How Widespread Is Teacher/Student Relationships Here In Barbados?

From what we can ascertain from the Nation’s confusing article concerning a high school teacher, Janmattie Singh of Caribbean heritage [ her surname would suggest Trinidadian or Guyanese] is charged with raping 3 boys. It would seems that the teacher rape 2-18 years and a 15 year old, all cousins.

This is after calling up one 18 year for sex who in turn told her he was with his other cousins and could not oblige her. Nevertheless the teacher came over and decided to have sex with all 3 of them.

My first reaction was “Is she mad”?.

Did The “An Yue Jiang” Delivered Its Arm Shipment To Zimbabwe?

A couple of weeks ago there was an international uproar surrounding a Chinese ship the An Yue Jiang, carrying weapons of mass destruction umm sorry, ammunition which included assault rifles, mortar rounds and rocket propelled grenades destined for Mugabe’s government.

Such controversy surrounded the vessel that it never got it cargo off loaded at the South African port of Durban where it would have been transported overland to Zimbawe. Last we heard it was sailing back to China.

Or did it?

Jamaica Newest Tourist Attraction – Bob Woolmer’s Hotel Room!!!

Room No.374 of the Pegasus Hotel In Kingston, Jamaica may one day become the basis of a murder mystery in the future.

THE PLOT

Cricket Tournament in foreign country

Foreign cricket coach stays at hotel

Fans want team to win finals

Pressure and tension in the air

Team loses to lesser team

Coach found dead in hotel room

The room where Bob Woolmer, [former Pakistan World Cup cricket coach], died has become a magnet for scores of tourists wishing to stay in the room or get as close as possible by staying on the same floor.

Not this tourist here. I sure will not find myself staying in that room. I will just be uncomfortable knowing that someone died in there. After all the whole idea of a vacation is to relax right?. Well I can’t relax if I am uncomfortable with that glaring fact!.

But there are people and then there are people.

“We have had quite a few occasions where people have asked to stay in the Woolmer room… and others have asked to stay on the same (12th) floor,” hotel manager Eldon Bremner was quoted as saying in the ‘Courier Mail.’

“Woolmer’s death here has not affected business and bookings are high. We thought about closing the room or even dedicating it to Mr Woolmer. But I didn’t think that was appropriate to his memory, and I also did not want to offend his family,” he said.

But profiting off a dead man memory will not offend his family? What kind of twisted logic is that?!!!

Further reading – Woolmer’s Room Attracts Tourists

Bookship Logos II Returning To Barbados Again!

It seems that OM Ships International, Logos II owners, have decided to bring the bookship out of retirement for a 6 month literature promoting tour which will see it coming to the Caribbean whilst it continue to outfit its newer vessel, the Lagos Hope, in Kiel Germany.

For the bookworms, scholars and students alike and those that like being on a ship, the Logos II will be visiting Barbados from June 7-15 2008.

Times: Monday -Saturday – 10am -9pm

Sundays – 2pm – 9pm

Location – Flour Mill

Source – The Broad Street Journal

Multi-Touch Screens For Next Microsoft Windows Version

Not to be left behind, the popularity of multi-touch touch screens will see Microsoft using multi-touch features in Windows 7 upcoming operating system which is due in late 2009 or early 2010.

Users will apparently be able to open applications with a simple touch of on screen icons.

For more on this check TECH/NEWS MEDIA

US Navy Patrols In Venezuela Waters Rattles Chavez

A few days ago after after violating Venezuela air space, the Pentagon has announced that it will reactivated the Navy’s fourth fleet to patrol Venezuela waters.

That’s right folks. The US navy is gearing up their patrols in the area. Of course Chavez will have something to say about that.

“They don’t scare us in the least. If a North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] exists, why can’t a SATO exist, a South Atlantic Treaty Organization?”

France Pushing For Worldwide Decriminalising Of Homosexuality

As if holding Jamaica to ransom is not good enough because of its position not to repeal anti-gay laws, France is set on submitting an initiative to the United Nations to push for homosexuality to be decriminalised around the world when it takes over the rotating 6 month presidency in July.

Their excuse is the never ending stubbornness of countries worldwide where homosexuality remains a crime on the statue books. Like India for example where I am yet to hear Egale Canada bringing that country to its knees by calling for an international boycott of its goods and tourism as well but feels justified in going after a small island.

Instead of addressing the problem head on, the thought of forcing countries to decriminalised homosexuality may seem the likely choice to stop gay violence but fail to addressed the other side of the coin.

UPDATED – David Thompson To Announce Diesel Ease For Some Sectors

Following a meeting of cabinet ministers Prime Minister David Thompson saw the need to give PSV’s [public service vehicles] a reduction of 42 cents per litre in diesel prices.

Using a similar tactic like the former PM Owen Arthur where 15% VAT was apply across the board and then afterwards announced items that would not be vatable, David Thompson sought also to relieve those in the agricultural, fisheries and manufacturing industries after applying a hike in fuel costs on the populace on April 14.

These industries can expect a 27 cents per litre reduction in diesel costs. The increase in fuel costs came about after Thomson declared that the “Government cannot afford to absorb increases of this magnitude.”

But the threat is real. With Goldman Sacs [an energy trading firm] declaring oil will be trading at $200 a barrel in two years time, it was inevitable that some reprieve be granted to ease some sectors if only for the sake of keeping them viable. To do otherwise will be political suicide.

Let see if this government will tied up any loose ends and manage this portfolio better than the previous government.

Related article – DLP Government – Price Increase The Way To Go At The Pump

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Dwayne Bravo: We Are A Happy Unit More Now Than Ever

West Indies all rounder Dwayne Bravo have been saying a lot recently since a change of fresh air blew in the Windies camp in the form of David Williams, [the former West Indian wicketkeeper] as assistant coach and David Moore [a former Australian state cricker] the interim head coach who are part of the management team trying to bring back some respectability to the West Indies team.

David Moore replacing his former boss Bennett King [who Ken Gordon described his contribution to West Indies cricket as "mixed''] seems to have more of an interest to see the Windies back on their feet as oppose to just taking monies and making a lot of catchy statements to appease the ears of those justified in hiring him in the first place.

Bravo giving credit where credit is due more now than ever, praise David Moore as a critical component of their improved consistency.

Meet The World Cheapest Car

This car called the Tata Nano was unveiled in January this year. Made by Tata Motors in Mumbai it is a 5 door 4 passenger car. Now the company is looking at promising markets  after being on the domestic market for a couple months.

I came across it following a story of a Cuban trade delegation to India.

 What makes this car so cheap?. Well according to BBC News, it has no air conditioning, no power steering, no power windows, no air bag and the bodywork is made of sheet metal – which is basically aluminium - and plastic. The trunk is in the front and the engine in the rear according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Besides it has to be cheap in order for the average Indian family to own one. With oil prices skyrocketing over the $135 mark, the trend now in the automobile industry is producing smaller cars that are efficient and affordable yet with safety and quality in mind.

Great for the Indian car makers. I would have to pass on this one though. A bit too claustrophobic for me.

BBC Video – Tata Nano

 

 

 

This And That

Just got a glimpse of Chanderpaul lying on the ground knocked out. Replay shows him being bowled by Brett Lee. Chanderpaul ducks to avoid the ball but the ball made contact with the helmet with a loud crack. Down goes Chanderpaul like a sack of potatoes according to one commentator.

After 5 mins he was up walking around with an ice bag on the hit area. Tiger Chanderpaul really live up to his name. Instead of clawing back inside, he stayed at the crease to prove his fitness as evident by the blistering shots.

However I was slightly annoyed that his partner did not show enough of a concern to check his condition but just stood his ground above him whilst Brett Lee checked on Chanderpaul.

TV Ads

I am thinking about rating TV ads. I had this thought now for over 2 years but now that I this blog I will be rating them here. Just my personal opinion on them. You know there are just some ads that make you wonder what the ad agency was thinking. Of course I would not be  rating every ad. I just don’t have the time for that.

Suffice to say I can only rate what is before my eyes. How often will I rate them. ?I don’t  know. Maybe every couple weeks or months.

Best news[s] story of the week.

1 - BLP supporter Dr Pat Alleyne former managing director of the Barbados National Terminal agreeing with the DLP David Thompson government in removing the subsidies on fuel. In direct opposite to her Leader Of the Opposition Mia Mottley  stance of calling for the subsidies to be resumed.

2 – Lawyer Mortimer Clarke suspended for 9 months. Charge: “borrowing” his client monies and failing to repay it back after 9 nine years!!!

WHAT!!! Is Mr Clarke not part of the inner circle?  Did he cross some other lawyer and was made to feel the “wrath” of his peers. Or is this just a classic tale of being a scapegoat? How come he got “caught?”.

Whilst we are happy “some justice” was melted out to Monsieur Clarke, what about the other lawyers who misappropriated client’s monies and get away with murder! Where is the justice? How does that square with the “inescapable duty” to protect the public interest”? Were those cheated not part of the public too?.

There’s a lot more to be charged for sure.

Is Obama To Be Assassinated?

This article is by infowars is a response to recent remarks attributed to Senator Clinton regarding the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy in explaining her decision to remain in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. What is even more chilling are the previous statements by Mrs Clinton that Senator Obama cannot win – the nomination and to be president of America.

Martial Arts Expert Drilled His Own Head!!!

A martial arts expert stunned the audience by holding a running drill to his head and walking away without a scratch.

Hu Qiong drilled his temple and belly with a fast spinning electric drill for a full minute each at the China Martial Arts Stunts Competition in Fushan City, Guangdong province, but had no wounds.

Holding the running electric saw with his bare hands, he drilled metal, wood and plastic to prove it was as sharp as it looked, reports The Sun.

Hu had started learning martial arts at the age of eight at a Shaolin temple.

Other martial arts experts have dubbed him as “the unbreakable body”.

No Room For Gays In My Cabinet: Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding

The above statement from Jamaica Prime Minister was part of his comments air on the British Broadcasting Corporation [BBC] international show ‘HARDtalk’ which was aired on Tuesday.

What prompted such a statement? Let us go back a bit.

A Canadian gays rights group by the name of Egale Canada had the audacity to issued an ultimatum to the Jamaican government that if by May 17th, the Bruce Golding-led administration does not announce plans to abolish the country’s laws on homosexuality it will hold the country to ransom.

Islamists Burn Churches After Rescue Of Girls

Islamists under the auspices of a paramilitary force last week destroyed six churches to protest a police rescue of two teenage Christian girls kidnapped by Muslims in this Bauchi state town.

Police recovered the two Christian girls, Mary Chikwodi Okoye, 15, and Uche Edward, 14, on May 12 after Muslims in Ningi kidnapped them three weeks ago in an attempt to expand Islam by marrying them to Muslim men. Police took the two girls, who had been under foster care, to safety in southeastern Nigeria where their biological parents live.

The kidnappers had taken the girls to Wudil town in Kano state. Following the rescue of the girls, Muslims under the auspices of the Hisbah Command, a paramilitary arm of Kano state’s Sharia Commission, responsible for enforcing Islamic law, went on a rampage on Tuesday , attacking Christians and setting fire to the churches.

The destroyed churches were the Deeper Life Bible Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, All Souls Anglican Church, Church of Christ in Nigeria, Redeemed Christian Church of God, and the Redeemed Peoples Mission.

Joseph Abdu, pastor of Deeper Life Bible Church, told Compass that damages to his church property in the Muslim rampage of May 13 amounted to about 13 million naira – and that his congregation had shrunk to 40 people from the 130 who attended before the attack.

Abdu said the Christian foster parents of the two rescued girls, Kanayo Chukwu Osakwe and Robinson Ajolokwu Ozuagbunna, noticed the teenagers were missing three weeks ago and reported it to police and to Ningi’s Emirate Council.

“The Christian community in Ningi, having reported the matter to the police, organized a search team to search for the missing girls,” Abdu said. “Word eventually got to the search team that the girls were being held in the town of Wudil in Kano state by a Muslim leader in that town.”

The search team of Christians along with two policemen went to Wudil, only to be told that the Hisbah Command had returned the girls to Ningi to the Muslim leader of the town, the Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Muhammadu Yunusa Danyaya.

“The team returned to Ningi and confirmed that the girls were in the palace of the Muslim leader, but that they would not be released to their parents until the Emir, who was out of town, returned,” Abdu told Compass.

Kidnapping of teenage Christian girls by Muslims, the pastor said, has become a recurring practice in Ningi. Muslims have kidnapped at least 13 Christian girls in the town, Christian sources said.

“These girls are usually kidnapped, forcefully converted to Islam, and then married out to other Muslim men against the will of both the girls and their parents,” Abdu said.

Further reading – Rescue Of Girls Ignites Islamic Rampage

See other articles – Girl, 17, Killed In Iraq For Loving A British Solider

                               Saudi Arabia Women Denied Basic Human Rights

                              Ex-Muslim On The Run For Converting To Christianity

                               Turkish Wives Shot By Husbands – Part Of Culture That Denigrate Them

Rihanna Launching Underwear Line?

                                          Barbadian Grammy Award singer Rihanna is planning an unusual product launch to follow her line of umbrellas – she wants to create her own underwear collection.

The 20-year-old singer launched her own collection of the colourful totes this year [Feb 2008] following the success of the summer [2007] anthem Umbrella – but she admits she feels under pressure to follow in the steps of other Hollywood stars and build her own brand.

However, the Barbados-born star wants to opt for a more seductive line of apparel from her fellow stars.
She says, “There might be a clothing line on the horizon, maybe underwear.”
The singer has leant her name to brands in deals with cosmetics giant Clinique, retailer H+M and Secret deodorant.

Source – ContactMusic

 

 

 

Yoani Sanchez Warns Of Possible Arrest By Cuba Government

Yoani Sanchez the Cuban Blogger who recently won a digital journalism award for her blog which chronicles her daily life, economic hardships and political constraints in her country, fears she may soon be arrested.

She has posted an entry on her Generacion Y  blog warning that she has been threatened with action by the Cuban government.

St. Jacques and Uncommon Sense  both have a translation of her post. 

JPMorgan Cutting 55% Of Bear Stearns Staff

JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s chief executive confirmed Tuesday that the bank will be cutting more than half of the employees at Bear Stearns Cos., the struggling investment bank that JPMorgan agreed to buy in March.

At JPMorgan’s annual shareholder meeting, CEO James Dimon said in his opening remarks, “We’re retaining 45% of the Bear Stearns staff.”

Most of those job offers have already been made. Last week, Dimon said at a conference that it had offered jobs to 6,000 of the 14,000 Bear Stearns workers, and found positions outside the company for another 1,500.

Dimon has said that the acquisition of Bear Stearns will result in job cuts at JPMorgan, but would not say how many during Tuesday’s meeting.

JPMorgan stepped in in March to acquire Bear Stearns at the behest of the Federal Reserve to prevent a collapse of the investment bank that could have potentially damaged the global financial system, which has already been slammed by the troubled mortgage market.

With that acquisition comes all of Bear Stearns’ mortgage-linked assets.

The deal “is a very risky and tough proposition,” Dimon said Tuesday. But he reiterated that he believes Bear  will add about $1 billion to JPMorgan’s  earnings by 2009.

The deal is expected to be completed the weekend of June 1, after a shareholder vote on May 29. 

Source – CNNMoney.com

Venezuela Questions US Diplomat

The Venezuelan government is to summon the United States ambassador to explain the violation of its airspace by an American military plane.

Foreign minister Nicolas Maduro said the plane was detected near the Caribbean island of La Orchila on Saturday.

The Pentagon has acknowledged that a US Navy maritime surveillance jet DID did stray into Venezuelan airspace after experiencing what it called “intermittent navigational problems”.

The State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the US respects Venezuelan sovereignty.

But Mr Maduro said the ambassador will still be called in. His colleague, defence minister General Gustavo Rangel Briceno, says he thinks the flyover was deliberate.

Source – BBC Caribbean

Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy Summoned To Emergency Meeting

Tourism is the life blood of the Barbados economy. Any decisions made outside Barbados that would have a negative impact on our survival is cause for concern. Like the recent decision by American air carriers to cut their carrying capacity by as much as 20% because as you guess it, rising fuel costs which would mean less travellers coming to these shores.

Let’s face it. If plane A, used to carrying say 780 passengers to region A decided to slash their passenger load by 20%, that’s 156 less travellers coming to region A. If plane B, used to carrying say 830 passengers to region B decided to slash their passenger load by 20%, that’s 166 less travellers coming to region A.

So plane A brings 624 passengers and plane B brings 664 passengers. Now it may not be the case of each carrier slashing their capacity by 20% more likely a combination of the air carriers percentage. The point is that is already 322 travellers less coming to the Caribbean and a lesser extent Barbados.

We have not even touch on the thousands much more the millions of travellers that the region would be losing in subsequent years. Imagine the dollar figures people!!!.

So dire is the situation that Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy would be just one of the tourism ministers receiving correspondence inviting them to a 29th May meeting [next Thursday] in Antigua to come up with a comprehensive plan to deal with the gravity of the situation.

According to the Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation [CTO] and St Lucia’s Minister Of Tourism Senator Allen Chastanet said that the decision by the air carriers,

would have a serious impact on visitor arrivals to this tourism dependent region. He warned that this would be made worse over the next six to nine months as the ongoing economic downturn, plus the traditional low spending in an election year, would equal a fall-off in holiday bookings to the Caribbean by visitors from the United States.

And he does not stop there. Mr Chastanet went on to say that if a US$30m marketing plan by the CTO did not get the support from the ministers needed to propel it into action, then that May 29th meeting would be the last regional meeting that he would attend!!!.

All because the Caribbean is still relying on sun, sea and sand!

Further reading – Tourism Ministers Summoned To Emergency Meeting