Caribbean Report 11-02-1999

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1. Headlines with anchor Debbie Ransome (00:29)
2. The Olympics Committee Salt Lake City bribery scandal has been linked to Barbados official Austin Sealy. Mr. Sealy is one of ten members of the International Olympics committee implicated in the gifts for vote scandal. A report by an Ethics Panel appointed to make enquiries into the scandal showed three thousand dollars in an account of a company affiliated to Mr. Sealy’s consultancy. In an interview with anchor Debbie Ransome, Mr. Sealy denies receiving or soliciting votes for the Salt Lake City candidacy to host the 2002 winter Olympics Games and intends to seek legal assistance in clearing his name (00:30 – 03:16)
3. American Airlines continue to cancel flights in the wake of a planned pilot sick out. Debbie Ransome interviews John Bell the CEO of the Caribbean Hotel Association on the impact of the disruption on the hotel industry. Hoteliers are forced to cooperate with each other and accommodate affected travelers. Stranded passengers have vowed to seek monetary compensation ( 03:17 - 06:32)
4. The OECS has devised a draft telecommunications plan at a consultation session held in Saint. Lucia. The plan contains resolutions which could end the Cable and Wireless monopoly in the sub-region and the appointment of a new authority to supervise telecommunications and set policies in the OECS. Pete Ninvalle reports on the details of the draft public discussion document (06:33- 08:45)
5. The European Union (EU) rejected US claims that it is stalling efforts at making Europe Banana Import regime compliant with World Trade Organization rules. When interviewed, EU Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan commented that the Americans by their political and economic actions could trigger a trade war over the banana regime (08:46 -10:10)
6. Anguilla’s parliament is scheduled to be dissolved soon to pave the way for general elections to be held on March 4. Chief Minister Hubert Hughes is expected to make a formal announcement. Ken Richards reports on the impending elections between the governing coalition led by Hughes and the opposition Anguilla National Alliance party led by opposition leader Osbourne Fleming (10:11- 11:53)
7. Cuban exiles in France are seeking redress from an investigating local magistrates as the French court declared that it does not possess legal authority to hear a civil suit against Fidel Castro (11:54 – 14:35)
8. Suriname has condemned renewed Dutch attempts to prosecute former military ruler Desiré Bouterse. Dutch Public prosecutors issue a summons for Mr. Bouterse to appear before a court in the Hague on charges of drugs smuggling in spite of his denial of committing the crime (14:36 - 15:29)

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