Election date coming
Prime Minister Denzil Douglas has told Kittitians and Nevisians that he intends announcing an election date “in the weeks ahead”.

In a Tuesday night address to the nation Dr Douglas announced the dissolution of the
11-seat federal parliament.

He blamed a delay in calling the elections on ongoing court challenges by the opposition Peoples Action Movement (PAM) against proposed constituency boundary changes.

“My government must now choose between the dictates of the clock and the very
important task of creating constituency equity,” the prime minister said.
Elections in St Kitts and Nevis must be held by March 2010.

Buju in court
Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton was expected to appear in a Miami court yesterday on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

The 36-year-old star was arrested by an undercover drug agent as he tried to buy five kilos (11 pounds) of the drug for $125,000.

Buju’s lawyer Herbert Erwin Walker III says the artist “vigorously asserts his innocence in this matter”.

Talks to avert strike being held
Managers and trade union representatives at British Airways were due to hold talks
yesterday afternoon aimed at preventing a strike by cabin staff over Christmas.

At the same time, a court in London was hearing a legal case which British Airways has brought to prevent the strike going ahead.

The industrial action, over job cuts, pay and conditions, is due to start next Monday and last 12 days — affecting an estimated one-million passengers during the holiday period.

Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis are among Caribbean countries who have said that the strike, if it goes ahead, will have a devastating impact on their tourism industries.