News

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - ON SUNDAY, United States President Barack Obama was sworn in for his second term in office. He will have to shoulder the power and burden of the presidency in an increasingly turbulent world darkened by domestic discord and crises abroad. Obama has already said that he would root his second term in the crusade to build a more equitable economy which powered his triumph over Republican Mitt Romney but he is destined to face stiff resistance.

HOUSTON (Reuters) – James Davis, the government’s top witness in convicted swindler Allen Stanford’s fraud trial, was sentenced today to five years in prison for his role in a $7 billion Ponzi scheme. Davis, 64, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to three charges and could have been sentenced to 30 years, told the court in a breaking voice, “I am ashamed and I am embarrassed.” He added that he let down his family, co-workers and thousands of investors.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President Julian Hunte says sold-out matches in the just concluded Caribbean T20 tournament is proof that passion for West Indian cricket has rekindled.
Fans were turned away on certain nights at the Queen's Park oval in Trinidad and at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St.Lucia where the matches were played, reports CMC.
"There can be no doubt about the growing strength of West Indian cricket," declared Hunte.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it is committed to the establishment of a single regulatory body to monitor the telecommunication sector here.
“We do intend to now have a single regulator for all aspects of telecommunications. We now have the OUR (Office of Utilities Regulation), the Broadcasting Commission and the Spectrum Management Authority as three bodies that regulate this industry,” said Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM) Minister Phillip Paulwell.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – The main opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has dismissed claims by Premier Craig Cannonier that it spent “upwards of US$100 million a year on consultants”.
PLP chairman Maynard Dill described the claims as “fairytale numbers” indicating that figures released on the website of the Ministry of Finance showed the figure to be $50.7 million for the year.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A former Barbuda Council member has accused government of failing to pay the same attention to air travel between Antigua & Barbuda as it does to regional travel.
George Burton said he is very concerned that central government is giving financial support to regional air carrier LIAT while Barbudans are left out of the loop.
He said he doesn’t understand why two dedicated airplanes to jaunt between the two islands, owned and operated by the council, can’t be made available.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A month after projecting it would make a “modest” $7 million profit in 2013, LIAT says such an achievement is no longer possible.
The company had hinged its profit making ability on complete re-fleeting that got off to a late start, due to a lack of funds and reconstruction of aircraft records destroyed in a blaze seven months ago, which LIAT failed to quickly complete.
Management now hopes to break-even year-end – which it considers would still be a significant achievement, since the airline has been hemorrhaging millions in recent years.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Trinidad Guardian) – Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj said more of T&T’s agricultural produce may soon be available in Caribbean market. At the re-commissioning of the Orange Valley Wholesale Fish Market in Couva yesterday, Maharaj said Namdevco will soon start construction of five packing houses at the cost of $8 million each. He said the packing houses will absorb local produce with the objective of selling the excess to customers in regional markets.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The rout of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) in Monday’s elections for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) settles many questions. There is no doubt now where the sentiments of the people of Tobago lie. The rejection of Ashworth Jack, ousted from the Mason Hall/Providence/Moriah constituency seat he’d held for 16 years, was as much an endorsement of the PNM governance and campaign management as it was an electoral condemnation of the TOP and the very present People’s Partnership Government.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - There is no minority leader but this is not going to prevent the victorious Orville London-led slate from the PNM’s Tobago Council from being inaugurated as the new Tobago House of Assembly tomorrow. “My lawyers have said there is nothing to prevent the THA from functioning without a minority leader and a minority council.” London said yesterday, as questions arose as to whether the THA Act allowed an assembly to be constituted without a minority leader in the wake of the PNM’s 12-0 sweep over the Tobago Organisation of the People in Monday’s THA election.