ECCU still seeking assistance from Trinidad for BAICO and CLICO policyholders
The Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) continues to seek financial relief from the government of Trinidad and Tobago, both in support of policyholders as well as in support of regional institutions whose investments in British-American Insurance Company (BAICO) now pose a risk to the member countries.
St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas noted a health insurance fund was in place for most of last year in order to assist affected BAICO health insurance policy holders.
“Even as we continue to pursue the best possible outcomes for policy holders, however, it should be understood that final outcomes for BAICO and CLICO will not be the same – due to the assets held by CLICO,” said Douglas at a press conference.
Douglas, who is also the minister of finance, said the complex and highly technical undertaking of recapitalizing and selling BAICO is now underway.
“Final negotiations with a preferred bidder should begin this quarter, due diligence being of absolute and utmost importance,” Douglas disclosed.
He said that, at the end of this process, which could last until the third quarter of this year, regional governments wish to see “policyholders having received some relief, and a significantly strengthened ECCU insurance marketplace.”
Douglas said it is anticipated that some two out of every three of BAICO’s remaining policyholders will be assisted as a result of the efforts of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).
Caribbean News Now
Amnesty slams Haitian judiciary for dropping Duvalier case
Haiti’s judicial authorities have dealt yet another blow to the victims of former leader Jean-Claude Duvalier, Amnesty International said this week after the criminal case against the former “president-for-life” for grave human rights violations was dropped.
An investigating judge in Port-au-Prince on Monday announced that Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier will not stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity – including torture, disappearances and extrajudicial executions – but only for embezzlement of public funds committed during his rule between 1971 and 1986. The text of the judge’s decision has not been made public.
Duvalier has been under investigation in Haiti since he returned from exile in France in January 2011, after a group of victims filed complaints accusing him of crimes against humanity as well as corruption and theft.
The victims can appeal the judge’s decision and Amnesty International has vowed to continue supporting their search for justice.
“The conclusion of the sham investigation into Duvalier is a disgrace and will further entrench impunity in Haiti. No serious effort was made to determine the truth despite the multiple complaints and abundant evidence about the crimes committed and the victims,” said Javier Zúñiga, special adviser at Amnesty International, who researched the crimes of Jean-Claude Duvalier in the 1980s.
“The handful of victims that have been interviewed had been subjected to intimidation by Duvalier supporters and his lawyers. It is clear that the investigating judge left out invaluable evidence and decided not to interview all the victims that filed complaints. This is a dark day for Haiti and for justice.
“Duvalier benefited from a safe haven in France for 25 years until he returned to Haiti, where the authorities have failed to hold him to account for the crimes under international law perpetrated by his subordinates while he was in power.”
In January 2011, Amnesty International submitted extensive documentation on the grave human rights violations committed under Duvalier, none of which was considered by the magistrate.
Under international law, torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and arbitrary arrests are considered crimes against humanity when committed as part of a systematic or widespread attack against the civilian population.
No statute of limitations may apply to crimes against humanity and the alleged perpetrators cannot benefit from amnesties, even in the case of former heads of state.
Amnesty International has expressed concern that the current Haitian government lacks the will to bring Duvalier to justice.
“Recent public statements from President Martelly hinted at pardoning Duvalier. This could amount to unacceptable pressure and interference with the investigation. Inviting Jean-Claude Duvalier to take part in public official ceremonies clearly showed that the government wanted to rehabilitate Duvalier instead of holding him to account,” said Zúñiga.
“Haiti has failed to live up to its international obligations to investigate all allegations of crimes against humanity and bring their perpetrators to justice. Victims have been awaiting justice for more than 25 years, and today’s decision is a major setback to them and all Haitians. But this is not the end of the road – we will continue to support the victims at the appeal stage and in international instances if necessary.”
Caribbean News Now
Guyana residents on alert for flooding
Unusually high rainfall for the first month of the year has resulted in the East Demerara Water Conservancy reaching threatening levels.
As a result, residents of the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creek were placed on alert and advised to take the necessary precautions for flooding as government announced plans yesterday to release water from the swollen East Demerara Water Conservancy into the Creek.
The opening of the Maduni Sluice to release the water during low tide starting yesterday will relieve the swelling EDWC dams.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said: “This is the latest of the actions we have taken to maintain the conservancy at a safe level. In most of the places where we measure the amount of rainfall, the amount of rainfall for January 2012 has surpassed by several fold the long term average for January,” he said.
However, once the waters are under control once again the Maduni Sluice will be closed and the Dermerara River outlets relied on exclusively once again.
Residents of Mahaica Creek encountered a similar situation in 2005 and 2006 when they were forced to endure deep floodwaters following the release of water from the EDWC.
Caribbean 360 News
203 local nurses for South East Region
AS part of efforts to address the shortage of nursing staff in some of the country’s public hospitals and health care centres, Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson said 96 locally trained nurses will be taking up employment at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) come Monday, and 14 at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital.
“This is good news. This is really good news,” Ferguson said after a tour of the institutions yesterday morning.
“We recognise that the challenges are great, but we are seeking to put measures in place to get better services.”
A total of 203 nurses will be placed in hospitals and health care facilities in the South East Region on Monday with the bulk at KPH.
Ferguson also stated that his ministry would be looking at measures that will keep locally trained nurses practicing their trade in Jamaica.
Egypt football riot: Club coach saw 'fans die' after pitch invasion
An Egyptian club coach has told how he was "beaten with fists and sticks" and saw fans killed during a pitch invasion which left 74 people dead.
Manuel Jose, coach of Cairo club al-Ahly, has returned home to Portugal following the riots which erupted at the end of the game against al-Masry in Port Said on Wednesday.
"I was beaten with fists and kicks to the neck, head and feet," said Jose.
"I saw our fans die before us and we were unable to do anything."
Many fans suffocated after becoming trapped in a narrow corridor as they fled the violence, according to reports.
Some people feel the police and security forces did not do enough to intervene.
Al-Ahly assistant coach Pedro Barny said: "What happened was an unspeakable catastrophe.
"From the beginning of the game, the fans of the opposing team were allowed to fire rockets and stones at us without any intervention.
"In the end, it turned into a state of madness without any role for the security in the stands.
"We tried to save the lives of some of the fans, but many died before our eyes."
Jose, 65, has played for and managed Benfica in a long managerial career, but says this experience has changed his life.
He told the al-Ahly club website : "Nothing happened to any of the players but we feel overwhelming sadness and the return flight [home to Portugal] was made in silence, full of respect for the lives of our fans who died.
"I have to think about my life differently now. Although everybody loves me greatly here, this experience has changed my life completely."
The Egyptian Football Federation has suspended all leagues in the country.
A statement read: "The Egyptian federation has decided to stop the football leagues in all four divisions for an indefinite period after the violence that occurred in the game between al-Masry and al-Ahly, which represented a tragic shock to the centre of sport in general and the football family in particular."
Nations Cup: Ghana through after 1-1 draw with Guinea
Ghana sealed their place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a 1-1 draw against Guinea in Franceville.
Emmanuel Agyemang Badu put the Black Stars ahead, smashing a fierce volley in from the edge of the area.
Abdoul Razzagui Camara equalised right on half-time, with what looked like a cross from the left-wing sailing right into Ghana's goal.
Guinea chased a winner to no avail, but Mali's 2-1 win over Botswana saw the Malians through and Guinea go out.
The tournament's final pair of group games were finely poised at the beginning of the night, with Ghana, Guinea and Mali all in with a good shout of progressing from Group D.
And Guinea started the brighter in Franceville, putting the Black Stars under pressure, but unable to create any clear early chances.
The Guineans had the ball in the back of the net first, but Ibrahima Traore was adjudged just offside, after getting in behind the Ghana defence and nut-megging Adam Kwarasey in the Black Stars goal.
Almost immediately, Ghana responded with the opener and a major contender for goal of the tournament.
Badu calmly collected the ball on the right edge of the Guinea area, before flicking it up with his left and hammering it into the top corner with his right.
It was Ghana's first real clear-cut chance of the game, and they happily slotted back into their comfort zone in its wake, happy to soak up Guinea's pressure.
The Syli Nationale duly obliged, earning a series of corners that put Kwarasey under real pressure, but the Ghana goalkeeper showed much more composure than he did in Botswana's 2-0 win over Mali, punching several Guinean crosses away well.
Guinea then almost handed Ghana a second, after confusion between their defence and goalkeeper Naby Yattara allowed Asamoah Gyan to almost get in before the ball broke to Samuel Inkoom, who chipped just wide.
Ghana looked to be headed for the break in front, but Guinea got their equaliser and put themselves briefly back in contention, with a goal from nowhere, right on the half-time whistle.
Camara ran down the left channel and chipped into the box at pace, before watching it sail right over Kwarasey and nestle in the net to put the sides level at the interval.
Guinea's Mamadou Dioulde Bah earned a suspension just after the break with a second yellow card of the tournament, and it would get worse for the Stuttgart midfielder, as he earned a second of the match and was dismissed for a trip on Kwadwo Asamoah.
Guinea tried to press for a second, but Ghana closed the game out well, retaining possession, and taking advantage of the extra man after Bah's dismissal.
The Black Stars finally took the sting out of the game and added a 1-1 draw to their two previous wins in the group to send them through, while Mali's 2-1 victory over Botswana sealed Guinea's fate.
Ghana assistant coach Kwesi Appiah paid tribute to his side for getting the result they needed to advance.
"We didn't want to get into a situation of problems,'' Appiah said.
"It was just important that we qualified for the next stage.
"At the end of the day, the most important thing is making sure you qualify.''
Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer said his players had shown a good will to win, but criticised referee Daniel Bennett for decisions made during the match, including Bah's first yellow card.
"We all know that Ghana is a great team but it didn't need the help of the referee,'' Dussuyer said.
"I am very disappointed with the performance of the referee.''
Ghana will take on Tunisia in their quarter-final in Franceville on Sunday, with Mali meeting co-hosts Gabon in Libreville.
Floyd Mayweather granted one-fight license to take on Miguel Cotto
Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Wednesday he will fight Miguel Cotto on May 5 in Las Vegas.
Mayweather made the announcement after getting a conditional one-fight license and a lecture from Nevada athletic commissioners, who told the fighter, his manager-promoter and his lawyer they want a prefight report May 1 to ensure Mayweather abides by conditions set by a Nevada judge in a criminal domestic violence case that will have him begin serving 90 days in jail June 1.
Commission Chairman Raymond "Skip" Avansino Jr. said it would be a "tragedy" if Mayweather didn't meet the requirements to make the multimillion-dollar Cinco de Mayo bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
"But we think Mr. Mayweather is certainly going to comply with this," Avansino said.
The commission unanimously granted the one-fight license, after Commissioner Pat Lundvall told Mayweather he can't postpone or delay serving his jail sentence and must stay out of trouble for the 14-plus weeks he's training to take on Cotto.
"I'm just happy to be fighting May 5," Mayweather said as he emerged from the hearing room. "They granted me one fight. I need to conduct myself like a gentleman and do everything that the court ordered and then come back in front of them and show them that I deserve to have a license for a whole year."
The undefeated Mayweather, a seven-time world champion in five weight classes, will turn 35 this month. He'll step up in weight to fight Cotto, 31, a three-division champion from Puerto Rico. The bout will be for the WBA super welterweight belt.
"He's the best at 154," Mayweather said of Cotto.
Mayweather dismissed failed attempts to book the May 5 fight with Manny Pacquiao, a Philippine champion against whom Mayweather is usually measured.
"He really doesn't want to fight," Mayweather said.
Mayweather and Pacquiao are boxing's top two stars, and they have taunted each other for more than two years - including recent postings on Twitter. They also have a defamation lawsuit pending in federal court in Las Vegas stemming from Mayweather accusations that Pacquiao took performance enhancing drugs.
Both say they're eager to fight, but no deal has been reached for what many believe would be the most lucrative bout in boxing history.
Mayweather defeated Victor Ortiz for the WBC welterweight title in September to go to 42-0 with 26 knockouts.
Cotto is 36-2 with 29 knockouts. He is coming off of the second defense of his title, a 10th-round technical knockout win over Antonio Margarito in December.
In a joint statement announcing the fight, Cotto said he intends to be the first boxer to beat Mayweather.
"I am here to fight the biggest names in boxing," Cotto said. "I've never ducked anyone or any challenge in front of me."
Both fighters have agreed to Olympic-style drug testing for the 12-round fight handled by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions.
The May 5 fight date was set before Mayweather pleaded guilty Dec. 21 in Nevada state court to a reduced battery domestic violence charge and no contest to two harassment charges. The plea stemmed from a hair-pulling, punching and arm-twisting argument in October 2010 with Josie Harris, the mother of three of Mayweather's children. Prosecutors dropped felony and misdemeanor charges that could have gotten Mayweather 34 years in prison.
AP
Bucks win 105-97, beat Heat again
The Miami Heat have the stars, the sun and South Beach.
Somehow, the Milwaukee Bucks have bragging rights.
Brandon Jennings scored 31 points, including three 3-pointers in a critical stretch of the fourth quarter, and Milwaukee beat Miami 105-97 on Wednesday night for the Bucks' second win over the Heat this season.
Even on a huge night for LeBron James - he scored a season-high 40 points, including a powerful windmill dunk destined for the highlight reels - Jennings and the Bucks walked away with a win.
And, apparently, a little bit of admiration from James.
"Me and LeBron looked at each other," Jennings said. "I said, `40?' He said, `You've got 31, though."'
Jennings also had eight assists with no turnovers while Drew Gooden added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Bucks, who have won three straight - including a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday.
The Bucks also beat the Heat 91-82 in Miami on Jan. 22.
James had 24 points in the first quarter, the most points any player has scored in a quarter this season, according to STATS LLC. But he went cold in the second half.
"You always give credit where credit is due," James said. "They made some shots in the third quarter and fourth quarter. They got back into it. They made a run. We held it as much as possible."
Dwyane Wade added 23 points for the Heat, but it wasn't enough.
"What that second half showed is we still have a long way to go as a ballclub just in terms of playing consistently," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We were playing very good basketball in the first half. It's a fragile game. In this league it can go the other way quickly if you're not staying consistent to your identity."
Bucks fans chanted "overrated" in the final minutes of the game.
"We can't just have an ordinary energy game, we have to have an extraordinary game against them," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "The guys came out in the second half and really took it to them."
Milwaukee trailed 60-47 at the half but closed the gap in the third quarter. The Heat went into the fourth with a 79-76 lead.
Ersan Ilyasova converted a three-point play to tie the score at the start of the fourth, and Jennings hit a running layup to give the Bucks an 81-79 lead with 11:06 left.
Milwaukee's fourth-quarter run continued, and the Bucks led 87-82 when Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored inside. The Heat than drew a shot-clock violation with the ball in James' hands, and Jennings hit a 3-pointer on the other end to give Milwaukee a 90-82 lead with 6:40 to go.
After a pair of free throws by Gooden, Wade missed a contested layup, and Jennings hit another 3-pointer.
James missed a long jumper - and Jennings drilled yet another 3, giving the Bucks a 98-82 lead.
With Milwaukee later leading 101-92, James was called for traveling in transition with just over two minutes left.
James shot 5 for 12 in the second half.
"He's not easy to stop," Jennings said. "He got it going early, but I think we did a great job (in the) second half, just countering him on everything."
A large part of the credit goes to Mbah a Moute, the Bucks' defensive ace.
"It's a tough job, going against those guys," Mbah a Moute said. "But it's a fun job, too. Those guys are the best and it's always fun to play against the best."
Wednesday's game had all the makings of a Heat blowout early on, thanks to James. Already off to a sizzling start, James finished the first quarter in memorable fashion.
"The first half, it felt like LeBron was going to go for like 60 or whatever," Jennings said.
With under a minute left in the quarter, he took the ball away from Milwaukee's Beno Udrih, took a couple of steps and finished with a powerful windmill dunk with 32.9 seconds left in the quarter.
As if that wasn't enough, James then hit a 3 with 2.2 seconds left in the quarter.
James' huge dunk drew a gasp, then a roar from the crowd. It even had a pair of Bradley Center ushers recreating the dunk during the first-quarter break.
But the Heat couldn't keep the lead.
"I don't think we relaxed," Wade said. "They played well. Give them credit. I'm not taking anything away from the Bucks."
SI
Prince Harry to visit Bolt at Racers camp
The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, will prepare to entertain royalty, with Britain's Prince Harry expected to call on the athlete at his Racers Track Club base, during his Diamond Jubilee tour of the Caribbean and Central America next month.
Bolt, the triple Olympic champion, has already begun preparations for the London Games later this year, having set the tall target of bettering his performance at the 2008 Beijing Games.
On that occasion, Bolt claimed three gold medals - 100m, 200m and 4x400m relays - all in record times. Still, it is hoped that the sprint king will be able to take the time off to give the prince a few tips.
"We're hoping he (Bolt) will teach him (Harry) how to start," Prince Harry's private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton told UK publication The Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk).
However, perhaps thankfully for the prince, the two are not expected to get in the blocks for a duel to the finish line.
"I don't think they will hare off round the track together, thankfully," the prince's secretary added.
This will not be the sprinter's first encounter with royalty, as he is also a favourite of noted track and field fan, Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Invitation extended
The Monarch had expressed the desire to see Bolt run in the Principality and extended an official invitation to the sprinter for the Herculis Diamond League meet last year.
Bolt holds an impressive 9.58-second record in the 100m and 19.19 record in the 200m, both set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
While in Jamaica, the prince will also pay a visit to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller who, interestingly, has already begun to examine the process of abandoning the Queen as head of state and adopt a republican form of government.
In addition to Jamaica, Harry, 27, will get to tour Belize and The Bahamas - all sovereign realms where the Queen is still head of state - from March 2 to 8.
Tracy Morgan's mom pleads for his help saving home; he says stories "untrue"
Tracy Morgan's mother says she struggled for years to provide the comedian with everything he needed as a child, but now that she's out of work and facing foreclosure he's refusing to help her.
Alicia Morgan, in a phone interview with CNN Wednesday, said she called her son last month to say she needed $25,000 to pay off her mortgage, but his assistant called back and told her, "Tracy would do a one shot deal of $2,000."
"I was so upset, I told her to tell Tracy 'Thank you, but no thanks. I am not some person on the street asking you for a handout, I am your mother,'" she said. "And that was the end of that."
His sister, Asia Morgan, said their mother needs his help soon "so she doesn't end up on the streets."
Their mother lost her job last year, reducing her income to $600 a month and causing her to fall behind on her $400 monthly mortgage on her Youngstown, Ohio, home, her daughter said.
"If her mortgage is not paid by February 23, 2012, her home will go into foreclosure," she said.
Tracy Morgan, meanwhile, released a statement to CNN Wednesday night saying he was "saddened that these untrue stories about me have people questioning my commitment to my family."
The one-paragraph statement continued, "For reasons that are between us, I have not seen my Mother in 11 years and outside of a random call here and there have had little to no contact with my sister. We all have personal family issues that we have to deal with in life, but I choose to deal with mine in private and not through the media."
In her interview with CNN, Alicia Morgan said her son offered to pay her mortgage after she was laid off from her job last year.
"I faxed him my account number and my mortgage papers," Alicia Morgan said. "I thought he was paying it, but after a few months I realized he didn't pay it off."
His mother said she heard through another relative that her son was angry about publicity given to the story.
"My nephew said that he spoke to Tracy and that Tracy said he wasn't going to pay me because I gave an interview," his mother said. "I never talked to anyone."
Alicia Morgan has five children with Morgan's late father, Asia Morgan said.
"She has asked all of her children for help, but we are no in a position to do so," she said. "We all have jobs, but Tracy is the only one in a position to help."
Their mother, now 62, says she has trouble walking, has diabetes and her unemployment benefits just expired.
"It took me 30 years or more to buy a home," she said. "At times I worked two to three jobs to support my children. They always got what they wanted, including Tracy. No one took care of them but me."
Tracy Morgan, 43, grew up in Brooklyn, but his mother moved the family to Youngstown in 1995, a decade after he left home, his sister said. He rose to fame as a "Saturday Night Live" cast member and now stars on NBC's hit sitcom "30 Rock."
"We have tried to get in contact with my brother Tracy, but he changes his phone number all the time, so we have no way of talking to him," she said.
His mother said she did not understand why Morgan "chose himself not to be with the family."
"No one did anything to him," she said. "... I am not trying to hurt Tracy. I love my children to death."
CNN