Caribbean Report 19-02-2002

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1. Headlines (00:00-00:28)
2. The Queen of Britain addresses a special session of Jamaica’s Parliament on the second day of her Golden Jubilee visit to the island. She speaks of the world-wide impact of the September attacks in America and on the celebrations marking Jamaica’s fortieth anniversary of independence from Britain. The BBC’s Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond reports (00:29-01:57)
3. There appears to be widespread enthusiasm among the Jamaican people for the visit of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. The Stone Organisation poll for the Observer Newspaper says the majority of respondents think her visit is important. Over the years local social scientists have been confounded by the fascination that Jamaicans have for Queen Elizabeth II. BBC Caribbean Report speaks to five of the many people who come out to see her (01:58-03:15)
4. Nevis Premier Vance Amory says while he supports the free movement of OECS nationals being proposed by leaders in the sub-region, he fears it can turn into an uncontrolled open door policy with social dislocation and economic difficulties arising from the process. Former Vincentian Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell says he is delighted it is on the agenda again (03:16-06:31)
5. A motion before Parliament is calling for Tourism Minister, Rene M Baptiste, to resign over what the opposition says is her continuing legal links to fugitive French-born offshore banker, Thierry Nano. Jerry George is watching these events in and out of Parliament and we hear the voices of angry supporters of the Opposition New Democratic Party led by Arnhim Eustace (06:32-08:46)
6. The authorities in Curacao recapture three of the six dangerous prisoners who escaped from a maximum security cell at the Bon Futuro jail. Twenty-eight jail breaks have occurred within a year (08:47-09:12)
7. A Harvard Professor and leading economist is advising Caribbean countries not to give up on acquiring NAFTA-type benefits from the United States. Professor Jeffrey Sax is in Port of Spain discussing economic possibilities for the region. He says the Caribbean region needs to negotiate to ensure access to the rich country markets (09:13-10:59)
8. Dominican nationals are unhappy as the island’s initial Citizenship by Investment programme introduced by the then Dominica Freedom Party Government of Former Prime Minister Eugenia Charles and geared largely towards raising funds for the construction of a five-star hotel, does not deliver, more than ten years later. Orin Gordon reports that the main developer, Grace Tongue, is under fire (11:00-15:26)

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