A package of news briefs from the Caribbean

CARIBBEAN: Terrorism allegations raise concerns for regional port security

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) _ An alleged terror plot with Caribbean roots has raised U.S. concerns about the vulnerability of the region's ports that are used to transit oil, natural gas and millions of American cruise ship passengers.

A new report by the investigative arm of Congress describes the "growing influence" of Islamic radical groups as a threat to the Caribbean's maritime security along with more traditional concerns such as organized gangs, illegal migration and drug trafficking.

Four men from Guyana and Trinidad were arrested last month and accused of conspiring to ignite fuel lines feeding New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Violent extremist groups traditionally have not gained traction in Caribbean societies, but U.S. counterterrorism officials have expressed concern about disaffected people on the margins acting on anti-American feelings.

The Government Accountability Office report, based on information from U.S. agencies and Caribbean government officials, warns of a Trinidadian group that launched an Islamic coup attempt in 1990 and says militant organizations including Hezbollah have a presence in such countries as Venezuela and Colombia.

It said Caribbean ports would be vulnerable to attacks because of corruption, lax security and limited resources to maintain equipment. U.S. State Department officials, it noted, have witnessed open, unattended gates and other security gaps at ports where cruise ships dock.

CUBA: Rights group says there are fewer political prisoners but repression continues

HAVANA (AP) _ The number of political prisoners in Cuba has dropped by more than 20 percent since Raul Castro took over from his ailing elder brother, but widespread repression has continued, a leading independent human rights group said Thursday.

Raul Castro, the 76-year-old defense minister, has led the country since his 80-year-old brother Fidel temporarily stepped aside in July 2006 following intestinal surgery. Since then, Cuba has seen no major political or economic changes.

The Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, whose reports are regularly used by international groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, said 246 political prisoners were being held as of June 30, compared with 283 at the beginning of 2007 and 316 a year ago.

The list of those remaining behind bars includes 13 people who have been released on medical parole, including well-known government critic Martha Beatriz Roque and economics writer Oscar Espinosa Chepe. The commission says it continues to list them because they could be returned to prison at any time for parole violations.

The commission said it remains "inexplicable" that political prisoners continue to be held "in one of the countries with the least political violence on the planet."

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Taiwan VP launches Latin American tour to counter Chinese diplomacy

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) _ Taiwan's vice president has kicked off a Latin American tour in the Dominican Republic, an ally rapidly increasing its economic and political ties with the island's diplomatic rival, China.

Vice President Annette Lu's three-country trip aims to counter a Chinese push that bore fruit last month in Costa Rica, where the government announced it was switching its diplomatic recognition to Beijing in hopes of attracting more trade with China.

Taiwan and communist China split amid civil war in 1949. China refuses to have diplomatic ties with nations that recognize Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province it plans to eventually unify with the mainland.

Costa Rica's defection left Taiwan with only 24 diplomatic partners _ many of them poor countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Lu, who arrived early Wednesday, discussed economic cooperation and joint projects in a private meeting with Dominican President Leonel Fernandez.

"Though we are separated by a great geographic distance, we are united in our hearts ... and in the future we will continue united, arm in arm," Lu said during a ceremony at the presidential palace.

She later met with Dominican Vice President Rafael Albuquerque, who said her visit would "reinforce the ties of friendship and cooperation" between the two countries.

CARIBBEAN: Bloc approves blueprint to create single regional trading market by 2015

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) _ The Caribbean Community economic bloc has approved a plan to create a single regional trading market by 2015, a long-term goal of the group.

Barbadian Prime Minister Owen Arthur said a blueprint approved Wednesday at a four-day Caricom conference in Bridgetown includes the first timetable to create the single market and ease implementation hurdles.

Arthur, who is Caricom's chairman, said the bloc will establish a regional financial services agreement and extend the free movement of more workers over the next 18 months to advance the single market.

Caribbean leaders agreed last year to join the single economy, designed to facilitate the movement of goods, services and certain workers between bloc members.

ANGUILLA: Indian workers protesting conditions at resort project receive salary increase

THE VALLEY, Anguilla (AP) _ Employers have doubled the salaries of more than 250 workers from India who went on strike late last month, halting construction of a posh Anguilla resort.

Workers, who have returned to their jobs, had complained of 11-hour days and low pay. They said they were promised US$600 a month but were paid between US$180 and US$400.

The Indian laborers were hired to work on the US$236 million Viceroy Resorts & Residences project through Pomposh, an Indian recruitment agency, and Carillion, a British construction company. They were recruited this year to the Caribbean island of fewer than 14,000 people due to a labor shortage. Viceroy is owned by the Kor Hotel Group in Los Angeles.

Workers are satisfied with the agreement, said Joyce Egan, an attorney for the workers.

Earlier this week, hundreds of workers _ joined by Anguilla residents _ again protested what they said were long hours, poor medical care and abusive language. Two police officers were slightly injured during the protest, and charges might be forthcoming, authorities said.