CARIBBEAN NEWS: March 14th – March 20th, 2015

ST. LUCIA TO HOST COMPUTER NETWORK ORGANIZATION—03/14/15
Members of the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribOG) will meet in St. Lucia for its ninth regional conference, beginning at the end of April 2015. The group has a major role in the ecosystem of the areas technology. CaribOG is a volunteer community that focuses on making the Caribbean’s indigenous capacity to handle evolving technology. The group is instrumental in coordinating the technical community throughout the region.

DESMOND PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM READY FOR LEGAL CHALLENGE—03/15/15
The private equity firm owned by Dermot Desmond is set for a legal fight over an investment he made in Caribbean resort. The firm IIU, has obtained the services of powerful London advisors to help with the action against Canaan Restarts Development, which is the firm behind the luxury y Pink Sands development in St. Vincent.

BARBADOS TO BE FIRST HOST OF GLOBAL CRICKET CONFERENCE IN REGION—03/17/15
The 2015 International Cricket Conference (ICC) will take place in Barbados, making the nation the first in the Caribbean to host the global group. According to Narayanaswami Srinivasan, chairman of the ICC, the organization is “delighted” to be meeting in the West Indies for the first time. The conference is scheduled for June 22 through 26, 2015, in Bridgetown.

UNITED STATES NAVY TO LEAVE CARIBBEAN—03/18/15
General John Kelly, the commander of the United States Southern Command, says that two Navy ships currently deployed in the Caribbean will be withdrawn permanently in the summer of 2015. Kelly divulged the plan to withdraw the vessels during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing when answering a question about how much Kelly’s command knows about what goes on in the Caribbean region. Kelly has committed to doubling the number of U.S. Coast Guard cutters in the region.

BARBADOS FOOTBALL ORGANIZATION WANTS MORE REFEREES FROM CARIBBEAN—03/19/15
Randy Harries, president of the Barbados Football Association, has stated his desire to see more Caribbean referees in the Gold Cup and World Cup competitions. He believes that having more Caribbean referees will provide CONCACAF with a “good mix.” He said he was disappointed at times during big CONCACAF games and there are no Caribbean referees involved.

COURT HEARS CASE AGAINST ANTI-GAY LAWS OF TWO COUNTRIES—03/20/15
The Caribbean Court of Justice was called upon to hear a challenge from Maurice Tomlinson, a gay rights activist, brought in regard to the immigration laws of Belize and Trinidad and Tobago. The laws allegedly bar gays and lesbians from entering the countries. According to Tomlinson, the laws are discriminatory and have to be repealed.