Source: GLEANER
Former United States President Bill Clinton says he will dedicate the next three years of his life in helping to rebuild Haiti after the devastating January 12 earthquake.
The United Nations Special Envoy to the impoverished CARICOM country and co-chair of Haiti’s reconstruction commission, said he “wakes up every day sick at heart that we aren’t doing more” to help Haiti.
“I don’t want to be naïve. It’s going to be a stretch,” Clinton told reporters in Port-au-Prince Sunday.
“It’ll be hard, but I’m excited about it; enough so that after a couple of heart incidents and being 63 years old, I am prepared to spend three years on it.”
The 42nd United States president said more needs to be done on all fronts in Haiti.
“In the camps, we need more sanitation and protection from blow down. In the streets, we need more jobs. We need to begin reconstruction, then do something on the education front,” he said.
“Then the health-care system needs to be built. I used to say rebuilt, but then I realised there really wasn’t one before. We’ll have to rebuild the infrastructure; we’ll have to rebuild the agriculture.”
Last week, Clinton said he planned to put pressure on governments that have been slow to deliver on promises to aid Haiti’s reconstruction efforts.
“I’m going to call all those governments — the ones who said they’ll give money to support the Haitian government — I want to try to get them to give the money, and I’m trying to get the others to give me a schedule for when they’ll release it,” he said.
“I think that they’re all having economic trouble, and they want to hold their money as long as possible.”
Clinton said less than two per cent of the US$5.3 billion pledged at a Haiti donors conference in March, at the United Nations, has been handed over to the UN-backed body.
The World Bank is also urging donors to deliver on aid pledges in order to keep the reconstruction momentum going.
As fiscal agent for the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF), the Washington-based multilateral institution said that it has, to date, received formal confirmation for only US$98 million.
To date, the World Bank said Brazil has been the largest contributor to the fund with US$55 million; followed by Norway, US$31.2 million; Australia, US$8.6 million; Colombia, US$3.2 million; and Estonia, US$50,000.
The banks said additional contributions are expected from Canada, the European Commission, France, Georgia, Mauritius, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the US.
“We are currently urging the international community to make good on their pledges, but we also understand that many donor countries need to get approval from their budgetary systems,” said Pamela Cox, World Bank regional vice-president, stating that she expects contributions to be met over the lifetime of the trust fund.
“We’re going to have to be clever,” Clinton said. “But if people can see the homes coming back, and if we could put many, many more people to work, I think that would make a huge difference.”
CMC
July 20, 2010 — The Embassy of Belize in Washington, DC successfully hosted on Saturday, July 10, 2010, a first meeting between Belize’s Consular Representatives in the United States and Canada, and the leaders of Belizean Community Organizations in the United States. This event followed the first summit of Belize’s Consular representatives in the United States and Canada, which was held on July 8 – 9, 2010.
Both of these meetings were held within the framework of the implementation of the Diaspora Initiative, through which the Government of Belize is seeking to engage the Belizean Communities in the United States in a strategic, mutually beneficial partnership for the development of Belize. The Diaspora Initiative is premised on the recognition of Belizean communities abroad as an important resource for Belize, not only in the area of remittances, but also as a large market for Belizean goods, a potential tourist niche group, and a largely untapped pool of skilled human resources with great potential for skills and technology transfer to Belize.
The objectives of the meeting with the Belizean community leaders included the initiation of a discussion on how to coordinate within the Belizean diaspora to maximize the results of many ongoing projects these groups are undertaking in Belize, including the sponsorship of schools, the donation of medical supplies and equipment, the organization of medical missions, and many other social and humanitarian activities.
The meeting of Consular Representatives that was held on July 8 – 9, 2010, was opened by Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow. Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and His Excellency Alexis Rosado, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, participated in both the meetings with the Consular Representatives and with the Belizean Community leaders.
Food For The Poor (Guyana) says it has donated in excess of $28M worth of food items, water and educational materials to residents in the flood-affected Upper Demerara communities. According to a release yesterday from the organisation, residents of Coomaka, Three Friends and neighbouring communities received items that included beef and chicken broth, chick peas, canned food, assorted crackers, protein meals, coffee and books.
The release quoted FFP Executive Director Leon Davis as saying “we will be of further assistance as the situation demands.†The organisation said the donations followed discussions Davis had with residents in the affected communities on July 13. It noted that rendering aid to those in need was hindered “by impassable roadways or trails and to a lesser extent, transportation incapability†but expressed gratitude to Public Works Minister Robeson Benn for making his ministry’s staff and lorries available to assist the efforts.
The organisation said it was also grateful to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and other partners who responded affirmatively in this time of need.
Heavy rain has flooded large swathes of inland areas, cutting off some communities and at least 200 families in villages along the upper Demerara River have been flooded out, government officials said last week.
The CDC has been mobilised along with the Ministries of Agriculture, Amerindian Affairs and Health and the Region 10 Administration. Benn and Minister of Local Govern-ment and Regional Develop-ment, Kellawan Lall have visited the area to assess the extent and impact of the flooding in the riverain areas including the mines area communities in Linden, Great Falls, Malali and Muritaro.
CDC Director General Colonel (retd.) Chabilall Ramsarup told this newspaper at the weekend that there was no need to evacuate the residents since most of the houses in the affected areas were built on stilts or affected persons had opted to stay with relatives.
Source: Stabroek
Agents from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) yesterday seized a posh Mercedes-Benz motor car valued at millions of dollars from dancehall star Elephant Man in a bid to collect taxes owed by the entertainer.
The car was taken from an upscale home at Hillcrest Avenue, St Andrew, believed to be owned by Elephant Man, whose real name is Oneil Bryan.
While the car was being placed on a tow truck, Elephant Man, who has done several collaborations with R&B stars in the United States, remained inside the house with his advisers and did not speak to reporters gathered outside.
Director of communications for the IRD, Meris Haughton, did not release the delinquent’s name, but confirmed that its special enforcement team, supported by the St Andrew North police, “conducted an operation to seize an asset of a taxpayer for outstanding taxes”. Haughton would not divulge how much money is involved.
Could face charges
Haughton explained that in cases where property is seized, delinquent taxpayers have 10 days to pay off their arrears or the confiscated asset would be auctioned. She said if the proceeds from the auction do not cover the debt, the taxpayer could face criminal or civil charges.
Police sources told The Gleaner that the IRD’s special enforcement team first swooped down on Elephant Man’s mansion overlooking Havendale, also in St Andrew, but nothing of significant value was identified.
However, one source involved in the operation said the team learnt of the Hillcrest Avenue home while searching the first residence.
Elephant Man, popular for his colourful hairstyles and zany performances on stage, shot to fame in the 1990s with the dancehall group Scare Dem Crew. He then went solo and recorded a string of hit songs, including dancing anthems Pon Di River, Gully Creepa and Sweep.
Source: Stabroek
Responding to much expression, through the media, of public concern about the direction of Caricom, the Heads of Government once again committed themselves, at their recent 37th Meeting, to seeking to find a more appropriate form of governance than presently exists. This time they have appointed themselves to find a solution, rather than any group of technocrats on whose proposals they would rule. Though the Committee of Heads established to look at the issue of management intends to co-opt some technocrats to assist them, their decision makes it clear that they feel that if the buck stops with them, they might as well cook it themselves on this occasion. And no doubt they have become sensitive to the clear fact that they are the ones being blamed by public opinion for the persistently tardy manner in which this issue of governance has been dealt with.
The matter has, of course been in train since 1992 – eighteen years ago – when the West Indian Commission made its recommendations on governance in anticipation of Caricom’s transition from a Common Market to a Single Market and Economy. Following their rejection of that Commission’s proposals, they seemed eventually to come to some agreement on the basic principles on which a governance framework might be constructed at their 24th Meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica in July 2003. For in their so-called Rose Hall Declaration on Regional Governance and Integrated Development, taking the name of the place to which they returned on the 4th of this month – seven years later, they seemed to have somewhat reversed themselves in tackling the subject once again.
That Rose Hall Declaration indicated that the Heads of Government were agreed on one underlying principle that should guide the construction of a governance system – that “CARICOM is a Community of Sovereign States…and …the deepening of regional integration will proceed in this political and juridical contextâ€. Since 2003 this statement of principle, suggesting to most observers that the West Indian (Ramphal) Commission’s was seen by the Heads to have breached it, nonetheless maintained the Commission’s recommendation that the central instrument of Caricom Governance should be a CARICOM Commission, which the Heads now agreed should guide a “system of mature regionalism†in which “critical decisions taken by the Heads of Government …will have the force of lawâ€.
All subsequent proposals for a form of Caricom governance have maintained this proposal and institutional arrangement proposed in it. The arrangement, according to the Declaration, gave the power to the Commission “to exercise full-time executive responsibility for furthering implementation of Community decisions†– these decisions being made either by the Heads themselves or their Ministerial Councils. And indeed subsequent Committees established by the Heads, including the last Technical Working Group on Governance which reported in 2007, have maintained it, tweaking here and there. Yet it is apparent that the notion of a Commission provided with the authority to, effectively interrelate with the national or state arrangements, in order to ensure the implementation by the national legislative and administrative organs of decisions made by the Heads at Caricom level in a timely manner, has stuck in the craw of one or another Head whenever decision time about a Caricom structure has come.
It appears that whatever happened at the recent 37th Heads Conference, whatever report that was made to them, was still unsatisfactory or could not receive consensus. But the Heads, sensitive to widespread criticism, from within and without their ranks, about what has appeared to be their persistent trawling in the water without ever reaching port, have now decided to take what must now be one last opportunity to arrive at some agreement on this issue. They do so in the context of an increasing awareness by Caricom and private stakeholders in various spheres that the present institutional arrangements for decision-implementation are hindering the construction of an effective Single Market and a Single Economy. And secondly in the context of promptings by OECS leaders, that in their attempt to create an Economic Union, they have apparently found the holy grail – an institutional arrangement that satisfies the requirement of recognition and maintenance of national sovereignty, while being capable of ensuring collective implementation of regionally-taken decisions (though the proof of that pudding will be in the eating).
Yet, still proceeding with what would appear to be hesitation, our Heads seem to have given themselves the limited mandate that they would “conduct a review of the proposals on the table with regard to this issueâ€. Yet a mandate not dissimilar to this was given to President Jagdeo during the last Heads meeting in Guyana. So citizens of the Region are still left to wonder what would happen if, having deliberated on the proposals at their Special Meeting in late September this year, when they report as promised to their Intersessional meeting in February 2011, the “proposals on the table†are found wanting by one or other of the leaders.
Nevertheless, optimists might conclude from this meeting that the Heads have decided that what is required is no longer any technical wizardry created by diplomats and technocrats, but rather a hard political bargaining session among themselves in which concessions can be made towards eventually coming to a conclusion on this matter. There are signs that Prime Minister Golding, now Chairman of Caricom, has cooled down somewhat on his initial strident declaration, soon after his elevation to office, that if the “E†in CSME meant any diminution of Jamaica’s sovereignty, then his country could be counted out. There are signs too, from the recent Heads meeting, that the Prime Minister may feel that there are grounds for finding a solution to the governance problem with what appears to be a sympathetic Prime Minister of Trinidad (in spite of her ATM talkâ€) in the wider context of finding a resolution to the problems of trade, and the terms of production, claimed to exist by Jamaican entrepreneurs against Trinidad.
Who knows? It is really not being cynical to say that there is no point, after all these years, in speculating. We will just have to wait till next February.
SOURCE: STAR
One of the leading reggae shows, Irie Jamboree, held in New York has called it quits for this year.
In a release sent to THE STAR yesterday, it stated that the event’s executive team made the decision to forgo the seventh-annual staging for this year and will be focusing on planning for the 2011 festival on Labour Day.
Earlier this year when contacted by THE STAR shortly after the announcement was made that Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Mavado and Aidonia, had their visas revoked, Bobby Clarke, CEO for Irie Jam Radio, said he was unsure of the future of Irie Jamboree and other reggae concerts in the US due to the visa cancellations.
Later, Anthony Turner, Marketing Consultant and Publicist for Irie Jamboree, said that the event would be held in September in New York, as he didn’t believe the show would have to be cancelled because of unavailability of these artistes.
“As far as I know, the show is still on. Bounty hasn’t performed at the show for four years. The only one that we consistently use is Beenie Man. But there are cultural acts that we could focus on and we could probably inject a little R&B,” Turner had said.
Now in the release, the organisers stated five reasons that contributed to the cancellation of the show. Among them are the economic recession, the cancellation of artistes’ visas and the incarceration of artistes.
high standards
The release stated, “Reggae artistes whose inspiring performances are usually at the core of any successful festival, have been affected by a number of well-publicised events that will hinder the delivery of an event that meets the usual high standards of an Irie Jamboree type, and the equally lofty inherent expectations of its concert goers. Primary among these are visa revocations and artistes incarcerations. Buju Banton- incarcerated; Beenie Man-no visa; Bounty Killer-no visa; Busy Signal-no visa; Mavado-no visa; Vybz Kartel-no visa; Ninjaman- incarcerated; Jah Cure-no visa; Sizzla-no visa and Luciano-no visa.”
Other reasons include the 8 p.m. shut down that is imposed on the Roy Wilkins Park venue in Queens where the event is to be held.
The release said, “The New York City mayor’s office through the 113th precinct in Queens, has issued orders for events in area parks to be concluded by 8 p.m. This puts tremendous pressure on particular promoters. The event is generally scheduled to end at 10 p.m. It is unreasonable to expect the team of professionals who plan and organise the concert, and whose resources are already strained to terminate the show at 10 p.m. even under the best of circumstances.”
Another reason according to the release, is the overall climate in the industry in which they state that the reggae industry is at an all time low.
Other variables included, the siege in Tivoli, the release stating: “recent upheaval in western Kingston borne of the events surrounding the extradition of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke to the United States is an international incident that has had a plethora of adverse ripple effects throughout the diaspora, and implications across economies, from which very few have emerged unscathed.”
It continued, “Suffice it to say that this has deemed this 2010 as being a less than opportune year for the concert promoting business. That said, we remain confident that Irie Jamboree 2011 will continue the trend in being the best, and most celebrated reggae concert in North America.”
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SOURCE: SXM NEWS
Philipsburg:— Independent member of the island council and the coalition partner of the National Alliance Heyliger and Laveist government Theo Heyliger has officially submitted a letter to acting Lt. Governor Reynold Groeneveldt on Monday informing him that he has resigned from the executive council with immediate effect. Heyliger’s resignation would not affect the current government because he did not pull his support from the National Alliance/Heyliger and Laveist coalition.
A copy of the letter was provided to SMN News states “I, the undersigned Theodore E. Heyliger hereby tender my resignation as a member of the Executive Council of St Maarten with immediate effect. I am grateful to have been able to serve St Maarten and its people as a member of the executive council of the island territory of St Maarten.”
Chairman of the island council Reynold Groeneveldt informed the council of Heyliger’s letter on Monday at the end of the island council meeting. The announcement prompted island council member Roy Marlin to ask if Heyliger also pulled his support from government since the political agreement signed on Saturday June 6th 2009 was signed between the National Alliance and Heyliger with Independent member of the island council Louie Laveist giving his support to the National Alliance.
Groeneveldt said Heyliger would remain as a commissioner even though he resigned with immediate effect until a new commissioner is appointed by the executive council.
SMN News learnt that the executive council will be dealing with the resignation of Heyliger and the appointment of a new commissioner in their weekly meeting on Tuesday. SMN News further learnt that one of the two persons that might be appointed as Commissioner is Rudolph Samuel or George Pantophlet.
While Heyliger made clear that he resigned to prepare for the upcoming elections which are slated to take place on September 17th. Heyliger is yet to launch the green party which he said would be called the United People’s Party”.
Source: SXM News
The venomous Pacific Ocean Lionfish has arrived in St. Maarten waters. The Nature Foundation was contacted by a local dive operator reporting a sighting of a two-inch long lionfish on a local dive site The Lionfish is a poisonous fish species which was introduced into the Caribbean and tropical Western Atlantic from the Pacific Ocean in the Early 1990′s. The Lionfish has venomous spines all over its body which can cause extremely painful and occasionally fatal stings in its victim. Staff from the Nature Foundation immediately responded to the reported sighting but due to the inclement weather and despite multiple attempts they were not able to capture it. “We were unable to capture the specimen over the last few days because of the squally weather. As soon as the weather clears we will be able to once again attempt to capture the specimen. Lionfish tend to stay in one location for the majority of their lives so we will likely be able to capture it soon,” commented Tadzio Bervoets, manager at the Nature Foundation.
Lionfish were first introduced after an aquarium tank carrying three of the fish was destroyed in Ft. Lauderdale during hurricane Andrew in 1992. Since then the venomous fish has steadily been invading numerous coastal waters throughout the Bahamas, the United States and the Caribbean. In addition to Lionfish posing a threat to public health they are voracious predators and will eat up to 10% of their body weight. “The problem for fisheries is that our local fish species do not see it as a predator and so they don’t know to avoid it. There have been areas in the Bahamas where fishing had to stop because there were no more local fish or lobster being caught in fish and lobsterpots, only poisonous lionfish. That is why it is very important that we have a management structure in place to deal with the invasion,” commented Bervoets.
The Nature Foundation has a St. Maarten Lionfish Response Plan in place since before the first specimen was observed in anticipation of the fish reaching local waters. The Foundation stated that it will be doing everything it can to control and manage the infestation but that initial control will be challenging because the Marine Park Ordinance is not yet in place which would have given the Foundation greater resources and legal backing to deal with the invasion.
If a lionfish is observed the Nature Foundation should be contacted immediately at 5444267, 5270490 or 5805703 with information on the location, time of day, and activity. If someone happens to be stung by lionfish medical attention should be sought immediately and hot water be applied to the wound which will help neutralize the venom. The Nature Foundation will be organizing information sessions for the general public concerning the invasion.
In its continued quest to make air travel affordable despite the current challenging financial times being experienced by many, regional airline, WINAIR has once again launched an attractive carnival fare package from all stations to flights to Saba and St. Eustatius.
According the Claudio Buncamper, VP of Marketing he said that this new fare is geared at ensuring that the public can attend and or participate in the carnival activities.
“Recognizing our role as an airline for the communities that we serve we are cognizant that we need to get involve in facilitating easy and affordable travel thus we though it best to provide this package which we are confidant of will aid significantly in enhancing the respective carnivals,” he said.
Buncamper pointed out that his company will continue to provide these packages in an effort to continue boosting travel to the various destinations we serve especially in these trying times
“We have our own challenges and difficulties but we have been able to ensure that we can provide the needed opportunities for the public to continue with traveling plans and our commitment is that we will continue,” he assured.
The VP of Marketing in disclosing the new fares disclosed the following;
From the various Islands to Saba or St. Eustatius, the following fares apply:
St. Maarten US$ 75
St. Barth’s EUR 100
Nevis / Antigua / Montserrat / Tortola / St. Lucia and Dominica US$ 220.00
Buncamper stressed that all quoted fares are roundtrip and excludes taxes noting that travel are valid from July 21 until including August 02, 2010. He further indicated that these special fares to have restrictions and urges passengers to check with the carrier. “We want the public to know that seats are limited thus we urge and beckon them to make absolute benefit of these exceptionally low fares,” he declared.
He pointed out that travelers should make maximum use of the fares noting that it provides them with an excellent opportunity of being part of the carnival celebrations.
“Travelers certainly have an opportunity of being part of the respective carnivals so with these very low fares I am very confident that the public would take advantage of this offer,” he noted.
SOURCE: GLEANER
The concert has grown, matured and developed into a giant on the Jamaican entertainment landscape, to the point where the world has recognised and honoured the achievements.
Each year, several of the world’s more popular magazines, websites, and newspapers discuss, analyse, and shower praises on the festival for its ability to attract leading performers and package them with great food, good music and Jamaican culture into an inspiring show.
The festival has won awards from The International Reggae and World Music Awards. It won the category ‘Concert of the Year’ in 2008 and ‘Promoter of the Year’, in 2008, ’09 and ’10.
“This is evidence that we’re doing something right with Reggae Sumfest,” said Johnny Gourzong, executive director of Summerfest Promotions, after collecting the award.
“The trophy serves as extra motivation to provide entertainment value like Jamaica has never seen.”
For this year, the 18th staging, the organisers plan to present another memorable event worthy of other awards.
Stellar line-up
They have begun with the stellar line-up that features R&B superstars Usher and Chris Brown, and Jamaica’s finest acts such as Shaggy, Mavado, D’Angel, Beenie Man, Queen Ifrica, Jah Cure and Bounty Killer, among others.
Reggae Sumfest began putting its world-class production on display on July 17 with a beach party at the Cornwall Beach. Dancehall Night kicked off festivities on Thursday, while there will be International Nights on Friday and Saturday.
Reggae Sumfest is the most celebrated and supported reggae festival in Jamaica, and attracts the world’s leading musicians and performers.
In its near-20-year history, the show has boasted a superb entertainment package loaded with the best performances, food, music, and culture.
Tickets for dancehall night (Thursday, July 22) cost $2,800 presold and $3,000 at the gate, and for International Night one and two (Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24), advance tickets cost $4,700 and $5,000 at the gate.
In Montego Bay, tickets are available at El Paso Records, Pier One, Fairview Texaco, Fontana Pharmacy, Wexford Hotel, Pier One, MoBay Proper Ltd. and Parkway Supermarket. In Kingston, they are available at York Pharmacy, LG Service Centre, Rory’s Texaco, Acropolis and Sportsmax Zone. Tickets are also being sold at Pierview Vacation Inn, Ocho Rios; Times Square Shopping Mall, Negril; Travel Mania, Portmore; and at Fontana Pharmacy in Mandeville.
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