GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end. – Nelson Mandela, Robben Island 1975
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - We couldn’t agree more with the Prime Minister’s call for an investigation into Jack Warner’s soliciting of funds from private businesses while in the Cabinet. Where we completely disagree with her, however, is in her attempt to present Mr Warner’s actions as a matter of personal wrongdoing that stops at his feet.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE positive analytical findings involving two of our star athletes and three other young athletes have not only shocked the nation but have placed Jamaica under intense scrutiny as the supreme sprinting powerhouse in the world. The doubters are having a field day, ramping up the claim that our athletic domination in sprints is not based on anything else but chemistry and work done in the laboratory. While we do not subscribe to this view, the ammunition now at the disposal of the naysayers is potent.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Watchdog groups in Haiti on Wednesday condemned what they say has been a series of threats targeting the Caribbean nation's small gay community.
Attorney Mario Joseph and gay rights advocate Charlot Jeudy told a news conference that people who are gay or lesbian should be able to live freely without being harassed or attacked.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua- Culture Minister Eleston “Namba” Adams has defended his decision to select 89 people to represent Antigua & Barbuda at the Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) 2013 to be held in Suriname.
He said not only is sending such a large delegation necessary to emphasise the importance of the cultural industry, but also allows talented young people a chance to represent the country.
“We have to prepare our people. It is a sustainable industry and many people these days even doctors and lawyers are turning to the cultural industry,” the minister explained.
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The St. Lucia government Wednesday said it is moving swiftly to implementing community projects under the Constituency Development Programme (CDP) with financial assistance from the Taiwanese government. The Kenny Anthony government said as a result of the grants provided by Taiwan, it has allocated EC$24 million (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) to the CDP this financial year. A government statement said that since the start of the financial year, 120 contracts, valued at five million dollars, had been awarded under the CDP.
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Opposition legislators Wednesday said they will continue to boycott sittings of the National Assembly since they have no intention of providing legitimacy to the Denzil Douglas administration.
The six opposition legislators, claiming to be the “united elected majority” stayed away from parliament which approved an amendment to the National Assembly Election Act that Prime Minister Dr. Douglas said would improve the democracy in the twin-island Federation.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) have heaped praises on Jamaica for the no-smoking regulations, which took effect on Monday.
In a release yesterday, the United Nations bodies said that the regulations will protect the population from the harmful effects of tobacco and exposure to second-hand smoke.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - A campaign by local human rights watchdog, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), highlighting the plight of children, has not gone down well with the Minister of Youth , Lisa Hanna who has described an online petition by the JFJ as “disingenuous, dishonest, and dangerous”. According to Hanna, the petition - “Stop the abuse of Jamaica's children by the Government” - does not take into account actions being pursued by the Portia Simpson Miller led administration to address the multi-dimensional issues facing children in Jamaica.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says while it remains open to facilitating dialogue and reasonable suggestions regarding the newly implemented smoking ban in public places, the policy was not taken in isolation.
“When we look at emerging data, some, 50 per cent of persons who smoke die from some kind of tobacco-related illness. So my actions and that of the Government are not in isolation. It is against the background of a vision,” said Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson.