1. Habitat for Humanity partners with Haiti- Courtesy of www.ccaribbeannewsnow.com

On Thursday, Habitat for Humanity joined with Haitian and US government representatives, local community members, donors and partners to break ground on its permanent housing community in Leogane, Haiti. Habitat's Santo community is part of its five-year plan to serve 50,000 families impacted by the 2010 earthquake. "Habitat is extremely grateful for the support of donors, partners and community members who are committed to building decent and safe houses and a new community in which families can thrive," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "The Santo project is a major undertaking that would not be possible without the common vision and purpose we share to help Haiti recover."Habitat, donors, partners and local citizens are working together to ensure the most vulnerable families are identified and the specific needs of the community are addressed. Habitat has partnered with Architecture for Humanity to develop the overall master plan for the Santo site. The community has provided input on house design, sanitation and other vital services.    

2. PAHO visits Cayman Islands- Courtesy of www.ccaribbeannewsnow.com

While there is a need for continued vigilance, a Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) Disaster Response Team visiting the Cayman Islands this week said it found local cholera-preparedness to be "very good".Dr Robert Lee, who led the three-member delegation, told Health Minister Mark Scotland, "The Cayman surveillance system is unique in the Americas... I can't think of any way to improve it."The Cayman visit was part of a project sponsored by the UK government's Department for International Development (DfID), to assist overseas territories in their readiness for a cholera threat.The visit of the team, including Dr Frederique Marodon and Yvan Grayel of the DfID, was facilitated by Cayman's Medical Officer of Health Dr Kiran Kumar. In conclusion, they shared their findings with the Health Minister, as well as Chief Officer Jennifer Ahearn."The Cayman Islands has a low probability of the introduction and a relatively low probability of transmission of cholera," said Lee.  

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3. IMF visits Dominican Republic- Courtesy of www.ccaribbeannewsnow.com

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Alejandro Santos visited the Dominican Republic during August 30- September 13 to conduct discussions under the seventh review of the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), approved by the IMF executive board in November 2009. At the conclusion of the visit, Santos issued the following statement:“Discussions were productive and there was progress on the set of policies and actions for the rest of 2011 and 2012 for a letter of intent (LOI). Further discussions will be conducted from Washington in the coming weeks. “Despite an unexpected deterioration in the external environment, overall macroeconomic conditions remain favorable. While there has been a deceleration in activity, the economy is growing at the healthy rate of about 4 percent. With less supportive external conditions, the growth projection was reduced to 4-5 percent for 2011 (from 5-5½ percent before). Inflation continues on the rise, mostly driven by higher commodity prices. Headline inflation reached 10 percent in August (y/y), but it is expected to fall to 7-8 percent by the end of the year, and to 5-6 percent in 2012 as monetary conditions remain tight.  

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4.Nevis  New  Police Commissioner  Meets  Premiere- Courtesy of www.caribbeannewsnow.com

Public safety and security has once again been identified as the priority of Nevis premier, Joseph Parry, and his team of administrators.Parry, during a recent meeting with newly sworn-in commissioner of police, Celwyn Walwyn, recorded his “100 percent support” of the crime fighting and public safety initiatives of the federation’s police force. “We look forward to a good, healthy, positive and productive relationship,” the Nevisian leader said as he engaged the commissioner in a firm handshake. Walwyn presented a synopsis of his plans within the federation’s police fraternity, underpinning the need to increase criminal convictions. “I’m going to be using initiatives that would help reduce crime. I’ve also put initiatives in place to try to reduce crime through forensics using physical evidence to present evidence into court; trying to increase convictions, instead of relying solely on people giving testimony,” Walwyn said.With hopes of leading “the police departments of both St. Kitts and Nevis into the next era,” the commissioner said that police officers would be trained more frequently in order to ensure improved service to the communities they serve. “We have some other things in place,” he said, adding that they would not be revealed “for security reasons.”

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4. USVI Hoteliers  to meet  with  Social Network Expert- Courtesy of www.caribbeannewsnow.com

Facebook, Twitter and other social media can make a huge difference in drawing people to destinations, and US Virgin Islands hoteliers are about to get expert advice on how to take advantage of the phenomenon. Social media expert Leon Thomas of Choice Hotels International will guide USVI hoteliers through these social media applications to generate greater marketing exposure at the Second Annual Small Hotels Conference produced by the USVI Department of Tourism. Thomas, a Choice University senior trainer and specialist in social media marketing for hotels, will address hoteliers from St Thomas, St John and St Croix. In a rapidly changing global marketplace, the Department of Tourism wants to ensure hotels in the Territory have access to information, marketing, technical support and skills needed to stay competitive.The two-day conference, to be held on September 21 on St Thomas and on September 22 on St Croix, will offer six parallel seminars each day to present small hotels with important marketing techniques and operational information to help enhance their businesses.  

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5. Cross Atlantic Flight to mark World AIDS Day - Courtesy of www.caribbeannewsnow.com

Victor Mooney of Forest Hills, New York, is looking to make his first landing point in the British Virgin Islands. Mooney will be making his fourth attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean from Las Palmas, Canary Islands to New York City beginning on World AIDS Day – December 1. The 19 foot custom made boat was built by Flavio Antonio Rodrigues of Flab - Construção Artesanal de Embarcações and designed by Luis Gouveia of B&J Yacht Design, both Brazilian based. Mooney, a veteran rower, has lost one brother to AIDS and has another that’s HIV positive. Mooney hopes his row will encourage voluntary HIV testing and increased prevention efforts.“BVI has a special place in the hearts of many, so it's fitting to have a re-supply before heading home”, said Mooney. "I wish success in your fourth attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean, but please know that, in our eyes, you have already achieved something far more lasting and spectacular: you have successfully raised awareness about the ongoing HIV epidemic", said Dr Kevin Fenton, Director of National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control.If successful, Mooney will be the first African-American to cross the Atlantic Ocean by rowboat. Mooney will do a practice row from Rio de Janiero to Sao Paulo next month.

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6. UNESCO special envoy for Haiti calls for new cooperation for reconstruction- Courtesy of www.caribbeannewsnow.com

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) met on Tuesday in a special session to receive the special envoy of the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for Haiti, Michaëlle Jean, who called upon member countries of the hemispheric organization to "build bridges, cooperate with one another and facilitate investments within the Americas for the reconstruction of Haiti."Jean began her speech with a historical review of the Haitian revolution to the country's struggle for independence, explaining that "Haitian women and men need their brothers in the Americas to support them in a new struggle for emancipation, and in a new process of enrichment." She went on to explain that “at this moment, all of Haiti calls for us to send reinforcements in the form of powerful inter-American synergy to ensure that this is not a time of defeat."The UN representative welcomed the OAS efforts to help Haiti become a more secure and stable country, stating "there is no other suitable organization to carry out this task." She urged the institution to play an active role.

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7. Democracy is alive and well on Nevis, says Premier - Courtesy of www.caribbeannewsnow.com

Democracy is alive and well in Nevis. That was the view expressed by Premier of Nevis Joseph Parry, after he was sworn in as a parliamentarian in the Nevis Island Assembly on Monday Parry was at the time making reference to the recent local elections on Nevis in July, which he said were fair and well organised.“I want to thank the Members in the precincts for their support of me the support of the government and for the great work they have done. I want to thank all the people of Nevis for taking part in a very well organised and fair election. Up to now no one has reported that there was anything amiss in the election. “Certainly we are pleased then to say that we have demonstrated that democracy as practiced on the island of Nevis is alive and well and I expect and I ask and I seek the support of all Nevisians to put their support as we try to implement the words and ideas and concepts that were promulgated in the Throne Speech,” he said. Meantime, Parry also used the opportunity to thank the newly sworn in president of the Nevis Island Assembly, Christine Springette, for accepting his offer to replace Marjorie Morton, who he said had served the Assembly with distinction.       

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8. China pledges US$1 billion loan to Caribbean- Courtesy of www.caribbeannewnow.com

Two days after signing a technical assistance agreement with the government of The Bahamas, which pledged support of up to $5 million, China’s Vice Premier Wang Qishan announced that China will provide US$1 billion of preferential loans to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.Speaking at the Third China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Wang also revealed that China will provide $1 million to the Caribbean Development Fund (CDF), as well as provide training opportunities to no fewer than 2,500 Caribbean trainees and an opportunity for 30 Caribbean professionals to earn master’s degrees in China.He also said China will help construct an early warning tsunami and earthquake system for the region and provide disaster training.This recent pledge by the Chinese government is the second such billion-dollar loan facility for the Caribbean in recent times.

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9. Concern over Cuban Church decision- Courtesy of www.caribbeannewsnow.com

The Pentecostal Evangelical Church, located in the Havana Municipality of Centro Habana in Cuba, has presented an unusual situation for several days, after a prolonged stay inside the building by 60 people, including 19 minors and 4 pregnant women, who are meeting in a closed-door religious service, according to an official note released by Cuban Television on Sunday. The people, who have remained voluntarily inside the temple since August 21, were called in by citizen Braulio Herrera, who was dismissed as a pastor in May 2010 by his own religious denomination due to internal reasons. Given this unusual situation, a group of relatives of those inside the temple called the authorities over their concern, particularly about the children, who are not attending their schools and about the pregnant women, who are not receiving medical attention. In the circumstances, local authorities have protected the place and have offered medical attention, as well as exchanging views with relatives, religious leaders and some members of the congregation.

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10. Film Debut at CaribbeanTales- Courtesy of www.caribbeannewsnow.com

The Skin, a supernatural thriller starring Carl Bradshaw, Aisha Ralph, Brent Simon, Peter Williams and Jeff Stewart will make its North American debut this Friday at the CaribbeanTales Toronto Film Showcase.The Antigua and Barbuda consulate is co-hosting a red carpet reception and premiere of the homegrown feature film made by Howard and Mitzi Allen of HAMAFilms Antigua on Friday at Harbourfront Centre. The screening will be followed by a talkback session with the filmmakers immediately after. The Skin is one of the most highly anticipated features at this sixth edition of the CaribbeanTales Film Showcase now ongoing.The movie premiered in Antigua and Barbuda in June and Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, who has been following the duo's work since their first feature, The Sweetest Mango in 2001, said, “The Skin has proven that HAMAFilms has come of age and is taking the country with it.” This Toronto premiere is also a homecoming celebration for Mitzi Allen, who was the first black television news reporter on CFTO (now CTV Toronto) television in the 1980s until she relocated to Antigua and Barbuda, where she started her own film and television production company with her husband, Howard Allen, the film’s director.

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