BRIDGETOWN – The Caribbean makes television history with the launch on CaribVision, the Caribbean Media Corporation’s global television channel.
CMC says CaribVision – the eyes and ears of the Caribbean – is an avenue to take the Caribbean to the world.
CaribVision broadcasts programmes from several regional stations and independent producers.
Barbados’s Prime Minister Owen Arthur, who formally launched the channel at the Barbados-based CMC, compared the initiative to Caribbean institutions like the West Indies cricket team and the University of the West Indies.
The Barbadian leader, who has special responsibility within the Caribbean Community for the Caricom single market and economy, said CaribVision will make regional integration easier.
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GEORGETOWN – The ruling party in Guyana wants more time to complete projects it says it’s been undertaking over the past 14 years.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic took its campaign for next month’s election to Berbice, where it has its largest support.
And the president, Bharrat Jagdeo promises better days are coming.
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KINGSTON – A wages dispute between Jamaican police and the government becomes a campaign issue for the opposition Jamaica Labour Party.
The J-L-P accuses the government of holding back on a pay rise until the eve of the general election.
And the party’s spokesman on national security, Derrick Smith promises supporters that the J-L-P will do better if it wins the government.
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PORT OF SPAIN – Trinidad and Tobago introduces a welfare programme through which recipients will use a new card to buy food.
The government says the launch of the new card, known as the smart card, is meant to relieve poverty.
But the social development minister, Anthony Roberts, says those receiving help must be prepared to undergo self-development training.
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PORT OF SPAIN – The family of a Trinidadian fisherman shot by the coast guard at the weekend, reject the national security ministry’s apology.
The ministry had earlier issued a press release reporting that Shazard Mohammed was killed by coast guard officers, even while he remained in critical intensive care at the Port of Spain General Hospital.
The coast guard said it shot Mr. Mohammed when he tried to ram their patrol boat.
The shooting’s spurred a community protest.
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SPORT – The West Indies Cricket Board is to decide soon on the West Indies’ participation in a tri-nation series with India and Australia next month.
The Indian board on Tuesday announced that it had asked New Zealand and Sri Lanka to stand-by to replace the Windies should the W-I-C-B not reach agreement with the Players’ Association over the competition.
The Indian Cricket Board Secretary Niranjan Shah says the W-I-C-B have sought time to speak to their players before their decision.
But the B-C-C-I isn’t losing any sleep over the Windies’ participation, since other teams are eager to play.
The three-nation series is set for Singapore and Kuala Lumpur next month.
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SPORT – In golf, the Hoerman Cup regional golf championship tees off this week in Jamaica.
Puerto Rico are back to retain their title, but they will have to overcome a tricky course at Caymanas Golf Club.
Puerto Rico’s Wilfred Morales believes it will be a tough task for them to retain their title they won last year in the Bahamas.