Caribbean Report 22-03-2002

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1. Headlines (00:00-00:33)
2. At the United Nations Anti-Poverty Summit in Monterey, Mexico, the Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon, says the summit must deliver a better deal for developing countries, but US President George W. Bush says giving aid is one thing, spending it properly was another. Rosie Hayes reports (00:34-02:12)
3. Still in Monterey, President George W. Bush tells his fellow heads of state he’ll increase America’s aid budget by fifty percent but in return he wants developing countries to manage the aid they are given better and no amount of aid would help badly governed countries. Rob Watson reports (02:12-03:42)
4. Sir Shridath Ramphal former Secretary General of the Commonwealth and one who has attended scores of meetings like Monterey speaks with Orin Gordon via telephone in London and says he is unimpressed with Mr. Bush’s arguments (03:43-06:27)
5. The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is trying to raise US$124 million for loans to the smaller countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). CDB President Dr. Compton Bourne tells the news conference tourism picked-up after the slump from the September 11th attacks in the US but not enough to take the OECS out of serious fiscal pressures. David Ellis reports (06:28-08:31)
6. Congressional opponents of the US trade and travel embargo on Cuba appear to be growing in number. Two such opponents are Charlie Rangel and Vic Snyder of Arkansas. A group of law makers is describing the forty-year-old policy as hypocritical and a relic of the cold war but the Bush Administration says lifting these embargos will boost the Cuban economy and prolong Communist rule. Bertram Niles reports (08:32-10:10)
7. National Security Minister, Peter Phillips, says Jamaican policemen are to be stationed in Britain’s two main airports to help reduce smuggling of illegal drugs from Jamaica into Britain. Conrad Hamilton reports the announcement comes following meetings between Jamaican government and British authorities. On a talk show, Police Commissioner Francis Forbes outlines other measures to address violent crime in Jamaica (10:11-12:06)
8. Hundreds of people demonstrate in Roseau, Dominican to support Marpin Telecoms and Broadcasting Company being awarded a licence to provide a telecommunications service in Dominica. Marpin requires full interconnection between itself and Cable and Wireless but Cable and Wireless does not want to give up the monopoly it is enjoying in telecommunications (12:07-12:34)
9. A pilot scheme, the Lambeth Scheme, where cannabis users are warned rather than arrested is to continue in Lambeth, London. Here supporters of suspended police officer, Brian Paddick, who pioneered the programme demonstrate, calling for the scheme and officer to be reinstated. Deputy Assistant Commissioner/Head of the Metropolitan Police Drugs Directorate, Mike Fuller, and Environmental Campaigner Shane Collins comment and Natalie Williams gives details (12:35-15:29)

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