Greek cabinet backs George Papandreou's referendum plan
Greece's cabinet has given unanimous backing to a controversial plan by PM George Papandreou to hold a referendum on a EU debt rescue package.
He told an emergency cabinet meeting that a referendum would offer "a clear mandate" for austerity measures demanded by other eurozone members.
Stock markets recorded big drops amid shocked reactions in eurozone capitals to the referendum announcement.
Mr Papandreou is due to meet European leaders in France on Wednesday.
In a cabinet meeting lasting late into Tuesday night, Mr Papandreou told ministers the government needed the consent of the Greek people.
In a statement released by his office, he said: "The referendum will be a clear mandate and a clear message in and outside Greece on our European course and participation in the euro."
Mr Papandreou also said a possible alternative of snap elections would risk Greece defaulting on its debt.
The Greek government faces a crucial confidence vote in parliament on Friday.
Following the seven-hour meeting, government spokesman Elias Mossialos said: "The cabinet expressed its support."
"The referendum will take place as soon as possible, right after the basics of the bailout deal are formulated," he added.
Monday's referendum announcement led to sharp falls on world markets on Tuesday. Asian markets also continued their slide on Wednesday.
The planned referendum threatened to unravel a deal reached at a EU summit last week aimed at resolving the euro debt crisis.
Leaders agreed on a 100bn-euro loan (£86bn; $140bn) to Athens and a 50% debt write-off.
But in return, Greece must make deep cuts in public spending, slashing pensions and wages and making thousands of civil servants redundant.
There have widespread protests in Greece against the measures.
Bailout stands
On Tuesday President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said Mr Papandreou's decision "surprised all of Europe".
The French and German governments said they wanted "full implementation" of the agreement "in the quickest time frame".
Mr Papandreou is to hold hastily arranged talks on Wednesday with Mr Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on the sidelines of a G20 summit in France.
In a joint statement, President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel said the decisions taken by last week's EU summit were "mo
re necessary than ever".
"France and Germany are convinced that this agreement will allow Greece to return to sustainable growth," they said.
Last week's marathon EU summit was intended to rescue Greece and bringing the 17-nation eurozone back from the brink of disaster.
Eurozone chief Jean-Claude Juncker said if a referendum rejected the bailout, it could mean bankruptcy for Greece.
"It will depend on the manner in which the question will be exactly formulated and on what the Greeks exactly vote on," he said.
Confidence vote
Some Greek government ministers had been unaware of the referendum plan until it was announced.
The announcement even took Greece's Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos by surprise, Greek media reported.
One MP from the governing Pasok party has resigned, cutting Mr Papandreou's parliament majority to two ahead of Friday's confidence vote.
Six other leading party members have called on him to resign.
The Greek opposition has called for early elections, saying the referendum jeopardises Greece's EU membership.
Antonis Samaras, leader of the main opposition New Democrats, said: "In order to save himself, Mr Papandreou has posed a dilemma of blackmail that puts our future and our position in Europe in danger."
Palestinians prepare to gain full membership in other UN organizations
Following the overwhelming success of gaining full membership of the state of Palestine in the United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO on Monday, officials said Tuesday that the Palestinians are preparing to gain full membership in other organizations of the United Nations.
A majority of 107 UNESCO members voted in favor of Palestine membership on Monday, while 14 members voted against and 52 abstained. Local newspapers in the Palestinian territories said " It is a great political and diplomatic victory."
Palestinians gained for the first time ever a full membership in the UN organization since Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had submitted in Sept. 23 an official request to the UN Security Council for a full membership of the state of Palestine in the global organization.
"Winning a full membership in the UNESCO is not against anyone, it is to support justice and freedom," said Abbas in a first comment after the vote. Meanwhile, Reyad al-Malki, the Palestinian minister of foreign affairs, called it "the beginning of a long and difficult road that will lead to liberty."
The membership in the UNESCO will pave the way for the Palestinians to apply to other UN organizations and eventually gain a full membership, and will also help the Palestinians to gain a recognition of the International Heritage Center and register sites in the occupied territories.
Palestinian officials said they have about 20 files related to holy sites in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, including one of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Ghassan al- Khatib, spokesman of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said "UNESCO membership has two benefits."
"The first is the huge international support the Palestinians gained after becoming a UNESCO member and second is that the Palestinians from now and then would be able to protest and defend their cultural and historic sites, places and cities," said al- Khatib.
Al-Khatib meanwhile asserted that the Palestinians will soon carry out practical steps towards gaining the membership in the various UN organizations, adding that "being a member in the other international organizations would hurry up gaining the legitimate Palestinian rights."
Hana Amira, an official in Palestine Liberation Organization, told Voice of Palestine Radio that the membership in the UNESCO " would empower the Palestinian position in confronting Israel, mainly in the part related to the dispute on east Jerusalem."
"The Palestinian efforts would focus in the future on providing the UNESCO with laws and plans related to reinforcing the legitimate Palestinian right in the eastern part of the holy city of Jerusalem," said Amira.
PNA minister of health Fathi Abu Mghalli revealed that the Palestinians are working on gaining the full membership in the World Health Organization, while Minister of Economy Hassan Abu Lebda said the PNA will also apply to gain membership in the World Trade Organization.
Israel has earlier announced that it strongly opposes offering the Palestinian the full membership in the UNESCO. Israel officials said Israel would reevaluate its future ties with the organization, adding that "this would never turn the PNA into an actual state, but it would obstruct the peace talks."
The direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been stalled for more than a year after Israel refused a Palestinian request to halt settlement building in the territories it had occupied in 1967. The Palestinians decided to go to the UN and apply for full membership in response to Israel's rejection to their request.
Death toll climbs to 7 in SW China blast, at least 200 injured
Seven people have been confirmed dead and about 200 others injured in an explosion that occurred near a gas station in southwest China's Guizhou Province Tuesday, local authorities said.
The accident happened at about 11:30 a.m., when two cargo trucks loaded with about 70 metric tons of explosives exploded in front of a motor vehicle testing station in the city of Fuquan, about 100 km from Guizhou's capital of Guiyang, according to the local rescue headquarters.
Windows shattered in nearby houses, and cars parked near the site were severely damaged. A nearby grain warehouse was seriously damaged as well.
A witness told Xinhua that the testing station was destroyed and a neighboring five-story residential building was severely damaged.
Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene swiftly after the blast occurred.
About 200 people have been rushed to a local hospital, 20 of whom are in critical condition, said a spokesman with the local rescue headquarters.
An investigation into the cause of the explosion is under way.
New and deeper jobs recession looms, UN report warns
A United Nations report issued on Monday warns that the cooling global economy risks pushing the world into a double-dip jobs recession and triggering an outbreak of social strife unless governments take urgent action to stimulate employment growth.
In what it calls a “grim analysis” of the future of global employment, the International Labour Organization (ILO) also notes that while private enterprises are in an even weaker position to retain employees since the start of the financial crisis, austerity measures implemented by governments have contributed to the growing numbers of unemployed.
“We have reached the moment of truth,” said Raymond Torres, Director of the ILO’s International Institute for Labour Studies, which issued the report. “We have a brief window of opportunity to avoid a major double-dip in employment.”
According to World of Work Report 2011: Making markets work for jobs, 80 million jobs need to be created over the next two years for global employment to return to pre-crisis levels.
Yet the report points out that at the current rate, it would take at least five years for employment in developed countries to return to pre-crisis levels – one year longer than projected in last year’s report.
In a new addition, the annual study features a ‘social unrest’ index highlighting global levels of discontent related to perceived economic inequality. Marking an uptick in popular anger in advanced economies such as those of the European Union, the report warns of a “significant aggravation of social unrest” in over 45 of the 118 countries surveyed.
“As the recovery derails, social discontent is now becoming more widespread,” the report’s authors warn, noting public dissatisfaction is also simmering in the Middle East and North Africa and, albeit to a much lesser extent, Asia.
The report’s authors, however, offer a glimmer of hope. Calling on governments to resist cuts in social programmes, they note that an increase in active labour market spending by half a percent of gross domestic product (GDP) would increase employment by between 0.4 percent and 0.8 percent, depending on the country.
The study’s release comes on the eve of the summit later this week of the leaders of the G-20, the world’s largest economies, where participants are set to address social and economic issues related to the worsening global downturn.
Caribbean News Now
UN peacekeepers support Haitian police in efforts to curb crime
United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti and local police officers have carried out a four-day joint operation to target criminals operating in two neighbourhoods of Port-au Prince, the country’s capital.
Operation Hope, which ended last Friday, targeted known criminals in the Bel Air and Martissant neighbourhoods with the aim of disrupting their activities.
According to a news release issued on Monday by the mission (MINUSTAH), the operation involved the deployment of more than 2,100 troops – mainly Brazilian and Sri Lankan – and 600 police officers. In addition, ground and aerial equipment and assets were mobilized for the operation.
MINUSTAH said the operation was meant to act as a deterrent for future criminal activities in those neighbourhoods. During the operation, Haitian authorities apprehended seven wanted criminal suspects, including several prison escapees.
Security has remained a concern in Haiti since last year’s earthquake, which enabled the escape of about 6,000 prisoners. Since then, criminals have used the ensuing chaos to rebuild and increase their activities.
MINUSTAH said it “remains firmly committed to bringing stability and security to the people of Haiti, in support of the national authorities.”
Currently, there are some 8,900 military troops, 1,351 police officers and 2,940 members of formed police units (FPUs) in MINUSTAH.
Caribbean News Now
Former Health Minister elated to receive Sisserou Award of Honor
Former Health Minister John Fabien is among three Dominicans selected to receive the Sisserou Award of Honor on Independence Day for his contribution to the health sector.
The Sisserou Award of Honor and Services Medal of Honor Awards are awarded to deserving Dominicans for their contributions to various sectors of development on the island and is usually given during the Independence Day celebrations on November 3rd.
Fabien says he is elated to be one of the recipients of the highest award of honor this independence season.
He said the award comes at a time when there have been several strides in the health sector.
“I think that sometimes in our lives we do things and we really do not know how they will benefit the lives of others. I am happy that the country has decided to recognize me for my contribution to the health sector. My tenure in health started just after high school and I have worked in the health sector my entire life, at mid management level, at senior management level…my whole life has been given to the health sector and I am very honored” he said.
He says some of his major accomplishments include his work in the implementation of the primary health care program in Dominica.
Dr Damien Dublin and the Eastern Caribbean Conference of Seventh Day Adventist are the other two recipients of the Sisserou Award of Honor.
Meantime Vyleen Hazel is expected to receive an award for long service in Pre-school education while Glenford Andrew will receive that award for his involvement in Print Technology.
Five individuals will receive Services Medal of Honor Awards.
Bingsworth Casimir for his contribution to music, Antoine Raffoul for his contribution to the business sector, Lullalyn “Lyn’ Edwards for her contribution to the Agricultural sector and Loverty Greenaway for his contribution in the field of Mechanical Engineering.
In the Meritorious Award section, Arthur Massicot will receive an award for community development, Michael Murphy for Public Sector Management, Marvlyn Birmingham for Public Sector Management, Reverend Clair Mitchel for Pastoral Leadership and Oliver Sanderson for Community Development.
Dominica Vibes News
PM calls for a set term for the post of Secretary General of CARICOM
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is calling for a set term for the position of Secretary General of CARICOM.
PM Skerrit who is also the former chairman of CARICOM made these remarks while addressing the 1st David Thompson Memorial Lecture last week.
He says new vitality and dynamism must also be injected into CARICOM and it must begin from the top.
“I would recommend a limit of two terms lasting four years each and I am sure many of you are saying what about term limits for prime minister. We need to device a mechanism by which leaders can interact more regularly and more successfully,” he said.
Meantime Skerrit says it is time that CARICOM members rebuild the bonds of trust among themselves.
“We must convince everyone that this is their mission. It is not about coming to a meeting, spending three days in closed rooms and rushing back to the airports and going back to our homes. It’s about embracing the people and letting them know that we have to rebuild the trust among and between ourselves,” he said.
Dominica Vibes News
Peru, China enjoy stronger trade ties
Trade relations between Peru and China saw continuous strengthening in the past years, as mutual interests and benefit created a stronger flow of investment and trade between both sides.
China-Latin America trade amounted to 180 billion U.S. dollars in 2010, a 50-percent increase year on year. Bilateral trade between Peru and China stands at over 10 billion dollars as of now, while investments by Chinese companies in Peru are close to 1.2 billion dollars, according to the Peruvian Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Peruvian exports to China reached 5.426 billion dollars in 2010 and that is just "the beginning of very promising relations," which will be extended over the next years, aided by the 2009 free trade agreement between China and Peru, Peru's Deputy Industry Minister Julio Guzman told Xinhua.
The trade deal has created "great expectations" with Peruvian businessmen, as the manufacturing in Peru saw the new trade ties with China as particularly beneficial and a win-win situation for both countries, he said.
Though most of the products sent to China are raw materials, such as mining and agribusiness products, there is still "ample room" inspired by the agreement to expand the export base into other sectors, he said.
"From the step we have taken with the free trade agreement, we are going to strengthen our relations in other areas, such as international cooperation, technical assistance and investment, and we look forward to diversifying exports of value added products," he said.
In the last few years, China has surpassed the United States to become the main international purchaser of Peruvian products, Jose Rosas, General Manager of Lima Chamber of Commerce, said.
Rosas said Peru now is working on both the diplomatic and commercial levels with China to ensure Peru's agricultural products are exported to China and take the full advantage of the free trade agreement.
The products from the Chinese automotive industry "now are massively entering the Peruvian market," and earned a higher recognition in Peru.
The Chamber has established many inter-institutional cooperation agreements with trade unions and other business organizations in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangdong.
With regard to the tourism sector, Rosas said Peru also needs to make adjustments to create a direct airline route between Peru and China in order to attract more tourists, while Peru also needs to consider the use of maritime transportation.
China and Latin America, including Peru, are complementary in trade.
China mainly exports to Latin America manufactured products such as computers, telecommunication equipment, clothes, shoes, electronic products, motor bikes and motors, while the main exports from Latin America to China are raw materials including minerals.
SOURCE- Xinhua
Jury returned a special verdict against Randy Harvey
On Friday 28th October 2011 in the Supreme Court in Providenciales Randy Harvey was found guilty for the murder of Charity Higgs which occurred on 3rd August 2010 in Middle Caicos.
Pursuant to Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance the Jury returned a special verdict that states that the accused was guilty of murder but was insane at the time when he committed the act.
Harvey will be sentenced on Friday 25th November 2011.
Randy Harvey will receive the appropriate medical treatment during his incarceration.
Walk with me Portia
PRIME Minister Andrew Holness has made good on his inauguration day promise to invite the Opposition leader to work with him to end the garrison culture in the country.
Observer sources said that a letter urging People’s National Party (PNP) leader, Portia Simpson Miller, to accompany him on a tour of communities with the garrison label and linked to both political parties, was sent to her office last Thursday.
The prime minister threw down the gauntlet to the Opposition leader during his inauguration speech last Sunday at King’s House, St Andrew.
Observer efforts to ascertain whether the letter was received by Simpson Miller were unsuccessful.
Holness had said that the walk-through would symbolise the parties’ commitment to ensuring these closed communities become accessible to all once more.
“Zones of political exclusion are incompatible with freedom and aspects of our politics are an affront to liberty. It is time to end garrison politics. This will not happen overnight, and it should not happen by force. There must be consensus on the way in which this is done. Both political parties have it within them to mutually agree to end the social construct of the garrison,” Holness said then.
He told the guests at his swearing-in as the ninth and youngest prime minister of the country, that it was important that people living in garrisons get to see political representatives from the other side of the divide, without the objection of enforcers.
“Let us start the process by getting the leaders to walk together in these areas of exclusion. I am willing to walk with the Leader of the Opposition in Tower Hill, and I may just turn up in Whitfield Town,” he said, referring to the section of Simpson Miller’s South-West St Andrew constituency.
He also noted that the integration of all Jamaican citizens with a shared common vision was critical for progress and a part of this was the guarantee that people in garrisons would receive equal treatment and respect from the state.
“Criminals must never be seen by the community as protectors. Once there is this integrated and shared national vision, garrisons will no longer be havens for criminals,” the prime minister said.
Source: jamaicaobserver