BBC Caribbean News in Brief

Consul ‘murdered’ in Jamaica

Police in Jamaica say a British honorary consul has been found dead at his home in Montego Bay, the victim of an apparent murder.

Police say John Terry, who was 65, had been beaten and his throat was tied with cord and clothing. Authorities have not revealed any possible motive and no arrests have been made.

The New Zealand native had lived in Jamaica since 1967 and represented the British High Commission in the western tip of the island.

Police spokesman Karl Angell said Terry’s neighbours found the body in his yard on Wednesday afternoon.


Clinton pleads for Haiti

Bill Clinton has told the UN Security Council that he is convinced that Haiti has a remarkable opportunity to escape “the chains of its past”.

The former US president said he will lead a trade mission to Port au Prince in October to explore investment opportunities.

Clinton, the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy to Haiti, called on the international community to honour aid commitments to the country.

Prime Minister Michèle Pierre-Louis told the Security Council that the Haitian government was “resolutely committed” to creating conditions that will build investor confidence.

Grenada hands over
subsidized houses

The Grenada government says it has sold 100 Venezuelan-built houses at a deep discount to people left homeless by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas said more than 800 people applied to purchase one of the homes.

The government selected mostly single mothers who were renting or living with relatives.