CARIBBEAN NEWS
VOL.2 NO.1
January, 2004
ROSEAU,DOMINICA(EXPRESS-1/8/04)- Having been forced to walk
down 5 flights of stairs because of an inoperative elevator while com-
plaining of chest pains, only to discover upon arrival at the country's
largest hospital there is no cardiologist, Dominica's Prime Minister
Pierre Charles finally succumbed to what appears to have been a mas-
sive heart attack.
Charles died Jan. 6 at Princess Margaret Hospital, mere weeks after
promising the Dominican people he would not be quitting as Prime
Minister for some time to come. Charles had suffered heart problems
before, and had only recently returned to work.
In the process, the 49-year-old Charles became the 2nd Prime Minister
of Dominica to die in office in the last 4 years. He replaced Roosevelt
Douglas on Oct. 3, 2000, who died a mere 8 months in office.
Charles was in his office when he complained to security that he was
having chest pains. They attempted to take him to hospital, but found
the elevator out of order. Charles was forced to walk from the 5th floor
to his car where he collapsed while in route to the hospital.
A team of doctors, headed by a consultant, attempted to revive him,
but failed. Dominica has no known cardiologist and the closest help
for people with cardiac arrest is in Guadoloupe. However, this was
not an option for Charles, as no aircraft are allowed to land or take
off from Dominica's airport after dusk.
As word spread of Charles' death, a crowd of almost 200 gathered out-
side the hospital, in shock at the passing of another Prime Minister.
KINGSTON,JAMAICA(OBSERVER-1/14/04)- Members of the opposi-
tion Jamaica Labour Party(JLP), voted solidly in favour of Edward
Seaga as their leader. In a secret ballot, at least 72% of parliamentary
representatives endorsed Seaga's leadership.
Seaga welcomed the outcome. At 73, he is a wily and seasoned politi-
cal in-fighter who has crushed several challenges to his 30-year lead-
ership of the JLP, often seen as autocratic.
MONTERREY,MEXICO(OBSERVER-1/15/04)- The U.S. and the Carib-
bean have pledged to cooperate in the fight against cross-border
crime and terrorism, while the U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to spec-
ial treatment for small island states in accordance with the proposed
Free Trede Areas of the Americas.(See related story: News-#12)
The declaration underlined the threat posed to hemispheric security
by international terrorism and other forms of crime. Since 9/11, the
U.S. has unveiled its so-called Third Border Initiative, aimed at better
economic cooperation with Caribbean nations.
However, regional governments have quietly complained that U.S.
rhetoric has not been matched with concrete action. Not only does
the U.S. have substantial assets in the Caribbean, but millions of its
citizens holiday in the region annually- just cause, according to Carib-
bean diplomats, for the U.S. to live up to its promises.
While the U.S. stated that trade between the two was "essential to
promoting economic development" for both sides, it recognised the
"concerns and vulnerabilities of small economies and the challenges
faced in integrating successfully in the global economy".
ST.THOMAS,VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-12/31/03)- After
being stranded on St. Thomas for 11 days, a Royal Olympia Voyager
cruise ship with hundreds of passengers, left here for Florida. Royal
Olympic's subsidiary, Olympic World Cruises Inc., filed for Ch. 11
bankruptcy on Dec. 17.
The bankruptcy stranded 759 passengers on St. Thomas after a fed-
eral court ordered it to remain in U.S. waters. The Voyager was sched-
uled for a 16-day cruise to the Amazon.
Royal Olympic owns 8 cruise line companies that offer trips in the
Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
ST.CROIX,VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-1/14/04)- A pro-
posed casino-resort development on St. Croix’s south shore would
damage the coastal habitat and affect wildlife in the delicate Great
Pond ecosystem and should be moved farther inland, the U.S. Dept.
Of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service said to the V.I. Dept. of
Planning and Natural Resources.
The 400-room hotel and casino are expected to pour $150 million
into the territory’s economy and provide 1200 jobs which, support-
ers say, will help revive St. Croix’s struggling economy.
Opponents of the $120 million development fear runoff from the
project will harm the Great Pond wetland area and the coral reef
that lies just offshore.
“It has been our experience that developers that poorly select hotel
sites attempt to ‘improve’ beaches in order to make them more pala-
table to the guests, with environmentally disastrous results”, com-
mented a field supervisor for Fish and Wildlife in Puerto Rico.
WESTMORELAND,JAMAICA(OBSERVER-1/15/04)- Mere weeks
after the Sugar Co. of Jamaica(SCJ) began offering rewards for in-
formation on illicit cane fires, the industry has lost another $25 million
as a result of over 40 fires on its 3 estates. According to SCJ figures,
since November they have recorded 61 illicit fires affecting about 41
thousand tons of cane.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Sugar Industry Authority, Derrick
Heaven has called for an education program to sensitise residents of
areas in which sugar cane is grown about the negative effect cane fires
are having on the industry.
ST.THOMAS,VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-1/14/04)- An
Italian ship will lay a submarine water line that eventually will deliver
400,00 gallons of fresh water each day from St. Thomas to St. John.
The 18,000 foot line is part of the $8 million Smith Bay Water Line
Extension project, which will improve water quality and capacity on
St. John.
It will take 2 days to lay the line from Red Hook to St. John. Divers
from local company, BioImpact will monitor the process to insure
coral sites are not harmed.
St John uses an average of 213,000 gallons of water each day. The
Water and Power Authority(WAPA) produces 155,000 gallons per
day through a desalination unit at Turner Bay-installed in 1991.
While St. John residents are looking for water, St. Thomas has plenty.
The power plant in Crown Bay produces 4.6 million gallons of water
per day, which could easily supply both St. Thomas and St. John.
Average consumption on St. Thomas is 2.5 million gallons each day.
WAPA officials don’t know when the water will start flowing to St.
John because funding for the entire Smith Bay project is up in the air.
The overall project consists of 4 parts: A $1.6 million extension of a
water line from Foster Plaza to Emerald Hill; a $1.3 million extension
of a water line from Emerald Hill to Smith Bay ; a $3.7 million sub-
marine water line to St. John and $1.25 million to connect the sub-
marine line to stations in Smith Bay.
ST.ELIZABETH,JAMAICA(GLEANER-1/8/04)- After 266 years, the
Maroons of Accompong are still struggling, but their focus is on basic
needs such as consistent water supply, proper roads and peaceful re-
lations among local leaders.
“There is a distant, although muted sense of unease among Maroon
leaders, because of the effortless approach of successive Jamaican
governments”, said Maroon chief Sidney Peddie. As a result, roads
in and out of Accompong are virtually non-existent, impacting the
economic life of a community which depends largely on farming for
its income. Recent efforts by the government have fallen by the way-
side because of a shortage of funds.
A new but narrow roadway has been constructed but getting out, es-
pecially at night, can be treacherous because of deplorable conditions.
On the positive side, Peddie lauded the Tourism Product Development
Co., which has trained tour guides, built 5 public toilets and refurb-
ished the community centre. But he wants more effort promoting the
community as a unique tourist destination, but admits that Accompong
itself needs improvement to become the destination tourists will want
to visit.
Calling for outside help, Peddie said the community was in need of
benefactors, but also noted that each time help is given, he is accused
of selling out their ancestors.
ST.CROIX,VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-1/8/04)- Frederik-
sted residents have been dealing with raw sewage spewing from a mal-
functioning pump for a month. The Lagoon St. Pumping Station is
still off-line, pumping raw sewage into the sea.
The Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources and the U.S. EPA are
concerned and urged residents to avoid Lagoon St. Gut and the Fred-
eriksted beach and pier area.
ENTERTAINMENT:
TRENCHTOWN,JAMAICA(OBSERVER-1/14/04)- Amid obvious
signs of poverty, chanting Rastafarians and wavering ganja smoke,
Reggae sensation Nasio Fontaine was unleashed. The Dominican-
born Rasta seemed at home as he performed for the attentive crowd
at Boys Town. The singer had everyone rocking as he spread his
message of peace and love through his music.
Nasio seems very much like the late, great Bob Marley re-incarnated.
He patterns Marley’s sound, lyrical content and stage performance
almost identically-the only difference being the songs. Children
looked on in awe while de older folk swayed to the sweet reggae
sound.
Nasio is slated to perform at the annual Rebel Salute show.
CULTURE:
ST.CROIX,VIRGIN ISLANDS(VI DAILY NEWS-12/31/03)- J&J
Fun Troupe captured the Crucian Christmas Festival King and
Queen of the Band titles with a “Tribal Awakening” theme. The
win was the 4th for King Glenn Turnbull and the first for Queen
Hannah Nelson James.
Hundreds of people crammed into Festival Village in Frederiksted
for the competition Nelson’s costume depicted a queen of a Zulu
Tribe. The costume, adorned with hundreds of feathers, shimmering
beads and leopard skin was 16 feet tall and 12 feet wide.
Turnbull’s outfit was just as elaborate. The black, white and gold
costume, which stood 18 feet tall and 16 feet wide, represented
tribes of Africa that have long been forgotten.
OTHER CRUCIAN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL NOTES:
12/31/03- There was an explosion of culture in Frederiksted as the
smells of local delicacies and the sounds of music floated through-
out the town. From everywhere the smells of conch and rice, fry
fish, stew goat, pates, kallaloo, roti, johnny cakes and fungi filled
the air.
Louise Petersen Samuel, one of the few people on-island to keep
traditions alive, said,”Food is a big part of our culture, and we have
to pass on the skills to the next generation.
1/2/04- The first sounds of J’ouvert did not float across Frederiksted
until 6:30 A.M., but the thousands who came to have a good time
didn’t seem to mind, and perhaps fueled by a bit of rum, left all
inhibition behind and jammed to one of 4 bands that wound its way
from Hannah’s Rest, down King Street and ending at Festival Village.
Through it all a new band, Xtaushun, was crowned J’ouvert king and
the 4-hour street party went off without a hitch.
1/2/04- Teen-age calypsonian John”Mighty John”Williams won his
first Crucian Christmas Festival Calypso Monarch title, pulling off
one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition. The 18-
year-old defeated the islands top calypsonians-some twice his age.
And he did it on his first try.
Williams showcased biting social commentary with songs like
“Things Bad”. “Don’t blame the economy / Stop gambling at Divi,
Divi.”- a reference to the St. Croix casino-,he belted out.
Samuel”Mighty Pat”Ferdinand, the reigning monarch, was first
Runner-up; Campbell”King Kan”Barnes was second runner-up.
CAVE HILL,BARBADOS(EXPRESS-1/7/04)- George Lamming,
distinguished author and cultural critic, will deliver the feature ad-
dress on “Language and the Politics of Ethnicity”, marking the
opening of the Third Cultural Studies Conference at the University
Of the West Indies.
Caribbean culture is not just song and dance, but it is that as well.
The conference will comprise a full complement of scholarly pre-
sentations , round table discussions and open-mike sessions, exhibi-
tions and film fests, readings and performances.
Caribbean culture has not only mass regional appeal, but internation-
al acclaim. Apart from its multi-disciplinary relevance, it has become
a major resource which attracts world-wide recognition and respect.
In a context of expanding international relations, there is a growing
need for understanding within the global village. This gathering of
minds to focus on cross-culturalism in the Caribbean is of immense
value-pivotal to development, to regional cohesion and to interaction
with other states.
PORT OF SPAIN,TRINIDAD(EXPRESS-1/2/04)- It is definitely
that time again! Carnival 2004 is here! Here is where to go and
what to do:
1/22- Kaiso House calypso tent’s official launch
1/23-Soca By the Silos
****Spektakula opens
****House of Stars calypso tent launches
****National Pan-o-Rama Preliminaries begins
1/24- RGP Children’s Show
1/25-1/27- Pan-o-Rama Preliminaries continue
1/28- Kaiso Showcase opens
1/30- Bazodee Friday
1/31- Wasa Savannah party
****Lion’s Club presents “Jungle Fever”
****5th Annual Coca Cola Youth Fest
2/1- Pan-o-Rama Preliminaries continue
2/6- Junior Traditional competition
****BWIA Kingdom of the Clouds Fete
****International Soca Monarch Semi-finals
2/8- National Pan-o-Rama Semi-finals
2/9- Junior Pan-o-Rama Preliminaries
2/13- Queen’s Bank Cricket Club Kaiso Fiesta
2/14- Kiddies Carnival
****Calypso Fiesta (National Calypso Monarch Semi-finals)
****Caribbean Brass Festival
****3rd Annual Heineken Chutney Brass Festival
2/15- Junior Kings/Queens Individuals
****Junior Pan-o-Rama Finals
****Final Children’s Show
2/17- Senior King’s Semi-finals and Junior Queen’s Finals
2/18- Bacchannal Wednesday
2/19- Beach House Carnival
2/20- International Soca Monarch Finals
2/21- National Pan-o-Rama Finals
****Junior Parade of the Bands
2/22- Dimanche Gras
2/23- J’ouvert
****Parade of the Bands
****Monday Night Mas
2/24- Parade of the Bands
****Las Lap
2/28- Champs In Concert
