Caribbean countries record mixed fortunes in trade with US
Trinidad and Tobago has become the leading source of United States imports entering under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) tariff preferences, displacing the Dominican Republic, according to the latest report issued by the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
In the “Ninth Report to Congress on the operations of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act 2011″, the United States imported US$2.2 billion under CBI tariff preferences from Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, an increase of 43.8 per cent from 2009.
“Imports under CBI tariff preferences from Trinidad and Tobago are dominated by petroleum and methanol and 75 per cent of imports of these two goods entered under CBI provisions in 2010.
“US imports of petroleum under CBI tariff preferences increased in value in 2010 because of both higher volume and higher prices,” the report said. “US imports of methanol increased in value mainly because of higher prices,” it added.
The report noted that Haiti became the second leading source of US imports entering under CBI tariff preferences in 2009 after Costa Rica left the CBI.
It said that apparel accounted for more than 90 per cent of US imports from Haiti and almost all imports of apparel from Haiti enter under CBTPA or the two HOPE Acts.
Imports of apparel from Haiti at preferential tariff rates increased nearly 26 per cent in 2009, as utilisation of preferences under the HOPE Acts became established.
The report noted that the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti slowed the growth of imports of apparel under preferential tariffs to 0.7 per cent in 2010, but such imports surged 46 per cent in the January — August 2011 period compared to the same period in 2010.
Since Costa Rica left the CBI in 2009, Haiti has become the source of virtually all imports of apparel from CBI countries.
The Bahamas, in the meantime, replaced Jamaica as the third leading source of US imports entering under CBI tariff preferences in 2010 as imports of fuel ethanol from Jamaica plummeted and imports of apparel from Jamaica declined.
“Jamaica had been the major US source of fuel ethanol in past years, but market conditions in 2009 and 2010 radically changed the profitability of fuel ethanol production in Jamaica, and there were no imports of fuel ethanol from Jamaica from March 2010 to June 2011,” the report noted.
It said that after several years of decline, there were no US imports of apparel from Jamaica under CBI tariff preferences in 2010.
The United States continues to have a small amount of bilateral trade with many of the Caribbean economies.
“While the overall value of imports is small, imports under CBI tariff preferences account for relatively significant proportions of total US imports from these countries. Cane sugar, non-monetary gold, orange juice, papayas, and electrical machinery were some of the leading categories of CBI imports from the smaller Caribbean economies,” the report noted.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative said that although the CBI was initially envisioned as a programme to facilitate the economic development and export diversification of the Caribbean Basin economies, US export growth to the region has been a “welcome corollary benefit”.
It said that the value of total US exports to CBI countries fell 38.4 per cent in 2009, but rose 27.6 per cent in 2010.
When only 2010 beneficiaries are considered, US exports decreased 21.5 per cent in 2010. Collectively, at US$18.5 billion, the CBI region ranked 16th among US export destinations in 2010 and absorbed 1.7 per cent of total US exports to the world.
“Panama, The Bahamas, the Netherlands Antilles, and Trinidad and Tobago were the principal markets for US products in 2010, accounting for 72 per cent of US exports to the CBI region in 2010,” the report said, noting that the United States exports a broad range of products to the CBI region.
In 2010, the leading categories included refined petroleum products, aircraft, jewellery and jewellery parts, rice, and corn.
Jamaica Observer
St Kitts-Nevis issues biometric passports
St Kitts and Nevis begins issuing new E- (biometric) passports from January 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Labour and Social Security has announced.
The ministry said in a news release that the new passports, with several improved security features, are being introduced as part of government’s ongoing efforts to prevent fraud and identity theft consistent with its regional and international commitments.
The Passport Office will issue the new E- (biometric) passports to citizens and residents, who are applying for the documents for the first time, or to those requesting replacements.
Citizens and residents currently using the machine readable passports will continue doing so, once these are not expired, lost and or damaged.
They will not, at this time, be required to change to the new E- (biometric) passports until the old document has expired.
The ministry said that introduction of the new passport has become necessary given the regional and global efforts to improve security.
The new document to be issued by the government of St Kitts and Nevis is more secure and designed with specific imbedded features intended to enhance the integrity of the new E-Passport and will facilitate more seamless travel by citizens and residents of the Federation.
Caribbean News Now
American arrested in land fraud
Detectives have arrested and charged an American man implicated in land fraud.
He is 69-year-old Samuel Speranza of a California address.
Speranza is facing the charges of forgery, uttering forged documents, conspiracy to defraud and causing property to be transferred by forged documents.
It is alleged that on June 6, 2009, Speranza conspired with his attorney to forge the signature of another individual.
It is further alleged that they used forged documents to secure the transfer of land titles for three properties in St. Ann’s Bay, St. Ann to two companies owned by Speranza and his attorney.
The police say the properties are valued at $1 billion.
Speranzo’s attorney was charged in March 2010 for the same offences.
Sacramento Kings fire Paul Westphal after 2-5 start
If the Sacramento Kings stood any chance at success this season, Paul Westphal had to find a way to control talented but volatile center DeMarcus Cousins.
He couldn't - and lost his job because of it.
The Kings fired Westphal Thursday after two-plus seasons as coach, cutting ties amid a slow start and an escalating dispute with Cousins that threatened to consume the locker room. Assistant Keith Smart, let go by the Golden State Warriors in April after one season at the helm, signed a deal to become the team's new head coach.
With the Cousins-Westphal spat showing no resolution, Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof finally decided to take action. Instead of trading away a promising young big man, they made Westphal the first firing of the lockout-shortened season.
LOWE: Kings' problems go way beyond Westphal
"We're in a situation here where you can't take a philosophical vacation because things are happening in real time," Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said. "You start to keep seeing the same things over and over again, you can't sit around and meditate forever about how you're going to approach them or try and change them."
Looking to build momentum for a new arena project, Sacramento stumbled at the start again this year.
A talented and athletic - albeit raw - roster entered Thursday night's home game against Milwaukee with a 2-5 record and in last place in the Pacific Division. Westphal finished with a 51-120 record in Sacramento.
The 61-year-old previously coached the Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics. In a statement released by the team, Westphal thanked the Maloofs, his coaching staff and players for the opportunity.
"While the job is far from finished, I am proud of the strides we were able to make," he said.
In the last week, all of Westphal's efforts in California's capital shattered.
He abruptly released a statement Sunday criticizing Cousins' commitment to the franchise and excused him from the team's game against New Orleans. He also said Cousins asked for a trade, which the center's agent refuted.
Petrie said he knew of Westphal's plans to release the statement but indicated that the Maloofs didn't. Petrie dodged questions about whether he supported Westphal's statement about Cousins, who expressed remorse for Westphal and said he would soon reach out to his former coach.
"It's been an emotional week and a lot of misunderstandings," Cousins said. "But it comes with the territory. Coach Westphal was a great teacher to a lot of us and a good coach. But this was a management decision."
Sacramento drafted Cousins with the fifth overall pick in 2010 after he spent one season at Kentucky. The 21-year-old was averaging 13.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in 26 minutes per game this season.
Cousins' behavior has been well documented going back to high school and his one season at Kentucky, mixing in dramatic and astonishing plays with outbursts against players, coaches, trainers and referees. His conditioning has been questioned and so has his work ethic. However, he showed up for training camp in prime condition and appeared ready for a breakout season.
"Of course people are going to tie (Westphal's firing) to me," Cousins said. "It will just show their ignorance. But like I said, it's not my decision."
The Kings had high hopes for a major turnaround this year.
Teamed with 2009-10 rookie of the year Tyreke Evans, Cousins was expected to anchor the front line for a young and emerging roster in the deep Western Conference. Sacramento finished 24-58 last season and missed the playoffs for the fifth straight year, although a late-season surge behind a healthy Evans provided hope that maybe the Kings weren't that far off from making the postseason again.
Turns out, the Maloofs couldn't wait any longer.
The NBA and the Maloofs have given Sacramento a March 1 deadline to approve a plan to help finance a new arena, or the franchise could again explore relocation. The Kings nearly moved south to Anaheim, Calif., in April before the league's Board of Governors decided to give Sacramento another chance.
Now the Cousins conflict is Smart's responsibility to fix.
Smart, the former Indiana guard best known for hitting "The Sho
SI
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal through at Qatar Open
Defending champion Roger Federer beat Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to reach the Qatar Open semi-finals.
World number two Rafael Nadal is also through after a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russian Mikhail Youzhny.
Federer now faces Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who he beat in the final of the ATP World Tour Finals but lost to in the last eight at Wimbledon.
"I am looking forward to playing him again. I hope it will be a good season for both of us," said Federer.
"He's always a nice guy to see play, and a nice guy off the court as well - so I hope we can live up to expectations."
Federer's victory was his 20th in succession since losing to Novak Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals.
World number six Tsonga, who beat Spain's Albert Ramos 6-2, 6-1, said: "Federer is the best player in the world, probably ever, and it will be difficult to play him.
"You have to be perfect. I have to play my best tennis. But I know I can do it. I have done it already."
Nadal will play fourth seed Gael Monfils in his semi after the Frenchman defeated Serbian Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-3.
Manny Pacquiao offered four potential opponents
Manny Pacquiao will be offered a choice of four potential opponents for his next fight but fellow legend Floyd Mayweather will not be among them.
On the menu for Pacquiao are Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto and Americans Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson.
"I will lay everything out and Manny will choose," said promoter Bob Arum.
Mayweather, the man fans most want to see Pacquiao fight, begins a 90-day prison sentence for assault on Friday.
Mayweather and Pacquiao were due to meet last year before a row over drug testing scuppered the bout.
Arum said the earliest seven-weight world champion Pacquiao could fight five-weight world champion Mayweather would be November.
"Besides the opponent, the other thing we need to discuss is whether he [Pacquiao] will fight in May or June," said Arum.
"You can't expect Floyd, after having been in prison, to come out and go right into a big fight.
"He won't be available to train or promote a fight in May or June. He'll probably want to have a tune-up fight."
Arum said a 5 May date would be a factor only against Marquez because that is when a Mexican holiday falls and a date when fights involving Mexicans are popular.
In his most recent fight, Pacquiao, 33, won a majority decision over Marquez last November, although many observers thought Marquez had done enough at least to earn a draw.
Their previous two encounters, which resulted in a win and a draw for Pacquiao, were also controversial.
Pacquiao stopped current WBA light-middleweight champion Cotto in the 12th round in 2009 but Cotto has stopped three rivals in a row since.
Arum said a Pacquiao-Cotto rematch would be fought at light-middleweight rather than welterweight, where the prior fight was staged and Pacquiao holds the WBO belt.
Unbeaten WBO light-welterweight title-holder Bradley, who is also promoted by Arum, would have to move up a weight to make the fight.
Peterson suffered his only loss to Bradley in 2009.
Tigers' Cabrera pleads no contest
Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera pleaded no contest Thursday in Florida to drunken driving.
Cabrera accepted a deal that spares him jail time. Charges of resisting an officer without violence and having an open container in a vehicle were dropped. The first baseman was arrested in Fort Pierce in February after refusing to take a field sobriety test.
"Miguel Cabrera is determined not to allow this to go on any further," said his attorney, Michael Kessler. "He wants this behind him before the start of Spring Training. For that reason, and for that reason only, Miguel Cabrera asked me to settle this case today."
Cabrera received a year of probation but will be eligible for early termination after six months. His license will be suspended for six months, and he must pay more than $1,400 in fines. He also must attend DUI school and go to a victim-impact panel.
Kessler said the player had been planning to fight the DUI charge, but St. Lucie County prosecutors were causing delays in the case. He says it appeared the case was going to drag into baseball season and the player wanted to put it all behind him.
"Miguel Cabrera and I have great faith in the justice and fairness of the court system," Kessler said. "His name and reputation are important to me. Together, we intended to take all available steps to clear his name."
With a trial set to start Monday, Kessler said prosecutors gave him an additional 100 pages of discovery materials on Thursday, meaning he would have had to ask for a continuance. Kessler said he wasn't sure why he hadn't been given the documents earlier.
AP
Spider-Man musical makes Broadway history
The musical has beaten the previous record set by Wicked in 2011, which took $2.2m (£1.4m) over an eight-show run in January last year.
Over Christmas and New Year many productions added a ninth show to their regular eight-show week, which helped boost total ticket takings this year.
Head-to-head last week, over nine shows, Wicked took $2.7m (£1.7m).
However, Wicked which is performed at the Gershwin Theatre, has about 100 seats less than the 1,930-seat Foxwoods Theatre, home of the superhero musical.
The Lion King recorded takings of $2.4m (£1.5m) and Hugh Jackman: Back On Broadway took a total of $2m (£1.2m)
Harris insisted they still had a long way to go.
"The time to crow is when we have sustained longevity and we've returned the money to our investors."
Not all shows enjoyed healthy ticket sales over the festive period, with producers of the musical Lysistrata Jones announcing the comedy will close on Sunday.
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, written by U2's Bono and The Edge, has taken the highest single-week takings of any show in Broadway history.
The musical, which was plagued with problems from its inception, took $2.9m (£1.8m) over nine performances last week, according to The Broadway League.
The Edge said it was a "proud day" for everyone who has been involved.
The show, which cost $75m (£48m) to make, is the most expensive Broadway show to be produced.
Initially the production was beset with problems, which included injuries to some of the cast members, opening night delays, poor reviews and unpaid royalty claims.
"For all the problems, there was magic on the stage," Bono said.
"Things did get chaotic and messy after our producer Tony Adams died. But this week's news has us all giddy again and we are raising our glasses to Tony, to our indefatigable cast, crew, creative - and production team."
Co-producer Jeremiah Harris admitted he and his colleague, fellow producer Michael Cohl, "came into a very difficult situation" when they signed up.
"We've changed the team. We added players when we needed to. We've moved some players around to different positions. And the success we've had here is the culmination of all those people working hard to get done what we've gotten done," he said.
According to figures collected by Cohl and Harris, it is thought that half of all attendees to Spider-Man had never been to a Broadway show before.
They claim the production has been seen by more than 600,000 people during the past year.
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel Engaged
Jessica Biel may have said only last year, "I was never one of those girls who dreamt of my wedding and my Prince Charming," but it looks like she's about to have both.
Biel and Justin Timberlake are engaged to be married, a source tells PEOPLE.
The big moment happened while the on-again couple were in Big Sky Country, on their annual vacation to Montana, according to the source, who reveals Justin proposed with a "custom-designed" ring.Timberlake, who turns 31 later this month, and Biel, 29, celebrated the happy news with friends.
Only a few weeks ago, unconfirmed reports said the longtime romantic couple were altar-bound, but the rumors proved premature.
Last year, the couple spent time apart for several months after being together for four years, since May. They made their split official in March 2011.
Still, over that summer, Timberlake told Vanity Fair about Biel, saying, "She is the single-handedly most significant person in my life. In my 30 years, she is the most special person, okay? ... I don't want to say much more, because I have to protect things that are dear to me – for instance, her."
By the following September, the two were back on and publicly affectionate together again.
When they were spotted having brunch last fall in a Colorado mountaintop bar, an onlooker told PEOPLE, "There was plenty of P.D.A., and they seemed happy." Other sightings soon followed in Las Vegas, in New York and in Hollywood.
Nick Cannon's Friend 'Shocked' By Kidney Failure
Nick Cannon's health scare has stunned his friends, family and fans alike.
"I was beyond shocked when I learned Nick had a kidney issue," DJ Irie, a close friend of Cannon, tells PEOPLE.
"Of all the people, he is healthy beyond belief. He does not drink, he eats healthy, and he works out regularly."
The America's Got Talent host, 31, was hospitalized with what wife Mariah Carey called "mild kidney failure" on Wednesday.
"Nick practices all of these healthy habits every day of his life," the Miami-based DJ added. "But he is rational and smart and taking care of it by being in the hospital where he belongs now."
Carey told PEOPLE that her husband is stable but "in a lot of pain."