Caribbean Report 06-09-1988
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Date
188-09-06
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The British Broadcasting Corporation
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Table of Contents
1. Headlines (00:00-00:23)
2. In what is seen as a very rare move, Haiti’s Army High Command arrests an officer who allegedly beat a state broadcasting company’s messenger to death. It was alleged that the messenger had defrauded the army lieutenant. Pat Whitehorn interviews BBC correspondent Michael Tarr who reports from Port au Prince. (00:27-03:05)
3. BBC correspondent Allan Tomlinson reports on a recently released study on human rights in Cuba by the London-based organization Amnesty International. He notes that the study reveals that the human rights situation in Cuba has shown significant improvement over the last 18 months, despite the persistent imprisonment of Cubans for the peaceful exercise of their rights. He goes on to add that the study reveals that prison sentences are shorter than they used to be, living conditions in prisons are better, fewer prisoners face execution and many long-term political prisoners are being released. The report however, criticizes the government for prosecuting persons for simply trying to speak out or for trying to leave the country. While noting recent reforms to Cuba’s penal code, Amnesty International also notes that the Cuban government uses its laws to restrict basic human freedoms. This study comes in at a time when Cuba is trying hard to convince the international community that it respects human rights. It also comes in the wake of harsh criticism of Cuba by the US with respect to human rights violations at the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva. Critics of the Castro government have argued that the improvements noted by Amnesty International and other observers are purely cosmetic, and meant to cover up a harsher reality. A delegation of Cuban exiles led by former long-term political prisoner Dr. Andres Vargas Gomez will visit Geneva to warn the UN team not to be fooled. Dr. Vargas concedes that the systematic physical abuse suffered by many long-term prisoners like himself may have ended, but insists that this is only temporary. He believes that the abuse will resume after the visit of the UN Commission. He also states that Amnesty and other such groups who continue to monitor the situation and are convinced that there is real change are being naïve. Marion Marshram, a member of Amnesty’s team is optimistic. She notes that the group has received very few reports of new arrests and allegations of ill treatment of political prisoners this year. She acknowledges that the UN debate and proposed visit is probably partly responsible, but hopes that things would not revert to the way they were before. (03:05-06:46)
4. Financial Report -- Hugh Crosskill. Included in this financial report is a brief interview with Trinidad oil analyst Winston Mootoo regarding a fall in world oil prices, the impact of a recent devaluation on domestic gas prices which had increased by twenty cents per liter. (06:54-08:26)
5. BBC correspondent Alexander Thompson reports on The upcoming non-aligned foreign ministers meeting in Cyprus. Among items on the agenda for discussion is a draft document which outlines the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking, and how it undermines the social fabric of nations. The draft calls on all states to make a concerted effort to combat the production, consumption and trafficking of narcotics, because it is not only a considerable economic drain on governments, but also impacts their development and progress. The draft document also addresses what it terms the pernicious links between drug trafficking and terrorist groups. Additionally, the document speaks to the issue of economic and technical assistance to drug producing countries, to speed up their search for alternative crops acceptable to farmers. Thompson notes that the section of the economic report would be of particular interest to delegates from the Caribbean where drug trafficking is in danger of getting out of hand. Also worthy of special consideration for Caribbean delegates is a specific section of the draft political document which deals with their area. The draft repeats the specific non-aligned view that all liberation movements in the Caribbean be supported, including the small movement in Puerto Rico. It supports the Haitian struggle for the restoration of its political rights and calls for the immediate withdrawal of foreign military personnel from Grenada. Among other demands is the pull out of the United States from the Guantanamo naval base in Cuba. (08:30-10:50)
6. West Indies selectors retain sixteen of the same players who completed their recent tour of England, for their upcoming series in Australia. Hugh Crosskill speaks with Stephen Camacho, WICB Secretary, about the selection of the final team and their prospects for the series in Australia and other aspects of the tour. Camacho notes that although the team is playing well together, he expects a much harder fight from the Australian team than the English team. Some pre-tour activities are also briefly discussed, including the League of Champions tournament in Sharjah. (11:03-13:32)
2. In what is seen as a very rare move, Haiti’s Army High Command arrests an officer who allegedly beat a state broadcasting company’s messenger to death. It was alleged that the messenger had defrauded the army lieutenant. Pat Whitehorn interviews BBC correspondent Michael Tarr who reports from Port au Prince. (00:27-03:05)
3. BBC correspondent Allan Tomlinson reports on a recently released study on human rights in Cuba by the London-based organization Amnesty International. He notes that the study reveals that the human rights situation in Cuba has shown significant improvement over the last 18 months, despite the persistent imprisonment of Cubans for the peaceful exercise of their rights. He goes on to add that the study reveals that prison sentences are shorter than they used to be, living conditions in prisons are better, fewer prisoners face execution and many long-term political prisoners are being released. The report however, criticizes the government for prosecuting persons for simply trying to speak out or for trying to leave the country. While noting recent reforms to Cuba’s penal code, Amnesty International also notes that the Cuban government uses its laws to restrict basic human freedoms. This study comes in at a time when Cuba is trying hard to convince the international community that it respects human rights. It also comes in the wake of harsh criticism of Cuba by the US with respect to human rights violations at the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva. Critics of the Castro government have argued that the improvements noted by Amnesty International and other observers are purely cosmetic, and meant to cover up a harsher reality. A delegation of Cuban exiles led by former long-term political prisoner Dr. Andres Vargas Gomez will visit Geneva to warn the UN team not to be fooled. Dr. Vargas concedes that the systematic physical abuse suffered by many long-term prisoners like himself may have ended, but insists that this is only temporary. He believes that the abuse will resume after the visit of the UN Commission. He also states that Amnesty and other such groups who continue to monitor the situation and are convinced that there is real change are being naïve. Marion Marshram, a member of Amnesty’s team is optimistic. She notes that the group has received very few reports of new arrests and allegations of ill treatment of political prisoners this year. She acknowledges that the UN debate and proposed visit is probably partly responsible, but hopes that things would not revert to the way they were before. (03:05-06:46)
4. Financial Report -- Hugh Crosskill. Included in this financial report is a brief interview with Trinidad oil analyst Winston Mootoo regarding a fall in world oil prices, the impact of a recent devaluation on domestic gas prices which had increased by twenty cents per liter. (06:54-08:26)
5. BBC correspondent Alexander Thompson reports on The upcoming non-aligned foreign ministers meeting in Cyprus. Among items on the agenda for discussion is a draft document which outlines the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking, and how it undermines the social fabric of nations. The draft calls on all states to make a concerted effort to combat the production, consumption and trafficking of narcotics, because it is not only a considerable economic drain on governments, but also impacts their development and progress. The draft document also addresses what it terms the pernicious links between drug trafficking and terrorist groups. Additionally, the document speaks to the issue of economic and technical assistance to drug producing countries, to speed up their search for alternative crops acceptable to farmers. Thompson notes that the section of the economic report would be of particular interest to delegates from the Caribbean where drug trafficking is in danger of getting out of hand. Also worthy of special consideration for Caribbean delegates is a specific section of the draft political document which deals with their area. The draft repeats the specific non-aligned view that all liberation movements in the Caribbean be supported, including the small movement in Puerto Rico. It supports the Haitian struggle for the restoration of its political rights and calls for the immediate withdrawal of foreign military personnel from Grenada. Among other demands is the pull out of the United States from the Guantanamo naval base in Cuba. (08:30-10:50)
6. West Indies selectors retain sixteen of the same players who completed their recent tour of England, for their upcoming series in Australia. Hugh Crosskill speaks with Stephen Camacho, WICB Secretary, about the selection of the final team and their prospects for the series in Australia and other aspects of the tour. Camacho notes that although the team is playing well together, he expects a much harder fight from the Australian team than the English team. Some pre-tour activities are also briefly discussed, including the League of Champions tournament in Sharjah. (11:03-13:32)