1990 January-June CR
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Item Caribbean Report 29-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-29) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Islam, Shada (correspondent); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); Clarke, Lorna (correspondent); Edwards, Andy (correspondent); The British Broadcasting CorporationTrinidadian Edwin Carrington, former Secretary-General of the ACP, failed in his controversial bid to become the new Director General of the Centre for Development Industry of the ACP. Following his defeat against Paul Fritz, a Belgium banker, the ACP states also agreed that a geo-national should be appointed Deputy Director of the CDI. Secondly, the US President, George Bush, announced plans to forgive a portion of the $12 billion in debt owed to the United States by Latin American and Caribbean countries. According to the President of the Association of Caribbean Economists, while the US proposal may be a step in the right direction, the initiative by the US does not totally alleviate the debt situation for Caribbean countries. Following the Financial News, a combination of strikes and bad weather threatens Guyana’s ability to meet its sugar quota to the EEC and may result in Guyana losing half of its European quota. The next segment covers the attempt by Guyana’s main opposition party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), to forge an electoral alliance with the three other opposition parties in the country. The leader of the PPP, Cheddi Jagan, expressed his willingness to step down from the presidential race on the condition of being made prime minister of the proposed coalition government. In Surinam, a meeting between the president and the Confederation of Labour Unions to address the current industrial action in the country, ended in deadlock. The report concludes with stories of Caribbean interest appearing in the British press and a sporting segment focusing on the participation of British, German and Canadian track and field athletes in the Dairy Crest Games in England.Item Caribbean Report 28-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-28) Whitehorne, Pat (anchor); Bruney, Mike (correspondent); John, Patrick (interviewee); Gunness, Chris (correspondent); Paquin, Lionel (interviewee); Dunn, Roland (analyst); Islam, Shada (correspondent); The British Broadcasting CorporationAfter serving five years in prison for conspiring to overthrow the government of Eugenia Charles, Patrick John, former Prime Minister of Dominica, states that his prison record should not prevent him from resuming his political career. Secondly, the UN Secretary Council is holding consultation on Haiti following the receipt of a letter from the Haitian president calling on the UN to provide logistical assistance for the upcoming elections in Haiti. Following the Financial News, the ACP ambassadors are meeting in Brussels to discuss the post of Director for the Centre for the Development of Industry. Two weeks ago the former Secretary General of the ACP, Edwin Carrington, received the backing of a Special ACP Ministerial group in his bid to secure the Brussels-based job. However, several African nations in the ACP do not agree with this decision and the EEC is also insisting that a European candidate should fill the position.Item Caribbean Report 27-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-27) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Davies, Hunter (correspondent); Bragg, Melvyn (interviewee); The British Broadcasting CorporationSuriname's rebel Jungle Commando leader, Ronnie Brunswick, arrives in the Netherlands from Paris since being freed from jail in French Guiana. Secondly, Hunter Davies interviews Melvyn Bragg and features the music of James Galway and the Chieftains.Item Caribbean Report 26-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-08-29) Whitehorne, Pat (anchor); Compton, John (interviewee); Charles, Eugenia (interviewee); Cruden, Ramon (interviewee); Bhar, Robin (analyst); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); Ford, Glen (interviewee); Goffe, Leslie (correspondent); The British Broadcasting CorporationTime is running out for the Caribbean banana producers if they are to influence the restricting of the banana market in Europe after 1992. The Caribbean Banana Exporters Association (CBEA) and the UK government held discussions on the controversial British proposal for the regularization of Europe’s banana trade. The CBEA was unable to persuade the British government to modify the proposal and it is now imperative that the Caribbean leaders go to Europe to present their case on a face-to-face level. Secondly, the air and sea ports remain close today in Paramaribo as the trade union federation continues their struggle. Amongst the six major demands, the unions are calling for a clear government policy on the army, an end to drug trafficking and corruption, and the disarming of all illegally armed groups. Following the Financial News, thousands of people gather at the second rally of the newly formed political party, the Guyanese Action for Reform and Democracy. The report concludes with the views of the British Trade Unions Congress that black people will have their freedom of movement restricted and racial equality will disappear when Europe 1992 becomes a reality.Item Caribbean Report 25-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-25) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Norton, Michael (correspondent); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); Pike, Roger (analyst); Brown, G. Arthur (interviewee); Williams, Eddie (correspondent); Osborne, John (interviewee); The British Broadcasting CorporationHaiti’s Finance Minister who was at the centre of a row between the country’s interim president and the Council of State has resigned. The minister’s decision came seventy-two hours after the violent attack on the Council of State in which three people were killed. Secondly, Guyana’s leading opposition parties forming the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy emerged from a weekend meeting without agreeing on a consensus presidential candidate for the next general elections. Dr. Cheddi Jagan insists that he should be the candidate and opposes the consensus presidential candidate put forward by the other parties. Following the Financial News, the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica is in Washington for continued negotiations with the IMF. He contends that dealings with the IMF consumes sixty percent of his time and distracts him from attending to other pressing matters. In the next segment, John Osborne, Montserrat’s Chief Minister, voices his anger over the British changes to the island’s constitution. He charges that the people of Montserrat have been denied the right of a nationality due to the racist stance of the British government. The report concludes with strike action undertaken by the trade union federation of Suriname in protest of the failure of the government to meet the six major demands of the unions.Item Caribbean Report 22-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-22) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Roy, Michaele (interviewee); Caroit, Jean Michel (correspondent); Brown, G. Arthur (interviewee); The British Broadcasting CorporationHaitian workers are expected to support a one-day stoppage in protest of yesterday’s armed attack on the meeting of the country’s Council of State. Four Gunmen opened fire on the members of the Council of State killing one union leader and wounding a Council member. Witnesses claim that the gunmen were seeking to assassinate the president of the Council of State, Roy Louis, and Dr. Louis’ wife confirms that she was warned of an attempt to kill her husband. Secondly, the president of the Dominican Republic, Joaquin Balaguer, removes the Governor of the Central Bank and the government sues several hotels for refusing to change the foreign currency at the official rate. Following the Financial News, a group of senior government officials, academics and leading Commonwealth businessmen recently concluded a meeting in London which considered the impact of global economic and political changes on developing countries. The meeting was chaired by the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica who also comments on the Jamaican debt burden and the economic future of Jamaica.Item Caribbean Report 21-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-21) Whitehorne, Pat (anchor); Crosskill, Hugh (correspondent); Surillo, Theodore (interviewee); Dickson, Mark (analyst); Ferguson, James (interviewee); Barnes, John; James, Oliver (interviewee); Barnes, Jean (interviewee); Goffe, Leslie (correspondent); The British Broadcasting CorporationThe leader of Suriname’s rebel Jungle Commando, Ronnie Brunswick, arrived in Paris from French Guiana and is placed under house arrest until a country of asylum is found for him. This action of the French has angered a magistrate in French Guiana who was ordered to send Ronnie Brunswick to Paris before charges could be laid against him. Following the Financial News, seven years after the US invaded Grenada in October 1983, James Ferguson publishes a book entitled “Grenada Revolution in Reverse.” In the book he addresses the impact of the failure of the US to fulfil its promises to the Grenadians and the demise of the Coalition New National Party. In the next segment, officials in Puerto Rico state that eleven men from the Dominican Republic died from exposure to a pesticide while attempting to stow away aboard a ship bound for the US. The report concludes with the criticism of the Jamaican born English footballer, John Barnes, for failing to perform at the international level. Oliver James, British psychologist, attributes John Barnes’ lack of performance at the World Cup tournament to his childhood beatings from his mother, and the mother of John Barnes fervently disagrees with the views of Mr. James.Item Caribbean Report 20-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-20) Whitehorne, Pat (anchor); Williams, Eddie (correspondent); Gunness, Chris (correspondent); Paquin, Lionel (interviewee); Norton, Michael (correspondent); The British Broadcasting CorporationThe national army of Suriname takes control of the bauxite town of Moengo from the Jungle Commando rebels. Before fleeing the town, the rebels shot at army soldiers and blew up the head office of the Suriname Aluminium Company (SURALCO). Secondly, the Dutch government pressures St. Maarten delegates not to attend the Caribbean regional seminar on decolonization. Following the Financial News, a representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Haiti left New York for consultation with the government of Haiti in Port-au-Prince. The representative was appointed to determine how the United Nations can assist in the organization of Haiti’s upcoming elections. In addition, the National Front for Change and Democracy is a new political organization formed in Haiti. The new party comprises of fifteen left-wing organizations coming together to participate in the forthcoming elections in Haiti.Item Caribbean Report 19-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-19) Whitehorne, Pat (anchor); Rensch, Stanley (interviewee); Pack, Chris (analyst); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); George, Randolph (interviewee); Gunness, Chris (correspondent); McCalla, Jocelyn (interviewee); The British Broadcasting CorporationRonnie Brunswick, leader of the Surinamese Jungle Commando, is arrested in French Guiana. He was held at the airport for allegedly using a false passport shortly before boarding a plane to the Netherlands. The Jungle Commando rebels still have the bauxite town of Moengo under siege and it is feared that fighting can break out between the national army and the rebels. Following the Financial News, Guyana’s newest political organization, Guyanese United for Reform and Democracy, held its first public rally in Georgetown. The report concludes with three New York-based human rights organizations publishing a disturbing report on the poor conditions of thirty thousand Haitian migrant workers in the Dominican Republic.Item Caribbean Report 18-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-18) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); Jagan, Janet (interviewee); Hunte, Julian (interviewee); Elliott, Jane (interviewee); Whitehorne, Pat (correspondent); Goffe, Leslie (correspondent); Hislop, Tracy (interviewee); Shaft, Mike (interviewee); The British Broadcasting CorporationAmidst unbearable economic pressures, the opposition People’s Progressive Party in Guyana questions how the Guyanese people are going to cope after the harsh economic measures imposed by the IMF. A 26.6% devaluation of the Guyana dollar has pushed the exchange rate to forty-five Guyanese dollars to one US dollar. Following the Financial News, the opposition leaders in the Windward Islands rejected British proposal submitted to the European Commission for the regulation of the banana trade after 1992. In the next segment, the government of the United States now offers supports to the setting up of an international fund to aid the developing nations to reduce the use of chemicals that are harmful to the earth’s ozone layer. The report ends with the cancellation of the British version of Jamaica’s Reggae Sunsplash scheduled to take place in Manchester.Item Caribbean Report 15-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-15) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); Jagan, Cheddi (interviewee); Mellinger, Larry (interviewee); Goffe, Leslie (correspondent); Abraham, Joe (interviewee); Cabrera, Donahue (interviewee); Scott, Millard (interviewee); Mutabaruka; The British Broadcasting CorporationGuyana’s Finance Minister announces a devaluation of the Guyana dollar by almost 40% and indicates that further devaluations may occur within the year. The devaluation was in light of the recent signing of the agreement with in IMF after two years of negotiations. Secondly, the leader of Guyana’s opposition People’s Progressive Party, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, has rejected the call from one of his political rivals, Eusi Kwayana of the Working People’s Alliance, to step down as a leader. Eusi Kwayana states that he is bowing out of politics to make way for the younger members of the party and suggests that other members of the political old guard follow his lead. Following the Financial News, three Surinamese Cabinet members are visiting French Guiana for talks with Ronnie Brunswick, leader of the Jungle Commando. The ministers are hoping to persuade Ronnie Brunswick to give up control of Moengo, the bauxite town under siege by the rebel group for almost two weeks. The next segment covers Stories of Caribbean interest appearing in the British press. The report concludes with claims by the British Commission of Racial Equality of widespread racism in Britain after twenty-five years since the introduction of the Race Relations Act.Item Caribbean Report 14-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-14) Whitehorne, Pat (anchor); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); Norton, Michael (correspondent); Islam, Shada (correspondent); Caroit, Jean Michel (correspondent); Williams, Eddie (correspondent); The British Broadcasting CorporationReports and speculations in Georgetown, Guyana of another devaluation of the Guyana dollar are fuelled by a scheduled address by the Minister of Finance to at a special sitting of Parliament tomorrow. Secondly, Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council announces that general elections will be held in September since the new president should take office by 7th February. However, there are widespread concerns about the readiness of the country for elections. Following the Financial News, Trinidadian Edwin Carrington, former Secretary General of the ACP, is currently at the centre of a row surrounding the post of Director of the Centre for Development of Industry. In the next segment, the police force in the Dominican Republic has arrested more than 200 people accused of lighting candles in front of their homes as a political protest against the “death of democracy” pending the results of the general elections that took place a month ago. In addition, the decree that all travellers arriving in the Dominican Republic are required to change US$100.00 has been postponed. The report concludes with anxieties in St. Martin over the approaching single market in Europe after 1992.Item Caribbean Report 13-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-13) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Maynard, Charles (interviewee); Posti, Alfred (interviewee); Budgen, David (interviewee); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); Rodney, Donald (interviewee); Johnson, Linton Kwesi; The British Broadcasting CorporationMexico is commencing negotiations with Washington on a free trade agreement and such an arrangement could have far-reaching implications for the Caribbean region. The Director of the Caribbean Basin Division states that the Caribbean is not ready to be part of this union and needs to aggressively explore dismantling the trade and investment barriers, and focus on regional integration. Secondly, the Bauxite mining operations in the Surinamese town of Moengo remains suspended after the Jungle Commando rebel group seized the town last week and the army responded by closing the roads to SURALCO mines and disconnecting telephone lines. Following the Financial News, the Cuban Foreign Minister visited Guyana and pledged continuing medical assistance to the country. The report concludes with the marking of the death of Guyanese Dr. Walter Rodney, Historian, Political Activist and co-founder of the Working People’s Alliance, who died in a car bomb ten years ago. The WPA alleges that Dr. Rodney was killed as he led a mass movement to overthrow the ruling PNC. Donald Rodney comments on the life and death of his brother and the segment ends with a musical tribute by Linton Kwesi Johnson.Item Caribbean Report 12-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-12) Whitehorne, Pat (anchor); Aubrey, Eric (interviewee); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); Dougan, David (interviewee); Davidson, Lynn (interviewee); Goffe, Leslie (correspondent); The British Broadcasting CorporationThe Chairman of the British Parliamentary Human Rights Society describes the Guyana’s Election Observers Bill as disturbing and unnecessary. Under the bill, President Desmond Hoyte will be empowered to invite election observers and individuals who falsely impersonate an observer are liable to a fine and eighteen months imprisonment. Secondly, two more hangings in Guyana have prompted further calls for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the use of the death penalty in the country. Following the Financial News, British Airways has rejected suggestions that it is reducing its services to St. Lucia. Rather it confirms that the direct flight to St. Lucia will now operate out of Gatwick and not Heathrow, and this new route will not affect the tourist industry in St. Lucia. The report concludes with the battle by fire-fighters in the Gulf of Mexico to extinguish a fire onboard the Norwegian oil tanker, Mega Borg. The tanker is now threatening to spill thirty-eight gallons of crude oil into the sea which may pose a serious environmental problem for the Caribbean region.Item Caribbean Report 11-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-11) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Rensch, Stanley (interviewee); Neita, Hartley (interviewee); Caroit, Jean Michel (correspondent); Savarin, Charles (interviewee); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); The British Broadcasting CorporationStanley Rensch, exiled leader of the Surinamese Human Rights Organization, contends that the government is powerless to control the current conflict between the army and the Jungle Commando rebel group. Over the past week, the bauxite mining town of Moengo in Suriname has been under siege resulting in the closure of the bauxite company SURALCO. Secondly, Jamaica’s ailing Prime Minister, Michael Manley, is unable to host the 11Th Caricom Heads of Government Summit. Mr. Manley is currently a patient at the Miami Heart Institute recovering from a case of pneumonia and will soon be preparing for prostate cancer surgery. Thirdly, all travellers arriving in the Dominican Republic will now be required to change US$100.00 in an effort by the government to increase the foreign currency of the Central Bank. Following the Financial News, the Caribbean ambassadors in Brussels are expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the proposals put forward by the regional agricultural ministers for the regularization of the banana trade in Europe after 1992. These proposals were drafted at a meeting in Jamaica last week and seek to counter the controversial proposals by the British government which may lead to a significant fall in the price of bananas. The report concludes with a brief segment on Guyana’s inability to work out a support agreement with the IMF.Item Caribbean Report 08-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-08) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Fitzpatrick, Miles (interviewee); Martin, Lionel (correspondent); O'Connell, Rhona (analyst); Khan, Sharief (correspondent); Cezair, Percy (interviewee); Whitehorne, Pat (correspondent); The British Broadcasting CorporationThe Guyana Bar Association calls on the government to make amendments to the recently tabled Election Observers Bill in the Guyanese Parliament. Under the bill President Desmond Hoyte is empowered to invite observers for the country’s elections. The Bar Association is concerned that the bill does not clearly indicate that observers other than those invited by the President are welcomed and the element that it is a criminal offence to impersonate an observer. Secondly, a Soviet trade mission is in Cuba to work out the revised trading relations between the two countries. Cuba relies on the Soviet Union for 70% of international trade and this continued trade support from the Soviets is essential for the Cuban economy. Following the Financial News, the stand-off between the Surinamese army and the Jungle Commando in the bauxite mining town of Moengo continues. Ronnie Brunswick, leader of the Jungle Commando, threatened to blow up vital installations in the town of Moengo. The next segment covers Stories of Caribbean Interest in the British Press. The report concludes with Percy Cezair, Trinidadian Business Consultant and Journalist, agreeing with David Jessop, Head of the London-based West India Committee, that the Caribbean is suffering from the lack of an export culture.Item Caribbean Report 07-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-07) Whitehorne, Pat (anchor); Crosskill, Hugh (correspondent); Thompson, Pat (interviewee); Buxton, Neil (analyst); Pack, Chris (analyst); Binnendijk, Chandra van (correspondent); Brathwaite, Nicholas (interviewee); The British Broadcasting CorporationAt a recent conference in Puerto Rico, David Jessop, the Executive Director of the London-based West India Committee says that a lack of creative thinking amongst the private and public sectors in the Caribbean is preventing its successful penetration of European markets after 1992. He outlines ten main constraints facing the Caribbean and proposes ideas for consideration. In response to Mr. Jessop’s statements, Pat Thompson of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce says that Caribbean initiatives are already underway to develop export markets in Europe but he agrees that a lot more needs to be done. Following the Financial News, according to a report published in London the world sugar market is likely to remain tight in spite of recent adjustments to assessments of the 1989-1990 supply and demand balance. In the next segment, Suriname is calling on the Organization of American States to assist in disarming the rebel groups that have been fighting amongst themselves over the last two years. The report concludes with Nicholas Brathwaite, Grenada’s Prime Minister, dismissing claims of shabby treatment of the former High Commissioner of London, Oswald Gibbs. Mr. Brathwaite states that it was in fact the senior diplomatic staff in London that did not act in accordance with diplomatic protocol.Item Caribbean Report 06-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-06) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Charles, Eugenia (interviewee); James, Edison (interviewee); Pyne, Geoff (analyst); Brown, Hazel (interviewee); The British Broadcasting CorporationEugenia Charles, Dominica’s Prime Minister, says she agrees with the controversial proposals by the British government for the regulation of the banana market in Europe after 1992. The proposal calls for the imposition of set quotas for dollar banana imports and a ten percent tariff. The newly elected opposition leader of Dominica is unhappy with the prime minister’s acceptance of the British proposals and supports the Caribbean Banana Exporters Association in its rejection of the document. Following the Financial News, the Caribbean Regional Consumers Council plans to set up databases in two islands in an effort to make consumer related information more easily available. A health database will be established in Barbados and a public utilities database in Trinidad. The report concludes with the assertion by David Jessop of the West India Committee in London that if the Caribbean is to successfully develop export markets in Europe after 1992, it must develop new and practical approaches.Item Caribbean Report 05-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-05) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Espinal, Emmanuel (interviewee); Cabral, Donald Reid (interviewee); Nunez, Philip (interviewee); Gibbs, Oswald (interviewee); Ramdial, Bal (interviewee); Goffe, Leslie (correspondent); Smith, Philip (analyst); The British Broadcasting CorporationDominican Republic’s main opposition party, the Dominican Liberation Party, headed by Juan Bosch states that it has new evidence to substantiate claims that the May 6th general election was fraudulent. This follows a statement by the Head of the Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic announcing the suspension of the process of verifying the results and the condemnation of Jimmy Carter and his observer team. Following the Financial News, Philip Nunez highlights the urgency for the Caribbean leaders to agree on supporting the West Indies Shipping Company (WISCO), in light of a recent study showing that with proper economic support WISCO can become a viable operation. In the next segment, Grenada’s dismissed High Commissioner to London, Oswald Gibbs, attends his last official function and was locked out of his office. The report concludes with the Commonwealth Expert Group submitting a Joint Commonwealth Guyana Programme to manage one million acres of the country’s Amazonian rainforest.Item Caribbean Report 04-06-1990(The British Broadcasting Corporation, 1990-06-04) Crosskill, Hugh (anchor); Vaz, Douglas (interviewee); Nunez, Philip (interviewee); The British Broadcasting CorporationCarla Hills, US Trade Ambassador, comments on the attempts by the European courtiers to bribe the markets instead of allowing the entrepreneurs to succeed base on price and quality. Secondly, the opposition Jamaica Labour Party holds its annual conference this weekend with at least five members calling on party leader, Edward Seaga, to improve the lines of communication within the party. This so-called “Gang of Five” has been accused of trying to unseat Edward Seaga and announces that they will not be seeking executive posts in the upcoming conference. The report concludes with the call by a member of the Caricom Committee on Transportation for a firm commitment to the establishment of a multi-national carrier to serve the Caribbean. Philip Nunez comments on the structure of the proposed Caribbean airlines.