipedia Kaieteur News : "A team of investigators from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has traveled to the Makouria area to probe the loss of another AK-47 assault rifle. The weapon was reported missing, yesterday morning, following the completion of the Guyana Defence Force ‘Iron Man Course’ for Infantry soldiers. According to reports, the weapon was in the possession of one of the infantry soldiers immediately prior to its loss."

JamaicaObserver.com : "Many women share similar tales of danger on dark, lonely highway A tale of a lone woman in danger on a dark toll highway late at night, has spurred Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry to call in the Toll Authority for some answers."

Kaieteur News : "Grandiose plans by the executive of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) to nurture the three boxers that recently participated in the Commonwealth Games in India, for participation at the 2012 Olympics in England, was forcefully and shamefully aborted following the disappearance of all three principals at the John F Kennedy International Airport New York last Saturday morning. The boxers, Dexter Jordon, Clevon Rock and Devon Boatswain, were returning from participation in the Commonwealth Games in India and were on the stopover leg of their trip at the American port of entry when they ostentatiously made their move.

JamaicaObserver.com : "A number of Jamaican women facing deportation from Britain have refused that country's offer of £5,000 to assist them to re-settle in their homeland before their prison sentences end, fearing that accepting this money will jeopardise the chances of winning their deportation appeal. The money, given under what is called a 'facilitative return scheme', is to be used by the deported women for housing or income generating purposes. Related articles Home Office to deport Jamaican mother after 10 years in UK (news.smallshop.com)

Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday "LECTURERS at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus kept true to their word and stayed away from classes yesterday as part of a planned blackout. They will be wearing white today as a sign of solidarity. The action forms part of the ongoing wage negotiations for the period 2008 to 2011 and saw both the staff and student population boycott classes. Following several checks yesterday, WIGUT President Dr Godfrey Steele told Newsday the blackout was successful after officials at the Mt Hope campus reported a very low turnout in staff and student numbers.

Image via Wikipedia NationNews Barbados "The vote to return Owen Arthur as leader of the Barbados Labour Party was a unanimous one. George Payne told the Press today that Mia Mottley , the former leader, no longer commands the confidence of the majority of members in the parliamentary group. ' Owen Seymour Arthur is the person we support...the necessary letter has gone to the Governor General and we await his decision with respect to that'. Related articles Arthur on the move (news.smallshop.com)

Image via Wikipedia Barbados Free Press : "Interim Leader of the Barbados Labour Party Mia Mottley was ousted this morning in a coup that saw former Prime Minister Owen Arthur returned to the leadership of the BLP. - Related articles Will Barbados' BLP go the way of the PNP? (news.smallshop.com)