Call for education review
There has been a call for a review of the Caribbean’s education system to better address the needs of students.
Director of Social Development in the OECS, James Fletcher, says the high incidence of dropouts and increasing repetition rates is a cause for concern.
Dr Fletcher says there is a disconnect between children and teaching in some instances, and the system should be re-examined from early childhood to tertiary.
He added that the review should not only address exams but supoprt services as well.
Fletcher was speaking at a UNICEF mid-term review meeting in St Kitts.
Bird seeks medical care
Antigua’s opposition leader Lester Bird is seeking medical attention in the US.
A statement from Bird’s office said the former prime minister had recently been experiencing pain and discomfort.
It said the condition is not deemed to be life threatening but it’s repetitive and tiresome.
And his local doctors had advised that the matter should be seen to by a specialist and resolved as soon as possible.
Bird said his illness has not affected his work schedule, although it had limited his ability to stand for long periods.
Canadian police end Antigua stint
A team of retired Canadian police officers recruited over two years ago to help with Antigua’s crime fight, is winding down its tour of duty in St John’s.
The group is due to leave the island in August.
Its leader, Thomas Bennett, says while his team has made some strides in crime fighting, there is still some work to be done.
Local officer, Vere Browne, will take up the post of deputy police commissioner responsible for administration.
Murder suspect to be handed over
A Dutch man linked to a US teenager’s disappearance in Aruba five years ago will be turned over to authorities in Peru where he is wanted for the murder of a local woman.
Joran van der Sloot, 22, was taken into custody on Thursday after being stopped in a taxi in Chile.
Police said he was to be flown to the border city of Arica yesterday and handed over to Peruvian authorities.
van der Sloot is wanted in Lima for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores Ramirez.
