Regional Briefs

Belizean claims he stole whiskey to pay mom's hospital bill

BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC):

A magistrate has jailed a resident of Caye Caulker who stole two bottles of whiskey from a store, claiming that he wanted to sell the liquor to help pay a hospital bill for his sick mother.

Jose Augustine appeared before Magistrate Emmerson Banner on a single charge of theft for stealing the liquor last week.

But after pleading guilty to the charge, he told the magistrate that he stole the liquor because he wanted to sell the whisky for BZ$100 each (J$6,800) to cover his sick mother’s medical bill.

But when he produced a bill totalling BZ$585 (J$40,000), the court found it was related to an outstanding fine he did not pay and sentenced him to jail.

For his recent theft conviction, Magistrate Banner imposed a fine of BZ$68,100 to be paid by September 30.

Caribbean heat season to be marked by increased heatwaves

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

The Barbados-based The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) has said that with many regional countries in long-term drought situations, this year’s Caribbean heat season will be marked by increased heatwaves and heat stress.

In its Caribbean Climate Outlook newsletter, the CIMH noted that during the period May to July, “seasonal temperatures were mostly above-average, with all-time records broken in June in Cuba and Jamaica”.

Additionally, it noted: “Drought impacts in currently affected areas are generally expected to decrease towards November. The annual peak in very wet and extremely spells is expected to raise the concern for flash floods and flooding in Belize and the islands.”

CIMH said that severe drought has developed in much of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, Belize, parts of Hispaniola, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos, southern Belize, easternmost Cuba, Haiti, and northern Leewards.

Negotiations to purchase LIAT put on hold

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

The Antigua and Barbuda government has confirmed that negotiations with Barbados to become the majority shareholder in the cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, “have been put on hold”.

Antigua and Barbuda is seeking to become the largest shareholder government of the airline and is in negotiations with Barbados to acquire most of that country’s shareholding in the Antigua-based airline. The other shareholders are Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.

Antigua and Barbuda currently holds 34 per cent of the shares, and if it succeeds in convincing Bridgetown to part with its LIAT shares, would have 81 per cent of the airline that employs over 600 people and operates 491 flights weekly across 15 destinations.

St John’s said it would seek to acquire the LIAT shares owned by Barbados through a takeover of the liability of Barbados to the Caribbean Development Bank.

“Those negotiations have been put on hold by a number of events in both Antigua and Barbados, and by the counter-offer made by the selling state, which Antigua has rejected. No date for the restart of negotiations has yet been set,” Antigua said in a brief statement.