Cuba urged to free contractor
A senior US official says Cuba’s continued detention of an American contractor is impeding moves by Washington to improve ties with the communist-ruled island.
Sixty-year-old Alan Gross is being held in Havana on suspicion of espionage and subversion.
US Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, Arturo Valenzuela, repeated a call for Cuba to free Gross, calling his detention “an obstacle for attempting to move ahead on what might be more of a dialogue between the two countries”.
The American, who worked for a Washington-area company contracted under a US-funded programme to promote democracy in Cuba, was arrested at Havana Airport in early December.
Cuban officials allege that he committed “serious crimes” by attempting to aid US efforts to destabilise the Cuban government.
Voting on ICJ intervention
The border dispute between Belize and Guatemala could be determined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Guatemala’s Congress has given its approval for a referendum to be held on whether or not the country’s claim to Belize should be taken to the Hague-based court.
Belize’s ambassador to Guatemala Alfredo Martinez has said that the development is encouraging.
It is expected that if the case does go to the ICJ, the outcome of any ruling handed down by that international court would be final and binding.
PM warned against a“intimidation”
The Public Service Union (PSU) in St Vincent and the Grenadines has accused Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of targeting public workers with “inflammatory, inappropriate, and unwarranted” comments.
The PSU has criticised recent comments made by Gonsalves, who at a political rally said he would act against public officers the prime minister alleged were sabotaging his government.
The PSU says Gonsalves has no part in any disciplinary process except to bring such cases to the attention of the appropriate authority.
The Prime Minister told party supporters that some public servants were bent on undermining his administration, and that he would “deal with them”.
