Carib Net News

United States: East Coast grinds to a halt as superstorm nears

2012-10-29T11:11:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Sandy bore down on the Eastern Seaboard's largest cities Monday, forcing the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds, soaking rain and a surging wall of water up to 11 feet tall.

Sandy strengthened before dawn and stayed on a predicted path toward Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York — putting it on a collision course with two other weather systems that would create a superstorm with the potential for havoc over 800 miles from the East Coast to the Great Lakes. About 2 to 3 feet of snow were even forecast for mountainous parts of West Virginia.

The tempest could endanger up to 50 million people for days.

"This is the worst-case scenario," said Louis Uccellini, environmental prediction chief for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Many workers planned to stay home Monday as subways, buses and trains shut down across the region under the threat of flooding that could inundate tracks and tunnels. Airports also closed, with thousands of flights canceled, and authorities warned that the time for evacuation was running out or already past. Utilities brought in extra crews, anticipating widespread power failures.(read more here)

Mexico: Tamaulipas state gas plant blast kills 26

2012-09-19T00:23:00.000-04:00

An explosion followed by a fire at a gas plant in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas has killed 26 people.

Mexico's state oil company, Pemex, said the fire broke out at around lunchtime at its gas facility outside the city of Reynosa, near the border with the United States.

Pemex said 26 workers had died, 22 contractors and four company employees.

The cause of the blaze has not be established, but the company says the fire has now been extinguished.

The plant is located by a road linking the cities of Reynosa and Monterrey.

After the explosion, which occurred around 11:00 (16:00 GMT), the road was closed for hours as ambulances and firefighters rushed to the facility to try to control the situation and rescue the wounded.(read more here)

Trinidad and Tobago: Man burnt to death in serial arsonist attack

2012-09-19T00:11:00.000-04:00

RETIRED accountant Nizarmool Maccum-Hosein was burnt to death yesterday in his Couva home in a fire suspected to have been set by a petty thief turned serial arsonist.

The suspect was identified as the one involved in three house fires in Preysal over the last two months. Maccum-Hosein's burnt remains were found in the ground floor garage of his house, underneath the burnt-out flooring of the living room.

The man had no wife or children and lived alone.

Police are searching for a 32-year-old man, of Preysal.

Maccum-Hosein's house at Main Road was seen on fire at around 5 a.m. yesterday. Fire tenders from the Savonetta and Couva fire stations responded, but could not save the building. Pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov did an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre, St James and concluded that Maccum-Hosein died of smoke inhalation.

Police said a window at the back of the building appeared to have been pried open and the kitchen ransacked, with food items strewn about.

Residents identified a petty thief, recently released from jail after serving a sentence for robberies in the area, as the one setting fires to homes after stealing items.

Police confirmed they were investigating a link between the robberies at the homes and the fires at Mowlah Trace and Powdharrie Road within the last six weeks. Owner of Artee's Puja and Variety Store, Sybil Seepersad, of Mission Road, was lucky her store and home were not set fire after the thief struck last Thursday.(read more here)

Jamaica: Jah Cure raps with 2 Pac

2012-09-18T23:53:00.000-04:00

REGGAE artiste Jah Cure has released a new single entitled All By Myself which features late American gangster rapper Tupac Shakur.

Released last week, All By Myself was produced by Jamal 'Mally Mall' Rashad and co-written by Grammy-winning songwriter and musician Jason 'Poo Bear' Boyd.

The song, which was done digitally, is distributed by the independent label SoBe Entertainment based in South Beach, Florida and will be included on Jah Cure's World Cry album which is set for release in November.

"This song came about through my contacts in the US who had a track with Tupac. I am good friends with the musician Poo Bear, who is known for production with Usher, Lupe Fiasco, Kelly Rowland and other superstars, and who helped me write a few lines around this song. I believe it is a good fit, remember that Tupac went to prison too, he understands the struggle and he is the Marley of his art form, so it was an authentic collaboration," said Jah Cure.(read more here)

Dominican Republic: Over 22,000 volunteers clean up the Dominican beaches

2012-09-17T00:43:00.000-04:00

The Annual International Coastal Cleanup is under way today in the Dominican Republic, one of the 127 countries involved in the global initiative.

Each year, thousands of volunteers from around the world participate, clearing tons of trash from coastlines, rivers and lakes, recording every piece of trash collected.

According to Vida Azul chief Oscar Oviedo, the coastal cleanup includes 157 sites, surpassing last year’s 132 localities. In the Dominican Republic, the effort has the backing of the Ministry of Environment and Fundacion Vida Azul. (link to source)

Jamaica: Bruce Golding back in Jamaica

2012-09-04T20:35:00.001-04:00

Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding is back in Jamaica following his departure in late July to get further medical attention on a chronic back problem.

RJR News learnt that Mr. Golding returned to the island last Friday after spending about four weeks in Miami, where he had undergone a successful back operation at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

A source close to Mr. Golding revealed that the former Prime Minister lost about 15 pounds, and remains in good condition.

Mr. Golding will continue to wear a back brace for several weeks, on the advice of his doctors.

It's not clear whether he'll be returning for follow-up care.

The former Prime Minister was forced to seek treatment overseas following complications from back surgery.

It’s believed the second local surgical procedure did not result in significant improvement in the former Prime Minister’s condition.(link to source)

Dominican Republic: Three men stabbed and kill artist Jose Carlos Hernandez

2012-09-04T20:14:00.000-04:00

Three men stabbed and killed artist Jose Carlos Hernandez in the dawn hours of yesterday morning. Hernandez was the son of the departed merengue singer Jochy Hernandez and the television host Maria del Carmen Hernandez.

The different versions relate that a woman confused Hernandez with one of her alleged rapists and arrived at the Gustavo Live Pub discotheque, located on Winston Churchill Avenue at the corner of Jose Amado Soler, with three men who went after the victim with knives.

A source at the National Institute of Forensic Pathology said that Hernandez received at least 27 stab wounds.

Yesterday the National Police presented Maximo Almanzar, Garcia, Miguel Angel Batista and Joseías Mota as the alleged perpetrators of the killing, but nevertheless, they did not reveal the name of the young woman that had contracted these three men that killed the artist.(read more here)

Cuba: Daughter of Cuban vice president 'defects' to US

2012-09-01T11:44:00.000-04:00

Glenda Murillo Diaz, 24, daughter of Vice President Marino Murillo, crossed over into Texas from Mexico, according to a report in the online version of US Spanish-language newspaper El Nuevo Herald.

Cubans who set foot on US soil are allowed to remain in the country as part of Washington's "wet foot, dry foot" policy. Cubans intercepted at sea are returned to Cuba. (read more)

Trinidad and Tobagao: 2 youths die in crashes near home

2012-09-01T11:37:00.000-04:00

Two more people have died in car accidents, bringing the total deaths for the year to 131.

One of the victims, 20-year-old Gasparillo electrician Nicholas Rampersad, was killed in a car crash yesterday after celebrating the nation's 50th anniversary of Independence with his relatives.

Rampersad, of Fourth Street, Harmony Hall, was thrown out of his vehicle and died at the scene, police said.

Police said around 3.45 a.m., Rampersad and his cousin Bradley Rampersad had gone to purchase doubles near their home. (read more)

Barbados: Barbados seizes Jamaican racing cars - Marijuana allegedly found

2012-09-01T11:26:00.000-04:00

TWO vehicles from Jamaica that were scheduled to participate in a major racing meet this weekend were reportedly seized by Barbados authorities after marijuana weighing 38 pounds was found in the trunk of the cars.

Yesterday, Hilary Jardine, the immediate past president of the Jamaica Race Drivers Club (JRDC), called the incident an "unfortunate situation".

"It's a very sad state of affairs. But I trust everyone will be cleared," Jardine told the Jamaica Observer before departing for Barbados.

According to the Barbados' Nation newspaper, the discovery was made by the Drug Squad and Customs Department on Thursday.

The vehicles, which were part of a Jamaican contingent, were scheduled to participate in the Digicel/Williams Seaboard Marine International Race Meet this weekend. (read more)

Dominican Republic: Dominican Republic goes nuts for “miracle” moringa

2012-09-01T11:12:00.000-04:00

Carib Comment: Who hasn't seen the commercials on Dominican TV? Well, that is if you watch Dominican TV. Moringa is all over the advertisement circuits.

The consumption of moringa (also libertad) has reached fever pitch in this city, so much so that the tree’s plantations in the area have been all but decimated, forcing its vendors to desiccate and store them as a precaution.

As prices of moringa leaves, pods, nuts, husks and wood jump in keeping with the numbers of its consumers, fierce competition among sellers has been the result, with trees in low lying areas cut down to the very trunks to use not only the leaves, but the pods and wood of the "miracle tree." (read more)

St. Maarten: Reality TV stars may have to pay St Maarten $90,000 for busted marriage

2012-08-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

When 34-year-old NFL veteran Chad Johnson allegedly head-butted his new bride Evelyn Lozada, it cost him a lot more than his marriage.

The “domestic dispute” resulted in the loss of Johnson and Lozada’s joint reality television show "Ev and Ocho," which may cause the government of St Maarten to take legal action against the estranged couple.

Johnson and 36-year-old Lozada exchanged vows in a Caribbean dream wedding in St Maarten on July 4. The estranged newlyweds were reportedly given $90,000 by the government of that country after signing a contract that would ensure the island was featured in their VH1 reality television show, "Ev and Ocho."

The agreement flopped when the VH1 network released a statement about the cancellation of the show after Johnson, NFL veteran wideout, was arrested for allegedly head-butting Lozada following an argument over his purchase of contraceptives. After his hometown Miami Dolphins dropped the wide receiver from their roster, VH1 followed up with an announcement about dropping the couple from their schedule next month.(read more here)

Jamaica: Brutal murder - Motorist killed

2012-08-29T06:30:00.000-04:00

SPUR TREE, Manchester — Quick action by cops in the Area Three Police Division (Manchester, Clarendon and St Elizabeth) yesterday resulted in the recovery of two motor cars and a firearm, as well as the apprehension of three men who are prime suspects in the brutal murder of a St Elizabeth motorist who had advertised his car for sale.

The police reported that the dead man, 26-year-old Michael Rochester of Balbee district, St Elizabeth, met the three at Gutters, St Elizabeth, to negotiate the sale of his Toyota motor car.

Rochester reportedly left the area in his motor car with two of the men aboard, heading in the direction of Spur Tree Hill. On reaching a section of the roadway, explosions were heard, and the body was seen being pushed from the motor car. Another car was also observed speeding away from the scene.

The police found Rochester, who had been shot, lying in the roadway. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.(read more here)

Dominican Republic: Top prosecutor slams the lack of extradition treaty with Haiti

2012-08-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

The National District prosecutor Yeni Reynoso yesterday questioned Dominican Republic’s lack of extradition treaty with its island-neighbor, Haiti.

She asked how it is possible to have an extradition treaty with the United States and not have such an agreement with the neighboring country.

The official also slammed the persecution against organized crime, which in her view in carried out the same way it was done 20 years ago.

Reynoso stressed that while organized crime uses technology and other leading edge resources, the authorities must take 14 steps to seek international cooperation into a crime.

The DA also questioned the lack of the figure of the conspiracy in Dominican Penal Code, citing the recent investigation into retired colonel Pedro Julio (Pepe) Goico’s alleged plotting against Haiti’s government, from Dominican territory.

Reynoso urged an amendment to the Penal Code, because in her view the current legislation dates back to 1846.(link to source)

United Kingdom: British woman suffers more than 100 orgasms a day

2012-08-28T23:53:00.000-04:00

Carib Comment: OK this isn't Caribbean but it caught our attention from a Puerto Rican news carrier. Oye mi gente! Blessing or a curse? You be the judge.

At 44 years old, Kim Ramsey has orgasms stroll and feel the movement of the train.

This British suffers from persistent genital arousal disorder, which causes more than 100 orgasms a day and that keeps you from leading a common life.

And what is that for most women is the most pleasant feeling in the world, for Ramsey became a nightmare. Today she is unable to have sex, as the amount of orgasms a day's leaves her exhausted and unable to maintain a normal rhythm.

It is a lifelong problem, caused by a nerve disorder caused by spinal cysts, resulting from a fall down the stairs. "Other women wonder how to get an orgasm, me, how to stop them," Ramsey told The Sun newspaper.

The experiences of this syndrome are not based on any sexual appetite, in fact, it works against this.

Any pressure in the genital area, either weak or strong, can trigger an orgasm, and the desire to urinate.

Source: ABC of Spain (link to source)

Trinidad and Tobago: Gold medalist Keshorn gets key to Port of Spain

2012-08-28T23:45:00.000-04:00

OLYMPIC gold medallist Keshorn Walcott can now add the key to the City of Port of Spain to his growing list of accolades.

He received the honour yesterday following the Port of Spain City Corporation's monthly statutory meeting held at City Hall, Port of Spain.

Port of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing said Walcott received the honour for prevailing over a field of seasoned javelin throwers, for being the first person from the Caribbean to win gold in the event and for being the second Olympic gold medallist from Trinidad and Tobago. The first was Hasely Crawford in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. (read more)

Guyana: 13-year-old twin sisters raped

2012-08-28T23:39:00.000-04:00

Police are on the hunt for two men who allegedly raped 13-year-old twin sisters last week.
The sisters who hail from the Ruimveldt area were lured to a house near Laing Avenue by the two men, who then took advantage of them.

Police sources have indicated that one of the perpetrators is known to one of the sisters.
One source said that on Friday last, the two girls went to the West Ruimveldt front road in the vicinity of a fruit stand where they met the man that is known to them.

He and another man invited them to a house in the area and forced them into having sex.
The matter might have gone unreported had it not been for the presence of a ‘Big Man’ in the said house where the alleged sexual assault took place.

The police were called in and a medical examination of the two girls revealed that they were indeed sexually molested. (link to source)

United States: Buju changes lawyer

2012-08-28T23:34:00.005-04:00

Incarcerated Jamaican DJ Buju Banton has changed his long-time attorney David Oscar Markus, who has been representing him since his arrest in 2009.

His new lawyer is now Chokwe Lumumba from Mississippi, USA.

The change, Oscar Markus confirmed with the Jamaica Observer, took place over the last few days. Lumumba’s office also confirmed today that he was now Buju’s attorney.

“We are still brothers and I hope for him the very best,” Markus told the Observer.

Buju was convicted in February 2011 on gun and drug-related charges, and later sentenced to 10 year’s imprisonment. He subsequently lost his appeal and a bid for a new trial.

The appeal court also reinstated the gun conviction that the trial judge threw out. Buju is to be sentenced October 30 on the gun matter for which he could pick up an additional five years. (link to source)

Dominican Republic: RED ALERT for the imminent arrival of Isaac with hurricane winds

2012-08-23T14:21:00.000-04:00

With the threat that the Tropical Storm Isaac, which was located some 850 kilometers to the East/Southeast of Saona Island, represents for the country, the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) ordered a Red Alert from Saona Island to Pedernales for hurricane conditions and from Saona Island around to Manzanillo Bay a Yellow Alert for tropical storm conditions.

A alert means that within 48 hours the threatened areas can feel one or two effects associated with a tropical cyclone.

The provinces within the Red Alert areas are: La Altagracia, La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, Greater Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo and the Nacional District), San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, Peravia, Azua, Pedernales, Barahona, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, San Juan de la Maguana, Independencia, Bahoruco and Elías Piña.(read more here)

Dominican Republic: Popular singer joins push against mine in Central Mountains

2012-08-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

Hector Acosta "El Torito" Wednesday night became the latest personality to join the fight against mining in Loma Miranda, and revealed some details about the plans in the effort.

In press conference in his hometown nestled in the Central Mountains, the pop and merengue star announced a peaceful march against the planned mining at Loma Miranda for Tuesday September 18 and invited people to participate en masse.

"I am totally against this exploitation because it would rip out the blood and lungs from the populations of Bonao, La Vega and the country."

Acosta said the attitude of some local authorities concerned and surprised him, after he organize activities against violence and crime, but now don’t invite him to the meetings they conduct, "apparently angry with me because it was rumored that I was going to be candidate for senator, but they can rest easy since I will not, what I do is sing."(read more here)

Barbados: Domestic violence groups criticize Rihanna’s Oprah interview

2012-08-22T14:20:00.000-04:00

Rihanna’s tearful revelations to Oprah Winfrey, taped in Barbados and aired on “Oprah’s Next Chapter” on Sunday, may have won the hearts of sympathetic fans and captivated others with a rare view of the Barbadian international recording star’s softer, more sensitive side.

But while Rihanna's candid disclosures about her private life were considered admirable by some, her opinions of Brown, considering the abuse she suffered at his hand over the Grammy weekend in 2009, have sparked fires of controversy.

The interview already has domestic violence groups and charities criticizing Rihanna's comments and claiming that they could serve to reduce the seriousness of abusive relationships.(read more here)

Carib Comment: watch the clip below about the interview

Jamaica: Call centres coming to Barbados, Jamaica and St Lucia

2012-08-22T14:04:00.000-04:00

Telecommunications giant LIME is to return a call centre to Barbados and establish new centres in Montego Bay and St Lucia to serve the region, according to reports out of Jamaica.

This follows a decision by LIME to take its call centre contract from Xerox and give it to Canada-based TELUS International in an effort to better manage its relationship with customers.

The re-establishment of a customer care centre in Barbados was also a direct response to customer needs, LIME said, since customers on that island had repeatedly asked to talk with people “who sounded more like them”.

Formerly known as ACS e-Services, Xerox handled the telecommunication company's call centre operations for the past three years but LIME said TELUS is a better fit to take it through to the next step in managing customer issues.(read more here)

Dominica: Man accused of stealing from company

2012-08-22T13:41:00.000-04:00

A man who is accused of stealing $125,900.61 from the company he worked for appeared in a Roseau court on Tuesday.

Franklyn Hypolite is facing the charge of theft.

The police have accused him of stealing the money in cheques and cash from RDR Inc. a mining company owned by Roger Williams and located in Colihaut.

The alleged theft is said to have occurred between 26th July, 2010 and 19th May, 2012.

He was granted bail in the sum of $125,000 with Nikisha Hypolite and Margorie Francis as surety.

Hypolite was also ordered to report to the Mahaut police station twice a week, surrender all travel documents and to stay away from all prosecution witnesses.

Hypolite is being represented by attorney at law Jeoffery Letang and is set to reappear in court 10th December, 2012 at Portsmouth.(read more here)

Dominican Republic: Wal-Mart buys biggest Dominican retail chain

2012-08-22T13:30:00.000-04:00

La Sirena, a supermarket and department store chain operating in various cities, has been sold to the U.S.’ biggest retailer Wal-Mart, for more than US$800.0 million.

Quoting sources close to the deal, elnuevodiario.com.do reports that the chain owned by the Grupo Ramos has been at the center of persistent rumors, that the deal is nearly concluded. “We are aware of it, but we can’t comment anything about it.”

It said the formal transaction was slated for 16 August, but postponed for another date, possibly announced in the coming days. “Some say it will be Saturday, August 25.”

The deal, the outlet reports, doesn’t include Pola, the country’s biggest supermarket chain.

The Ramos group of companies is among the country’s biggest employers, second only to the Popular Financial Group.

There are 21 La Sirena stores nationwide, 13 of which are located in greater Santo Domingo.(read more here)

Jamaica: Usain Bolt turns 26 today

2012-08-21T14:28:00.000-04:00

The fastest man in the world is celebrating his 26th birthday today.

According to his latest tweets, the triple world record holder has been sight-seeing in Switzerland, and even sent out some photos of The Alps to his over one million followers.

Bolt was born in Trelawny, Jamaica and attended the William Knibb High School.

The sprinting ace made history in the recently concluded 2012 London Olympics by defending both his 100 and 200m titles and anchoring the Jamaican men's 4X100m relay team to a blistering 36.84 second world record breaking win. Jamaica is the first 4x100 relay team to go below 37.00 seconds.(link to source)