Resent articles by the "Caribbean Update" from The Free Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comen-usFarlex, Inc.Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:04:23 GMT360http://www.thefreelibrary.comhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/static/TFLbyFarlex.gif17565Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Calendar.-a0213023997
Details and contact information for most events listed here may be obtained on the website www.calendar.caribseek.com. Readers are invited to submit information on relevant activities, at least 45 days prior to date of your activity. Mail to: Caribbean UPDATE, 116 Myrtle Ave., Millburn NJ 07041. U.S.A. Email: kalwagenheim@cs.com. Some dates are tentative, all are subject to change;...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Tourism+Cruise+Ship+Arrivals%2c+2009.-a0213023996 Tourism Cruise Ship Arrivals, 2009 %change Destination Period Arrivals vs. 2008 Antigua & Barbuda Jan-Aug 482,887 +18.9 Aruba Jan-Jul 378,682 +5.3 Bahamas Jan-July 1,913,250 +15.1 Barbados Jan-Sep 443,257 +2.9 Belize Jan-Aug 445,734 +10.5 Bermuda Jan-Jun 124,553 -5.7 Bonaire Jan-May 148,058 +54.8 British Virgin Is. Jan-Mar 265,370 -10.3 Cayman Islands Jan-Sep 1,144,948 -1.9 Cozumel...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Tourism+Stop-Over+Arrivals%2c+2009.-a0213023995 Tourism Stop-Over Arrivals, 2009 %change Destination Period Arrivals vs. 2008 Anguilla Jan-Feb 10,447 21.4 Antigua & Barbuda Jan-Sep 177,318 13.1 Aruba Jan-Jul 475,236 3.2 Bahamas Jan-Jul 875,108 13.7 Barbados Jan-Sept 379,821 11.4 Belize Jan-Jul 152,958 7.7 Bermuda Jan-Jun 107,214 17.0 British Virgin I. Jan-Mar 85,964 25.1 Cancun (Mexico) (**) Jan-Jul 1,177,943 17.0 Cayman Islands...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/U.S.+Trade+with+the+Caribbean+Basin+August+2008%2c+2009.-a0213023994 U.S. Trade with the Caribbean Basin August 2008, 2009 (millions of US$) U.S. exports U.S. imports (F.A.S.) (c.i.f.) 2008 2009 2008 2009 Anguilla 50.7 37.8 2.6 4.2 Antigua & Barbuda 115.6 99.9 3.4 7.0 Aruba 485.9 285.6 2119.3 1233.1 Bahamas 1894.5 1542.2 350.1 480.2 Barbados 316.2 264.9 29.7 21.5 Belize 241.7 171.4 109.3 71.5 Bermuda 587.0 512.4 30.0 5.4 British Virgin I 190.4 173.2 6.3...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Processed+foods+report.-a0213023993
A 6-page report on the market for processed foods in Venezuela (with statistics, forecasts and market issues/obstacles) has been produced by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Details: Adriana Sierra, U.S Embassy, Caracas, Venezuela. Tel: 58-212-907-8525. Fax: 58-212-9759643. Email: Adriana.sierra@mail.doc.gov. Other data available from: Camara Venezolana de la Industria de Alimentos...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Power+plant+deal.-a0213023992
Duro Felguera SA, (based in Asturias, Spain) is bidding for more contracts in Venezuela after winning a 1.5 billion-euro (US$2.2 billion) order to build a power plant, reports Bloomberg (Oct. 17, 2009). Duro has received a down payment for the Electricidad de Caracas order, said Exec. Chairman Juan Carlos Torres. Venezuela accounts for about 60% of the company's order book....]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Chavez+urges+3-minute+showers.-a0213023991
President Hugo Chavez called on Venezuelans to stop singing in the shower and to wash in three minutes because the nation is having problems supplying water and electricity, reports Reuters (Oct. 23, 2009). Venezuela has suffered serious blackouts due to growing demand and under-investment, aggravated by a drop in water levels in hydroelectric dams that provide most of its energy....]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/PDVSA+places+US%243+billion+bonds.-a0213023990
Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA sold all US$3 billion of 2014, 2015, 2016 bonds despite waning demand in the latest issue, reports Reuters (Oct. 24, 2009). Some market players had expressed doubt this bond issue would be successful at a 138% price. "We have placed all the bonds. We have passed (the maximum)," a PDVSA source said. Dollar-starved Venezuelans use the bond...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Aluminum+deal.-a0213023989
Glencore Intl, a large commodity trader, is negotiating to buy 360,000 tons of primary aluminum over six years from Venezuela's state-run Venalum, reports Reuters (Oct. 20, 2009). A Venalum spokesman said the talks anticipated a US$100 million down-payment from the Swiss company, but gave no details. Venalum is in talks to buy 20% of its shares from a group of six Japanese...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Repsol+confirms+gas+reserves.-a0213023988
Spain's Repsol YPF confirmed a natural gas site off the coast of Venezuela contained reserves of 5.6 and 7.8 trillion cubic feet of gas, the largest such discovery in the country's history, reports Reuters (Oct. 16, 2009). Repsol said in September that in a venture with Italy's ENI, it found a gas block with estimated reserves of around 8 trillion cubic feet--one of the world's top...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Loan+for+hydroelectric+project.-a0213023987
Venezuela has received a US$800 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank to finish construction of a hydroelectric project as it struggles with increasing power outages. Finance Minister Ali Rodriguez says the loan will be used to complete the Manuel Piar Dam, which will produce roughly 2,160 megawatts of power. He says the dam should be operating by 2012. Construction...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Chavez+blames+manufacturer.-a0213023986
President Hugo Chavez blamed Dutch company Philips for problems the country's health network has had with medical equipment and said the government reserves the right to take legal action, reports Reuters (Oct. 28, 2009). His comments echoed those by Cuba's former president, Fidel Castro, who in September accused Philips of reneging on a contract and betraying Cuba and Venezuela by...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Gold+mine+seized.-a0213023985
Gold Reserve said Venezuela had seized control of its Brisas gold property, deepening a dispute with Hugo Chavez's government and pulling the company's shares down 13%, reports Reuters (Oct. 28, 2009):

Gold Reserve's rights to much of the deposit were taken away by government earlier this year, and it filed for international arbitration, seeking to win billions of dollars in...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Oil+area+languishes.-a0213023984
Five months after Venezuela nationalized dozens of oil service contractors in Zulia state, the once-bustling industrial dock on Lake Maracaibo is nearly abandoned, and the 16 red flags raised to celebrate the takeovers are already tattered and faded, reports Reuters (Oct. 31, 2009). A few small groups of workers remain, hoping to get the jobs they were promised after the...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Oil+partnerships+formed.-a0213023983
International oil companies have formed at least five consortiums to bid on the massive Carabobo project in Venezuela's Orinoco heavy oil belt, sources said, reports Reuters (Nov. 6, 2009):

Despite fears generated by the OPEC nation's history of nationalizing oil assets, 16 companies have expressed interest in bidding on the Carabobo project. The bidding round, the...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/30%2c000+seized+guns+destroyed.-a0213023982
Battling one of the world's highest murder rates, Venezuela crushed more than 30,000 guns seized from the streets during police raids this year, reports Reuters (Nov. 12, 2009). Policemen used blow-torches to chop up some of the shotguns and pistols. They compacted weapons including home-made pistols into a 5 ton block, said Interior Minister Tarek Al Aisammi. With 13,000 murders in...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Funds+for+wastewater+system+repairs.-a0213023981
Donna Christensen, the USVI Delegate to US Congress, said the House Interior, Environment Appropriations conference report passed the House of Representatives with US$900,000 for critical wastewater system repairs and improvements in the USVI, reports Caribbean Net News (Oct. 30, 2009).]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rum+accord+signed.-a0213023980
Governor John deJongh signed into law an agreement which he said fosters a 30-year public-private partnership and will continue the diversification and growth of the USVI economy, reports Caribbean Net News (Nov. 6, 2009):

The agreement with Cruzan VIRIL Ltd. locks in an expansion of production capacity for Cruzan Rum and marks the strengthening of the relationship...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Gas+production+starts.-a0213023979
BPTT announced the start of natural gas production from the Savonette field, about 50 miles off Trinidad's southeast coast, reports The Trinidad Guardian (Nov. 1, 2009). BPTT has 100% interest in Savonette, located in 290 feet of water. Gas from Savonette will supply Atlantic LNG's liquifaction plant for export as LNG to international markets and the domestic market, the...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Gold+mine+exploration.-a0213023978
Canada's Iamgold Corp said its exploration program at Rosebel mine in Suriname was on schedule, and it expects to increase reserves and resources at the mine by the year end, reports Reuters (Oct. 20, 2009). The company -which raised its 2009 gold production forecast in June, partly on increasing productivity from Rosebel--plans to spend about $56 million on exploration, this year....]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/US+helps+restore+historic+church.-a0213023977
The St Mary's Anglican Church Restoration Trust on Bequia has made progress in restoring the historic place of worship with the help of the US government, reports, Caribbean Net News (Oct. 28, 2009). D Brent Hardt, US Charge d' Affaires at the US Embassy to Barbados & the Eastern Caribbean, presented a US$79,000 grant to the Trust. St Mary's, a principal place of worship on...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/New+resort.-a0213023976
Harlequin Hotels & Resorts on Oct. 29 said the new Buccament Bay Beach Resort is on target for a July 1, 2010 Phase I opening; 369 rooms will be available for occupancy and most of the resort's amenities will be open on a 98-acre site on the southwest coast of St. Vincent, said Dave Ames, Chairman and founder of Harlequin. Details: (011) +44 1702 297495. Web:...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/New+open+campus.-a0213023975
The University of the West Indies (UWI) celebrated an historic first with the inaugural formal Graduation Ceremony of its newest campus, the Open Campus, at the Beausejour Indoor Sports Facility in St Lucia on Oct. 21. Almost 150 of the over 700 graduands from all 15contributing Caribbean states to the UWI came to St Lucia to be presented to the Chancellor of the University,...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Jet+Blue+flights.-a0213023974
JetBlue Airways (JBLU) said Oct. 26 it is adding nonstop flights every Mon., Thus. and Sun. to St Lucia's Hewanorra Intl Airport (UVF) from its home at New York's John F. Kennedy Int Airport (JFK). Details: 1-800-538-2583), or www.jetblue.com. And: 1-800-456-3984 or www.stlucia.org]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cuban+eye+care+clinic.-a0213023973
A top health official on Nevis described the response to the first of weekly Cuban eye care specialist's clinics at the Alexandra Hospital as overwhelming, reports Caribbean Net News (Oct. 20, 2009). Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in the Nevis Island Administration Joslyn Liburd said the first clinics held by Ophthalmologist Dr Francisco Nunez and Orthopaedic Surgeon...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Delta+adds+flights.-a0213023972
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority on Nov. 9 announced the start of a second weekly non-stop flight from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Intl Airport to St. Kitts on Delta. The second flight operates on Wednesdays starting Dec. 23 through April 27, 2010, complementing the Saturday flights. Details: 1-800-582-6208 or from Canada 1-888395-4887, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn. Web:...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Waterfront+redevelopment.-a0213023971
Nevis Premier Joseph Parry signed a 25-year lease and development agreement with Namdar Brothers Realty to redevelop the Charlestown Waterfront, reports Caribbean Net News (Oct. 28, 2009). "The up-market development would be attractive to cruise and land based tourists. The site would hold up to 25 or more stores, with a number of them selling brand name clothing, leather...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cruise+tourism+helps+economy.-a0213023970
Cruise tourism pumped US$44 million (EC$118 million) into the St Kitts & Nevis economy during the 2008/2009 cruise year, reports CUOPM (Nov. 3, 2009). Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Denzil Douglas said it was evident that his administration took the right decision to close the debt-ridden sugar industry in 2005. The survey-based analysis of the impacts of passenger, crew...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fabulous+condo+for+sale.-a0213023969
A gem of a 10th floor, 2bedroom corner apt. with spectacular ocean views, is for sale at Condominium Torre Del Mar, in the upscale Condado neighborhood of San Juan. Walking distance to beach, fine restaurants, hotels, parks. Has pools, tennis court, gym, central air, 24 hr. security. Ideal for primary or vacation home, or investment rental. US$450,000. 18 Photos and further information...]]>Tue, 1 Dec 2009 00:00:00 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/First+legacy+opens+here.-a0213023968
Birmingham, Ala.-based First Legacy Investors, a privately owned financial-services holding company, has opened an Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction branch in Puerto Rico through its Atlanta-based brokerage subsidiary First Legacy Securities LLC, reports Caribbean Business (Oct. 15, 2009). "The Puerto Rico economy, which includes pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals,...]]>