Caribbean Report 24-03-2011

Abstract

This penultimate program in the BBC Caribbean Report series deals mainly with economic and social issues facing Caribbean countries, as well as the implications of some economic, social and legal developments in Britain as they relate to Caribbean diasporic communities. The program concludes with an archives segment, which features snippets of previous broadcasts spanning a period from as far back as world war II to as recent as 2010, and highlighting significant personalities and events in Caribbean history.

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Table of Contents

1. Debbie Ransome reports on the cross-examination of Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding at the inquiry regarding his party's involvement in the extradition matter involving reputed drug lord Christopher "Dudus" Coke. In this segment, Mr. Golding responds to questions posed by opposition attourney K.D. Knight. (00:09-01:50)
2. Debbie Ransome talks with Trinidad and Tobago correspondent Tony Fraser regarding the Trinidad and Tobago government's intervention in the Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) matter and the subsequent bailout and refund to investors. (01:51-04:02)
3. BBC correspondent Bertram Niles reports on the meeting of Caribbean energy ministers to consider a proposal to remove the regional tax on imported food and fuel in an effort to ease the burden of rising prices on consumers. This segment also includes recommendations by Joanne Massiah, Antigua and Barbuda government minister and Chairman for the Council for Trade and Economic Development with regard to strategies on mitigating the impact of rising prices. (04:03-05:25)
4. Debbie Ransome reports on Britain's freezing of its planned air passenger duty (APD) tax to the Caribbean and the possible implications for the cost of air travel in 2012. Also in this segment, Deputy Chairman of the APD Committee, Gilmore Smith explains that the EU's implementation of a tax on air travel to the Caribbean could mean double taxation, and consequently make travel to the Caribbean more expensive ultimately leading to a decline in travel to that region. Smith was therefore urging diasporic Caribbean people to lobby against the tax by writing to their respective Members of Parliament. (05:28-07:52)
5. In Britain, BBC correspondent Mike Jarvis reports on the conviction of the serial rapist known as the "Night Stalker". The 53 year old man identified as Delroy Grant was charged and convicted for the series of assaults on elderly women. He was of Jamaican origin. Also in this segment, Police Commissioner Simon Foy notes that cutting edge technology and DNA identification was used to build a profile of the suspect. (08:05-09:55)
6. Debbie Ransome interviews Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar regarding assistance for Haiti. The two speak about building Haiti's capacity for development. Mrs. Persad Bissessar notes that the manufacturing sector could contribute in this area, but this could not be in the short term. (10:18-11:35)
7. BBC Archives Segment: This segment features snippets of several past programs, highlighting significant Caribbean events dating from as recent as the Haiti earthquake of 2010 to as far back as the popular "Calling the West Indies" programs of the World War II era. Some key Caribbean personas are also featured, inlcuding George Lamming, Trevor McDonald and the infamous Yasin Abu Bakr. (11:42-14:20)

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