Caribbean Report 25-03-1993

Abstract

Following the arrest of Trinidad’s most wanted man - Dole Chadee, who has been at large for many years. Chadee was actually charged for murder, and as a result of his arrest the government has once again turned its attention on combating crime. This has raised much discussion about implementing legislations for - anti- money laundering, phone tapping and setting up witness protection programmes - correspondent Tony Fraser reports. Aides to President Bill Clinton are studying proposed changes to the 936 Investment Programme following a meeting with Puerto Rican Governor Pedro Rossello. Governor Rossello put forward these changes in an attempt to change the plans of the Clinton administration about cutting some of the pillars of the 936 exercise, as part of Clinton’s budget cutting exercise – Yvette Rowe reports. Environmental conditions at Latin American banana plantations have come under scrutiny on British television. A BBC programme looks at the banana wars, as the Caribbean and Latin America fight over access to the European market. The assignment programme dealt with both sides of the argument but then focused on the environmental risk of dollar banana producers, showing that the Latin America banana industry is damaging much of Latin America itself, for example in Costa Rica - the environmental damage to the coral reefs has also significantly affected the tourism industry as well. Correspondent - Charlotte Fadipe reports from an interview with Benson Roberstson, Marine Biologist and a concerned hotelier. Race continues to be an issue during Jamaica’s elections campaign, through the employment of subtle music and slogans at campaigns, promoting an undercurrent that suggests that Prime Minister PJ Patterson is “black and one of us” meaning that he is of Jamaican birth versus his political opponent - Edward Seaga, who was born in the United States. However, Prime Minister PJ Patterson continues to promote the message of national unity. Dr. Brian Meeks, Social Scientists in an interview with correspondent Yvette Rowe gives his analysis of the political climate surrounding the elections campaigning. Since the September 1990 Coup, Haiti’s media has come under increasing pressure from the de facto authorities. This BBC Caribbean Report begins with the voice of Radio Tropique – journalist Corlson Dormé, who was kidnapped and badly beaten while covering a demonstration. Correspondents Hugh Croskell, Michael Norton and Carol Yakov all report on how journalists have coped over the last seventeen (17) months, and the negative reactions of the Haitian military (dictatorship)towards the media’s coverage of political and social issues and the consequences in Haiti.