(Jamaica Observer) - A moderate earthquake has rattled Trinidad & Tobago, causing some alarm, but no reported damage or injuries.
The US Geological Survey says the magnitude-4.8 quake struck early yesterday and was centred some 50 miles north east of Roxborough, an eastern town on the tourism-dependent island of Tobago. It was also felt in the Caribbean country of Barbados.
Its epicentre was about 46 kilometres (29 miles) below the surface.
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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Journalist Anika Gumbs-Sandiford has retained former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj as she pursues legal action against Sports Minister Anil Roberts for defamation.
“I have been advised by Senior Counsel that the words spoken and published amount to serious slander and libel and would entitle me to be vindicated by the court in respect to my character and reputation as an investigative journalist.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- Thirty-three Haitians were taken ashore on Saturday afternoon after they were intercepted by Coast Guard officials off the coast of the eastern parish of Portland.
The Haitians - 16 adult males, four adult females and 13 children including two infants were spotted by fishermen who alerted the marine police and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).
They were examined by a medical team and the Office Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) alerted.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Foreign Minister Frederick Mitchell says the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) had detained 17 Cubans at Cay Lobos on Sunday and that the Perry Christie administration is seeking to repatriate them swiftly to Havana.
“We have advised the Cuban government that they are in the centre and we want them repatriated swiftly to Cuba in accordance with the provisions of our agreement with Cuba,” Mitchell said, adding that the Cubans, whom he did not give much information about, had been brought to the capital.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Ministry of Foreign affairs and Foreign Trade is reporting that 271 Jamaicans were deported from CARICOM states in 2012.
Another 254 Jamaicans were deported from Curaçao.
This was revealed by AJ Nicholson, foreign affairs minister. He was responding to questions posed by Opposition senator Robert Montague in the Senate on Friday.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Today is to be the second and final day of a special session of the Cabinet to deal with what the Government has dubbed its growth agenda. It will have been the fourth such extraordinary meeting of ministers in the nearly 14 months since the People's National Party (PNP) regained the Government.
We previously advised the minister that they should stay wherever they are now holed up, and not emerge, until they not only have a fully defined economic strategy, but clearly defined tactics for its implementation as well as articulation to the Jamaican people.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Chairman of the Digicel Group Denis O'Brien says recent uncertainties around taxation have impacted the level of foreign direct investment in Jamaica and will drive away investors from the island. At the same time, he said, notwithstanding its foray into the hospitality industry in Haiti, the telecommunications outfit will not be entering the local tourism sector.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is unlikely to approve an extended fund facility for Jamaica by the end of March based on the schedule of the executive board.
Golding said it is "a matter of concern" that the IMF updated its executive board calendar archive on its website on February 6 and replaced Jamaica with the Philippines for the board meeting scheduled for March 29.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaica government says it has agreed on the upcoming national budget in keeping with a programme being worked out with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
A statement issued at the end of the first day of the Cabinet retreat, said that the Portia Simpson Miller administration completed all prior actions required to successfully sign an agreement with the IMF and was now awaiting a report from the fund regarding its discussions with other multilateral financial institutions.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Claiming to be bemused by the 2013 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, economist Ryan Straughn says the Government is not willing to take advice and has failed to take the necessary measures to take Barbados on a growth path.