Cruise ships set record for Port of Nassau, Bahamas
Almost 25,000 visitors brought ashore.
Downtown Nassau bustled with commerce October 27, when the port made history by hosting seven cruise ships at once for the first time.
The seven ships is a record for the recently-revamped port. The ships brought in almost 25,000 visitors – 17,762 vacationers and 6,935 crew members. Reports confirmed that the large number of guests kept small business operators in the downtown and nearby areas occupied throughout the day.
Shops were filled with visitors searching for souvenirs. Meanwhile, restaurant operators reported that the large number of ships in port kept a steady stream of traffic coming to their establishments. Ground transportation providers for the cruise industry were also fully engaged, said Carla Stuart, director of Cruise Development in Ministry of Tourism & Aviation.
“All the taxis downtown at Festival Place were fully engaged,” she said. “Additional cabs had to be called from various hotels to meet the demand at the cruise ships. So this was definitely a banner day for the businesses that cater in large part to our cruise visitors.”
Ms. Stuart said it was especially beneficial since four of the seven ships stayed in port over night. This allowed passengers to explore more of the city and enjoy various entertainment options for a longer time, she said. The Carnival Glory spent an especially long time in port, arriving on the morning of October 27 and leaving in the evening of October 28.
Minister of Tourism & Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace gave a special commendation to Captain Eugene Munroe, the tugboat captain who along with his team safely navigated the record-setting seventh ship into port. Minister Vanderpool-Wallace pointed out that the team’s extensive experience and seafaring knowledge allowed him to engineer the operation that brought a financial boom to the downtown area.
The day brought in $319, 716 in passenger head taxes and it is estimated that the guests spent about $1.18 million while in port.
ICC: Corruption not rampant
Cricket's anti-corruption chief insists illegal betting is not endemic in the game, in the wake of three Pakistan players being jailed for spot-fixing.
Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been given prison terms for conspiring to bowl deliberate no-balls in a 2010 Test match against England.
Sir Ronnie Flannagan said: "It [corruption] is certainly not rampant in the world of cricket.
"I think it is engaged in by a tiny number of people."
Flannagan, who is the head of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, added: "The vast, vast majority of cricketers are wonderfully ethical people.
I still believe there are more out there and more can be done to try and catch more than just the three we've seen in court over the last few weeks.
"It is only a tiny proportion of people, some of whom may have a pre-deposition to it and some who succumb to the evil advances of other people.
"My message to the followers of cricket is keep following, keep loving this wonderful game and don't be thinking that corruption is rampant within the game." (BBC)
NBA lockout tough for Samuels
National basketball standout Samardo Samuels says the constant delay to the start of the National Basketball Association (NBA) season has been affecting him physically and mentally.
The impasse between the NBA players and owners over revenue split, salary caps and other issues has led to the postponement of two weeks' round of matches, with an agreement yet to be reached.
"It is tough because I have been working all my life for this," said Samuels, in an inclusive interview with Star Sports yesterday. Samuels, who will be entering his second season with Cleveland Cavaliers, though, adds that he will be ready and raring to go whenever the league begins.
"Playing basketball is my job and so I have to stay focus on my job," Samuels said.
daily routine
"The lockout is a strike and so I have to stay focused because I still go to practice and workout. I am still doing my daily routine and I also get more time to spend with my family."
Samuels, a forward/centre, signed a three-year contract with the Cavaliers in 2010, who pay him slightly above the league minimum US$472,000 per season.
He added that the lockout has also affected him financially because it has cost him thousands of US dollars.
"It has cost me around US$30, 000 in salary for the first two weeks," said Samuels.
"I have my parents around me and so they don't let me spend money on unnecessary stuff, I just buy things that I need."
Samuels, who left college for the NBA as a sophomore, is now back at Louisville University, where he is currently completing his bachelor's degree in communication studies.
pretty close to finishing
"I am pretty close to finishing it, I have about three semesters to go. I took one class already and I got a B in it," said Samuels.
"I have also been working out with the Louisville players and coaching staff here and they have been helpful to me," he said.
Samuels added: "Coach Rick Patino has been helping in getting access to the gym and the weight rooms and so they make my life a bit easier."
Samuels, however, says his Jamaican fans can expect great things from him this season, whenever it does resume.
"I am going to be hungry to represent you (Jamaica)," Sameuls said.
"I am going to be hard-working on the court, I am going to play out my heart to get the job done."
Carifta Games on track
Officials have indicated that the lengthy to-do list is gradually shrinking, five months ahead of the Carifta Games to be staged next April at the National Sports Centre.
Bermuda Track & Field Association president Donna Watson said things were slowly, but surely falling into place for the region's marquee junior meet scheduled for April 7 to 9 next year.
"There are so many small things we have to keep an eye on for this event to be successful," she said in the Royal Gazette newspaper yesterday.
"We're on course though, and have put several things in place already, finalising several contracts towards the event."
She said: "One of the biggest challenges is securing transportation (for athletes and officials): the greatest nightmare for any international event.
"For these Games to be successful, the most important thing is accommodation, which we have secured and transportation, which we're securing. We also have to make sure we stay on budget."
The Games were held at the last minute in Jamaica last year after several Caribbean countries passed on the challenge of hosting.
high standard
Bermuda has had at least two years to prepare and Watson said Bermuda wanted to maintain the high standard of organisation for which the Games had become renowned over the years.
"The Carifta Games has always been very well organised; I have never been to one that has not been," she said.
"Even last year's Games were well organised when Jamaica took on the Games at the last minute. No country ever wants to be the country with the reputation for having a bad Carifta."
She added: "We have already been in conversation with several of the Caribbean countries which will be bringing spectators to Bermuda for the Games. I've also had calls from American coaches who will be coming here looking to recruit athletes.
"The tourist numbers will be highly boosted by this event; it's one of the top youth athletics events, so people will follow it regardless of where it's held."
The Carifta Games have been running since 1972 and are considered by many as one of the top youth meets in the world.
CMC
Lloyd: Windies future bright
Former legendary captain of the all-conquering West Indies team Clive Lloyd says that he is convinced that West Indies cricket is on the upward curve.
"I have seen the signs, I am seeing the 'green shoots' in players like Kirk Edwards and André Russell who have come on to the scene and done well and shown that they are quality players who can compete against any team around the world," Lloyd said.
According to Lloyd, he can see a core of about 15 to 20 young players who he believes have the quality to take West Indies cricket forward.
"I can safely say that we have about 15 to 20 players that we can call on who can compete with the best in the world. What we need is for all hands to be on deck and for the senior players to be there to mentor and guide them in a positive way," Lloyd said.
"Once these young guys get that mentoring and guidance from committed senior players, in addition to the wonderful work being put in by the coaching staff, I'm convinced that our cricket will step up to a level where we are competitive against any side in the world," said Lloyd, a WICB director.
solid group
In addition to Edwards and Russell, Lloyd identified several young players who have recently come on the scene as players he has been particularly impressed with.
"The boys in the background are a solid group as well. Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel who are at the Sagicor HPC are two in particular that have bright futures," Lloyd noted.
"I'm impressed with Krishmar Santokie and Garey Mathurin seems an intelligent bowler, and left-arm spinners are an integral part of the game now," said Lloyd who was known for having assembled the most fearsome pace attack in cricket's history.
"Devendra Bishoo is a very good bowler who is improving with every game and Darren Bravo has to continue converting scores to hundreds. So all in all we have the core, we have bowling in pace and spin and batting," Lloyd noted.
It is now just a matter of all these guys continuing to gel together; our one-day squad seems to be quite good, we have good batting and adequate bowling," a passionate Lloyd said.
"And once you start winning one-day games, it's only a matter of time that you'll be winning Test matches consistently," said Lloyd, who captained the West Indies in the height of the glory years from 1974 to 1985.
Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray case goes to jury
The case against the physician charged with the death of the pop star Michael Jackson has gone to the jury, following closing statements.
Prosecutors concluded their case by saying Dr Conrad Murray's care of Jackson had been "bizarre" and left the pop star's children fatherless.
The defence countered that the singer had caused his own death in June 2009 with an overdose of a sedative.
The seven-man, five-woman jury will begin deliberations on Friday morning.
If convicted, Dr Murray could face up to four years in prison and lose his licence to practise medicine.
During Thursday's closing statements after the nearly six-week trial, the prosecution projected images of Jackson's grief-stricken children on a giant screen.
The pop star's mother and siblings watched from the court gallery as Deputy District Attorney David Walgren told the jury: "For Michael Jackson's children this case goes on forever because they do not have a father.
"They do not have a father because of the actions of Conrad Murray."
He cited Dr Murray's delay in calling 911 and phone records that indicated the physician had been on the phone during Jackson's final hours, when he should have been attending to his patient.
"What was so pressing that he just couldn't care for Michael Jackson?" Mr Walgren asked the court.
He also reminded the jury that Dr Murray had failed to tell the paramedics and emergency room doctors how he had been giving Jackson the powerful sedative propofol as a treatment for insomnia.
"That is consciousness of guilt," Mr Walgren told the court. "That is Conrad Murray knowing full well what caused Michael Jackson's death."
But the accused's legal team said in its closing statement that Jackson's death was not Dr Murray's fault.
They said Jackson had caused his own death by injecting a dose of propofol while his doctor was out of the room.
"If it was anybody else, would this doctor be here today?" defence attorney Ed Chernoff asked the jury.
Mr Chernoff said prosecutors had failed to prove that Dr Murray had committed a crime by giving Jackson doses of propofol as a sleep aid in the singer's bedroom.
"They want you to convict Dr Murray for the actions of Michael Jackson," Mr Chernoff said.
Dr Murray, who denies involuntary manslaughter, chose not to testify in his own defence.
Vybz Kartel Legal Troubles Far From Over, Video And Audio Evidence Dampens His Defence
Embattled dancehall star Vybz Kartel legal troubles grow deeper by the day.
The deejay and his co-accused Calvin Haye, Cayro Jones and protege Shawn Storm was this morning remanded back into custody after appearing in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.
Shawn Storm is the latest addition to the growing list of persons close to the deejay to be charged with the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams on August 16th in Havendale, St. Andrew. Jones was not brought to court today as requested by the Magistrate judge earlier this week.
The prosecution has put an damper on Vybz Kartel’s defense when they indicated in court that they have video and telephone recording evidence against the deejay and his co-accused.
According to police reports, Williams was beaten, stabbed and shot by the deejay and his co-accused at his Havendale home, which was later destroyed by fire. Williams body has not yet been found.
Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, and his co-accused will spend another month behind bars before another bail hearing on December 2nd.
Janet Jackson exposure fine is dropped
US TV network CBS should not be fined for broadcasting Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" in 2004, a federal appeals court has ruled.
CBS aired a glimpse of Jackson's breast during the Super Bowl half-time show.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) appealed to the US Supreme Court in 2008 to force the TV network to pay a $550,000 (£345,270) fine.
The FCC said it was disappointed by Wednesday's ruling. CBS said it was grateful for the decision.
The 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia said that in imposing the fine, the FCC "improperly imposed a penalty on CBS for violating a previously unannounced policy".
Referrring to an earlier decision in 2008, the court claimed the FCC acted "arbitrarily and capriciously", departing from prior policy that exempted "fleeting" indecency from sanctions.
CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs said the company hopes the FCC will "return to the policy of restrained indecency enforcement it followed for decades."
In a statement the FCC said the court had overturned the fine on "narrow procedural grounds". It said it planned to use "all the authority at its disposal" to ensure that broadcasters serve the public interest when they use the public airwaves.
Video delay
Singer Justin Timberlake pulled down part of Jackson's top during their half-time show performance of the landmark Super Bowl broadcast in 2004.
The incident generated a record number of complaints - more than 500,000. CBS was quick to apologise.
At the time, broadcasters did not employ a video delay for live events, a practice that changed within a week of the game.
The FCC imposed a fine of $27,500 (£17,257) for each of the 20 stations that CBS owned.
Timberlake blamed the exposure on a "wardrobe malfunction", while Jackson said it had been an accident, however - when handing out the fine - the FCC concluded "the breast-baring finale was intended".
It is unclear whether the FCC will appeal the ruling.
Bond film called Skyfall
The title of the 23rd James Bond film has been confirmed as Skyfall.
The latest 007 adventure will star Daniel Craig for the third time. Leading ladies have been confirmed as French actress Berenice Marlohe and Naomie Harris.
Skyfall is being directed by Sam Mendes, who won an Oscar for 1999's American Beauty.
Mendes said the storyline will take the secret agent to London, China, Turkey and Scotland.
It will see Bond's loyalty tested to M, his superior, while espionage headquarters MI6 faces an attack.
The movie, which sees the return of Dame Judi Dench as spy boss M, will also star Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Javier Bardem as the villain of the piece.
It will be released in the UK on 26 October 2012.
Craig told reporters in London that the cast would start filming sequences for the new movie later on Thursday.
Much speculation about the new film has focused on what Mendes will bring to the franchise, with some suggesting he will tone down - or even abandon altogether - the action sequences.
But the director denied that this was the case. He told reporters in London that the "fantastic script" had "all the elements of a classic Bond movie, including - to quell any rumours - lots of action".
When asked what fans could expect from the latest film, he added: "The movie will reveal everything, and there's lots of surprises."
Producer Barbara Broccoli said no-one had yet been chosen to write and perform the Bond theme tune.
Financial troubles
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Bond movie, 1962's Dr No.
James Bond is one of the longest-running franchises in film history, but Bond 23 will mark the end of a four year gap.
The last 007 outing was in 2008's Quantum of Solace, directed by Marc Forster.
Work on the 23rd film was suspended in April 2010 because of uncertainty over the company's future.
The franchise had been on hold amid financial troubles, with MGM filing for bankruptcy protection last November.
A rescue deal and restructuring plan put US firm Spyglass Entertainment at the helm of MGM, which had struggled due to several box office flops and a DVD sales slump.
Craig - who made his Bond debut in Casino Royale in 2006 - is the sixth actor to play the British secret agent in the official Bond series.
Sir Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Sir Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan preceded him in the iconic role.
Casino Royale, was the most successful instalment in the franchise's 49-year history, making $594m (£385m) worldwide.
DIGICEL GROUP FIRST CARIBBEAN CARRIER TO OFFER INTEGRATED BILLING WITH BLACKBERRY APP WORLD
Digicel today announced that it is the first provider in the Caribbean and Panama to integrate carrier billing with BlackBerry App World™.
Enabling the convenience of a single monthly bill, Digicel’s customers will now be able to charge their app purchases from BlackBerry App World™ directly to their Digicel monthly phone bill or using their Digicel prepaid credit.
The service launched in Panama for prepaid customers in mid-October and is being rolled out across Digicel's 23 Caribbean markets over the coming six weeks.
BlackBerry App World™ is the official app store for BlackBerry smartphones and is designed to allow customers to easily discover and download applications.
David Hodgers, Digicel Group Head of Products, commented; “We are delighted to be delivering another important first to our customers in Panama and across the Caribbean. BlackBerry App World™ offers thousands of opportunities for customers to access and enjoy their music, games, news and entertainment in the way they want. Now, they can access a broader world of entertainment and information, and buy and pay for apps simply and securely via their monthly phone bill or their prepaid credit, enjoying a truly personalised smartphone experience.”