Jamaica's Gibson Relays now March 12
A date swap between the Gibson Relays and the GC Foster Classic will see the prestigious Gibson Relays being shifted to the March 12 time slot, two weeks later than it was originally scheduled.
Ventley Brown, Athletics Director at the Angels, St Catherine-based GC Foster Sports College and chairman of the Organising Committee of the GC Foster Classic, confirmed to the Observer yesterday that they had taken a decision to swap dates with the Gibson Relays and would stage their meet on February 26 instead.
Delays in the start of the relaying of the all-weather track at the National Stadium had initially forced the organisers of the Gibson Relays to cancel the event and earlier this month, chairman of the Organising Committee of the Gibson Relays, Neville 'Teddy' McCook told the Observer the meet would be cancelled this year as the venue would not be ready in time.
General Manager of Independence Park Limited Major Desmon Brown announced last week, however, that the work on the stadium track could be completed by the 24th of February, two days ahead of the date of the meet, but even that time frame was not sufficient to the Gibson Relays organisers.
Ventley Brown told the Observer yesterday that there had been discussions between both the Gibson Relays and GC Foster groups and the decision to swap dates "was a mutual one".
He said, "Based on the situation at the National Stadium, it became obvious the work would not be completed in time and in the interest of track and field, we could not stand by and see the cancellation of the Gibson Relays".
Efforts to contact McCook between Thursday and yesterday were futile.
The decision to swap the dates was also conveyed to the Gibson Relays Organising Committee and it was said both events could "suffer some losses" in the changes of dates.
Both meets had invited overseas athletes to the event and both, Brown said, would now have to go back to them and see how best they could restructure their schedules to fit into the dates of the meets now.
There is one major plus for the GC Foster Classic now, as it will now be a qualifier for ISSA National Boys and Girls Championships to be held in late March.
At the previous dates, the deadlines for entries to "Champs would have passed and they would have had to go to the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) and beg for the results to be considered".
With the meet now set for late February, Brown says "this makes our meet a lot more attractive and marketable to the high schools".
Source: JA.Observer
CARICOM chairman rejects Jamaica's position on CCJ
Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has rejected a suggestion by the government of Jamaica to opt for its own final Court of Appeal instead of going the route of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
Thomas said Jamaica’s argument that there would be political interference in the CCJ did not make sense.
CMC reported that Thomas, who is also the current chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) said, "What I find a bit strange about Jamaica's position is that the argument against the CCJ is that there would be political interference. Domestically, it makes it easier for political interference."
Late last year a debate in Jamaica's Parliament, over whether to sever ties with the British Privy Council as its final Court of Appeal, revealed that the government, while agreeing to move away from the Privy Council, was proffering a Jamaica Court of Appeal over the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
The idea was shot down by the opposition, which called for a referendum on the issue.
Thomas said there is a need for more collective confidence in the ability of regional judges to hand down unbiased judgments.
"We in the region have competent and capable judges to man our courts," he said.
Grenada is a signatory to the CCJ and Thomas said he believes it's just a matter of time before the country takes steps to adopt it as its final appellate court.
Confidential memoranda to be produced at 'Dudus' enquiry in Jamaica
The Commission of Enquiry looking into the handling of the extradition request of former Jamaican strongman Christopher "Dudus" Coke was adjourned from Thursday to Monday to give the Attorney General's Department time to produce four "highly confidential” memoranda of understanding (MOU) .
The MOU are between Jamaica and the United States Justice Department, which is said to have relied on them in obtaining evidence against Coke, who is now in the United States where he is to be tried on gun and drug charges.
Ambassador Evadne Coye, permanent secretary in the foreign ministry, testified last week that Justice Department officials said they relied on those agreements when they met with a Jamaican delegation in Washington in August 2009.
The Jamaica Observer reported that without this evidence lawyers could not continue their cross-examination of the permanent secretary as scheduled.
Bahamas signs double taxation agreement with Japan
Although the Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) signed with Japan on Thursday is the twenty-third for The Bahamas, it is the first of its kind as it includes double taxation relief.
The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Brent Symonette signing for The Bahamas and Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Japan’s ambassador to Jamaica and non-resident ambassador to The Bahamas, signing for Japan.
“[This TIEA] is a first, but by no means the last, of its kind for The Bahamas. It demonstrates the range and diversity of tax cooperation that countries have the opportunity to engage in, bilaterally, for their mutual economic benefits,” said Symonette.
Previous TIEAs allowed for cooperation on tax matters at internationally-accepted standards, but this TIEA goes further. It spells out certain exclusive taxing rights between the two nations on income for designated groups of students, pensioners and government employees.
“This is indeed epoch-making, because this is the first agreement which requires ratification procedures at Japan’s National Diet,” said Yamaguchi. The National Diet of Japan refers to its two legislative bodies, the lower and upper houses.
The ambassador said it took 11 past non-resident ambassadors to allow him -- the twelfth -- to sign the historic agreement. He said he hoped the agreement would be ratified soon.
The TIEA with Japan brings The Bahamas to a total of 17 agreements with OECD member nations and nine with G-20 members.
In addition to the implications for The Bahamas’ reputation as a jurisdiction for international financial services, the deputy prime minister said that the greater level of engagement with Japan may increase tourism opportunities from the country, including high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals.
He said they could use The Bahamas as their base in this part of the world for depositing and managing wealth.
The cooperation represented in this TIEA may also lead to maritime opportunities as The Bahamas is seeking to become a category C member of the International Maritime Organization and Japan is seeking to put one of its nationals in the seat of the secretary general. The ambassador said he hoped the panese candidate would have the general support of The Bahamas.
According to Yamaguchi, there were many things supported by the TIEA, including anything related to the sea, such as tourism and shipping.
He also said that research was being done to see how the Japanese private sector could participate in infrastructure development in the country, of which he said there were “very high level prospects”.
In September of last year, Japan and CARICOM reached an agreement in Tokyo to strengthen partnerships and collaboration on a number of issues. The ambassador said that there should be action plans coming out of that meeting to develop areas of common interest.
St Lucia seeking assistance from Israel and US to combat crime
The St Lucia government is seeking assistance from Israel and the United States to combat a rising crime situation in the country.
Foreign Minister Rufus Bousquet said the local authorities were having a difficult time dealing with the spate of murders, which reached a record 48 last year.
He said there appeared to be no let up in the murders, with six people being killed so far this year.
The CMC reported that Bousquet said, "I will be the first to admit that crime in St Lucia has reached alarming proportions and I don't believe that beyond giving technical assistance to the government or to the police that foreign officers such as persons within the Israeli Defence Force or the American armed forces are willing to come out here and put their personnel on the line.
"Or the question must be asked as to whether you do not want to engage in something like this that could result in some level of international discomfort."
He said, while the Israelis were dealing with their own problems in the Arab world, they have nonetheless indicated a willingness to help, as the Stephenson King administration pursues various strategies to deal with the crime situation.
Bagga Brown is Dead
Basil ‘Bagga’ Brown, former insurance salesman, veteran radio and television personality and co-founder of the now defunct Rockers Award, is a patient at the Medical Associates is dead.
Reports are that Bagga, who hosts the popular vox pop programme with the catchy tag line, 'Weh u Seh, Smile Jamaica TVJ' lost the fight with cancer.
According to a good friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Brown was diagnosed with throat cancer three years ago and went to Miami, Florida, where he had surgery and was recuperating.
“He had a hard time with the surgery and lost eight of his teeth in the process,” the source told chatychaty.com. “If you even listen to the last commercial he voiced, it sounds off.”
However, just last week he was admitted to hospital as the cancer had returned, but in a different form.
“It makes him bleed, but the doctors say it is treatable,” the friend said.
Bagga was reportedly being given chemotherapy at the hospital, but had a cold that he didn’t tell his physicians about.The end result was that Bagga became critically ill.
“He has been to death’s door and back,” the source revealed. “ Two months the doctors told us that anybody who wanted to see Bagga should come now. But Bagga is a fighter ", the source reported.
It was announced on radio that Bagga was gravely ill and an appeal was being made for persons to go and give blood for him at the blood bank.
Bagga Brown was in his mid fifties when he passed away .......RIP .......... we love and respect your contribution to our way of life.
Egypt protests: Tension rises as jets buzz Cairo square
Tension is mounting in the Egyptian capital Cairo after the military staged an apparent show of strength during a sixth day of anti-government protests.
Two air force jets and a helicopter repeatedly flew low over Tahrir (Liberation) Square, the main gathering point for demonstrators.
A column of tanks arrived there only to have its path blocked by protesters.
Amid the stand-off, leading opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei arrived in Tahrir Square to address protesters.
"You have taken back your rights and what we have begun cannot go back," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency.
"I bow to the people of Egypt in respect. I ask of you patience, change is coming in the next few days."
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for an "orderly transition" of power in Egypt.
She told ABC News that Washington wanted to see change that would bring about a democratic government.
"We want to see restraint, we do not want to see violence by any security forces," she added.
Defiance
The demonstrators are defying a curfew that began at 1600 (1400 GMT).
The BBC's Jeremy Bowen, in Tahrir Square, says there is a mood of defiance among protesters, who are accusing the military of trying to intimidate them.
The arrival of the tanks and the buzzing of the square by the jets significantly raised the tension among the thousands gathered.
Earlier, despite the presence of armoured vehicles, protesters appeared to have free rein in the city centre, with no sign of the riot police with whom they have clashed violently in recent days.
At one point, an army officer was carried aloft on the shoulders of cheering protesters.
The police have largely disappeared from the streets.
Clashes are reported to have left at least 100 people dead since rallies began on Tuesday in cities including Cairo, Suez and Alexandria. Thousands have been injured.
Meanwhile, al-Jazeera's broadcasts via an Egyptian satellite have been halted. The Egyptian government earlier ordered the Arabic TV channel, which has been showing blanket coverage of the protests, to shut down its operations in the country.
Sunday is the start of the working week in the Middle East, but many businesses in the capital are closed. Internet access remains intermittent.
Throughout the city, armed citizens' groups have formed to respond to widespread looting and disorder.
In the northern coastal city of Alexandria, thousands of anti-government protesters marched on a mosque for the funerals of two demonstrators killed in clashes with police the previous day.
The BBC's John Simpson, in Alexandria, reports a heavy military presence and a tense atmosphere in the city.
Across Egypt, thousands of prisoners are reported to have escaped from jails after overpowering their guards.
Travel advice
President Mubarak earlier met top commanders during a visit to a military headquarters. He has appointed a vice-president - intelligence chief Omar Suleiman - as he struggles to regain control. Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafiq has been appointed prime minister.
Sunday saw a number of Egyptian political movements issue a joint statement calling on Mr ElBaradei - a Nobel peace laureate - to form a transitional government.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his government is watching events in Egypt carefully, and hoping to maintain peaceful relations with its Arab neighbour.
The Rafah crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip is closed, Palestinian officials say.
The US government, which previously advised US citizens against non-essential travel to Egypt, is now advising Americans in Egypt to consider leaving the country as soon as possible.
The UK also advised its nationals in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez to leave if it is safe for them to do so.
A number of other European countries have also advised against visiting the country.
The unrest in Egypt follows an uprising in Tunisia two weeks ago which toppled President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali after 23 years in power.
The Tunisian upheaval began with anger over rising food prices, high unemployment and anger at official corruption - problems which have also left many people in Egypt feeling frustrated and resentful of their leadership.
SOURCE: BBC
German train crash near Magdeburg leaves 10 dead
At least 10 people are reported to have died in a train crash in eastern Germany.
A local passenger train and a goods train collided head-on in the state of Saxony-Anhalt late on Saturday, near the city of Magdeburg.
The passenger train, the HarzElbeExpress, was travelling on a single track section between Magdeburg and Halberstadt.
The cause of the crash, which left 33 injured, is unclear.
Several carriages were derailed after the collision near the village of Hordorf at about 2230 (2130 GMT).
"Rescue operations are still ongoing. The death toll may well rise further," regional police spokesman Frank Kuessner said.
More than 150 firemen, police and rescue workers were at the scene, AFP reported.
The passenger train "was the last train of the evening out of Magdeburg" on the line - a single track on which overnight engineering work was scheduled.
A spokesman for Veolia, the company which runs the HarzElbeExpress service, said that the train had a capacity of about 100 people. About 45 people were on board at the time of the crash.
Tunisian Islamist leader Rachid Ghannouchi returns home
The leader of Tunisia's main Islamist movement has returned home after 22 years in exile following the ousting of President Ben Ali earlier this month.
More than 1,000 people were at the main airport in Tunis to welcome Rachid Ghannounchi as he arrived from London.
Mr Ghannouchi, 69, says his Ennahda party intends to work for the popular uprising that toppled Mr Ben Ali.
Observers say his return is the most potent symbol yet of the change that has swept the country since then.
His return follows the interim government's announcement that media curbs would be lifted, banned political parties allowed to register and political prisoners amnestied.
Alongside his supporters, the Reuters news agency said, was a small group of secularists with banners reading: "No Islamism, no theocracy, no Sharia and no stupidity!"
Mr Ghannouchi fled Tunisia after a crackdown against Ennahda by President Ben Ali.
The movement came second to the ruling party in the 1989 elections, officially winning about 17% of the ballot. However allegations of fraud marred the vote and according to some estimates Ennahda's tally was as much as double the official figure.
Officially, Mr Ghannouchi is still subject to a life sentence imposed in his absence for allegedly plotting against the state.
However AFP news agency says that other convicted exiles have been able to return to Tunisia in recent days without hindrance
'Last' Bloody Sunday march takes place in Derry
Thousands of people have marched in what is intended to be the last Bloody Sunday march in Londonderry.
The marchers started from the Creggan area walking behind a banner carried by the families which read "vindicated".
They completed the route begun in 1972 - the march usually stops at Free Derry Corner, but instead went all the way to the Guildhall.
Organisers said they believe the annual event should come to an end following the publication of the Saville Report.
A statement said the protest was no longer necessary after the inquiry exonerated those who died in the 1972 Bloody Sunday shootings.
It was signed by the majority of the victims' families.
However, some relatives of the victims have called the proposal premature.
They broke off from the parade at William Street and finished their march at Free Derry corner.
Earlier, hundreds gathered at the monument for the wreath-laying on the first Bloody Sunday anniversary since the publication of the Saville Report.
Prayers and a minute's silence were offered for the dead, wounded and the relatives.
Among those speaking during the ceremony was the Reverend David Latimer from First Derry Presbyterian Church.
He spoke of a new era for good relations in the city. As light snow fell the wreaths were placed on the monument and the names of all the victims were read out.
Demonstration
Fourteen people lost their lives on 30 January 1972 when British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights march in Derry's Bogside area.
Kate Nash, whose brother William was killed on Bloody Sunday, said she felt the decision to end the march was "very premature".
She added: "It was dropped on us like a ton of bricks, completely unexpectedly. Who decided the march should end and why?
"The people of Derry were not afforded the opportunity of having an opinion about this and I feel they should have had."
Tony Doherty, whose father Paddy was also killed on Bloody Sunday, said he supported the ending of the march.
He added: "The vast majority of the families felt that what we had brought about, what we had achieved on 15 June, with the Saville Report as an exoneration, with the words of David Cameron, with apology and accepting political responsibility for the atrocity of Bloody Sunday, that it was now time for us all to consider moving on."
A number of options are now being considered to mark future anniversaries, including an annual gathering of remembrance at the Bloody Sunday monument, a remembrance Mass, a human rights weekend and an annual Bloody Sunday lecture.