Secede now, says Duncan
PHILIPSBURG–Attorney-at-law Roland Duncan says St. Maarten should secede from the Netherlands Antilles. Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Interior Affairs Richard Gibson and Commissioner for Constitutional Affairs Sarah Wescott-Williams beg to differ.
Duncan, a speaker at Friday’s congress on a new electoral system, organised by the island and federal bureaus for Constitutional Affairs, also claimed that only St. Eustatius had the “moral right†to take part in the federal elections of January 2006.
In Duncan’s opinion, St. Maarten “has the right†to boldly step out of the Netherlands Antilles, especially considering the outcome of the 2000 referendum in which the majority of the people voted to get out.
Seceding, he said, should be “legally possible†if St. Maarten was “brave enough†to exercise the right of self determination. “When are we going to cut off and leave? We have to cut at a certain point in time. Maybe it won’t be a clean transition, but we can’t wait for that forever,†he said.
Considering the recent referenda in which only St. Eustatius chose for a restructured Netherlands, while the other islands indicated they wanted to get out, the Central Government after the referenda should have resigned and “totally dedicated†itself to “dismantling†the country, Duncan stated.
He compared it to the liquidation of a company and to a divorce. “If you divorce, you can’t expect the lady to continue cook for you. You have to get out,†he said. He said parallel departments and institutions should already have been established, if only by ordinance, for the purpose and the event of transfer or assumption of powers.
Duncan also said the upcoming federal elections were in “contradiction†to the wishes of the people of St. Maarten and therefore an “infringement of their democratic right†to have the government they wished. “The only territory to morally have a right to a federal election is St. Eustatius,†he said.
According to Duncan, St. Maarten should not participate in the January 2006 elections. “The system will come to a screeching halt,†he said, suggesting that St. Maarten couldn’t afford another the federal budget deficit of NAf. 153 million, further increasing the national debt.
In his speech, Duncan also made a case for the country St. Maarten to have a directly elected Leader of Government, a Prime Minister who would “hire and fire†his/her cabinet.
He criticised the function of the Antillean Prime Minister, suggesting that Etienne Ys had no real right to pretend he was the boss. In fact, he said, the Prime Minister only chairs the Council of Ministers.
This remark made Minister Gibson, who was appointed Second Vice-Prime Minister last week, come to Ys’ “rescue.†The Prime Minister, he pointed out, also holds the portfolios General Affairs and Foreign Affairs.
Gibson said Minister Errol Cova, who resigned earlier this month after a motion of no confidence against him, had “no right saying what he said†in Venezuela about colonisation and the Netherlands.
Gibson further stated that if the Netherlands Antilles were totally left up to St. Eustatius, the island would end up being the owner of Fort Amsterdam in Curaçao. About the “divorce,†he said there was a process to go through to end it. He said the referenda had “triggered a process†that would get St. Maarten out.
Responding to Duncan’s remark on secession, Commissioner Wescott-Williams said: “Secession, I have always said that is fine and well, but what then? There are still services here that are provided by the Central Government and that we need to secure.â€
In his speech, Duncan also made a case to have 13 members in the 21-member Parliament of the country St. Maarten directly elected by the voters in the 13 districts.
Lance Armstrong an Underdog to Win Seventh Tour de France at PinnacleSports.com
WILLEMSTAD, Curacao, May 31 /PRNewswire/ — With Lance Armstrong announcing that this year’s Tour de France will be his final race, expectations are that he’ll retire as the only seven time winner of the event. Although many believe that he’ll continue his reign in the world’s most grueling cycling event, PinnacleSports.com has listed Lance Armstrong as an underdog to win the 2005 Tour de France.
The Internet’s largest sports betting site, PinnacleSports.com believes that Armstrong’s historic career will end with disappointment, listing the six-time champion at 4/5 odds to lose his final race. Meanwhile, those believing Armstrong is a sure bet to win his seventh consecutive Tour title will find unequal value at PinnacleSports.com, who lists Lance Armstrong at 23/20 odds to retire wearing another yellow jersey.
“Shortly after announcing that he’ll retire from competitive racing following this year’s Tour de France, we opened betting on whether Lance Armstrong would capture his seventh straight Tour title,” said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. “While others have listed Armstrong as a favorite to capture his seventh yellow jersey, we believe Lance’s age, shortened training schedule and the most competitive field he’s faced in years will end his championship streak.”
Current Odds: *All Odds Subject to Change*
Will Lance Armstrong Win the Tour de France?
No 4/5
Yes 23/20
Windstar Cruises Announces 2006 Deployment
Windstar’s fleet of three motor sailing yachts give cruise passengers opportunities for longer voyages in 2006 plus new itineraries featuring intriguing destinations around the world: Mediterranean, Greek Islands, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Panama Canal and Transatlantic.
All three ships – the 308-guest Wind Surf and 148-guest Wind Star and Wind Spirit – will sail a total of 40 voyages in the Mediterranean in 2006. In addition, more departure dates and itineraries will be offered in the Caribbean during the winter and spring of 2006. The Wind Star will also transit the Panama Canal on two, 14-day voyages.
Windstar Cruises Announces 2006 Deployment: From Costa Rica To The Caribbean, Europe To The Panama Canal, Motor Sailing Yachts Offer Array Of Itineraries In ’06
147 sailings offered throughout Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas for a small-ship cruising experience ’180° from Ordinary’.
The Wind Star will sail 12 seven-night cruises in Costa Rica roundtrip from Puerto Caldera between January and March returning again in December. Ports of call include San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua, Playas del Coco, Quepos, BahÃa ParaÃso, Curu and Tortuga Island. To fully appreciate the exotic nuances of Costa Rica, Windstar has crafted a collection of custom-designed tours showcasing the very best of nature at play. With excursions ranging from easy, informative walks to downright adventurous explorations, guests will witness the true beauty of Costa Rica such as swinging tree to tree in a custom-fitted harness on a jungle canopy tour or hiking Manuel Antonio National Park as a naturalist guide points out the unique flora and fauna.
Two 14-day voyages aboard the Wind Star will take guests through the famous Panama Canal. In April, the ship will sail from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica to Bridgetown, Barbados with calls in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Netherland Antilles, Curacao, Venezuela, Grenada and the Grenadines. In November, the ship will sail from Bridgetown to Puerto Caldera with calls in Bequia, Tobago, Venzuela, Netherland Antilles and San Blas Islands.
About Windstar Cruises
Seattle-based Windstar Cruises operates three sailing yachts known for their pampering without pretense and their ability to visit the hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world’s most treasured destinations. Carrying just 148 to 308 guests, the luxurious ships of Windstar cruise to nearly 50 nations, calling at more than 100 ports throughout Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas.
Windstar offers optional trip cancellation protection that provides cash back when you cancel for any reason prior to 24-hours before departure. For more information including brochures, rates and itineraries contact a professional travel agent or call Windstar at 1-800-258-7245. Visit Windstar Cruises online at www.windstarcruises.com.
Single female traveler can feel safe on Margarita
Q. I feel somewhat confident about traveling to Curacao alone but would like to visit Margarita Island in Venezuela. Is traveling there safe?
A. Margarita Island, 25 miles off the northern shore of Venezuela, is only 80 miles long and 28 miles wide, which makes it feel like a small, safe speck in the Caribbean Sea. In addition, the island is a magnet for all-inclusive vacationers who prefer their lodging, meals and amenities to be under one roof. Unlike the country’s capital of Caracas, which has “security issues,” says Venezuela Embassy cultural attache Patricia Abdelnour, the island is “very calm, very chill and very safe for a woman traveling alone.”
But, she adds, “You have to apply the same common sense as you would in any Latin American country or any city, even New York.” That means no going out alone at night to unpopulated areas, wandering around desolate areas or taking rogue transportation.
Abdelnour, who said she has visited the island with a single female friend and never felt threatened, said all regions of Margarita are safe, from the big city of Porlamar, on the eastern side, to the less built-up western end. For island sights, she suggests Playa el Agua, a popular beach on the west coast where you can sit under a colorful parasol and have lunch and cocktails delivered to your chaise longue, and El Yaque, a windsurfing haven.
Take a day trip to La Restinga Lagoon National Park, where boats putter through mangrove-choked canals; snap up tax-free goods at the Sambil mall in Porlamar (the rest of the country’s wares are taxed); and pay homage to a vision in white at the Basilica Virgen del Valle, which draws pilgrims from around the region. And at the end of the day, head to the tiny bayside town of Juan Griego, for a spectacular sunset made for one.
For general info: Embassy of Venezuela, 202-342-2214, www.embavenez-us.org.
Andrea Sachs
Cal leaguers look to put Curacao on the map
By Pete Marshall, Staff Writer
When talking about nations that produce professional baseball players, several countries other than the U.S. come to mind, including the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela.
The Netherlands Antilles is not one of them.
But if Wladimir Balentien and Hainley Statia have anything to say, their country will be included in that group.
The two natives of the Netherlands Antilles island of Curacao had a reunion this week when Balentien and his Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino faced Statia’s Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
If they make it, they won’t be the first ones from their homeland to reach the big leagues.
Hensley “Bam-Bam’ Meulens, who played parts of seven seasons in the big leagues, mostly in the early 1990s, was the first player from their country to make it, according to Balentien, and Randall Simon also made it recently. But current Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones is the biggest.
There are a handful of others scattered throughout the minor leagues, but it was an exciting opportunity for Statia and Balentien earlier this week.
Statia had been drafted and signed by the Angels last year, but spent the early part of the season in extended spring training in Arizona waiting for his career to start.
When he was shipped to Rancho Cucamonga because starting second baseman Howie Kendrick went down with an injury last weekend, he immediately called his friend Balentien, whom he has known for seven years. They realized they would get an opportunity to play head to head just a day later. Their teams play four more times this week at Arrowhead Credit Union Park starting Monday.
“It’s the first time in my (pro) career that I’ve played against anyone from Curacao,’ said the 20-year-old Balentien, in his third professional season. “We talk to each other a lot about things to help us.’
The players don’t just talk about things in order to help each out. Balentien gave Statia one of his maple bats earlier this week, although when Statia hit his first professional home run against the Sixers, he was not using Balentien’s bat.
Balentien played for the Dutch Olympic team last summer in Athens, hitting a home run in the process. He said almost all of the players on the team were from Curacao, not the Netherlands.
“I learned a lot at the Olympics,’ Balentien said.
Balentien and Statia will enjoy the opportunity to play on the same field for now, since Statia’s stay is likely dependent on how long Kendrick is on the disabled list.
ODDS AND ENDS
When Quakes third baseman Matt Brown went 4-for-6 in an 11-inning victory over the Sixers on Tuesday, it marked the first time since July 2002 that he had four hits in a game. … Quakes left-handed hitting first baseman Baltazar Lopez started the season 1-for-24 against lefties, before he went 2-for-2 with a walk against Sixers left-hander Ryan Feierabend on Wednesday. … Mavericks relief pitcher Steve Chamberlin was suspended for three games starting Saturday for hitting Stockton catcher Kurt Suzuki with a pitch in Tuesday’s 14-4 win over the Ports, after the Mavericks’ Wally Sevilla was plunked by J.R. Pickens. … Lancaster catcher Miguel Montero had his 19-game hitting streak snapped when he went 0-for-3 with a walk in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Lake Elsinore. The JetHawks were held to five hits in the game. … The newest Quake is outfielder Anderson Rosario, who arrived Saturday from extended spring training to take the place of injured Jason Sugden (stress fracture in his foot). Rosario, 20, batted .264 the last two years for the Angels’ Dominican Summer League team. … The Sixers have batted around in back-to-back innings twice against the Mavericks this season, including the seventh and eighth innings of Friday’s 12-0 victory. The other time was in the third and fourth innings of the 17-11 victory at Mavericks Stadium on April 13. Both times, Chris Coughlin was the Mavericks starter, but he allowed only three earned runs combined in the two starts.
CARIBBEAN AND INTERNATIONAL JEWELRY STORES START CONSTRUCTION AT PORT ZANTE, ST. KITTS
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 26TH 2005 (CUOPM) – Four leading fine jewelry and electronic stores in the Caribbean and New York are eyeing the growing tourism market in St. Kitts and Nevis.
General Manager of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Mr. Jason Kelsick said Thursday that construction of the first of four new buildings has begun on Port Zante, the Federation’s premier cruise ship berth.
The announcement comes as the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank reported a 32 per cent increase in stayover visitors and a 78 per cent increase in cruise ship passengers in 2004, with total visitor arrivals nearing the 400,000 mark.
Mr. Kelsick also disclosed that separate ground breaking ceremonies would be held over the next few weeks for the construction of two more buildings at Port Zante and a fourth is to start within a few months.
Mr. Kelsick told the Communication’s Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister that the building now under construction will be owned by Kay’s Fine Jewelry of St. Maarten. The company, established in St. Maarten in 1989, recently opened a jewelry store on Port Zante, in a building purchased from CONTEC.
“The 22,000 sq. ft. building will house five large shops on the ground floor and an open air restaurant and bar and space for offices on the top floor,†said Kelsick. Kay’s Fine Jewelry operates branches in St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire.
Mr. Kelsick disclosed that construction of a building to house the world famous Boolchands stores, which already opened a store in St. Kitts is to start in a few weeks. Boolchands also operates in Aruba, St. Thomas, Bonaire and Curacao.
“The 20,000 sq ft. building will have the Boolchands stores on the ground floor and an open air restaurant and offices on the top floor,†said Kelsick.
St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands-based Royal Caribbean – not to be confused with the famous cruise ship line – it’s a separate entity – will construct a 41,000 sq. ft building on Port Zante.
“The facades are expected to be completed in time for the 2005/2006 cruise ship season,†said Kelsick.
He said that H.J. Namdar, a United States-based company, which manufactures fine jewelry, will later this year, begin construction of its own 35,000 sq ft building on Port Zante, to lease to international upscale retailers.
Former Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Dwyer Astaphan, last year said that the opening of the world-famous stores would boost the Federation’s tourism product and attract additional ships to St. Kitts.
Venezuelan drug kingpin gets U.S. prison term
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The leader of a Venezuelan heroin trafficking ring has been sentenced to almost 22 years in prison on charges his group brought $70 million worth of drugs into the United States, federal prosecutors said on Friday.
Luis Alberto Ibarra, who was extradited from the Dutch island of Curacao just off the Venezuelan coast in 2004, was sentenced late on Thursday in Manhattan federal court to 262 months in prison. He had pleaded guilty to the charges in February.
U.S. District Judge Robert Patterson also ordered Ibarra to pay $70 million, the approximate worth of the 1,540 pounds (700 kg) of heroin smuggled into the United States.
Authorities said Ibarra used human couriers recruited primarily in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to smuggle heroin into the United States, by either ingesting pellets of heroin or hiding heroin in luggage. The organization paid a law enforcement officer who worked at the Simon Bolivar International Airport $2,500 to $3,500 per courier to make sure the individual cleared security.
Thomas, Townsend & Kent Offers New List of Upscale Travelers Planning Caribbean Vacations
CHICAGO, IL — (MARKET WIRE) — 05/24/2005 — With the year-round appeal of the Caribbean as a vacation destination, database marketer Thomas, Townsend & Kent (TTK) is now offering a list of affluent leisure travelers interested in vacationing in this region of 7,000 islands, islets, reefs and cays.
Chicago-based TTK compiled this list of upscale consumers interested in luxury vacations in the Caribbean via the company’s many online survey mechanisms, which include www.luxtravelguides.com. At this site, consumers complete a detailed profile in which they identify the destinations to which they would like to travel. This self-reported data is then recorded in TTK’s Affluent Americans Database for rental of both postal and e-mail addresses.
The number of prospective Caribbean travelers in this file is 261,628, and the list rental fee is $100/M, plus $15/M for more specific destination-related selects, such as Aruba, the Bahamas, Curacao and Jamaica. Behavior selects, which include interest in activities such as scuba diving, yoga and golf are $15/M. Geo-demographic selects are available for an additional $10/M.
Luxury resorts have successfully used this list for e-mail and direct mail campaigns to generate bookings.
For more information on the rental of TTK’s new list of Caribbean travel prospects, as well as other lists of upscale vacationers with specific destination interests, contact Kay Sheridan at (312) 650-7776 or kay@thomastownsendandkent.com.
About Thomas, Townsend & Kent:
Chicago-based Thomas, Townsend & Kent (www.thomastownsendandkent.com) is a database marketing firm that specializes in connecting marketers with affluent consumers. The TTK Affluent Americans Database, with detailed purchase intent information on nearly three million households, is the nation’s most comprehensive database of this highly desirable consumer segment. TTK leverages this proprietary database, along with its various web-based operations, to conduct ongoing surveys with consumers regarding purchases related to their affluent lifestyle. TTK’s clients include Gateway, Holland America, NEC and Verizon.
Miss Universe Odds Released, Miss Curacao (35-1)
NEW YORK, NY, May 24 /CNW/ – Sportsbook.com has released odds on who will
win the Miss Universe competition, which will be televised live by NBC on
May 30 from Bangkok, Thailand. Eight of the top ten favorites according to
odds makers come from the Caribbean and the Americas, led by Renata Sone from
the Dominican Republic and Cynthia Olavarria from Puerto Rico, both listed at
12-1. The US delegate, Chelsea Cooley from Charlotte, North Carolina, is a
25-1 favorite.
“The Miss Universe contest has been around for more than 50 years and
continues to be one of the most watched television programs around the world.
With Donald Trump getting on board the interest in the United States is going
to be even greater this year,” says Alex Czajkowski, Marketing Director,
Sportsbook.com. “This is the perfect event for Sportsbook.com fans to wager on
- it’s exciting, unpredictable and it sure is a lot of fun to watch.”
Other favorites for the crown include the representatives from Canada -
Toronto’s Natalie Glebova – South Africa and Venezuela all listed at 18-1,
Colombia, Peru and Norway at 20-1 and Mexico at 25-1. Australia’s delegate,
home to reigning Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, is at 60-1 while the hometown
favorite from Thailand is listed at 40-1. The least likely winner, according
to odds makers is Miss Angola with odds at 250-1.
Aside from offering odds on the eventual winner, Sportsbook.com has
another interest in this year’s competition. Miss Costa Rica, Johanna
Fernandez, is a former employee of the online sportsbook and casino.
“We currently have her at 50-1 to win the crown, but in our hearts of
course she’s our favorite,” added Czajkowski.
There are 81 contestants battling for the Miss Universe 2005 crown. There
have been winners from 31 different countries since the event was first held
in 1952. Only four nations have produced more than two Miss Universe winners -
the United States (7), Puerto Rico (4), Venezuela (4) and Sweden (3). The last
Miss Universe from the United States was Brooke Antoinette Mahealani Lee in
1997.
Below are odds on all 81 contestants. For more information, please visit
www.sportsbook.com.
<<
Miss Universe odds:
——————-
Miss Albania 75-1 Miss Japan 35-1
Miss Angola 250-1 Miss Kenya 200-1
Miss Antigua and Barbuda 60-1 Miss Korea 200-1
Miss Aruba 70-1 Miss Latvia 40-1
Miss Australia 60-1 Miss Lebanon 60-1
Miss Bahamas 100-1 Miss Malaysia 150-1
Miss Barbados 100-1 Miss Mauritius 85-1
Miss Belgium 50-1 Miss Mexico 25-1
Miss Belize 65-1 Miss Namibia 150-1
Miss Bolivia 45-1 Miss Netherlands 75-1
Miss Brazil 60-1 Miss Nicaragua 100-1
Miss Bulgaria 80-1 Miss Nigeria 100-1
Miss Canada 18-1 Miss Norway 20-1
Miss Chile 65-1 Miss Panama 85-1
Miss China 75-1 Miss Paraguay 85-1
Miss Colombia 20-1 Miss Peru 20-1
Miss Costa Rica 50-1 Miss Philippines 75-1
Miss Croatia 70-1 Miss Poland 60-1
Miss Curacao 35-1 Miss Puerto Rico 12-1
Miss Cyprus 100-1 Miss Russia 75-1
Miss Czech Republic 85-1 Miss Serbia/Montenegro 40-1
Miss Denmark 50-1 Miss Singapore 150-1
Miss Dominican Republic 12-1 Miss Slovakia 35-1
Miss Ecuador 60-1 Miss Slovenia 100-1
Miss Egypt 70-1 Miss South Africa 18-1
Miss El Salvador 45-1 Miss Spain 100-1
Miss Ethiopia 100-1 Miss Sri Lanka 65-1
Miss Finland 90-1 Miss Switzerland 70-1
Miss France 100-1 Miss Thailand 40-1
Miss Georgia 100-1 Miss Trinidad and Tobago 45-1
Miss Germany 80-1 Miss Turkey 150-1
Miss Greece 35-1 Miss Turks and Caicos 125-1
Miss Guatemala 150-1 Miss Ukraine 65-1
Miss Guyana 200-1 Miss United Kingdom 100-1
Miss Hungary 70-1 Miss United States 25-1
Miss India 40-1 Miss Uruguay 70-1
Miss Indonesia 100-1 Miss Venezuela 18-1
Miss Ireland 100-1 Miss Vietnam 200-1
Miss Israel 60-1 Miss Virgin Islands (US) 125-1
Miss Italy 70-1 Miss Zambia 150-1
Miss Jamaica 125-1
About Sportsbook.com
Sportsbook.com is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet,
offering numerous products including sports betting, horse racing, poker,
casino and virtual games. It is the flagship brand for Sportingbet PLC,
(LSE: SBT), the world’s largest publicly traded online betting, gambling and
gaming company.
Miss Barbados (c.), Belize (r.) and Curacao are among contenders for the title of Miss Universe 2005.
Hardbeatnews, BANGKOK, Thailand, Tues. May 24, 2005: Meet 20-year-old Miss Barbados, Nada Yearwood, who is among 81 global beauties and 13 Caribbean nationals with hopes of becoming the next Miss Universe.
The 5’8â€, Yearwood has her eye on the coveted title, but is also realistic in her goals, hoping to study screenplay writing, directing and producing at the end of her reign as Miss Barbados.
But for now she’s busy using the values of compassionate and gratefulness she was taught by her disabled mother, to get through each day.
Yearwood, however, faces tough competition, not just from the international beauties, but from her fellow regional counterparts, like Miss Belize, Andrea Elrington, who is articulate and sexy. The 5’9â€, 22-year-old is currently a student of communications and public relations at the Fort Valley State University in Georgia and hopes to win the pageant for her country and use it to expand her platform of helping the needy.
But if that fails, Elrington says she’ll still pursue her ultimate career ambition, which is to be hired as an international correspondent at CNN or the International Public Relations Specialist for Trump Enterprises.
From Curacao, comes Rychacviana Coffie, 24, who at 5’9†claims her passion is modeling. But she’s also big on numbers, hoping to cop a management position at the Maduro & Curiel’s Bank, the biggest bank on Curacao, where she now works.
But for now, she too is to use the patience and energy she learnt during her job as a waiter at a standard catering service company, to stay focused on the prize.
Tomorrow we bring you Miss Dominican Republic, Guyana and Jamaica.
The Miss Universe pageant is set for May 31 in Thailand, which is recovering from the devastating Tsunami of December, 2004. – Hardbeatnews.com