Seismic Center Repeats Warning Of Major Earthquake
ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, Monday May 14, 2012 – The magnitude 4.0 earthquake recorded off the coast of Antigua last Friday (May 11) is a warning that the Caribbean should prepare for a much more severe earthquake to come.
This warning has again been sounded by the Seismic Research Unit in Trinidad and Tobago.
In confirming that an earthquake occurred 50 miles east of the Antigua and Barbuda capital around 5 a.m, seismologist Dr Joan Latchman reportedly stated that the region has not seen its largest earthquake for more than a century and, based on the historical data that indicated that the region has recorded a major earthquake every 100 years, the islands of the English-speaking Caribbean were overdue for one.
Dr Latchman has stated that the pattern in which earthquakes have occurred in the region has been consistent, although authorities cannot predict when and where it will happen.
This time last year the Trinidadian seismologist also warned residents of the region to brace for a major earth movement.
Speaking during a three-day visit to Nevis to make a presentation on disaster preparedness, Dr Latchman said Caribbean islands lie in an area of relatively high earthquake activity and that an earthquake of 8.0 could hit the Caribbean any day based on the patterns previously recorded.
According to the Seismic Research Centre, there have been a number of small earthquake activities taking place off Antigua & Barbuda although they have not been felt by residents.
Philmore Mullin, head of the National Office of Disaster Services has stated that Antigua & Barbuda would not only be very vulnerable to earthquakes but also tsunamis.
The region was earlier this month put on notice to prepare for tsunamis by the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of UNESCO.
Seismic Center Repeats Warning Of Major Earthquake courtesy of Caribbean360.com
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Caribbean Warned Again To Prepare For Tsunamis
The Caribbean has yet again been put on notice to prepare for tsunamis.
This warning comes two years ahead of a planned warning system for the region from Assistant Director-General, Wendy Watson-Wright at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
Watson-Wright has urged the Caribbean’s 40 million people to take cases of a tsunami seriously as it was not a case of “when and not if” an earthquake triggered tsunami or one caused by volcanic activity will strike.
She is quoted as saying: “Lurking beneath the azure waters that wash up on countless coastal and island beaches and vacation spots are the potential for a devastating tsunami,” she said.
According to reports, Watson-Wring made the point that since 1498 there were at least 94 tsunamis with run-ups in the Caribbean causing 4, 652 deaths.
She added that the Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System, coordinated through UNESCO-IOC saved lives in the region following an 8.6 magnitude earthquake off northern Indonesia.
She stressed that education programmes allowed those living in coastal communities to mobilise early and move to higher ground.
The Caribbean’s early warning system is expected to be in place by 2014 and will be located in Puerto Rico. Once implemented, it will enhance the Caribbean’s ability to evaluate data and ensure that timely information is passed onto authorities so they can advise the public
Courtesy of Caribbean360.com
Regional Economy Poised to Grow, But English-Speaking Caribbean Vulnerable
The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean are poised to grow despite persistent global volatility, according to a new report from the World Bank.
The report, “Latin America Copes with Volatility, The Dark Side of Globalization,” finds that portfolio flows to the region have surged in the first months of 2012.
Investments from mutual funds in the largest seven Latin American and Caribbean countries, which fell markedly in the last six months of 2011, rose eight times in the first two months of 2012.
Current growth forecasts for the region as a whole stand at between 3.5 and 4 percent for the next two years, similar to that of East Asia.
According to the report, most English-speaking Caribbean countries are both highly exposed to external volatility and highly vulnerable, as their policy maneuvering room is severely limited by the countries’ size and openness as well as high levels of public debt.
“The problem is that this type of market-based, as opposed to bank-based, capital flows has not added to financial stability — as many had initially hoped. To the contrary, portfolio flows into and out of emerging economies tend to be pro-cyclical and seem to be increasingly [responsive] to global factors, rather than country-specific ones,” said Augusto de la Torre, the World Bank’s chief economist for the region. “International financial intermediation has tilted towards a herd behaviour that is focused on short-term horizons and where being able to exit rapidly dominates over patient analysis of long-term prospects.”
“In today’s financial world, more integration means more exposure to external volatility but not necessarily means more vulnerability,” he said. “The risks are not in how much you are exposed but, more importantly, in how little policy response capacity you have to cope with such unpredictability.”
Regional Economy Poised to Grow But English-Speaking Caribbean Vulnerable courtesy of Caribjournal.com
United States Immigrants To Receive Lower Visa Processing Fees
In a move that is sure to be welcomed by some immigrants, the U.S. is set to lower some immigrant visa processing fees as of later this month.
The lower rates are set to be effective on April 13, 2012 and immediate relative and family preference and employment-based applicants are among the big winners.
According to the U.S. State Department, spouses, children and relatives filing for their immigrant relatives will now pay a processing fee of $230, a savings of $100 as the current fee is $330.
Employers filing for employees will now pay $405, saving them a whopping $315 as the current fee is $720. Others saving will be winners of the Diversity Visa Program and applicants who are filing to have their residency status returned. Those fees will be lowered from $440 to $330 for the diversity program and from $380 to $275 for the returning resident status applications.
All other immigrant visa application fees will be lowered from $305 to $220.
The decrease in fees will also apply to K or fiancé (e) visa applicants and those seeking treaty investor and trader visas or the E visa as they are commonly called. The K visa application fee has been lowered from $350 to $240 while the E visa filing fee will cost $270 now, down from $390.
However, there is no such good news for tourists and others seeking to travel to the U.S. Come April 13th, applicants for tourist, business, transit, crew member, student, exchange visitor, and journalist visas will have to shell out more per application. The fee will increase from $140 to $160 while applicants of Petition-based visas will now pay an application fee of $190 instead of $150. These visa categories include H (for temporary workers and trainees), L (for intra-company transferees), O (for aliens with extraordinary ability), P (for athletes, artists and entertainers), Q (for international cultural exchange visitors) and R (for religious occupations).
The State Department says the fee adjustments are necessary since it is required to recover, as far as possible, the cost of processing visas through the collection of application fees. The non-immigrant visa fee increase, officials explained, will support the addition and expansion of overseas facilities, as well as additional staffing required to meet increased visa demand.
The US Embassy says the fee adjustments are the result of a December 2011 worldwide cost-of-service study conducted by the Bureau of Consular Affairs in the Department of State. More information on the fees can be found at fee on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, travel.state.gov.
Meanwhile, .the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has begun accepting H-1B petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 cap. The congressionally mandated numerical limitation on H-1B petitions for FY 2013 is 65,000. Additionally, the first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of individuals who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher are exempt from the fiscal year cap.
U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields, such as scientists, engineers, or computer programmers.
For more information on the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program and current Form I-129 processing times, visit www.uscis.gov or call the National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283.
United States Immigrants To Receive Lower Visa Processing Fees courtesy of mnialive.com
Puerto Rico’s Government Continues Initiative to Collect Illegal Weapons
Puerto Rico’s illegal weapons collection programme has brought in 1,056 weapons and 55,044 rounds of ammunition in less than 60 days, according to Governor Luis Fortuño.
Anyone bearing an illegal gun in Puerto Rico has a grace period until April 18 to hand in their firearms.
“The solution to this social evil is not in the hands of the government, but the people,” Fortuño said. “That is why we have recruited community and religious leaders, so that they can be the ones to spread the word door to door and urge every Puerto Rican who is considering a life of crime to stop this evil way.”
The programme is being coordinated by Puerto Rico’s police, along with non-profit and faith-based institutions authorized to assist in collecting firearms.
Puerto Rico Police Superintendent Hector Pesquera said the programme would not have been possible without the help of faith-based organizations, and that the police would continue to work with them.
“We still have much to do, but I have faith in the extraordinary capacity of our people,” Fortuño said. “We will not tolerate crime and fear governing in Puerto Rico.”
Puerto Rico’s Government Continues Initiative to Collect Illegal Weapons story by Caribjournal.com
Montserrat Census Shows 10 Percent Population Growth
BRADES, Montserrat (GIU) — The Department of Statistics has released the official 2011 Census data, which shows that Montserrat’s population has grown by 10 percent since the previous census in 2001.
“On May 12, 2011, the usual resident population of Montserrat consisted of 4,922 persons, 51.7 percent of whom were male and 48.3 percent female. The total number of usual residents was 10.2 percent or 457 more persons than the 2001 Census. This suggests that the population who reside permanently on Montserrat, grew on average by 45 persons per year. The growth in 2011 contrasts the decline that was observed in the previous intercensal period 1991-2001, when the 2001 usual resident population was less than half of the 1991 count,” a statement from the department read.
”Where we usual residents found? Most of Montserrat’s usual residents, that is 4,843 persons, occupied private dwellings in May 2011. The remaining 79 persons were found in collective living quarters at the Homes for the Elderly and Her Majesty’s Prison. The population living in these collective housing units or ’non-private’ dwellings fell by more than 50 percent when compared to Census 2001.
”The usual resident population of Montserrat was centred in Look Out. Usual residents numbered more than 600 persons or 13.6 per cent of the population in the 2011 Census. The majority of residents living outside of Look Out were located in Brades/Shinnlands (9.1%) and St Peter’s (8.9%).
”What has changed since 2001 Census? As in the previous Census, the island was divided into 22 geographical areas called Enumeration Districts. The populations in 11 of the Enumeration Districts grew at rates above the national average (10.2%) between 2001 and 2011. Barzeys showed the strongest growth in its population (+297%), followed by St John’s/Mongo Hill (+86%). The populations of St John’s North, Brades/Shinnlands and Olveston remained relatively stable between Censuses. The populations in the other Enumeration Districts decreased, with strongest declines in Happy Hill (-62%) and Isles Bay (-54%). ”
Montserrat Census Shows 10 Percent Population Growth courtesy of Caribbeannewsnow.com
Tobago The Number One In 10 Amazing Undiscovered Islands
Tobago comes in as number one in Yahoo’s 10 Amazing Undiscovered Islands. The entire list is described as “Quiet nights . . . lazy walks . . . spectacular sunsets to view à deux . . . genuine interaction with folks who actually live there . . . off-the-beaten-path islands offer secret spots and stunning surprises in every corner of the world.”
With a list of other exotic islands that includes, Phu Quoc Island Vietnam, Mnemba Island Tanzania, Kefalonia Greece and Roatán, Honduras, it is a good feeling to see a Caribbean gem top the list.
Yahoo describes Tobago as:
Tobago, Caribbean
For Eco-Rich Vacations
The tiny island of Tobago—unlike its boisterous cousin, Trinidad—is a Caribbean island made for travelers seeking peace, quiet, and time spent with pristine nature. Visitors can hire a guide and hike through the western hemisphere’s oldest protected rain forest, accompanied by song from some 58 different species of birds. The island is also ringed by shallow-water reefs, giving snorkelers, divers, or passengers in glass-bottomed boats the chance to spot some 300 types of coral, plus giant tube sponges, massive rays, graceful sea fans, and fish sporting more colors than Crayola.
Hike the trail along Tobago’s North Coast for great photos. Kids love to swim in the Nylon Pool, a fish-rich shallow area in the Lagoon. The hotels, including the award-winning Coco Reef Resort & Spa, have a delightfully local feel. It is said that Tobago cooks have “a sweet hand,” creating dishes that magically blend Creole, African and West Indian flavors, often complemented by good local rum. Best of all, Tobago is very eco-friendly. In 2007, the island won the “World’s Leading Green Destination” honor at the World Travel Awards.
Tobago The Number One In 10 Amazing Undiscovered Islands courtesy of Yahoo.com
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
St Lucia Waits on Potential Sale of Hess Oil Storage and Transshipment Terminal
St Lucia is taking a wait-and-see approach on the potential sale of the Hess crude oil refined products and storage terminal at Cul de Sac.
Hess informed Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony of the decision to sell the facility earlier this month, but it is possible that the terminal could remain on the island if a satisfactory sale is not made, Anthony said.
“If the sale does go through and ones does now know, because in the discussion [with Hess] that followed the disclosure, Hess Oil Corporation did indicate that if they do not get a sale in accordance with the terms they have every intention to remain here,” Anthony said. “So we shall see, but they have indicated that they prefer to focus on oil exploration instead of the buying and selling or distribution of fuel.”
Hess recently shut down another terminal, the HOVENSA refinery in St Croix, which was a joint venture between Hess and PetroCaribe. It has not disclosed the potential price it is seeking.
The St Lucia terminal has a storage capacity of 10 million barrels.
Regardless of the outcome, Anthony said the country needs to consider a “broader rationalisation” of its energy needs.
According to Anthony, he has received authorisation from Parliament for $2.8 million from the International Development Association for the establishment and operationalisation of the OECS Eastern Caribbean Energy Regulatory Authority project.
“ECERA comes on board just at the right time, because, very clearly, as the experience of ECTEL shows, not only do we need an independent regulatory regime, but also we need to be pointed in the right direction where the use of alternative energy is concerned,” he said. “So, in effect, ECERA will better help us to deal with the issue of fairness in pricing and will also assist us to look at our energy sector and bring together experts and technocrats to offer advice across the region.”
Anthony explained to Parliament that St Lucia would not be required to repay the loan in full until 2046.
St Lucia Waits on Potential Sale of Hess Oil Storage and Transshipment Terminal courtesy of Caribjournal.com
American Eagle Leaving Puerto Rico
American Eagle is reportedly planning to cease its operations in Puerto Rico next spring as part of efforts to cut $75 million in costs as it navigates through bankruptcy.
American Eagle employs some 150 people on the island, who were alerted to the looming shutdown by the Association of Flight Attendants, according to press reports.
American Eagle, American Airlines, and parent company AMR Corp. filed for bankruptcy in November.
AMR Corp. has delayed a planned spinoff of its regional airline, American Eagle. The holding company for that airline, AMR Eagle Holding Corp., the parent of San Juan-based Executive Airlines, which operates American Eagle’s flights in the region, also filed for bankruptcy.
American Airlines and American Eagle have been paring service through San Juan in recent years. American Eagle has slashed its workforce in its Caribbean hub from 500 to 150 employees over the past decade.
American Eagle has implemented deep cuts in its flights from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in recent months, dropping from 70 daily flights to roughly two dozen.
The carrier’s direct flights from its San Juan regional hub include Tortola, Santo Domingo, Fort-de-France, Punta Cana,, St. Lucia, Pointe-a-Pitre, St. Kitts, Antigua, Dominica , Santiago, Grenada, La Romana , Barbados, St. Thomas and St. Croix.
American Eagle Leaving Puerto Rico courtesy of Caribbeanbusiness.pr
Grenada Government Sets Up Diaspora Committee
The Grenada government has approved the setting up of an international diaspora consultative committee (IDCC), which was adopted at last year’s Grenada Diaspora Founding Conference in St George’s.
The IDCC is in fulfilment of a commitment adopted in the declaration during the conference held August 2-3, 2011 under the theme “The Grenadian Diaspora: Partnering in Nation-Building”.
Eight persons were named on the IDCC representing Diaspora Consultative Committees (DCC) in New York, Washington, DC, and Kentucky in the United States; Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto in Canada; and the United Kingdom. The IDCC will also include members of DCCs in Atlanta, Georgia (USA); Caracas, Venezuela and neighbouring Caribbean islands.
Delegates attending the conference welcomed the government’s initiative in instituting a consultative process with Grenadians within the Diaspora.
This initiative aims to embrace the talents, commitment and patriotism of Grenadians worldwide to develop a rationalised approach to Grenada’s national development, especially through the five transformational sectors – agribusiness, tourism and hospitality, energy development, information communications technology and health, education and wellness service – and in particular the areas discussed at the founding conference which include culture, education, economy (business and investment), health, sports, youth and tourism.
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New Technology To Cool Bahamas Megaresort
NASSAU, Bahamas — The new multibillion dollar Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, will use an innovative new technology to provide the resort’s air conditioning needs.
The world’s first seawater cooling district (SDC) system will supply chilled water from a depth of over 3,600 feet in the open Atlantic Ocean, off the New Providence oceanic shelf. This $100 million system will save up to 90% of the energy costs of utilizing traditional energy supply to cool the property, with major environmental benefits as well, including using no refrigerants, and reducing energy consumption by roughly 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year.
DCO Energy and Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation (OTE) have teamed up on a number of projects to use this technology for cooling and power generation without the use of fossil fuels.
“This project is groundbreaking for a number of reasons, from a system standpoint, an environmental standpoint, an economic standpoint and we would like to thank Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation and Baha Mar Resort for this opportunity” said Frank DiCola, president and CEO of DCO Energy. “DCO Energy, with myriad projects in the US and abroad, is truly an international leader in clean energy solutions.”
“Our choice of DCO Energy as the contractor to this project was made that much easier because of their experience in offering proven solutions to renewable energy and energy saving design and construction projects, ” said Jeremy Feakins, chairman of the board and CEO of OTE. “DCO Energy has been a great partner to work with.”
New Technology To Cool Bahamas Megaresort courtesy of Caribbeannewsnow.com
Jamaica Looks to “Level the Playing Field” For Technology Access
The Jamaican government is committed to ensuring that all Jamaicans have full and equal access to technology, according to Science and Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell.
“This government is committed to leveling the playing field for all Jamaicans,” he said. “We are going to ensure that every square inch of this island is broadband accessible and that every single school in this country is outfitted with learning equipment such as computers and whiteboards, as well as full internet access.”
Paulwell was speaking at the launch of Northern Caribbean University’s Research Week in Mandeville on Tuesday.
“The ability of a people to embrace science and technology and to continuously innovate is what we all need for economic transformation, not the size of our country or the wealth we are endowed with,” the Minister said. “The truth is that any long-term plan for any nation cannot be hinged on mining or tourism alone, because those are activities that are fickle.”
“When we depend on our minds, however, our future is secure, the possibilities immense and the opportunities endless,” he said.
Paulwell said that the competitive advantage in today’s world is hinged on technological advances.
“To remain competitive and abreast of other economies, it is imperative that we develop a culture of continuos improvement, driven by scientific research and the application of new and appropriate technologies,” he said.
Jamaica Looks to “Level the Playing Field” For Technology Access courtesy of Caribjournal.com
Barbados Spending Millions On Kidney Treatment
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday March 9, 2012 – Chronic kidney disease is on the rise in Barbados, resulting in the island’s lone general hospital spending $6.5 million annually on treatment.
Of that figure, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital spends $1.8 million per year to rent 23 dialysis machines for its Artificial Kidney Unit (AKU), and pays a further $300 per patient for the treatment of 24 patients at a private facility because the unit is too full.
Despite this, the numbers continue to rise with hypertension and diabetes still being identified as the main causes.
The number of patients requiring the services of the AKU has risen from three in 1979 to 200 in 2011, and is expected to double by 2020.
These were among statistics being revealed as countries around the world marked World Kidney Day yesterday under the theme Donate – Kidneys for Life – Receive.
Officials at the QEH are also reporting that the ages of patients requiring kidney treatment are getting younger.
The hospital is also reporting successes with its kidney transplants, with nine being conducted between 1991 and 1996, and the first laparoscopic one being done in February this year.
However, organisers of World Kidney Day are urging people to cut out the things they know are not healthy, pay attention to family history, exercise and eat in moderation.
They are advocating for people around the world to keep fit and active, maintain regular control of their blood sugar levels, monitor blood pressure, eat healthy and keep weight in check, maintain a healthy fluid intake, avoid smoking and taking over-the-counter pills.
Barbados Spending Millions On Kidney Treatment Courtesy of Caribbean360.com
MTV The Real World To Film 27th Season In St Thomas USVI
Set to take place in the capital of the US Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, MTV’s “The Real World” begins production this month on the 27th season of the network’s longest running hit reality series. The upcoming season will once again bring together seven strangers who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey together as they work hard and play harder. The roommates will not only experience what a ‘real world’ paradise has to offer, but they will reside in a custom decorated home that is the perfect backdrop for fun in the sun. “The Real World: St. Thomas” is slated for premiere Summer 2012 on MTV.
“The US Virgin Islands—long a spring vacation spot for young people—has beautiful weather and a laidback Caribbean culture, making it the perfect environment for this year’s seven strangers to get to know each other and figure out their lives,” said Jonathan Murray, Creator and Executive Producer of ‘The Real World’ and Chairman of Bunim/Murray Productions.
“As a U.S. Territory, the U.S. Virgin Islands is an excellent choice for Season 27 of ‘The Real World.’ The roommates, and MTV’s viewers, get to experience the splendor of the Caribbean lifestyle, while MTV’s production expenditure is reinvested into U.S. economy,” said Commissioner of Tourism, Beverly Nicholson-Doty. “Viewers of the show will get an opportunity not only to see the roommates settle into their new lives on St. Thomas, but also to follow their cultural experiences across the other islands that comprise the USVI – St. Croix, St. John and ‘the fourth Virgin’ – Water Island.”
MTV The Real World To Film 27th Season In St Thomas USVI Courtesy of Caribwall.com
Cuba Begins Testing AIDS Vaccine
HAVANA, Cuba, Wednesday March 7, 2012 – Long a pioneer in the field of medicine in the region, Cuba has now revealed that it will soon embark on testing a new AIDS vaccine on human subjects.
Speaking at a biotechnology conference in Havana this week, a leading Cuban researcher announced that Cuba’s top biotech teams have successfully tested a new AIDS vaccine on mice, and they were ready to soon begin human testing.
“The new AIDS trial vaccine already was tested successfully (on mice) and now we are preparing a very small, tightly controlled phase one clinical trial with HIV-positive patients who are not in the advanced stages of disease,” disclosed researcher Enrique Iglesias.
Iglesias, who heads up the vaccine development team at the Biotech and Genetic Engineering Center (CIGB) in Havana made the revelations as he was addressing the International Biotech Conference-Havana 2012, which started March 5 in Cuba’s capital.
He told the crowd at the conference that the vaccine TERAVAC-HIV-1 was made from recombinant proteins aiming “to cause a cellular response against the (HIV) virus.”
However, the Cuban expert was quick to downplay high hopes for a long-awaited successful AIDS vaccine.
“So far, there have been more than 100 clinical tests (on humans) with HIV” in Cuba and other countries, “and all of them have failed,” he stressed.
Cuba spends more than US$200 million a year on its AIDS prevention and care programs, including free care with antiretrovirals, some of them Cuban-made.
The CIGB, which groups about 20 research units in Havana, is the driver of the major export of Cuban biotech products including vaccines and other drugs.
The Caribbean country exports US$400 million a year in these products, making them its official number-two export after nickel.
Some 600 scientists from about 38 countries are participating in the biotech conference, including Nobel-winning US chemist Peter Agre, who is also a medical doctor and molecular biologist.
Cuba Begins Testing AIDS Vaccine Courtesy of Caribbean360.com
Allen Standford Found Guilty
A federal court jury in Houston found former financier R. Allen Stanford guilty Tuesday on 13 of 14 counts of running a Ponzi scheme.
Stanford, who was first charged with the fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission and federal prosecutors in 2009, was found guilty on 13 of 14 counts at the conclusion of a five-week trial. He could face up to 120 years in prison, according to his court-appointed attorney Robert Scardino.
Federal prosecutors broughtcriminal charges against Stanfordin June 2009. The only count he was found not guilty of on Tuesday was one count of wire fraud.
Prosecutors have said that there are about 30,000 victims of the alleged fraud.
“This trial will decide not just whether Stanford is guilty of the criminal charges, but also whether hundreds of millions of dollars of investor funds currently frozen may be forfeited and returned to his alleged victims,” U.S. District Judge David Hittner wrote in a December court order.
In February 2009 the SEC charged that Stanford and three of his companies orchestrated a $9.2 billion investment and sales fraud. But the SEC can only bring civil charges, not criminal charges.
Prosecutors charged that Stanford sold billions of dollars in certificates of deposit administered by Stanford International Bank Ltd., an offshore bank in Antigua.
The billionaire misrepresented to investors the financial condition of that bank, its investment strategy and the extent of regulatory oversight, the prosecutors said. Stanford also was accused of misusing most of those investments.
Stanford maintained his innocence throughout the process. In a tearful 2009 interview, Stanford told ABC News: “I would die and go to hell if it’s a Ponzi scheme.”
During the trial, Stanford did not testify in his own defense, even though his lawyers had suggested he would during opening statements. Margaret Finerty, a former New York criminal court judge who is now a partner at Getnick & Getnick in New York, said that likey hurt him.
“It’s always problematic when an attorney promises something that doesn’t happen,” she said.
She said the prosecution’s case was helped significantly by the testimony of Stanford’s former chief financial officer James Davis.
“You had someone who participated in the fraud to explain to the jury the significance of the documentary evidence,” she said. “It wasn’t only documents. He put it all together and brought it to life for the jurors.”
Testimony about Stanford’s lavish lifestyle also helped to convince the jurors, she said.
The jury got the case last Wednesday and Monday night sent a note to the judge saying they could not reach a unanimous verdict. But U.S. District Judge David Hittner sent them back for further deliberations and they returned with a verdict that was read in court just before noon local time Tuesday.
“Last night when I heard there was a hung jury, I was spinning,” said Stanford victim Cassie Wilkinson, speaking to reporters after the verdict. “I was so anxious, thinking what if this guy gets off? What if he actually walks after he took advantage of so many people?”
Wilkinson said she and her husband were Houston natives who had retired to Austin, Texas, before losing much of their savings in investments with Stanford. Her husband has had to return to work and Wilkinson said she might have to return to work as well.
After sitting through five weeks of the trial, she said she welled up in tears when the verdict was announced.
“There is a little bit of vindication knowing that there are 12 other people who thought the same thing, that we were just scammed,” she said. “There’s a sense of relief we’re not just fools.”
Courtesy of CNN.com
US Virgin Islands Mulls Post-HOVENSA Energy Options With Federal Officials
With the closure of the HOVENSA refinery in February, the US Virgin Islands lost its main source of gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and propane.
The change led the territory, which is not connected to any larger power grid, to discuss the possibility of soliciting support from the federal government to develop an inter-connected power grid with Puerto Rico in Washington meetings last week.
The HOVENSA refinery was the largest in the Caribbean, and had been in St Croix since 1966.
On Wednesday, an energy solution for the territory was the subject of discussions between Governor John de Jongh and officials from the US Department of Energy.
The two sides broached the possibility of converting combustion turbines to fire natural gas in the territory, along with the aforementioned interconnection with Puerto Rico.
De Jongh was joined by Chief of Staff Pamela Berkowsky, Attorney Robert G Smith, WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge and VI Bureau of Economic Research Director Wharton Berger.
The US Virgin Islands pays some of the highest energy rates in the United States.
Courtesy of Caribjournal.com
