Caribbean Report 16-04-1993

Abstract

The Trinidad government is warning workers not to expect huge future pay rises even though the currency has been devalued. Wendell Motley, Finance Minister advises that a national strike would achieve very little for the workers and prove very dangerous to the economy. A former Puerto Rico Secretary of State Antonio Colorado stated that efforts to retain the 936 programme have been hampered by the ambivalence in the current Puerto Rico government that could seriously hurt the economies of both Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. UN Special Envoy Dante Caputo says he has had a positive meeting with the military leadership in Haiti but no agreement has been reached in ending the country’s political crises such as the army’s demand for a complete amnesty, and Haitian Human Rights Groups says that blanket amnesty for those involved in the 1991 would be unacceptable. Margaret Thatcher appeals publicly for help for the plight of the evil done to the Muslims in Bosnia due to the bloody civil wars – Serbs against Muslims. Leaders of 5 dissident groups in Cuba are writing to President Clinton for the US economic embargo against Cuba to be lifted since they state that it goes against international law. Correspondent Charlotte Fadipe, reports on the world of Jamaican ‘Ragga” music – the newest music trend in Britain. Leone Ross, Music Journalist explains the characteristics, musical style and raga culture to Charlotte Fadipe. Jamaican Dancehall artiste Shabba Ranks (born Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon ) also explains and defends the new music trend. The ragga music has been said to promote violence, homophobia and misogyny.