Caribbean region needs to work together to deal with challenges, says Guyana president
November 20, 2008
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday evening told representatives of participating countries at the Caribbean Development Bank/Inter American Development Bank (CDB/IDB), Civil Society Organizations dialogue not to allow themselves to be lectured into creating a set of values in the region which may cause them to lose sight of their challenges and their unique way of dealing with them.
He stated that the challenges facing countries like Guyana demand that the region work together to deal with these issues. Read more
Is there a conspiracy to prevent soca/calypso music from making it?
November 18, 2008
Dear Sir:
Based on what I read on BBC Caribbean News, Nov 17, 2008, Popular Barbadian and Caribbean calypsoian John King thinks there is an international conspiracy against that popular Eastern Caribbean music genre. However, I personally believe that soca/calypso will break into the international music market, when the Eastern Caribbean countries unite as one strong force as a trading bloc.
In order for soca/calypso to constantly make the billboard chart, Eastern Caribbean countries must promote the music as an industry. Trinidad & Tobago alone cannot be the only Caribbean country Read more
Drug trade on the rise in Guyana, says crime chief
November 18, 2008
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Despite managing to seize some 60 pounds of cocaine and more than 74,000 pounds of marijuana this year, tackling the drug trade remains one of the major hurdles for Guyana’s law enforcement agencies.
This is the word from the head of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Seelall Persaud who Friday last revealed that at the end of October, police had destroyed more than 50 ganja fields’ totalling 44-1/ 2 acres, which amounted to more than 33,000 kilograms of marijuana. Read more
The problem in Guyana lies with the existence of ethnic parties which are committed to ethnic voting
November 18, 2008
I refer to Mr Hamley Case’s letter ‘Inspired by Obama Guyanese should seize the day’ (SN 15.11.08) dealing with the lessons learned from the American elections and applying them to solve Guyana’s political problems.
The lessons from Obama’s election victory are simple.
(1) He never appealed to race to win votes. He ran mainly an issues-based campaign.
(2) The overwhelming majority of approximstely 115 million voters decided they wanted “change,” as in change from the Republican to the Democratic party. (They were tired of the Bush war; deregulation (responsible for the financial meltdown); lack of an energy policy; need for universal health care, etc.)
(3) The great fear was that the majority of the American voters would not be able to overcome their racial prejudices and vote for an African-American candidate. But they did with flying colours. This process was helped immensely by the brilliance of candidate Obama himself – always calm and cool as a cucumber; always right on the issues; always presenting the arguments in a non-threatening way; always appearing confident and knowledgeable, etc. Read more
Calypsonian Black Stalin gets honorary doctorate from UWI
November 15, 2008
Published on Monday, November 3, 2008
By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Well known calypsonian Leroy ‘Black Stalin’ Calliste, immortalised for his ‘Caribbean Man’ calypso, was conferred with an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies (UWI).
He was the third calypsonian to have received an honorary doctorate from the UWI. The others were Slinger Francisco (the Mighty Sparrow), and Hollis Liverpool (Chalkdust).
The Trinidad Express stated that ‘Stalin’ urged young and upcoming calypsonians to remain dedicated to the art form and to work hard because, he said, “Hard work pays off”. Read more
Trinidad PM threatens to take the media to court
November 15, 2008
Published on Monday, November 10, 2008
By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, is hopping mad with the media and has threatened to go to court about allegations made against him in the press.
He told newsmen that he would not hesitate to visit media houses and complain if he disapproves of the content they produce.
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning. AFP PHOTO The Trinidad Guardian reported that Manning said, “I have taken a personal decision and that decision is that if ever I am aggrieved by anything the media does in the future, I am going to the courts.” Read more
Number of female murders doubles in Trinidad and Tobago
November 15, 2008
Published on Tuesday, November 11, 2008
By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The number of female murders has doubled in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago so far for the year.
The Sunday Express in an article said that 44 females have been murdered for the year, 22 more than the same period last year. Read more
Crime hits the high seas in Trinidad
November 15, 2008
Published on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: A day of fun at sea turned out to be an evening of terror when six men, in pirate-style, attacked a boat carrying 20 passengers, killing one and injuring seven others.
The Trinidad Express reported that 42-year-old Assim Ali, a carpenter from Cunupia, was killed by a gunshot wound.
Three others remained in serious condition at the hospital and another received minor injuries.
According to the newspaper, the gunmen had targeted six persons that were part of a group of 20, who went on the trip and were on their way back near Five Islands when the 25-foot pirogue was “rammed” on the port side by another boat. The occupants thought it was an accident, but the speedboat that hit the pirogue began to circle the vessel and two of the six men who had guns started to open fire on the group. Read more
Chanderpaul’s hundred in vain as Pakistan clinch series
November 15, 2008
ABU DHABI (AFP): Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit a fighting century but couldn’t stop Pakistan winning the second day-night international by 24 runs here on Friday, securing an unbeatable 2-0 lead.
The 34-year-old left-hander notched an unbeaten 107 — his ninth one-day hundred — but failed to get much support at the other end as Pakistani bowlers kept it tight to dismiss the West Indies for 208 in the 49th over.
Pakistan were also restricted by some disciplined deliveries by Jerome Taylor (3-38) and Daren Powell 3-50, with the team eventually bowled out for 232 in 49 overs on a slow Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.
The third and final match is on Sunday. Read more
Condoms failing to stem teen pregnancy in Guyana.
November 15, 2008
BY Staff-MPs call for more abstinence programmes
Although more teens have access to condoms, the pregnancy rate across the country shows that youths are not wrapping up and stakeholders are calling for a fresh strategy that shifts from contraceptive to abstinence advocacy.
The condom strategy has failed to have the impact intended, Members of Parliament (MPs) sitting on the Social Services Sectoral Committee said yesterday, noting that the time has come for a re-assessment of the tactics used in shaping the country’s approach to adolescent sex.
But Sheila Fraser of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), who presented a report to the committee on the condom distribution policy, said condoms are a realistic approach, as youths are engaging in sex at earlier ages. She said the straight talk on abstinence might have worked about a decade ago, but research continues to show a fast growing population of sexually active Guyanese youths. Read more
Yes! He is Guyanese. Ghalee Khan granted US$200,000 bail on drug charge
November 11, 2008
Ghalee Khan, the 31-year-old businessman and promoter, who was busted last week after a cocaine drop was made at a New York location has been granted US$200,000 bail by Justice Ramon E. Reyes.
Ghalee Khan
One of the conditions of his bail is that Khan, who is a US citizen, cannot make contact with his co-accused Danvor Griffith. The accused, along with four suretors, signed his bond. Read more
Mr. Byron Lee from the “Byron lee and Dragonires” Band has died.
November 7, 2008
According to the family of Mr Lee, he suffered from a long standing battle with transitional cell cancer and more recently with bladder cancer. Mr. Lee passed away at the University Hospital of the West Indies earlier this week at the age of 73. He was surrounded by his family and closest friends. He is survived by his wife, Sheila, sons Byron Jr, Edward John, daughters Deanna, Judith, Julianne and Danielle as well as grandchildren Amelia, Alexander, Jessica, Victoria, Amanda, Jaden and Dylan. The band that Lee pioneered(The Dragonires) at the young age of twenty was known for global hits such as Tiny Winey and for also globalizing Soca music in the very same way the band had a standing impact on the expansion of carnival worldwide. The Baiganchoka Team would like to wish the family of the late Mr. Byron Lee our sincere condolences. May the music be sung by generations to come.
The Baiganchoka Team
A West Indian Halloween Tale
October 31, 2008
Kavita and Priya decided that they wanted to celebrate their birthday, which both happen to fall on Halloween. Kavita and Priya are first cousins; Priya is exactly a year older. This year these cute bubbly girls decided to go on a cruise around the West Indies. Kavita figured it would be awesome to go without any of her relatives because usually when she visits the islands, she’s stuck at her aunt’s house. The cruise they decided to travel with had a West Indian theme, everything flamboyantly colored and music blasting ever hour of the cruise. Read more
Trinidad’s Big Shame by Caribbean Writer
October 21, 2008
Another year is soon coming to a close and for Trinidadians and Tobagonians, it will end as the bloodiest in their 46 years as an independent nation.
Equally startling is the public perception that government and the security forces of the land have lost the battle against the criminals as blood continues to spill daily in homes, on the streets and in vehicles.
A Port of Spain businessman a few days ago expressed concern that the public was no longer reacting to the upsurge in violence in the country. It’s not that they are no longer concerned but there is a deep sense of apathy among the population which I wrote about in this space some weeks ago. Read more
Revenge of Agriculture’s Neglect by Caribbean Writer
October 21, 2008
Isn’t it just amazing how most countries in the region are belly-aching about the increase in the price of food, mainly imported, after years of rhetoric about kick-starting agriculture, which sadly never came.
It might be true to say our leaders were probably still talking about resuscitating this important sector of our economy while the high food prices crisis crept up on them. Read more