JAMAICA
Former leader of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Edward Seaga’s appointment as chair of the Department Of Government, UWI, Mona Campus, has met with much anticipation and excitement from the faculty and student body. The appointment has created a buzz as Mr. Seaga is widely regarded as an authority on social issues and has been referred to as a social scientist and as a sociologist/social anthropologist, by some at the university.
With a reputation as a contentious leader and one not afraid to speak his mind, Mr. Seaga is expected to bring passionate discussion and “positive energy,” to the department.

GRENADA
In a move seen as an effort to secure aid for reconstruction, post ‘Hurricane Ivan,’ Grenada has announced that it has re-established diplomatic ties with China. The decision came about after Grenadian Prime Minister, visited Bejing last month and after a meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries. Grenada, which had a standing relationship with Taiwan, would have to end that relationship, as China does not recognize nations that do business with Taiwan. China and Taiwan have had bitter relations ever since they split in 1949, as the communist party came to power on the mainland. The Grenada/China agreement is seen as somewhat of a victory for China and a major setback for Taiwan.

GUYANA
Citing health concerns, the Guyanese government is moving swiftly to remove stagnant water from areas which suffered severe flooding during the recent heavy rains. Declaring Demerara-Mahaica, West Demerara-Essequibo Islands and Mahaica-Berbice as “disaster areas” will also allow the government to seek international assistance, as they move to alleviate the problems in those areas which were hardest hit. The damage spans almost all areas of economic life. Roads are flooded out and closed, vegetable farms, livestock and poultry farmers have been displaced. President Bharrat Jagdeo has toured many of the affected sites.

BARBADOS
The legislature in Barbados is proposing major changes to some of the country’s sex laws. The proposal that anal sex by consenting adults in private should no longer carry the threat of imprisonment as well as legalizing brothels are all up for debate. Others are going one step further by seeking firm punishment for acts of buggery. The debate among different groups across the nation includes members of the medical profession, the church, private sector and the media.

HAITI
One of the rebel leaders, who helped to oust Haitian president, Jean Bertrand Aristide is now back in Haiti after being deported from the U.S. Butteur Mettayer, who is also a U.S. Resident Alien, led a gang known as the Cannibal army, while in Haiti and now that he is back has stated that neither he nor his fellow rebel compatriots will disarm. Instead he is vowing to rid the areas of thieves and other criminal elements operating in the Gonaives part of the country. He is now calling his group, the “Front for National Resistance”. Haiti’s U.S. backed interim government has called on the group to disarm, saying only Haitian Police and U.N. peacekeepers are recognized as legitimate lawmen.

Compiled by: Andrea Daley