CARIBBEAN NEWS
Vol. 3 ; No.3
July, 2005
OUR LEAD STORIES - HURRICANES EMILY & DENNIS:
ST. GEORGES, GRENADA (BBC/CARIBBEAN&AP- 7/15/05)- Hurricane Emily pounded Grenada, tearing the roofs off hospitals and other buildings, destroying crops and causing widespread flooding and at least one death. The Category 2 storm packed sustained winds of 100 mph.
Especially struck hard were the northern provinces of St. Patrick's and St. Andrews. However, probably hardest hit of all was the tiny island of Carriacou, just north of Grenada. "Completely demolished buildings, roofs are completely gone, trees are down, there are power lines on the ground and there's debris on almost every street in Carriacou", said Sylvan McIntyre, Coordinator of Grenada's national emergency management agency.
In St. Georges, the hurricane tore the roof off the new hospital. Sixteen hundred people took refuge in shelters. The island is still reeling from the destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan only 9 months ago.
On the island of Trinidad, there was widespread flooding and at least one house was washed away.
The region's disaster response agency, CDERA, is preparing to send relief aid to Grenada and Trinidad&Tobago is ready to pitch in. Trinidad's Prime Minister Patrick Manning is sending a helicopter to Grenada immediately to help assess the level of damage.
Hurricane Emily is continuing west-northwest toward Jamaica, but is expected to pass to the south of the island. However, damage could still be heavy. Tropical Storm warnings are also posted in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.
HAVANA, CUBA (BBC/CARIBBEAN-7/8/05)- There have been several deaths as Hurricane Dennis has unleashed fierce winds of up to 150 mph and heavy rains on Cuba and Jamaica.
“It’s arrived with all its diabolical force”, stated President Fidel Castro on a state television address. He said there were 10 deaths in southeastern Cuba- 8 in Granma province and 2 in Santiago.
Another 5 people were reported dead in Haiti.
Meanwhile, officials from relief agencies in Jamaica are conducting assessments following extensive flood damage caused by the Category 4 hurricane. While there have been no reports of deaths, there has been significant damage to agriculture, roads and bridges.
Hundreds of people remained in shelters as there homes were under water. James Robertson, who is a Member of Parliament for the eastern parish of St. Thomas says at least 500 homes in the parish are flooded.
Thunderstorms thrashed the Dominican Republic and southern Haiti. With large areas deforested, Haiti is highly vulnerable to flooding.
The deaths in Haiti occurred when a bridge collapsed under pressure from a swollen river.
IN OTHER NEWS:
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD (EXPRESS-6/4/05)- A Rastafarian who was beaten, fed a diet containing meat and had his locks cut off by prison authorities won his case in the Appeal Court here on June 3rd.
Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma ordered the case to be remitted to the High Court and judgement be entered in favor of Damian Belfonte declaring that his constitutional right to freedom of conscience and religious beliefs and observance had been infringed by agents of the state.
Sharma also noted that an order be entered declaring that Belfonte’s constitutional right to be informed of his right to retain and instruct an attorney of his own choice without delay had also been infringed after he was arrested in November 1998. The Chief Justice stated that an assessment be carried out to determine if Belfonte should be compensated for the infringement of his rights.
In his lawsuit, Belfonte, who lives in Sangre Grande, had claimed that his fundamental rights had been infringed after he was incarcerated for 22 days before authorities found out that he had paid outstanding fines for 2 marijuana possession convictions.
In 1997, Belfonte was convicted on the charges and fined $1450. He paid $300 immediately and submitted a Manager’s Cheque to a police officer at Sangre Grande Magistrates Court in December 1997 for the outstanding balance. On November 3rd, 1998, he was arrested without due process and taken to prison.
During his term in prison he was beaten by prison guards and had his locks cut off against his will. He was also deprived of his vegetarian diet which went against his practices of the Rastafarian faith.
On November 25, 1998, he was released from prison after the fine was paid by the same officer who Belfonte claims he gave the cheque to in the first place.
Fitzgerald Hinds, of the Ministry of National Security, who himself claims to be a Rastafarian, said that he was “personally happy” with the judgement. But also said that it did not appear that any real blame could be cast upon the Prison Service.
Hinds said: “Whether it was right or wrong was only decided in the present case and the prison authorities treated him like any other prisoner. To my mind, this…is the first time a court in Trinidad & Tobago would have recognised the existence of the Rastafarian faith as a religion within the meaning of the Constitution…..Because the issue had never been decided, the prison authorities were under no obligation to treat ‘the brother’ as a Rasta and provide him with vegetarian meals….In terms of cutting of the hair, because the Rastafarian faith had not been recognised before…the prison rules would have applied to everyone and that would have justified the cutting of his hair…I am fully aware that in several other Caribbean islands they have long ceased the practice of cutting the hair of Rastas in the prison system…Altogether I think this is a positive step in this democratic, multi-racial, multi-cultural society." (Pato's 2-Cents: "How can this man say he's Rasta?! The mistreatment of Mr. Belfonte was an injustice of the first magnitude! To say prison authorities did nothing wrong is a lie! The man shouldn't have been in jail in the first place! Still, we should hail this ruling as recognition of the Rastafari in Trinidad and Tobago!")
ORANJESTAD, ARUBA (BBC/CARIBBEAN- 7/5/05)- A judge here has released 2 suspects who have been held over the disappearance of an 18-year-old U.S. girl. A third suspect, Dutch student Joran van der Sloot 17, remains in custody. He will be held for 60 more days.
Natalee Holloway vanished on May 30 while celebrating her high school graduation on the island, a Dutch protectorate. She remains missing.
Van der Sloot, who has said that he gave Ms Holloway a ride and that he was alone on a beach with her, has stated that he did not harm her.
The entire island has been hunting for the girl or her body since she disappeared and the Dutch military has sent aircraft and personnel to help with the search.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (NATION- 6/5/05)-The U.S. State Dept. named Jamaica among 14 countries which could be subject to sanctions because they are not doing enough to halt international trafficking in people. A report stated that the island is used as a transit country for illegal migrants moving to the U.S. and Canada and as a source country for exploited children.
Possible sanctions include a cut-off in non-humanitarian, non-trade related assistance and loss of eligibility to take part in cultural and educational exchanges with the U.S.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (OBSERVER- 6/5/05)- The burden of escalating crime and the general erosion of the rule of law is hitting businesses where it hurts- their bottom line. Many companies have to add the cost of relocating staff members because of a flare up in violence in their communities., closing early so employees can get home before dark, losing much needed revenue. Some say it’s getting worse.
According to data released this year, the quality of Jamaica’s rule of law (which measures the effectiveness of the police and the courts, the likelihood of crime and violence and the quality of contract enforcement) is over 22% below the regional average.
“It is my impression that the cause of the slowdown of business at night is because of a society gripped by fear”, said Jamaica’s director of Restaurant Operations Donald Baugh.
ST, THOMAS, US VIRGIN ISLANDS (VI DAILY NEWS- 6/4/05)- A $1.5 million Long Bay drainage project has begun paving the way for St. Thomas’ newest park. The project is part of IN-USVI’s plan to build a $150 million hotel-marina-retail development at the site of the former Yacht Haven Hotel. (see related story: Holiday Edition 2004 )
A local contractor will cover the open channel and IN-USVI will build the park over the area as well as additional parking and walkways. The channel is part of a drainage system that begins in Estate Thomas and continues down 9th St. to Paul Pearson Gardens.
The project is slated for completion in December.
ST. CROIX, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS- 6/28/05)-The University of the Virgin Islands received a donation of $25,000 from V.I. Rum Industries, the makers of Cruzan Rum at their headquarters on St. Croix. Company president Donald Nelthropp presented the donation to UVI president Laverne Ragster to support scholarships.
Since 1987 V.I. Rum Industries has made annual contributions to UVI totalling over $450,000.
AGRICULTURE:
CLARENDON, JAMAICA (OBSERVER-6/4/05)- Farmers here now have access to a new irrigation system and tools, as part of the government’s plan to sustain the nation’s food supply.
The equipment, valued at $11 million, was provided by the Italian government under the Food Security Project implemented by CARICOM in Nov. 2003. Small farmers in the 15-member CARICOM bloc are being introduced to new cultivation techniques to optimise crop yield, including more efficient water management.
Some 40 farmers here will share a Massey-Ferguson tractor and a plow for land preparation. The farmers are also to be provided with seeds, fertilizers, various other equipment and training in proper use.
EDUCATION:
ST. JOHN, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS- 6/4/05)- St. John School on Gifft Hill graduated its second class of seniors at an outdoor ceremony at the historic Annaberg Ruins here.
Formerly Coral Bay School until it merged with Pine Peace School last year, created the first K-12 school in St. John’s history. (see related story:Vol.2,#4 )
Class Valedictorian Jamaica Hamilton presented school founders Crawford and Sabrina Boebert with a promise that the senior class will donate a Lignum Vitae tree to be planted on the new school campus.
Guy Benjamin, St. John’s oldest resident and a retired educator who has an elementary school named after him, gave the commencement address. In a speech rich with allusions to the Bible, Greek mythology and American history, he urged the graduates to avoid pride and to make the world a better more peaceful place.
ENVIRONMENT:
GRAND CAYMAN, CAYMAN ISLANDS (BBC/CARIBBEAN- 6/5/05)- Scientists here are calling for assistance to pull a unique species of blue iguana back from the brink. The animal has a long history; DNA evidence suggests it has been around for the past 3 million years.
However, the mere 25 of them left on Grand Cayman seem to face a dismal future. “But there are no insurmountable biological, political or social barriers to the re-establishment of a viable wild population”, said Fred Burton, director of the Blue Iguana Recovery Programme. “Saving the Blue Iguana boils down to the human financial resources we can direct to the task.”
The Iguana’s problems stem from humans. The first European settlers arrived nearly 300 years ago and since then have pushed the iguanas back from the coast and into less hospitable inland areas. The displacement and land use change has accelerated with a major human population boom in the last half century.
The programme hatches and rears blue iguanas for 2 years sparing them the severe mortality that would usually decimate a year’s hatch. They are then released into the wild and radio-tracked as they mature and start breeding.
But is it too late for the iguanas? Can they be saved?
“The captive breeding program is going from strength to strength”, said Burton. “Our monitored releases are working brilliantly so far. If we can protect enough habitat and maintain it free of unnatural predators, there is every reason to hope we can give the blue iguanas their future back.
This is one species we can save.”
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS (NATION- 6/5/05)- Of the 500 kilometres of gully space in Barbados, 400 are illegal dumpsites. According to Liz Thompson-McDowald, Minister of the Environment, this finding says “a great deal about us as a people.”
She said the volume of garbage found in the gullies indicated that commercial garbage haulers were responsible for the dumping. She also said that indiscriminate dumping was having an impact on the groundwater supply.
“This dumping clearly demonstrates that it is not one or two people with bad habits. Regrettably, it is a national practice which must change”, she said at a meeting of the Barbados Environmental Society.
ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE:
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (OBSERVER- 6/5/05)- World-renowned foundation member of the Wailers, Bunny Wailer(Livingstone), is sponsoring a children’s essay competition on the topic, “Who is the ideal father?”.
The reggae legend is putting a total of $50,000 in prizes for the top 3 essays. “We’re inviting children from schools island-wide to participate”, he said.
Bunny’s latest project also includes a major concert showcasing a number of foundation artistes who will be honored for their role in the birth and development of Jamaica’s popular music. The event features Alton Ellis, Roy Shirley, Super Cat, Daddy U Roy, Gregory Isaacs, Pam Hall, Marcia Griffiths, Dean Fraser, Judy Mowatt and Bunny Wailer and the Solomonic Reggastra.
ST. CROIX, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS- 7/4/05)- Thousands of slaves put their lives on the line 157 years ago to fight for freedom in a rebellion that would change the course of history in the Virgin Islands.
With the blowing of conch shells, sounds of drums and shouts of “We want ah we freedom”, the Dembaya Ensemble relived the defining moments of the historic event before a large crowd at Buddhoe Park in Fredericksted.
The July 3rd, 1848 rebellion was the culmination of years of oppression, forced labor, harsh living conditions and the rejection of the Danish plan to abolish slavery in the West Indies for newborns only. Under the plan all adults would be free 12 years later in 1860.
On July 2nd, 1848, conch shells blew and bells began to sound on plantations throughout Fredericksted. By sunrise July 3rd, more than 8,000 slaves had marched into town led by Martin King, or “Admiral King”, one of the figures credited with leading the rebellion. Moses Gottlieb, or “General Buddhoe”, was the other. General Buddhoe rode into town dressed in a Danish military jacket and demanded that the slaves be freed by noon that day or the town would be burned to the ground. He extended it to 4 pm to give Gov. Peter von Scholten time to arrive in Fredericksted. Von Scholten arrived in time and declared, “All unfree in the Danish West Indies are from today emancipated.”
The slaves knew, as they prepared to march on Fort Frederick, that they may never see their families again. “It was a sacrifice they were willing to make,” said activist Mario Moorhead. That is the kind of spirit that Virgin Islanders should emulate today he said. “July 3rd, 1848 is still the greatest moment in Virgin Islands history.
The Emancipation Reenactment was the climax of a 4-day celebration that included a quelbe fest, fireworks and other cultural events.
SPORTS:
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (NATION- 6/5/05)- Brian Lara, the most dynamic, most feared batsman of this era, produced magical strokeplay in marching to a century of immense quality that has put the West Indies in a position of comfort after Cory Collymore completed a 7 wicket haul in the morning.
Lara’s unbeaten 125 of189 balls that lifted West Indies to 275 for four in response to a total 374 was his 3rd hundred on the ground, 4th of the season, 6th in his last 8 matches in the Caribbean and 30th of his career.
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD (BBC/CARIBBEAN- 7/8/05)- Brian Lara has pulled out of the West Indies squad for the triangular one-day tournament against hosts Sri Lanka and India starting in August.
“Lara has sought and been granted, permission by the board to miss the one-dayers”, read a WICB statement.
The 36-year-old Lara stated, “I’m cutting down a bit on one-dayers, trying to concentrate on Tests, trying to bring more length to my career.” In the past, Lara has pinpointed the 2007 World Cup as a probable retirement date.
He holds the record for highest Test score (400 not out) and highest first-class score (501 not out).
