Detention centre blaze kills 11
At least 11 people have been killed in Holland after a fire at a detention centre at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
The blaze broke out in a complex which houses suspected drug traffickers.
The large prison block is located on the east side of Europe’s fourth largest airport and is surrounded by a 10ft barbed wire fence.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight and raged until 3am. Firefighters and airport police were among the injured.
About 350 prisoners were being held in the complex when the fire broke out.
Prisoners were taken to other facilities in nearby cities or moved elsewhere within the complex.
Helicopters were called in during the fire to track down possible escapees but it was unclear if any prisoners had absconded.
Hundreds of cocaine smugglers, mostly from the Caribbean and Curacao, are detained at the airport every year, as are immigrants caught trying to enter the country illegally.
Source: Channel4
Redknee to Partner in Digicel’s Expansion Across 15 Caribbean Countries
Filed under: Business and Economy, Internet and Technology, Press Releases
TORONTO, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ — Redknee, Inc., a leading global provider
of communication software to wireless network operators, announced today it
won a contract to become a strategic partner to the Digicel Group as it moves
forward in expanding its GSM network across 15 countries in the Caribbean
region.
Redknee said it would extend Customer Care and Billing/Settlement
functionality including CRM and USSD applications to additional Digicel
islands, as well as provide complete integration with Ericsson’s prepaid
charging system.
With the completion of Digicel’s acquisition of seven Cingular Wireless
operations in the Caribbean as well as Bermuda, the company is now in a
position to increase the size of its pan-Caribbean network to include
Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bermuda, St. Kitts & Nevis and Dominica and has
received regulatory approval for the acquisition of Cingular’s operations on
the islands of Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines where
Digicel already operates. The company looks forward to receiving regulatory
approval in the remaining islands of Barbados, the Cayman Islands in the near
future.
Having acquired Curacao Telecom in March 2005, Digicel, the fastest
growing mobile operator in the Caribbean, is also preparing to launch in Haiti
and Trinidad & Tobago, This impressive expansion brings the company to 15
countries of operation, covering a total population of 14 million.
“Digicel is pleased to partner with Redknee as we enter this next exciting
phase of growth,” said Mario Assaad, Chief Technology Officer at Digicel
Group. “Redknee’s advanced software will play a key role in ensuring our
expansion will be as seamless an experience as possible for new and existing
customers. We look forward to Redknee’s support for a smooth migration of our
newly acquired prepaid customer base and postpaid subscribers into Digicel’s
Converged Billing solution and messaging platform respectively.”
The deployment of Redknee’s Customer Care and Billing/Settlement services
will begin later this year. Redknee did not disclose any financial details
about the deal.
“Digicel’s expansion is a testament to their rapid and successful growth
as the fastest growing mobile operator in the region,” said Lucas Skoczkowski,
CEO of Redknee. “This expansion announcement exemplifies our long time
partnership with Digicel, and Redknee is committed to helping Digicel build on
their current successes and vision to deliver a wireless network that
stretches across the entire Caribbean region.”
With investments in the Caribbean exceeding well over US$600 million,
Digicel is making significant strides in its mission to create a seamless
pan-Caribbean network. The company records a 67 percent market share across
all its current markets and anticipates a 30 percent increase in staff by the
end of 2006 from its current figure of 1051, due to subscriber growth and
market expansion.
About Redknee:
Redknee is a leading provider of telecommunication software solutions,
which enable network operators and service providers to deliver innovative
value-creating services. Redknee’s commercially deployed suite of software
products seamlessly integrates into customer networks and provides a full set
of business-critical network capabilities. Redknee’s capabilities include
service provisioning, real-time converged billing, messaging, service control,
customer relationship management solutions which provide value-added
functionality to wire-line, mobile, circuit-switched, and VoIP service
providers.
Redknee’s breadth of experience and robust, scalable architecture allows
our customers to enhance their service portfolio and network capabilities,
while leveraging Redknee’s best-in-class technical delivery organization to
ensure a rapid and efficient deployment and service launch.
Redknee’s next-generation software delivers innovative services to over 25
top tier network operators, with over 185 million subscribers worldwide.
Redknee’s global headquarters are located in Toronto, Canada.
Contact Redknee:
For more information, contact
Redknee Inc
Tel: +1-905-625-2622
Fax: +1-905-625-6485
Email: marketing@redknee.com
http://www.redknee.com
About Digicel
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the fastest growing wireless
telecommunications operator in the Caribbean. In four years, Digicel has
become renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer
care, a wide variety of products and services, and state-of-the-art handsets.
It is the largest GSM operator in the region.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and operates in eight countries
including Aruba, Barbados, Curacao, The Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St.
Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines with plans to launch in Trinidad &
Tobago and Haiti. Digicel has entered into an agreement to acquire, subject to
regulatory approval, Cingular Wireless’ Bermuda and Caribbean operations that
will significantly increase the size of its pan-Caribbean network to include
Bermuda, Anguilla, St Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica and allow
licenses in St Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Barths. Digicel’s market
share in The Cayman Islands, Grenada, St. Lucia, Barbados and St. Vincent &
the Grenadines, will also be strengthened as Cingular’s customer base will
transition to Digicel.
Contact Digicel:
Maureen Rabbitt
Public Relations Manager
T: +876-511-5272
E: maureen.rabbitt@digicelgroup.com
Barry Greenstein is This week’s Featured Guest at DoylesRoom.com
A $25,000 prize is up for grabs at this week’s Bounty Poker Tournament available only at DoylesRoom.com.
San Jose, Costa Rica (PRWEB) October 26, 2005 — DoylesRoom.com announced its Special Guest of the week. The well known Robin Hood of Poker, Barry Greenstein, will be playing with his good friends Doyle Brunson and Mike Caro in this week Bounty Tournament.
As usual, the player that knocks out all three bounties will win an amazing $25,000 prize.
A $10,000 consolation prize is being offered to the person that knocks out any 2 of the bounties. If one of the bounties wins the tournament, then everyone gets their buy-in back.
As a special added bonus, this week’s top 18 finishers’ will each receive a free copy of Barry’s new book: “Ace to The River”!
DoylesRoom.com PR Manager, Alejandro Collins was quoted saying, “Last week an unbelievable climax was reached in this world class bounty tournament. Three players, including “Coochdaddyâ€, went all in against Mike Caro. Coochdaddy who had already knocked out Todd Brunson won the side pot but missed the $10,000 by the skin of his teeth. It was very exciting, the potential to win the $25,000 was really there and one day soon we expect it to happen – added Mr. Collinsâ€.
This famous weekly tournament is only available at DoylesRoom.com, where players not only play against legendary poker players, but are also able to chat with them as well.
Players can register at www.doylesroom.com/bounty_tour/. The tournament is played every Thursday at 9:00 PM EDT (1:00 am GMT). The buy-in is $25+$2.50; the game is Texas Hold’em with 12 minute rounds and no re-buys.
Contact: For PR inquiries, please contact Alejandro C. toll free 1-888-762-4192.
About DoylesRoom.com:
DoylesRoom.com is powered by DBPN (Doyle Brunson Poker Network), a company incorporated and licensed in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. www.doylespokerroom.com
Antiguans continue quest in Club tourney
Within the space of five days, two Antiguan clubs will contest the quarterfinals round of the CONCACAF Club Championships when they take on teams from Curacao and Jamaica.
Defending back-to-back Cingular Wireless Premier Division champions, Bassa, will take on SV Centro Social Deportivo Barber of Curacao tomorrow in the first leg before traveling to Curacao for the return leg later this month.
Meanwhile, last year’s runner-ups, OH Thirty One Hoppers, are slated to take on Jamaica’s Portmore in Antigua on Friday, in a match that would serve as their home game, before battling the Jamaicans again on Sunday in what will be the visitors’ home encounter.
Source: Antigua Sun
Museum’s artist in residence offering workshops
ST. CROIX – The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts in Frederiksted is hosting its first artist in residence this month – a key program that organizers say will help make the new museum a center for art education and artist collaboration in the Caribbean.
Noted Curaçao artist Tony Monsanto began hosting workshops and lectures at several St. Croix schools this week.
Monsanto, 59, said this is his first visit to St. Croix, and after about a week he is already inspired by the diversity and natural beauty of the island. He said the green hills are a stark contrast to Curaçao, which is mostly desert.
“What makes Caribbean art so unique is the mixture of so many cultures and backgrounds,” he said. “It’s a beautiful island and I am honored to be the first of many more artists to come.”
Monsanto was born on Curaçao in 1946, and his family moved to Netherlands when he was 9 years old. He studied art at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam and graduated as an architect from the University of Delft, Netherlands. Monsanto has been a full-time artist since 1992, but he has been painting for more than 40 years.
His works have been featured in numerous exhibitions in the Caribbean, United States and Europe. The most recent exhibition was at the Chelsea Galleria in Miami, Fla., in January.
On Thursday, Monsanto spoke with about 20 art students about art history at the St. Croix Educational Complex.
“He really is doing a great service going out in the schools,” museum director Norma Krieger said. “The students are the ones who need the help the most.”
Monsanto is also teaching painting and drawing workshops for artists in the community. Krieger said the goal of the lectures and workshops is to provide a creative learning experience and to foster an understanding of the rich cultural and artistic traditions of the Caribbean. She said the program is also a “getaway” for artists and gives them an opportunity to share ideas and experience a new environment.
“It is a great opportunity to develop artistic skills,” Krieger said. “This broad cultural exchange provides interactive educational encouragement to youth, adults and artists.”
Monsanto will present 15 new paintings during an opening reception and exhibition Oct. 14 at the Caribbean Museum Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
On Oct. 15, all artists in the community are invited to bring their work for an artist critique by Monsanto from 2 to 5 p.m. at the museum. A lecture will follow at 6:30 and an artist salon from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
To pre-register for art workshops or for more information, call the Caribbean Museum Center at 772-2622.
- Contact Aesha Duval at 774-8772 ext 453 or send e-mail to aduval@dailynews.vi.