CHESTER, England — The government of Monserrat has awarded a commission to develop a design masterplan for the island’s brand new capital to Environmental Associates (EA), based in Chester, England, the Chester Chronicle has reported.
The contract represents “a Caribbean hat-trick†for the design practice, which has previously completed masterplans for the capitals of both Trinidad and Tobago.
The former capital of Montserrat was dramatically destroyed by the island’s volcano in 1997. The location for the new capital, Little Bay, lies to the northwest of the old capital and is well beyond the volcano’s danger zone.
EA’s managing director Martin Band was invited over to the island just before Christmas to present the practice’s design ideas to the Chief Minister, his cabinet and the people of Montserrat at an open house event.
He said, “It was a great event for the islanders and those who returned to visit friends and family at Christmas. The Island is known for its hospitality, so I was very pleased to be invited to join them to explain our work and join in the celebrations.
“During the day these included, steel pan bands, a fantastic array of local foods, carnival masqueraders and in the evening a music and calypso festival. A very exciting and unusual way for me to start my Christmas celebrations!â€
EA’s masterplan and the design guidelines will be used to ensure that the new capital becomes a unique and attractive gateway to the island, providing a spectacular new visitor destination for the region’s tourism market.
It will be a Grammy affair at the Caribbean’s best musical festival this January – the 2010 Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival – as acts such as Gladys Knight, Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Billy Ocean, Erykah Badu, Third World and The Whispers, take to the main stage in Trelawny, Jamaica.
The line-up of the 14th staging of the annual event recently expanded with the addition of multiple Grammy-winners, ‘Babyface’ and Erykah Badu.
Babyface will take to the stage on Thursday, Jan. 28 at The Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny along with The Whispers, Joss Stone, Jon Secada, Robin Banks and Joe Roy Jackson. Babyface has won over 10 Grammys for hits like “Two Occasions,†“Never Keeping Secrets†and “For The Cool In You.â€
On Friday, Jan. 29, fans can get ready for Erykah Badu, Billy Ocean, Machel Montano and the Queens Project – featuring Tamia, Kelly Price and Deborah Cox. Badu is sure to thrill the Jamaican audience with hits like “Tyrone,†“Bag Lady†and “Didn’t Cha Know?†while Ocean, Montano and the Queens Project are sure to keep things jumping.
The festival wraps up on Saturday, Jan. 30 with the Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight along with Third World, Hall & Oates, Monty Alexander and Marion Hall.
The addition of two top tier acts was precipitated by the unavailability of Jennifer Hudson for the Festival. Hudson was forced to cancel her confirmed appearance to accept an invitation from senior music executive Clive Davis to perform at the Grammy Awards.
“The date for the Grammy Awards had to be moved up, due to the Winter Olympics,†explained Festival Executive Producer Walter Elmore. “Changes in schedules are sometimes unavoidable, but they are also opportunities,†Elmore said of the revised line-up.
In a statement, her representatives indicated that, “Jennifer is very much looking forward to performing at next year’s festival as she is unable to perform for the 2010 event due to scheduling conflict.â€
The 2010 staging of the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival will be a seven-day long celebration of The Art of Music that will see Montego Bay engulfed in the awesome sights and sounds of the Turn Key Productions event from Jan. 24-30.
Jamaica Jazz festival officials are urging all music fans in the U.S., U.K. and Canada to book early to experience the sights, sounds and magic of sunny Jamaica, West Indies.
Jamaica Jazz since its introduction in 1996 was known as the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. It has attracted thousands of patrons from the USA, Europe, the Caribbean and Jamaica. International artistes that have performed at the festival include Diana Ross, Alicia Keys, Kenny Rogers, Kool & the Gang, Brian McKnight, Erykah Badu and Michael Bolton among others.
This year the festival is again being presented by key title sponsor, the Jamaica Tourist Board. Other sponsors include Air Jamaica, Iberostar, Rose Hall Resort, CVM TV and The Gleaner Company among others.
SEVERAL airlines have refused to allow controversial Muslim Cleric Sheikh Abdullah al-Faisal aboard their aricraft, hampering efforts by Kenyan officials to deport the radical cleric back to Jamaica, the Daily Nation reported yesterday.
The Kenyan newspaper reported that al-Faisal was held at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi for most of yesterday, as government officials worked out an alternative plan to transport him to Jamaica.
Al-Faisal was arrested by Kenyan authorities on New Year’s Eve for entering that country illegally. They said the radical cleric gained access from Tanzania, after travelling through the Lunga Lunga border crossing at the Coast.
Al-Faisal was also accused of breaching the conditions of his tourist visa by preaching in mosques.
Yesterday, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims chairman, Prof Abdulghafur El-bussaidy, was quoted in the Daily Nation as saying he knew little about al-Faisal.
But Sheikh Dor, the secretary general of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, defended the Jamaican.
“He is an honest man who came into the country legally… he has not done anything wrong,” Sheikh Dor was quoted as saying.
“I have CDs of his preaching … from what I have seen and heard, you will love him. He only talks about the rights of Muslims but has not in any way called for the killing of anyone. Those are rumours being propagated by the western world,” he added.
Al-Faisal was deported to Jamaica in 2007 after serving four years in a British prison for inciting murder and stirring hatred by calling for the slaughtering of Americans, Hindus and Jews.
Yesterday, the Daily Nation reported that the Muslim Human Rights Forum group planned to block al-Faisal’s transfer to Mogadishu, Somalia.
BEMELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – Former foreign affairs minister Eamon Courtenay says he does not anticipate an early referendum being held early as part of the measures aimed at ending the long standing border dispute with neighbouring Guatemala.
“As you know, the government in Guatemala has not been having particularly easy time the last year. And… evidently they are not yet ready to start a full-fledged education campaign,†said Courtenay, who is also a member of the Belize negotiating team.
Two years ago, the Belize government announced that it would seek approval from its citizens on whether to press ahead with a legal battle with its neighbor and that a referendum would have been held by March last year.
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington was quoted as saying that the government was at this point t in time trying to settle on exactly what is the question it would be asking of the Belizean people.
Belize’s decision for a referendum came days after the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Jose Miguel Insulza visited both Belize and Guatemala to settle their land dispute though the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague,.
The OAS is the regional body through which the negotiations have been conducted and it maintains a presence at the border with Guatemala, where it is responsible for promoting confidence-building measures.
Last month, the OAS said it was establishing a high level working group as it seeks to bring about a settlement to the long running territorial dispute between the two countries.
Courtenay, speaking on Channel Five television on Tuesday night, said that Belize is aware that Guatemala has voted significant resources into doing their legal preparation for the referendum.
But he said the problem regarding the staging of the referendum may be linked to the cycle of electoral politics in both countries.
“… looking at the election cycle in Guatemala and the election cycle in Belize as well, I’m not quite sure how early we are going to have a referendum. But it is not a wait and see; it is a constant discussing between the two countries to see when is a propitious time, when is a good time for both sides of the border.
“Next year Guatemala moves into the run-up to an election cycle, which is not the appropriate time to be conducting such a campaign. 2012 Belize will be in a run-up to an election, which has to be held very early, at the latest, very early in 2013 which would not be an appropriate time to hold that sort of education campaign.
“So if you talk about having an education campaign beginning some time in 2013 or after and if you say that, as Guatemala had estimated, it will take them about a year to do it, you are talking about holding a referendum some time in 2014,†said Courtenay.
He said that following upon the referendum, he is also anticipating that the two countries would be going before the ICJ by 2017 for the latest.
The former foreign minister acknowledged that while the border dispute between the two countries remains the number one national issue, there are cross border issues that both countries can agree on, including environmental and immigration matters.
“We need to review whether it’s in the interest of Belize to emphasize the legal settlement. Is that the main issue affecting Belize today? Or is it the incursions? Is it the deforestation? Is it the overfishing in the Gulf of Honduras? Is it the pollution in the Gulf of Honduras? Is it the crime and drug smuggling that is happening on the border and in the Gulf of Honduras?
“I think we need to focus on those issues across the border between Belize and Guatemala and to reach the appropriate agreements and protocols on those issues to aggressively deal with those issues,†he told television viewers.
BOGOTA, Jan 7 (Reuters) – Canadian oil firm Pacific Rubiales Energy (PRE.TO) PRU.CN said on Thursday it agreed to pay $190 million to the Colombian Central Pipeline SA, OCENSA, for the rights to use its crude pipelines 10 years.
The agreement to transport 160 million barrels of oil will go into effect next month, according to a letter sent from Pacific Rubiales to Colombian stock market regulators.
“Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp … has reached an agreement with Central Pipeline SA (OCENSA) to acquire claims on the available capacity of the transportation system of that company, to carry up to 160 million barrels for a period of 10 years,” the letter said.
The pipelines run from oil fields located in Colombia’s central jungles to the country’s Caribbean coast.
“This agreement is vital for us, to ensure the continued flow of oil from the Rubiales and Quifa to a low transportation cost,” Rubiales Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Pantin, said in the letter.
The company produces more than 111,000 barrels a day and about 60 million cubic feet of gas in Colombia and it is ranked as the most active private firm in the countries oil sector.
Pacific Rubiales, which plans investments of $853 million in 2010 in Colombia, said last month that it expects to reach production of 225,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2010 as it develops three sites in Colombia and aims to reach reserves of 400 million to 450 million barrels next year.
Shares of the Toronto-based Pacific Rubiales were trading at C$15.00, up 6 cents, on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Pacific Rubiales shares traded on the Colombian Stock Exchange were trading at 29,000 pesos, up from its Wednesday close at 28,800 pesos. (Reporting by Koustav Samanta in Bangalore and Leonardo Suarez in Bogota; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
STOCKSMERGERS & ACQUISITIONSGLOBAL MARKETS
LONDON, England, January 7, 2010 – A recently published Caribbean Insurance Report 2010 has described the region as “something of a backwater” as far as the market for insurance goes.
The report said that except for life insurance in Trinidad and Tobago and non-life insurance in Jamaica, insurance remains underdeveloped.
“Perhaps for this reason, the major multinational insurance companies have little representation on the ground,” it said, noting that while the American International Group (AIG) has small operations in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago and Spain’s MAPFRE owns substantial businesses across Latin America, those are the exceptions.
“In general, it is local institutions – like Seguros Banreservas in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica International Insurance in Jamaica or RoyalStar in the Bahamas – or regional groups such as the Trinidad and Tobago-based Guardian Holdings or the Barbados-based Sagicor Financial that dominate,” it added.
The report also contended that the competitive landscape “has been complicated by the financial problems of the Trinidad and Tobago-based Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) and British American Insurance Company (BAICO)”.
It said that as the major ratings agencies have downgraded the outlooks of countries in the Caribbean, the values of the insurance companies’ bond portfolios have suffered. It noted that Sagicor Financial, for example, has itself been downgraded because of the cutting in Barbados’ sovereign risk rating.
Of the five countries profiled in the study, the report said, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic have not enjoyed the long-term political and financial stability that is necessary to develop a substantial offshore financial services sector. And it said that while Trinidad and Tobago has been sufficiently stable for large indigenous institutions, such as CLICO and its parent CL Financial to flourish, economic development has been driven overwhelmingly by the energy and related sectors.
By contrast, it said, the Bahamas and Barbados have enjoyed significant success in developing financial services.
“The Bahamas is a long-established leader in offshore trusts and private banking and a successful (if newer) player in hedge fund administration and domiciliation. Detailed estimates of the size of Barbados’ offshore captive insurance community are few and far between, but indicate that annual premiums amount to about US$2 billion,” the reported.
But it continued that both those countries face significant competition from nearby centres that are well established such as the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands, in fund domiciliation and offshore banking, and Bermuda, in insurance.
LAS VEGAS—On Wednesday night, I spent 20 minutes poking around on the Google Nexus One, the latest smartphone to run Google’s Android operating system. As a Motorola Droid owner, I was upset with the fact that my handset is now only the second-fastest Android device, though I was eager to take the Nexus One for a spin – and definitely liked the ride.
The OLED screen on the Nexus One is spectacular—blacks looked inky black. Next to an iPhone and Motorola Droid, the colors on the Nexus One were vivid.
I didn’t find the body of the Nexus One to be as spectacular as its display, but it’s just my taste. It’s thin and sleek like an iPhone, but has a plastic feel whereas every part of the iPhone feels like a sheath of glass.
The Android experience is just flat-out fast. Not to say my Motorola Droid is slow; applications consistently load and close extremely fast and applications fly. But what is not consistent are the flashy graphics transitions that take place when I close applications. Sometimes an application will dissolve into the homescreen; sometimes it will just flash to the homescreen. The dissolving transitions on the Nexus One were consistently smooth, though I don’t know if it’s because it has a faster processor or because it has the newer software build, Android 2.1 versus the Motorola Droid Android 2.0.1.
A few new additions in Android 2.1 include a quick view of all your homescreens, a weather and Google news app and a revamp of the screen where all of the applications are laid out. They were all svelte. There’s also animated wallpapers which are cute, but feel gimmicky and probably are just a waste of battery.
The touch screen keyboard was terrific, though it didn’t feel radically better the Motorola Droid.
Nitpicks aside, you’re dealing with a spectacular handset. Bottom line, the Google Nexus One will likely not disappoint.
The Google Nexus One will be sold directly through Google’s website unlocked for $529.99 or $179.99 with a 2 two-year service plan on T-Mobile. It will also be available on Verizon Wireless in the spring, though pricing was not yet announced.
For more on the Nexus One and the Google Phone Store see Mobile Analyst Sascha Segan’s column
Media Advisory
FRIGATE BAY, St. Kitts and Nevis/EWORLDWIRE/Jan. 7, 2010 — The developer/owner of the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino and Century 21 Island Realty announce the Grand Opening of a sales office for the new Marriott Residences project in North Frigate Bay on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010. The sales office is located in the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
The Marriott Residences St. Kitts, located at Frigate Bay, is a high-profile development of over 300 condominiums being built adjacent to the existing St. Kitts Marriott Resort. The Marriott Residences is a private, ocean-front development offering a wide range of options from 600 square foot studio units to 3,500 square foot, four-bedroom penthouses.
The opening of the Marriott Residences St. Kitts takes place on Friday, Jan. 15 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The sales office marks a milestone as well as an enormously exciting opportunity for the real estate market in St. Kitts. Nigel Rawlins, country manager, Century 21 Island Realty, said, “The Marriott Residences is an amazing project and a fantastic buying opportunity. This project offers so many facets of ownership combined with the best amenities in the Caribbean. Additionally, under the St. Kitts Citizenship by Investment Program, property owners can obtain a St. Kitts passport and citizenship, which allow for frequent Visa-free worldwide travel to many countries. Owners will also enjoy the conveniences of the Marriott Resort including preferred tee times and fees at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course, spa and fitness center, tennis courts, concierge services, unique restaurants and bars, The Blue Martini Piano Bar, shops, the Royal Beach Casino and in-residence dining.”
Mr. Daunesh Alcott, head broker, Century 21 Island Realty, stated, “All units at the Marriott Residences, St. Kitts adhere to high-quality Marriott design standards; the fixtures and furnishings will be very impressive. Pre-Construction pricing is now being offered for the best development in the NE Caribbean starting at US $350,000. The first units in phase one are expected to be completed and ready by the end of 2010.”
Alcott continued, “The developers secured the rights to develop this project from Marriott International earlier this year and have named Century 21 Island Realty as the exclusive sales agent for the project. Each phase of the development will offer a variety of floor plans and unit sizes, from studio units to fit every budget, and also qualify the buyer for the much sought-after citizenship and passport program the government offers.”
Rawlins continued, “Many dream of owning a home in the Caribbean, and the Marriott Residences St. Kitts is the ideal choice. St. Kitts offers great value in square-foot pricing, spellbinding beaches, rich rainforest, exciting nightlife, peace, tranquility and a relaxed pace. We also have great weather, direct flights from all major markets worldwide, duty-free shopping, attractive tax advantages and most importantly a rich history and a stable, democratic government. It also helps that the country has been rated one of the top ten locations in the world to own a second home. We hope that anyone interested in more information will check out our new sales office or will contact us so that we may arrange a tour anytime.”
As part of the Grand Opening celebration, Century 21 Island Realty and the developer are hosting a concert on Friday, Jan. 15 with the first performance this year of recently announced 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Terry Sylvester of The Hollies, and John Ford Coley of England Dan & John Ford Coley. Terry’s catalogue of hits includes such classics as He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, The Air That I Breathe, Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress, and Bus Stop. John’s Grammy-nominated hits include I’d Really Love to See You Tonight, Nights Are Forever Without You, Love is the Answer, and Well Never Have to Say Goodbye Again.
For more information on the Marriott Residences St. Kitts, please visit MRStKitts.com (‘http://www.mrstkitts.com’) or call Century 21 Island Realty (869) 466-8000.
ABOUT ROYAL ST. KITTS BEACH RESORT LTD
Royal St. Kitts Beach Resort Ltd. is developer and owner of the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino. The resort and casino offer an unparalleled island vacation experience, including luxury guest rooms trimmed with West Indian accents and cutting-edge comforts. That same Caribbean flavor sets the tone in the resorts eight restaurants and three lounges. For those who enjoy games of chance, the resort offers the 35,000 sq ft Royal Beach Casino, one of the largest and most luxurious in the Caribbean as well as the Emerald Mist Spa. The resort also boasts a championship course at the Royal St Kitts Golf Club. Whether guests are hitting the links or splitting aces, easing their mind and spirit or pleasing their palate, they seem to find just what they need from an inspiring St. Kitts vacation at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino.
CENTURY 21 ISLAND REALTY
Century 21 Island Realty provides Real Estate services for St. Martin, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba, Statia, and Anguilla. Whether a first-time buyer or experienced real estate investor, Century 21 Island Realty has the information one needs on home buying, home selling, financing, and owning real estate in the islands in the Dutch West Indies, French West Indies, British West Indies, and the Netherlands Antilles. For more information, visit Century21IslandRealty.com (‘http://www.century21islandrealty.com’).
ABOUT CENTURY 21
Century 21 Real Estate LLC (‘http://www.century21.com’) is the franchisor of the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization, providing comprehensive training, management, administrative and marketing support for the CENTURY 21 System. The System is comprised of more than 9,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 64 countries and territories worldwide. Century 21 Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Reality Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services.
CONTACT:
Charles Southworth
SXM Worldwide
69 Harbour Close
New Haven, CT 06519
PHONE. 203 878 3884
EMAIL: cesiii@yahoo.com
Anguilla elections
While the people of neighbouring St Kitts and Nevis are still awaiting an election date announcement, Anguillans have been informed by their outgoing chief minister that they will be going to the polls on 15 February.
Chief Minister Osborne Fleming announced the date at a public meeting of the governing Anguilla United Front Party on Tuesday night.
The Anguilla parliament was being dissolved yesterday.
Two other political parties, the Anguilla United Movement and the Anguilla Progressive Party, have indicated that they will be contesting the election.
A handful of independents are also expected in the race.
Finance Minister Victor Banks has replaced Fleming as the leader of the governing party.
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