40 HAITIANS FEARED DEAD AFTER BOAT RUNS AGROUND—04/11/15
As many as 40 individuals from Haiti may have died when a boat carrying them ran aground on the way to Turks and Caicos. Twenty-one bodies of the migrants were found after the ship sank off the northern coast of Haiti. The United States Coast Guard is working to locate any survivors. A rescue helicopter joined the search as 19 of the migrants remained missing. Migrants often attempt the trip to Turks and Caicos in their efforts to reach the United States in search of a better life.
PRIME MINISTER OF TRINIDAD CALLS FOR ENERGY SECURITY FUND—04/12/15
The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling for the creation of a fund to be used by CARICOM member nations to help them address issues of energy security. According to the Prime Minister, her country’s challenges may differ from those of Jamaica in terms of energy security, but both nations must face the critical issue of energy security. She made her remarks while meeting with President Barack Obama of the United States during his visit to Jamaica, noting that she was looking forward to his thoughts on the fund.
CONFERENCE ON CARIBBEAN PROBLEMS TO BE HOSTED BY T&T—04/13/15
Trinidad and Tobago will host a three-day conference designed to define the challenges facing Caribbean countries in terms of development and finding strategies for a sustainable future. The conference is scheduled to begin May 5, 2015. T&T is working together with the United Nations System and regional partner governments, as well as the Commonwealth Secretariat, which is based in London in the United Kingdom. Participants in the conference will include heads of state of Caribbean nations, policymakers, and business leaders,
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FEATURES IN FILM FESTIVAL—04/14/15
Northern Caribbean University’s Department of Communication Studies showcased the talents and achievements of its students with the Lignum Vitae Film Festival. The sixth staging of the event was held on April 12, 2015 and marked its growth from a small classroom screening to a red-carpet event that included participation of top film talent from local and global areas. The theme of the 2015 festival was “Legacy: I Was Here.”
MARTINIQUE AT CENTER OF SURFING WORLD WITH FIRST SURF PRO EVEANT—04/15/15
Martinique is hosting the first Surf Pro event April 21 to 26, 2015. This is the only World Surf League (WSL) Qualification Series competition to be held in the Caribbean during the year. It will be held on the shores of Basse-Pointe, a surf spot held in great regard by locals and visitors alike. It is expected that Martinique’s Surf Pro will attract some 100 world-class surfers from around the world. They will be competing to earn qualifying points in order to advance to the WSL Championship Tour.
CYBERCRIME FIGHT IN CARIBBEAN RECEIVES $3.3 MILLION FROM CANADA—04/16/15
Canada has decided to donate $3.3 million to support efforts to battle cybercrime in the Caribbean and Central America. Rob Nicholson, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, announced the support at an international cyber security conference in the Netherlands. Nicholson said $2.8 million will be put toward a joint project with Interpol to make the region’s Internet infrastructure stronger, and the remainder will go toward a United Nations effort to fight Internet crimes against children.
