Caribbean Report 12-03-1991

Abstract

The public remains in the dark regarding the current political crisis in Antigua. There are rumours and speculations about government ministers being sacked and others appointed but there has not been any public statements made by both sides of the political divide. A large oil slick is affecting the coastal areas of St. Maarten, St. Bath, Nevis and is threatening Antigua. A British woman is in the centre of controversy between the church and the scientific community as she decides to have an artificial insemination procedure. The British government is being seen as dragging its feet on the question of granting the British Virgin Island associate membership of CARICOM. Since the slump in the world market, the Jamaican bauxite industry has been recovering steadily.

Description

Table of Contents

1. Headlines (00:00 - 00:25)
2. The public remains in the dark regarding the current political crisis in Antigua. There are rumours and speculations about government ministers being sacked and other appointed but there has not been any public statements made by both sides of the political divide. It also appears that one member of the group of seven signatories, who have written for Dr. Vere Bird Snr. to resign, is wavering. Many believe that a public statement should be made because Antigua’s credibility as an independent, self governing state is being more and more placed into question (00:26 - 02:43)
3. A large oil slick is affecting the coastal areas of St. Maarten, St. Bath, Nevis and is threatening St. Antigua. Technical assistance in the form of material and experts has been flown to assist the islands. , residues of oil washed as tar on the island’s beach areas. Disaster coordinator says that there is nothing that the island can be done at the moment. In St. Maarten damage to marine life and the environment is expected to be considerable as hotel executives are becoming very concerned about the low occupancy rates (02:44 - 05:21)
4. A British woman is in the centre of controversy between the church and the scientific community as she decides to have a virgin birth in Britain through artificial insemination. Several persons including Dr. James Boyce of Barbados, Maureen Rose of Jamaica and Director of Women Resource and Outreach Centre and Monsignor Patrick Anthony, Vigor General of Castries St. Lucia provide their views on this issue (05:22 - 09:41)
5. Chief Minister of the British Virgin Island (BVI), Mr. Laberty Stoute believes that the British government has been dragging its feet on the question of the BVI’s Associate Membership of CARICOM. However as a British dependency, the BVI must have permission from the Britain government. Stoute has been urging UK officials to give them the green light to get this membership (09:42 –12:05)
6. Since the slump in the world market Jamaican bauxite industry have been recovering steadily. However, Jamaican officials say that if growth is to continue in the country, Jamaica will have to increase its bauxite refining capacity (12:06 - 14:38)

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