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MARCH  2 0 0 9Issue 26
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HISTORY IN THE MAKING AT THIS YEAR’S HEINEKEN REGATTA IN ST MAARTEN Peter Holmberg Headlines World Class Field in First-ever Budget Marine Match Racing Regatta In the latest in a long list of innovations that have made the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta one of the sailing world’s best-known and favorite events, for the first time ever in the history of Caribbean regattas, this year’s edition will introduce a dedicated Match Racing series in the lead-up to the main event. The inaugural Budget Marine Match Racing regatta will take place on March 3rd. “There’s a tremendous amount of interest among sailors in match racing,” said Budget Marine founder Robbie Ferron. “This new event gives us the opportunity to promote new and exciting forms of racing to the Caribbean.” Fittingly, the top seed among an international fleet of five teams competing for the Budget Marine Match Racing title is one of the Caribbean’s most accomplished and successful native sons: USVI skipper Peter Holmberg. Among his many triumphs—including a Silver Medal in the 1988 Olympic games and an America’s Cup victory with Alinghi in 2007—Holmberg also has held the Number 1 spot in the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) World Match Racing rankings. In that capacity, he’s won some of the world’s top match-racing regattas, including the Bermuda Gold Cup and the Congressional Cup.  “Peter Holmberg needs no introduction to the sailors around the world who’ve followed his amazing career,” said Ferron. “It’s going to be fantastic to watch him against a very interesting fleet of sailors here in St. Maarten.” Among the youth brigade is 20-year-old skipper Francisco Siemsen Bulhões from Brazil who, despite his tender age, recently finished fifth in his country’s Junior National Championship and is ranked in the top fifteen in the Brazilian National Rankings. The remainder of the five-team fleet is composed of sailors from the United States. Michael B. Hoey is representing Team Chippewa, named for Clay Deutsch’s Swan 68, Chippewa, which is a regular and prominent presence on the Caribbean racing scene. Along with this role as strategist on Chippewa, Hoey is the tactician for Team Van Tol, the Number 1-ranked match-racing team in the U.S. The lone woman in the field is Jamie Haines, who’s done extensive inshore and offshore racing, including a victory in the 2006 Newport-Bermuda Race. Haines has competed in numerous national championships and Grade 1 match-racing events as both a trimmer and tactician. She is currently campaigning for a spot on the US Sailing national team with one of the top U.S. women’s match-racing teams. A good showing in St. Maarten would be a giant step toward reaching her goals. “The Budget Marine Match Racing event will bring a different approach and flavor to the competition,” said Ferron, who also serves as steering committee chairman for the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. “We know there’s huge interest in match racing. This is going to be a lot of fun and a great experiment.” Along with the Budget Marine Match Racing event, the 2009 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta will also include the IGY Commodore’s Cup, for the top racing boats, on March 5th, and the 29th running of the main event, on March 6-8. For full information on Budget Marine Match Racing, the IGY Commodore’s Cup and the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, as well as entry lists, entry forms and much more.  STANFORD FRAUD CASE IS A BLACK EYE TO ANTIGUA The Allen Stanford fraud case is another black eye for the image of the Caribbean offshore finance sector, which must improve oversight and regulation to stay competitive in tough times, a regional trade expert said. Stanford, a Texas financier and sports entrepreneur, was charged last week in a US civil case with defrauding thousands of investors in an $8 billion scam involving certificates of deposit sold from his offshore bank in Antigua and Barbuda, where he is the biggest employer and investor. Private Equity Investment OfferThe case sent shock waves rippling across the Caribbean, where Stanford had wide business interests and connections, and spooked investors from the United States to Latin America and Europe. Several states took control of his banks and firms. The news has caused a run on Sanford’s Antigua bank causing the government to take control. With tourism, investment and remittances all tumbling in the Caribbean amid the global downturn, the region needed to "put its house in order" to maintain investor confidence, said David Jessop, executive director of the Caribbean Council, a UK-based organization that specializes in Caribbean trade policy. "At a time when confidence is king people are going to be looking perhaps in other directions," Jessop told Reuters in an interview by phone late Monday. | ||
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| MONTSERRAT UNVEILS MUSICAL ‘WALL OF FAME’ On January 23, 2009, the Montserrat Cultural Centre unveiled a “Wall of Fame” with bronze hand casts of Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John and Mark Knopfler. The casts signify the ‘helping hand’ they provided by performing in the Music for Montserrat concert at the Royal Albert Hall on September 15, 1997 after the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano. The concert was organized by legendary producer Sir George Martin, whose connections with Montserrat date back over 30 years. Sir George’s handprints also appear on the wall, with percussionist Ray Cooper’s hands completing the current lineup. The cultural center hopes that the ‘Wall of Fame’ will soon be extended to include the hand prints of other artists who performed at the Music for Montserrat concert. These include Jimmy Buffet, Montserrat’s own Alphonsus ‘Arrow’ Cassell, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Dave Hartley, the London Gospel Community Choir, Sting and Ian Thomas. No stranger to famous musicians, Montserrat was once the home of AIR (Associated Independent Recording) Studios. Opened by former Beatles producer Sir George Martin in 1978, the studio proudly hosted some of the biggest musicians of all time.  During the 11 years it was open, artists such as Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, The Police, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Luther Vandross, Sheena Easton, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jimmy Buffett, Duran Duran and Lou Reed all graced the halls and created sweets sounds enjoyed by many to this day. Providing state-of-the-art recording equipment in a relaxed Caribbean setting, AIR Studios was the location where albums such as Volcano by Jimmy Buffett, Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity by The Police, Breaking Hearts and Two Low for Zero by Elton John, Give Me the Reason and Any Love by Luther Vandross, Behind the Sun by Eric Clapton, and Tug of War by Paul McCartney were produced. AIR Studios was one of the most popular recording studios until its destruction by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Even though a hurricane and volcanic eruption caused the studio to close its doors, Sir George Martin, who fell in love with the island in the 1970s, wanted to continue the musical and artistic education of the island. After the volcanic destruction of the 1990s, Martin led the way in raising funds for a new cultural center by spearheading a major fundraising concert event. Dubbed Music for Montserrat, the concert was held at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1997 and featured many of the former AIR Studios recording artists such as Paul McCartney, Sting, Elton John, and Eric Clapton. Martin also sold 500 autographed limited edition lithographs of the score he produced for the Beatles’ song “Yesterday.” On May 12, 2007, The Montserrat Cultural Centre, featuring the Sir George Martin Auditorium, opened its doors. Built at a cost of over US$2 million and used as a venue for concerts, conferences, exhibitions, ceremonies, and other special events, the cultural center is part of the country’s long-term strategy to develop Little Bay as a new urban area. HEADLINERS AGAIN – THE LEGENDARY REGGAE BAND, THE WAILERS The legendary Wailers, who are the greatest exponents of reggae music in the world, are now confirmed to headline the 29th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta on Sunday, March 8, 2009 as part of the Serious Fun celebrations. The band, recognized worldwide as the only group still capable of delivering Bob Marley’s message of peace, love and equality will be performing on Kim Sha Beach to close out the Caribbean’s largest regatta. The Wailers have brought reggae music to every corner of the globe, selling over 250 million albums and playing to an estimated 24 million people. The group is now led by bassist and musical director Aston “Family Man” Barrett, the group’s sole surviving founder and driving musical force, who was well known as Bob Marley’s right hand-man during the singer’s lifetime. The current Wailers – a group that’s one of the last, great reggae institutions - refuses to live off past glories; where “Family Man” represents tried and trusted roots authenticity, singer Elan Atias, injects fresh excitement into a show that continues to attract enthusiastic audiences from around the world. "The Wailers are one of the legendary Caribbean bands that have helped define reggae music," says John Leone, Director of Heineken St Maarten. "They have brought reggae out of the Caribbean and onto the world music scene for all to enjoy. Although we certainly can never replace Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and others from the original band, the band still drives on to spread great music and great times all over the world. I feel the Wailer's music is just the message we all need to hear right now. Imagine your feet in the sand on a beautiful night, surrounded by people from all over the world together singing ‘One Love’ and ‘Don't worry... about a thing…'Cause every little thing... is gonna be alright!’ We are honored to have them perform here for the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, it will be a performance to remember, a whole day to be enjoyed, and a Heineken Regatta to never forget!" “The Heineken St. Maarten Regatta is globally renowned for its commitment to Serious Fun by annually presenting the best in music to its international sailing competitors and the local audience” said Christine Hansen, President & CEO of Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. “We are thrilled to bring the legendary Wailers for the 29th Anniversary and to again deliver world class talent to Heineken and the people of St. Maarten for this year’s Regatta.”  Closing out the regatta will be a day of reggae music on Kim Sha Beach, The organizers are calling the day “Reggae-gatta”, a fun mix of Reggae and Regatta. The “Reggae-gatta” festivities on Sunday are planned for the whole family to enjoy with food, drinks and great music. The day’s line-up will have the best of the local reggae bands Ras Bushman, Barbwire Band, Roots down below and the internationally renown home-grown heroes Orange Grove. Sunday activities will kick off at 12:00PM noon. The four-day event concludes with The Wailers’ performance later that night and promises to be an unforgettable experience. Other acts that have been announced for the regatta weekend, which starts on Thursday March 5 through Sunday March 8, are 3-Cylinder from Antigua, CaRiMi with Haitian roots and Kes the Band from Trinidad, along with St. Maarten’s best local talent. CHAVEZ WINS VOTE TO SCRAP TERM LIMITS President Hugo Chavez won a referendum to eliminate term limits Sunday, enabling him to run again in 2012 and beyond in what critics fear is an attempt to become president-for-life. "Today we opened wide the gates of the future," proclaimed Chavez, who has governed for a decade and vowed to rule for at least a decade more. "In 2012 there will be presidential elections, and unless God decides otherwise, unless the people decide otherwise, this soldier is already a candidate." Chavez called the victory — which allows all public officials to run for re-election as many times as they want — a mandate to speed his transformation of Venezuela into a socialist state. "Those who voted 'yes' today voted for socialism, for revolution," he said. With 94 percent of the vote counted, 54 percent had voted for the constitutional amendment, National Electoral Council chief Tibisay Lucena said. Forty-six percent had voted against it, a trend she called irreversible. She said turnout was 67 percent. At their campaign headquarters, Chavez opponents who say the amendment pushes Venezuela closer to dictatorship hugged one another, and some cried. Several opposition leaders left without speaking, but several who remained said they wouldn't contest the vote. Voters on both sides said the referendum was crucial to the future of Venezuela, a deeply polarized country where Chavez has spent a tumultuous decade in power channeling tremendous oil wealth into combating gaping social inequality. Venezuela's leftist allies in Latin America have followed the model. Ecuador pushed through a new constitution in September and Bolivia did so in January. Both loosened rules on presidential re-election. Nicaragua's ruling Sandinistas also plan to propose an amendment that would let Daniel Ortega run for another consecutive term. Opponents say Chavez already has far too much power, with the courts, the legislature and the election council all under his influence. Removing the current 12-year presidential term limit, they say, makes him unstoppable. "Effectively this will become a dictatorship," opposition leader Omar Barboza told The Associated Press. "It's control of all the powers, lack of separation of powers, unscrupulous use of state resources, persecution of adversaries." Chavez took office in 1999 and won support for a new constitution the same year that allowed the president to serve two six-year terms, barring him from the 2012 elections. Sunday's vote was his second attempt to change that; voters rejected a broader referendum in December 2007. | ||
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| Related Articles | ||
| January 2009 | ||
| Hot Off The Press January 2009 | ||
| The fabulous Montecristo development in Nicaragua invites you to a special event in January; Caribbean nations are urging U.S. President Elect Barack Obama to end the decades long American trade embargo on Cuba.; Caribbean nations are trying to blunt the impact of the U.S. recession on their small economies with various stimulation plans; Caribbean Local Government Ministers have approved the final draft of the Regional Policy and Co-operation Framework on Local Governance; Dominica has secured US$9.16 million from the Caribbean Development Bank to be used for the rehabilitation of its sea defenses and roads; the leaders of the Caribbean to work together to take steps to sustain their economies, in the face of the global economic turmoil. ---> Read More | ||
| December 2008 | ||
| Hot Off The Press December 2008 | ||
| Ever since Obama won the race to the White House there was jubilation in the United States and in the Caribbean. President-elect Obama has committed the US to increasing security measures in the Caribbean and has apparently selected Eric Holder, Jr. as the next attorney general, but no final decision has been made.Holder, a Caribbean-American of Barbadian descent would become the first Caribbean-American to serve as the nation’s top law enforcement official. Meanwhile in the Turks and Caicos islands the government has disclosed that Britain is sending two administrators to provide direction and management of all government funds in the territory. There will be a 3rd Cuba-CARICOM Summit taking place on December 8 and Trinidad is planning to build the Caribbean’s first manmade island. ---> Read More | ||
| November 2008 | ||
| Hot Off The Press November 2008 | ||
| Cuba announces an incredible oil find. France and Germany leading the offensive against offshore tax havens in the Caribbean and elsewhere. The OPP Tradeshow. ---> Read More | ||
| October 2008 | ||
| Hot off The Press October 2008 | ||
| There is lots of hurricane related news and updates, including the good news that C&W and Digicel are donating almost $2M in combined hurricane relief funds to the islands plus we have two special announcements to share with readers. ---> Read More | ||
| September 2008 | ||
| Hot Off The Press September 2008 | ||
| The U.S. real estate industry targets the huge global 2nd homes and resorts market at the AIREEC show in Los Angeles September 5 -7; Caribbean athletes excel at Beijing Olympics Track & Field events; Tropical Storm Fay is deadly for the Caribbean; building news from Live Nevis and a royalty graced eco-tourism plantation in St Lucia. ---> Read More | ||
| August 2008 | ||
| Hot Off The Press August 2008 | ||
| The upcoming September AIREEC Expo and Conference for the Global 2nd Home and Resort market is expected to be a major event..construcCation on the upscale Acanto Condo Resorts in Playa del Carmen, Mexico starts soon and Live Nevis has begun constructing 14 upscale villas. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister is leaning toward the OECS and Grenada has a new Prime Minister. ---> Read More | ||
| July 2008 | ||
| Hot Off The Press July 2008 | ||
| AIREEC announces its Global 2nd Home & Resort Expo and Conference to be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center Sept 5 -7, 2008 and Montecristo offers a special low pre-construction price for its Ventana al Mar condo’s on the Pacific coast in Nicaragua, while Live Nevis announces the grounding breaking ceremony for Sunset Ridge in Nevis. Greenspan preaches patience at a major Caribbean Summit held in Washington DC and McCain talks Free Trade with Columbia and Mexico and the airline industry challenges lead to unprecedented cooperation between Caribbean governments. ---> Read More | ||
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