Sunday, March 7, 2010 Page 3-B

Cuban crops fall short, government is blamed

HAVANA ? Production of fruits and vegetables in Cuba?s capital and surrounding farmlands is 40 percent lower than expected so far this year, as the island?s agricultural sector continues to founder despite a series of reforms. The Communist Party newspaper Granma said Havana province, which includes the city of the same name, fell short of its targets through the end of February largely because of government ineptitude. It reported that authorities failed to provide farmers with seeds in a timely manner and said fertilizer and other nutrients to bolster crops were also slow in coming. The result was less food for sale at heavily subsidized state farmer?s markets. ? (AP)

Pick your own course, U.S. tells Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico ? A White House task force on Puerto Rico?s ties with the United States heard from islanders across the political spectrum Wednesday at a hearing that tapped into deep emotions surrounding a decades-old debate. U.S. Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli, a task force co-chairman, said the meeting was meant to gather opinions on what role the U.S. government can play in resolving the status question. He said President Barack Obama believes the U.S. territory must determine its own course and the task force has no particular preference for the road ahead. Many Puerto Rican participants said they were eager to learn more about their options from Washington. ?Say what you are willing to give and not give, but don?t take another century. It?s important that you do it soon,? said Manuel Rodriguez Orellana, a leader of the small Puerto Rico Independence Party. ? (AP)

Gold miners? deaths raise concern in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana ? A gold mining accident that killed two men in Guyana is prompting calls for better enforcement of safety regulations. The two workers were buried Tuesday in the collapse of a sand pit they were excavating near the southwestern border with Brazil. The Gold and Diamond Miners Association says the pit was 75 deep, despite rules limiting them to 40 feet. Several recent accidents have hit the small-scale mining industry that has expanded rapidly to capitalize on soaring gold prices. Association secretary Tony Shields said Wednesday that the government should send engineers into the interior to help assure safety standards. ? (AP) Cuban hunger striker hospitalized, sent home HAVANA ? A dissident journalist who has refused food and water for a week was rushed to the intensive care unit of a hospital in central Cuba after losing consciousness, then returned home when doctors said they could do nothing for him if he refused to eat, a spokeswoman for his family said Wednesday. Guillermo Farinas, who files Internet dispatches in defiance of state control on nearly all domestic media, was hospitalized near his home in the central city of Santa Clara around midday, said Licet Zamora, a spokeswoman for the family. He had complained of headaches and foot pain and Zamora said the family was waiting for him to lose consciousness before they had him hospitalized. She said doctors rehydrated Farinas and sent him to intensive care. When Farinas regained consciousness, doctors told him he must eat. When he refused, they eventually sent him home because there was nothing they could do for him. ?He is conscious but very weak,? said Zamora. ?He is continuing with the hunger strike.? ? (AP)

Jimmy Buffett donates tents to Haiti survivors

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti ? Jimmy Buffett may sing about ?Surfing in a Hurricane,? but cruising through Haiti?s earthquake-ravaged capital nearly left the singer without words. ?It?s like it was bombed,? the singer told The Associated Press after touring the ravaged country?s capital. Buffett loaded his seaplane with tents for some of the 1.2 million Haitians who lost their homes and set a course for the Caribbean nation on Tuesday. The singer is a lover of Haitian music who has his own room named after him at the famed Hotel Oloffson. ?Haiti?s something worth saving to me,? he said. ? (AP)

SURVIVORS? SOCCER

A man plays with a soccer ball as fellow earthquake survivors form a line to register as displaced families and receive help from the U.N. International Organization for Migration at the Cite Soleil slum of Port-au-Prince, Thursday. The 7.0-magnitude earthquake hat hit Haiti on Jan. 12 left more than a million people living in makeshift camps. ? AP PHOTO/ESTEBAN FELIX

IDITAROD-BOUND

This Feb. 2009 picture provided by Eppo Eerkes shows Newton Marshall in a parka on the Yukon Quest Trail near Fairbanks, Alaska. The creators of the Jamaica Dogsled Team are sending Marshall to the pinnacle of world-class competitions, the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. ? AP PHOTO/EPPO EERKES

Community mourns a life over too soon

?My name is Kammini but you can call me Mini...I?m a friendly person and I usually get along great with everyone I meet...I have an optimistic view on life but lately I?ve realized life isn?t as perfect as I once believed it was...and I?m pretty much ready to leave my past behind me and keep moving forward...so get to know me because I might just change your life.? ? Kammini Ragoopath?s greeting on her MySpace page And she did, change the lives of others Many of our young people today will readily admit they do not make valuable use of their time. This was definitely not the case for Kammini Ragoopath, 21, whose young life was cut short in a tragic accident on Feb. 27. According to news reports, Ragoopath and six of her dance team members were on their way to a dance competition at the University of North Carolina, when a horrible accident occurred. The van carrying eight students veered off Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County, Va. Ragoopath and another of the passengers were ejected from the vehicle. Unfortunately Ragoopath died, and the other team member suffered life-threatening injuries. A day earlier Kammini made an entry on Twitter, ?This would be the day I overslept ?sigh? going back to Temple to try and get bhangra stuff together before I have to come back.? She must have been getting costumes and accessories together for the trip to North Carolina. On her Twitter page, she described herself as aTrinidadian, Temple student, middle child, dog lover and a Bhangra/dance Fanatic. Glen and Susan Ragoopath are very proud of their daughter?s accomplishments. She was a member of the Alpha Phi Omega sorority at Temple. An accomplished dancer skilled in hip-hop, ballet and tradition Indian dance, she also founded the Bhangra Dance Team. She was no stranger to hard work and competing, because while in high school, Kammini also attended the Arthur Ashe program where she honed her tennis skills. She later traveled to Australia to play tennis. The Caribbean community is saddened by this tragedy because she was so young and had a very promising life ahead of her. Prior to this tragedy, she was a junior at Temple University with a major in public relations and a minor in dance. Her parents, who are Caribbean immigrants from Trinidad & Tobago residing in the Lansdale area, are heartbroken. Her sisters Camielle and Melisa said that they cannot imagine being two sisters instead of three. Most people will remember Kammini strutting on the stage at the Freedom Theatre last July. She represented the island of Trinidad & Tobago in the ninthh annual Miss Caribbean USA Beauty Pageant. Kammini was an excellent contestant and many present at this competition can recall the beautiful Indian dance routine that she performed in the talent show. It was no surprise when she was named Miss Intellectual and also was voted first runner-up. In her bio she said, ?I expect to accomplish a lot more in my lifetime, I have high hopes for myself.? And she did. Yolanda Wallace, the founder and president of the Miss Caribbean USA Beauty Pageant, and Hayden Superville, public relations person for the Pageant, wanted to extend their deepest sympathies and prayers (on behalf of the entire organization) to the family for the loss of their daughter. ?We were pleased to have Kammini ?Mini? Ragoopath as a contestant representing Trinidad and Tobago in the 2009 Miss Caribbean U.S. Beauty Pageant,? they said. ?Our memories of Mini will always be a part of the Pageant organization. ?This year the pageant will be held on July 11, and in her honor the contestants will be competing for the Kammini Ragoopath Challenge Trophy in the talent segment. The Caribbean community has lost a young shining star in Mini. She will be missed and will remain in our hearts.? The president of Temple University, Ann Weaver Hart, released the following statement: ?It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the loss of one of our students, Kammini G. Ragoopath, 21, of Lansdale, Pa.. Kammini was traveling with the members of the Temple University Bhangra dance group to a performance in Durham, N.C. when the vehicle they were traveling in crashed into a guardrail early Saturday morning. Sadly, Kammini did not survive the crash, and other members of the group were injured. The loss of a member of our community is never easy and the sudden death of one of our students is particularly heartbreaking. I encourage anyone who has been affected by this loss to take advantage of the assistance available throughTuttleman Counseling Services. More information on counseling services is available through the Student Affairs Web site temple.edu/studentaffairs/counseling, or by calling (215) 204-7276.? On Facebook, a page was constructed ?In Memory of Kammini ?Mini? Ragoopath.? One young lady poured out her emotions at the loss of a good friend, ?Missin you babygirl. It?s getting harder and harder every day ... You have no idea. I miss your smile, your laugh, your energy ... And your crazy, dancing self!! I do know that you will still be right next to me at the club getting our dance on ... cuz u never let me down. Never have and never will ... I love you forever, Sister Revival.? One of her dearest friends posted a message that she says summed up Mini?s outlook on life. ?Life may not be the party we hope for, but while we are here, we might as well dance. So we, her family, friends and sisters,? the message continues, ?encourage you all to take Kammini?s passing as a chance for you all to dance.?

Power outage angers Venezuela oil workers

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao ? Hundreds of workers at a Venezuela-run oil refinery in Curacao demonstrated Tuesday over another halt in operations caused by a power outage. The latest blackout occurred Sunday evening at the Isla oil refinery, where problems with electricity and water supplies led to at least five temporary shutdowns last year. A local utility on the Dutch Caribbean island has struggled to fix the problem. Angelo Meyer, president of the Petroleum Workers? Federation of Curacao, said the blackouts mean bonuses for productivity will likely not be paid to union workers, leading to the frustrations behind Tuesday?s protest rally. ?Management argues that the power outages have caused losses in the millions. Here we are in 2010, and the problems continue,? Meyer said. ? (AP)

Jamaica won?t release drug suspect to U.S.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico ? Jamaica?s reluctance to hand over an alleged crime boss is straining relations with the United States, which is questioning the Caribbean nation?s reliability as an ally against drug trafficking. The two governments have been negotiating over Christopher ?Dudus? Coke since the U.S. requested his extradition in August to face arms and drug trafficking charges in New York. The U.S. Justice Department calls him one of the world?s most dangerous drug kingpins. In a report Monday, the State Department suggested corruption could be holding up the extradition request. It noted Coke has ties to the governing Jamaica Labor Party and essentially controls the barricaded Tivoli Gardens neighborhood in west Kingston, the home constituency of Prime Minister Bruce Golding. The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report said the handling of the request has ?called into question Kingston?s commitment to law enforcement cooperation with the U.S.? ? (AP)

British Tory deputy admits avoiding taxes

LONDON, England ? Tory deputy party chairman Lord Ashcroft on Monday admitted he had held ?nondom? tax status for the past 10 years, allowing the Conservatives? leading political donor, who has ties to Belize and the Turks and Caicos Islands, to avoid paying UK taxes on his considerable overseas earnings. The admission comes after a decade of refusing to answer questions from Labour and the Liberal Democrats about the tax status of a man who has given more than £4 million to the Tories in recent years. In a statement, Michael Ashcroft insisted that paying tax in the UK had not been a condition of his taking up a peerage in October 2000, as has been suggested. Source: Caribbean.net News

Grenada prime minister stresses ties with Cuba

ST GEORGE?S, Grenada ? Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has described the relationship between Grenada and Cuba as special. Following his two-hour long meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro on Monday, the Grenadian leader said while Grenada and Cuba were going through their own difficulties there were still areas in which the two countries were able to work together. ?We are still able to work together to our mutual benefit, whether its health, education or in the international community in areas such as climate change,? the Prime Minister said. He noted that ?Grenada and Cuba has a long history of collaborating on major issues, pointing to Cuban assistance in the construction of Grenada?s largest economic project-the Maurice Bishop International Airport. Source: Caribbean.net News

GRIM PROTEST

Cuban dissident Niurkis Rivera sits below an image of fellow dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo during a service in Havana, on Feb. 24. Tamayo, jailed since 2003 on charges including disrespecting authority, died Tuesday at a hospital in the capital. Fellow dissidents say he had been on a weeks- long hunger strike, becoming the first imprisoned opposition figure to die in such a protest in nearly four decades. ? AP PHOTO/FRANKLIN REYES

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