A package of news briefs from the Caribbean

PUERTO RICO: Fury over pet massacre sparks Web petition drive

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The fury over the killings of dozens of seized dogs and cats in Puerto Rico has gone global.

Thousands of people from Puerto Rico and around the world have signed an online petition calling on the governor of the U.S. Caribbean territory to ensure that those who hurled some 80 animals off a highway bridge last week are brought to justice.

Nadia Donato, a 39-year-old New Yorker, said Wednesday an Associated Press story that appeared Friday about the slaughter of the dogs and cats drove her to tears — and to launch the petition drive.

A local activist will deliver the list of names and messages to Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila's residence in San Juan during a demonstration on Sunday, Donato said.

The petition's Web site lists more than 6,000 signatures. Many who signed are from Puerto Rico, but signatures also appear from such far-flung countries as Finland, Argentina, Malaysia and Australia.

Julio Diaz, owner of the company that was hired by the town of Barceloneta to remove dogs and cats from three housing projects, has denied that his employees flung the 50 pets and 30 strays from the bridge west of San Juan last week. Barceloneta officials said the town's role in the handling of the animals ended once they were loaded into vehicles of the company, Animal Control Solutions.

Police are investigating. Puerto Rico police chief Pedro Toledo has said those responsible could face cruelty charges that carry six-month to three-year prison terms.

JAMAICA: British coroner tells inquest that Woolmer died from heart disease

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Heart disease was the likely cause of death for Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer during last spring's Cricket World Cup, a British pathologist said Wednesday.

The enlarged condition of Woolmer's heart, the fluid in his lungs and blood on his pillow were all signs of a death from natural causes, Dr. Nathaniel Cary, told a jury on the second day of an inquest convened to determine what killed Woolmer.

Cary examined photos of the coach's body as part of a global investigation sparked by a Jamaican's pathologist's conclusion that Woolmer, 58, had been strangled in Kingston's downtown Pegasus Hotel.

But the British expert said he saw no signs of foul play.

"Forget Bob Woolmer, forget the Pegasus," he said. "If this was a routine autopsy, I would account IHD (ischaemic heart disease) as the cause of death."

Woolmer, a highly regarded coach and former player from South Africa, died March 18, a day after the Pakstani team he was coaching was eliminated from the World Cup in an upset loss to Ireland.

Jamaican police announced four days later that Woolmer had been strangled. Authorities closed the homicide case nearly three months later after pathologists in Britain, South Africa and Canada concluded the coach had died from natural causes.

Cary, a consultant to Britain's Metropolitan Police and other agencies, is one of about 50 witnesses expected to testify in the inquest to formally determine the cause of Woolmer's death.

HAITI: President calls to amend constitution, change limits on presidential terms

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitian President Rene Preval on Wednesday called for a constitutional amendment to allow presidents to serve consecutive terms — a change he said would bring more stability to a country frequently mired in political chaos.

Preval, in a speech at the National Palace, proposed overhauling the country's entire constitution to give the government more flexibility to promote development and fight corruption.

He suggested holding all national and local elections on the same day every five years, and recommended creating a constitutional court to interpret the nation's laws. He also said the president should have the power to dismiss the prime minister — who is now appointed by the executive, but can only be ousted by parliament.

Current rules limit Haitian presidents to two terms, with at least a five-year break in between. Preval's initial proposal, which spokesmen said he would refine before submitting to parliament, would allow future presidents to serve those terms back-to-back.

Preval, who won his second nonconsecutive term last year, assured legislators he could not, and would not, seek office again.

"I know that as soon as the president asks to reflect on the constitution, it gives rise to suspicion," Preval said. "I repeat once again for everyone: My tenure comes to end on Feb. 7, 2011, period."

Legislators praised the speech.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS: Fire engulfs islands' main courthouse

GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos (AP) — Flames ravaged the Turks and Caicos Islands' main courthouse early Wednesday, prompting the British dependency's premier to accuse the fire department of ineptitude.

"Having watched this exercise, there's no question in my mind that we need to ensure that the domestic fire service receives additional training to fight fires," Premier Michael Misick said in a terse statement after firefighters struggled for hours to extinguish the blaze.

Senior Fire Officer Shirley Carter said firefighters were not familiar with the building's configuration. No one was injured in the blaze, and the cause was still unknown.

Misick said almost a dozen new fire trucks are scheduled to arrive in early December to the British Caribbean dependency, which lies about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) southeast of Miami.

"We can assure everyone that in the near future, all islands will have fire coverage and there will not be any reason why a fire could not have been contained in a timely manner," he said.

GUADELOUPE: Boy's death suspected from dengue

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The recent death of a 9-year-old boy in Guadeloupe could have been caused by dengue, health officials said Wednesday.

Test results are pending, but it could be the island's first dengue-related death, said Alain Parodi, director of Guadeloupe's health department. The boy was taken to a hospital Monday, where he died from cardiac arrest after showing symptoms of hemorrhagic dengue, he said.

Health officials visited the boy's home because they feared for the health of his parents and his eight brothers and sisters, Parodi said. None of them showed symptoms, he said.

Guadeloupe declared a dengue epidemic last month, and is investigating almost 1,000 suspected cases, Parodi said.

The Caribbean and Latin America is suffering one of the worst dengue outbreaks in decades. The illness, known as "bonebreak fever," causes joint pain, flu-like symptoms and in some cases, deadly hemorrhaging.

PUERTO RICO: Singer Noelia's stepfather gives a leaked sex tape of pop star to FBI

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Pop singer Noelia's stepfather said he gave FBI agents an explicit sex tape featuring his stepdaughter and an ex-boyfriend, in hopes that those responsible for posting the video on the Internet will be prosecuted.

"I believe that it was my responsibility as a citizen and as the (stepfather) of Noelia to provide the information that I had," Topy Mamery told Puerto Rican reporters after leaving FBI offices in San Juan.

FBI spokesman Harry Rodriguez said that agents would evaluate the "information" Mamery submitted, but he would not confirm whether the material was in fact a graphic video of Noelia, the 29-year-old daughter of Puerto Rican singer Yolandita Monge.

"If there is a federal violation, we will consult with the U.S. Attorney's office," Rodriguez said.

Noelia has accused Mamery of posting the leaked video on the Internet himself, without her knowledge and against her wishes, the magazine People en Espanol reported.

CRICKET: Jamaica bests Leeward Islands by six wickets in KFC clash

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor took three wickets for 34 and led Jamaica to a six-wicket victory over Leeward Islands in their KFC Cup opener on Wednesday at Guyana's national stadium.

Besides Taylor, Shawn Findlay hit for 41, Brenton Parchment added 40 and captain Christopher Gayle contributed 33.

Jamaica responded well to reach 169 for four in the 40th over after Leeward Islands won the toss and chose to bat first, reaching 167 all out in 44.3 overs.

Taylor, who bowled aggressively and with good control, conceded 34 runs from 7.3 overs. Only West Indies all-rounder Omari Banks offered much resistence with a fluent half-century.

Banks hit five fours and one six once in his innings of 62 which spanned 107 deliveries, while debutant skipper Runako Morton chipped in with a 69-ball 44, which included five fours. Morton and Banks also tried to repair Leewards innings in a fourth-wicket partnership of 52.

Supporting Taylor with one wicket each was fellow Windies pacer Darren Powell, medium pacer Danza Hyatt, left-arm spinner Nikita Miller and leg-spinner Donavan Sinclair.

Jamaica began their innings quietly with Parchment and Gayle scoring at will, posting an opening stand of 52 in the space of 11 overs.

CRICKET: Collins leads Barbados to victory over West Indies

BLAIRMONT, Guyana (AP) — Pedro Collins took a record seven wickets for 11 runs in 7.3 overs, helping to bowl out the West Indies Under-19s for 18 runs and lead Barbados to an eight-wicket victory in their KFC Cup opener on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old left-arm swing bowler's man-of-the-match performance eclipsed the Leeward Islands' Hamesh Anthony previous best in the regional one-day competition of seven for 57 against Barbados in 1995 at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

Barbados' total was the lowest since the start of the KFC Cup in 1976, easily beating Bermuda's 48 all out in 27.3 overs against the Windward Islands in 1999.

The Barbadians needed only 5.5 overs to reach their target, but not before they lost Martin Nurse (3) and Dale Richards (2), reaching 22 for two with Wayne Blackman and Kirt Edwards.

Winning the toss and taking first strike, the West Indies Under-19s lost their first wicket with the score on one, when paceman Fidel Edwards rocked back the stumps of Kieran Powell, with the first ball of the second over.

Collins then led a bowling attack that eliminted seven West Indies batsmen without scoring a run. Vice-captain Shamar Brooks top scored with 7.

The West Indies Under-19s next travel to play Jamaica on Friday while Barbados faces the Leeward Islands on the same day at Bourda.

GOLF: An amazing recovery for Angel Cabrera to win Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda

TUCKER'S TOWN, Bermuda (AP) — U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera overcame an atrocious start with a spectacular finish Wednesday to win the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, outlasting Padraig Harrington in a playoff.

Cabrera recovered from a triple bogey on the opening hole that put him five shots behind with a birdie-eagle finish to close with a 2-under 68 and get into a playoff with the British Open champion at Mid-Ocean Club.

He finally beat Harrington on the third extra hole with another booming tee shot and a 4-iron into 18 feet on the par-5 18th. Cabrera took two putts for birdie, which was all he needed when Harrington hit into a deep bunker off the tee and still had 4 feet for par when the Argentine tapped in.

It was the first time Harrington, who closed with a 69, had trailed all afternoon.

Cabrera finished at 4-under 136, earning US$600,000 (euro422,535) from the tournament restricted to major champions.

Jim Furyk, the replacement for U.S. PGA champion Tiger Woods, took a triple bogey on the par-5 11th hole that doomed his chances, but birdies on four of the last five holes gave him a 67 to finish third at 138. U.S. Masters champion Zach Johnson was seven shots behind with 10 holes to play and still gave himself a chance until a bogey on the last hole for a 68 to finish another shot back.