Caribbean Report 06-01-1994
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Date
1994-01-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The British Broadcasting Corporation
Abstract
This programme reports on the alleged corruption in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the political unrest in Mexico and how it would deter foreign investment despite the existence of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It examines Aristide’s isolation in Washington, as well as England’s readiness for the upcoming Five Test series. Finally the programme mentions the meeting of the Cuban Foreign Minister with a senior Swiss official, the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry to discuss the economic situation in Cuba.
Description
Table of Contents
1. Debbie Ransome reports on the alleged corruption in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Force. At the beginning of the report, the voice of Russell Huggins, Minister of National Security in Trinidad and Tobago, is heard at the beginning of segment speaking in Parliament following Scotland Yard’s investigation into the possible existence of a drug cartel in the Trinidad and Tobago’s Police force. According to the report, the Head of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Chamber Industry and Commerce called for Scotland Yard to return to further investigate the alleged corruption (00:29-1:16)
2. Carol Orr visited Scotland Yard to find out what they found last time and what could be done if they were invited back. Scotland Yard submitted a report in December 1993, which concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge but found a hard core of corrupt policeman and nine (9) were charged. The call by the Trinidad and Tobago’s Chamber of Commerce for the return of Scotland Yard Trinidad will fall on deaf ears as Scotland Yard officials say that Trinidad and Tobago’s police and judicial infrastructure is so high bound in corrupt practices there is little point in assigning another team to carry out investigations. In an interview, Frank Mouttet, President of the Chamber of Commerce said that his organization has called for the revamping of the Police Service and he comments that if the Scotland Yard Investigative Team were to return, he would like to see them given the necessary powers to carry out proper investigations and arrests (01:17-03:42)
3. Carol Orr reports on the growing isolation of exiled Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide in Washington’s highest circles. American officials have suggested that future conferences on Haiti should involve the Haitian military, the architects of the 1991 coup. Former President Aristide commented to the Miami Herald that he would support any attempt to topple the Haitian military. Carol Orr interviews Washington based journalist Yvette Collymore to see how this call by Aristide is being viewed in the US capital, namely the White House (03:42-07:04)
4. Some regional analysts are predicting that the current unrest in Mexico could deter investment in Mexico despite the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA). Larry Birns, the Director of the Washington based, Council on Hemispheric Affairs, agrees that the unrest in Mexico would have a negative impact on investment. According to Birns there is growing pressure in Washington to introduce a democracy clause into future NAFTA deals. Professor Tony Bryan of the Miami University, who studied and worked in Mexico, disagrees with Burns. Bryan instead feels that some foreign investors might be scared off but not for too long. In his view, the rebellion in Chiapas, Mexico is not unusual in Mexican history, but it is just that this particular rebellion has received an unusual amount of media attention. Bryan argues that the Caribbean would still have to overcome other hurdles to be a part of NAFTA and the reforms taken by Mexico, if implemented in the Caribbean could lead to social stress and eventually the kind o f rebellion which currently exists in Mexico (07:05-11:44)
5. Hugh Crosskill reports on the English cricket squad to tour the Caribbean , which wrapped up its preparation for five test series. The bookmakers are not very optimistic about England’s cricket teams performance and one is quoting odds of 14-1 against English winning the five series and West Indies 9-2 (11:45-13:56)
6.It is was announced in Switzerland that the Cuban foreign Minister Roberto Robaina would meet with a senior Swiss official, Jakob Kellenberger during a private two day visit (13:57-14:48)
2. Carol Orr visited Scotland Yard to find out what they found last time and what could be done if they were invited back. Scotland Yard submitted a report in December 1993, which concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge but found a hard core of corrupt policeman and nine (9) were charged. The call by the Trinidad and Tobago’s Chamber of Commerce for the return of Scotland Yard Trinidad will fall on deaf ears as Scotland Yard officials say that Trinidad and Tobago’s police and judicial infrastructure is so high bound in corrupt practices there is little point in assigning another team to carry out investigations. In an interview, Frank Mouttet, President of the Chamber of Commerce said that his organization has called for the revamping of the Police Service and he comments that if the Scotland Yard Investigative Team were to return, he would like to see them given the necessary powers to carry out proper investigations and arrests (01:17-03:42)
3. Carol Orr reports on the growing isolation of exiled Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide in Washington’s highest circles. American officials have suggested that future conferences on Haiti should involve the Haitian military, the architects of the 1991 coup. Former President Aristide commented to the Miami Herald that he would support any attempt to topple the Haitian military. Carol Orr interviews Washington based journalist Yvette Collymore to see how this call by Aristide is being viewed in the US capital, namely the White House (03:42-07:04)
4. Some regional analysts are predicting that the current unrest in Mexico could deter investment in Mexico despite the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA). Larry Birns, the Director of the Washington based, Council on Hemispheric Affairs, agrees that the unrest in Mexico would have a negative impact on investment. According to Birns there is growing pressure in Washington to introduce a democracy clause into future NAFTA deals. Professor Tony Bryan of the Miami University, who studied and worked in Mexico, disagrees with Burns. Bryan instead feels that some foreign investors might be scared off but not for too long. In his view, the rebellion in Chiapas, Mexico is not unusual in Mexican history, but it is just that this particular rebellion has received an unusual amount of media attention. Bryan argues that the Caribbean would still have to overcome other hurdles to be a part of NAFTA and the reforms taken by Mexico, if implemented in the Caribbean could lead to social stress and eventually the kind o f rebellion which currently exists in Mexico (07:05-11:44)
5. Hugh Crosskill reports on the English cricket squad to tour the Caribbean , which wrapped up its preparation for five test series. The bookmakers are not very optimistic about England’s cricket teams performance and one is quoting odds of 14-1 against English winning the five series and West Indies 9-2 (11:45-13:56)
6.It is was announced in Switzerland that the Cuban foreign Minister Roberto Robaina would meet with a senior Swiss official, Jakob Kellenberger during a private two day visit (13:57-14:48)