Venezuela gov’t says land claim stands

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – By no longer objecting to foreign companies drilling for oil and gas on disputed land in neighboring Guyana, Venezuela is not giving up its territorial claim to the region, Venezuela’s foreign minister said.

“We maintain the claim,” Jesus Perez said Monday. “This decision does not mean an end to our claim.

During a visit to Guyana last week, President Hugo Chavez said Venezuela would not stop Guyana from developing its western Essequibo region, a 160,000-square-kilometre(64,000-square-mile) area that is rich in gold, bauxite, diamonds, lumber and oil.

For years these two South American nations have disputed the region. Venezuela has refused to recognise an 1899 treaty giving then-British Guyana the Essequibo, which is roughly the size of Greece.

The ongoing dispute had prevented companies like Exxon and Century from exploring for oil and gas within the region, both on land and offshore.

B’dos police detain five in major drug seizure

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) – Authorities have detained five people in connection with a major marijuana seizure just off the west coast of Barbados, police said.

Officials also confiscated a 20-foot (6-meter) boat Monday, aboard which the five allegedly transported 300 pounds (135 kilograms) marijuana and then dumped it overboard 8 miles (13 kilometres) off the coast of Holetown, police spokesman Sgt Barry Hunte said.

The suspects include one man from St Vincent and four from Barbados. The drugs are worth an estimated Barbadian $600,000 (US$300,000), Hunte said.

Monday’s bust was part of a joint operation involving the police anti-drug squad and Barbados Coast Guard.

T&T carnival climax despite record high crime

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) – Trinidad’s famed Carnival heated up to a climax yesterday, with thousands of bleary-eyed and barely dressed masqueraders bouncing to “soca” music while parading through the streets of the capital.

The annual Pre-Lenten festivities officially began Monday, but locals have flocked to raucous parties and concerts over the last week.

“It’s the best thing in the whole entire world. You have a good time and don’t worry about anything,” said Marsha Simpson, a 24-year-old bikini-clad reveller, her skin sprinkled with gold glitter.

Though Carnival is celebrated in several Caribbean countries as a symbolic time of spiritual renewal, Trinidad is seen as the heart of the celebration. About 47,000 visitors attended this year, 8,000 more than last year despite a record increase in crime. Police reported no major incidents this year.

Closing the two-day party on Tuesday, bands of masqueraders strutted, danced and shuffled through Queen’s Park Savannah, a lawn-covered plaza in downtown Port-of-Spain where judges were deciding the year’s the best troupe based on costume, creativity and musical themes.

Havana’s annual cigar festival opens

HAVANA (AP) – With fireworks exploding over an old Spanish fort on Havana Bay, Cuba’s Habanos Festival opened this week, drawing hundreds of foreigners for the annual tribute to the island’s world famous cigars.

Several hundred people gathered Monday night on the grounds of La Cabana fort, where they were invited to try a special San Cristobal brand cigar made for the sixth annual Habanos Festival.

About 500 cigar merchants and other foreigners were expected at the event running through Friday, said Miguel Campoy, an executive of Habanos SA, the Cuban-Spanish firm that markets the island’s cigars abroad and the festival organiser.

Cigar smoke filled the air over the fort as diners were entertained by salsa music and tropical dancers. An exhibition of classic Harley Davidson motorcycles from the 1950s was on display.

Unlike past years, no foreign celebrities or high-ranking government officials were seen at the opening event.