Caribbean Airlines introduces charges for second checked-in bag

Monday, December 15, 2014 | 8:51 AM    

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The state-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) says it will now charge passengers for a second checked-in bag despite the “growing industry trend of airlines moving to charge passengers for all checked bags”.

In a statement posted on its website, the airline said that while the first checked bag continues to be free, it will cost passengers US$25 for a second bag, plus applicable taxes.

“Caribbean Airlines has resisted moving to this policy, but in light of most of its competitors charging passengers for all their checked bags, it is left with no choice but to match industry practice to remain competitive.”

It said that while its competitors continue to showcase low fares, “they conveniently fail to mention that bag fees – some in excess of US$100 – are charged to customers.

“Caribbean Airlines assures its passengers that our fee of US$25 for the second bag is the lowest in the industry,” the airline said, outlining the schedule of payment for flights to Europe, and the Caribbean.

It said that the new policy will be implemented in two phases.

Phase one takes effect on tickets purchased on or after December 18, 2014 for travel from January 15, 2015, on all flights between the Caribbean and Toronto. Phase two takes effect on tickets purchased on or after February 1, 2015 for travel from April 15, 2015, on all flights throughout the rest of the network.

“As the airline industry becomes increasingly competitive, at Caribbean we see no need to be tough on our customers and continue to exude warmth in every customer interaction.

“While Caribbean Airlines is following industry practice on the introduction of bag fees, only last month it led the way by passing on the savings of lower oil prices and eliminated the fuel surcharge on 98 per cent of its routes,” the cash-strapped airline added.

Earlier this year, Finance Minister Larry Howai said that CAL would suffer a loss of just under TT$100 million (One TT dollar = US 0.16 cents) for its financial year 2013.

Howai said that the airline had been enduring a difficult period but may now be emerging from it.

“CAL has had some struggles getting its accounts done, they should be able to bring them up in a couple of months. It hasn’t been very good news but they have narrowed the loss down,” he said.

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Caribbean Airlines introduces charges for second checked-in bag

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP - Man City go second, Lallana sparks Liverpool

Saturday, October 04, 2014 | 2:10 PM    

LONDON, England (AFP) – Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero scored late goals as Manchester City climbed to second place in the Premier League with a hard-earned 2-0 victory at Aston Villa on Saturday.

Villa offered dogged resistance, but Toure broke the deadlock with a characteristically languid strike in the 82nd minute and Aguero lashed home a second six minutes later.

Victory takes Manuel Pellegrini’s side to within two points of leaders Chelsea, who host Arsenal on Sunday.

“When we have just eight minutes to go you are a little worried, but I trusted that one of those chances would be scored because we have important players to do that,” Pellegrini told Sky Sports.

“It is very difficult to recover the points against a team like Chelsea and the only way to do it is to win every game.”

With Eliaquim Mangala back in the team, defending champions City bossed proceedings in the first half at Villa Park without ever truly exposing their hosts.

Aguero hit the post from James Milner’s pass early in the second period, but Villa quickly counter-attacked and City goalkeeper Joe Hart had to save from Kieran Richardson.

Belgian striker Christian Benteke made his return for Villa as a substitute after six months on the sidelines with a ruptured Achilles tendon, but it was City who dominated the closing stages.

David Silva prodded wide and Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan saved from Aguero, Mangala and Frank Lampard, before Toure made the breakthrough with a curling left-foot shot from the edge of the box.

Aguero made the points safe in the 88th minute, gathering a pass from Milner and crashing a shot inside the right-hand post.

Earlier, Adam Lallana opened his Liverpool account in style as his side claimed a first win in four league games by edging West Bromwich Albion 2-1.

Lallana put Liverpool ahead in the 45th minute at Anfield with his first goal since signing from Southampton.

After wriggling away from three defenders, the England midfielder poked the ball to Jordan Henderson, whose clever back-heel freed Lallana to arrow a left-foot drive into the bottom-right corner.

Saido Berahino equalised with a 56th-minute penalty after Dejan Lovren was penalised for a foul on the West Brom striker that appeared to take place just outside the area.

But five minutes later, Raheem Sterling teed up Henderson to score the decisive goal with a low, first-time shot past England colleague Ben Foster.

“It was very satisfying. We had to show big character today,” said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who awarded a first league start to Rickie Lambert in place of Mario Balotelli.

“I thought the resilience of the players was fantastic and we were helped by the crowd, because they realised the team needed a lift. It was a big win for us.”

Henderson’s strike enabled Liverpool to bounce back from their mid-week defeat by Basel in the Champions League and saw them provisionally climb to sixth place in the table.

Senegalese striker Papiss Cisse prevented Newcastle United from slipping to a third consecutive away defeat by scoring a brace as his side twice hit back to draw 2-2 at Swansea City.

Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson set up goals for Wilfried Bony and Wayne Routledge early in each half, but Cisse replied on each occasion to buy beleaguered Newcastle manager Alan Pardew some breathing space.

“It showed great spirit and character,” said Pardew, whose side remain without a league win.

“There’s always pressure when you’re behind in a game, but it’s my job to try and lift the players and make sure there’s fight in their belly.”

Recalled striker Steven Fletcher scored his first goals of 2014 as Sunderland belatedly registered their first win of the campaign with a 3-1 victory at home to Stoke City.

Connor Wickham’s fourth-minute header for Sunderland was cancelled out by Charlie Adam’s low strike in the 15th minute, but Fletcher struck either side of half-time to send Gus Poyet’s side up to 11th place.

Substitute Ross Wallace scored a dramatic 96th-minute free-kick to earn Burnley a 2-2 draw at fellow promoted side Leicester City.

Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez set up Jeffrey Schlupp to put Leicester ahead and then restored the hosts’ lead after Michael Kightly had equalised in the 39th minute, but Wallace curled home an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

Meanwhile, second-half goals by Mohamed Diame and Nikica Jelavic gave Hull City a 2-0 success at home to Crystal Palace.

In Sunday’s other games, third-place Southampton visit Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United host Everton and West Ham United tackle Queens Park Rangers.

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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP - Man City go second, Lallana sparks Liverpool

Teens escape from Tennessee youth detention facility for second time this month

September 2, 2014: Police work in front of the Woodland Hills Youth Development Center in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  Security upgrades at a troubled youth detention center in Nashville were not enough to prevent 13 teenagers from escaping Friday, the second major breakout from the facility this month.

Tennessee Department of Children’s Services spokesman Rob Johnson said several teens overpowered a guard at the Woodland Hills Youth Development Center about 11 p.m. Friday. They took the guard’s radio and keys and let themselves out of a dormitory. All but one were recaptured within hours.

The breakout was the latest in a series of problems that have alarmed Tennessee authorities, including a mass breakout by 32 teens on Sept. 1. The state has since begun conducting a review of youth detention security in the state.

Security improvements since the Sept. 1 breakout include securing the bottom of the fence that surrounds the facility in concrete. Workers also have reinforced aluminum panels under the dormitory windows that the teens were able to kick out during the first escape.

“A lot of shortcomings were exposed after that first breakout,” Johnson told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “They’ve been working hard and fast and have made a lot of improvements, but there’s still more work to do.”

Johnson said Friday’s breakout began while a guardhouse was empty and a guard was out checking the perimeter. According to the official, the teens smashed the guardhouse window with a rock and one went through the broken window and opened the gate for the others.

The guard who was overpowered in the dormitory was treated at a hospital and released, Johnson said. Another worker also was injured, but not seriously.

Within hours of the breakout, Nashville’s Metro police and Tennessee Highway Patrol officers had regained custody of all but one youth, a 16-year-old. The recaptured teens were taken to the juvenile court detention center. The 52 other teens being held at the Woodland Hills complex remained calm during the disturbance, Johnson added.

Thirty-two teenagers escaped from the same center on the night of Sept. 1. Two days later, riots broke out on the grounds of the facility, with teens brandishing fire extinguishers and sticks.

Johnson said many of the teens who participated in Friday night’s breakout were involved in the previous disturbances. Two of the teens who escaped in the earlier breakout remain at large.

Gov. Bill Haslam was in Afghanistan on Saturday. His spokesman, Dave Smith, said in an email that officials have brought in a national expert to review the situation at Woodland Hills, and DCS Commissioner Jim Henry has been visiting other states to learn about best practices.

“As the governor has said, our goal is to find the right balance of providing educational and rehabilitation opportunities for the youth we’re serving there along with their safety, the safety of others,” Smith wrote.

The Woodland Hills center has a history of violent clashes, breakout attempts and attacks on guards.

The recent problems have shed light on the difficulty of maintaining order at a center where most of the 14- to 19-year-olds have committed at least three felonies, and the challenges faced by Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services in trying to fix the issues.

In an interview earlier this month, DCS Commissioner Henry said policies were being reviewed to see if guards could be given weapons such as stun guns to help control unruly detainees. Currently, he had said, guards do not carry weapons and must rely on talking with the inmates to quell disturbances.

However, some lawmakers in Tennessee have said that’s not enough. They want the state to reopen a facility closed in 2012, Taft Youth Development Center, which primarily housed older, more violent offenders. They say the inmates at Taft were transferred to Woodland Hills, which then saw a spike in assaults.

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Teens escape from Tennessee youth detention facility for second time this month

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage to sponsor second annual Evenings of Excellence

Free inspirational seminars are targeted to Caribbean and African-American communities in South Florida and New York

NEW YORK, United States, Friday July 18, 2014 - The second annual Evenings of Excellence series, supported by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, is being planned for the fall in South Florida and the New York metropolitan area.
Slated for October 21, 2014 (Miami/Fort Lauderdale) and November 12, 2014 (New York City) from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the two evenings will feature presentations from Caribbean author, economist and motivational speaker Zhivargo Laing, who delivers an inspiring message of personal empowerment and economic prosperity, as well as other well-known personalities and leaders from the media, entertainment, business and government sectors.

The overarching theme for Evenings of Excellence will be building and leveraging the intellectual, financial, spiritual and cultural strength of the Caribbean- and African-American communities.

“Wells Fargo is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship with Caribbean- and African-American communities in these two very important markets,” said Cerita Battles, senior vice president and head of retail diverse segments at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, announcing the company’s support for the 2014 series.

These events, which are free to the public, will serve as a platform for discussing serious, topical issues, but they will also be fun-filled and enjoyable, with musical entertainment and several Caribbean destinations and hotels offering prize giveaways.

“What we started last year was very inspirational and the messages shared with participants have the potential to positively impact large communities across the country,” said Battles.

The Evenings of Excellence series is also supported by Marketplace Excellence, the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) and Finn Partners.

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Wells Fargo Home Mortgage to sponsor second annual Evenings of Excellence

Nkengas" second coming

IN the early 1970s when Jamaican music producer Clinton ‘Sonny’ Roberts met a 10-piece Nigerian band named the Nkengas, he had little knowledge of them or the music coming out of Africa.

He decided to take a chance on the band, who were in the United Kingdom doing a series of shows in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. He gathered them in a London recording studio and cut a series of what turned out to be memorable sides.Those sessions resulted in two albums — Destruction and The Nkengas In London — which were both released by Roberts’ Orbitone Records, an independent company located in London.Destruction was recently released digitally under a new distribution deal between Orbitone and Secret Stash Records, an American company that specialises in roots music.The digital version of Destruction has been available through Secret Stash for two months while another deal between Orbitone and London-based Believe Digital went into effect two weeks ago.The nine-song instrumental album is also available on compact disc from Secret Stash, a Minneapolis, Minnesota label which unearths rare recordings from Africa, Latin America and the United States.Cleon Roberts, daughter of Sonny Roberts, told the Sunday Observer that the second coming of Destruction is timely.“There’s been a resurgence of interest in America for the Afro-funk beat, you hear it in the clubs and on the radio,” she said. “It’s also making a comeback in Africa, in countries like Nigeria.”The Afro beat was first made famous during the 1970s by Nigerian revolutionary Fela Kuti, whose mix of traditional African sounds and American jazz won him fans throughout the continent, Europe and North America.In the 1980s, British avant garde artiste Peter Gabriel discovered the music which record companies described as world beat. Artistes like Manu Dibango of Cameroun, Youssou N’Dour of Senegal and Alpha Blondy of the Ivory Coast built on the trailblazing feats of Fela and were signed to major record labels.The Nkengas were unknown outside of their homeland when they were introduced to Roberts, a Manchester-born carpenter who moved to the UK in the late 1950s. He quickly got involved in the music business, becoming the first Jamaican to operate a recording studio in the basement of his London flat, which was owned by Lee Gopthal, who would later start Trojan Records.Cleon Roberts says her father’s musical interests at the time concentrated on Caribbean balladeers like Tim Chandell, Joyce Bond and Belinda Parker. Though he knew little of African music when he first met the Nkengas, Roberts was in the business long enough to know a good thing when he heard it.“For a Jamaican to listen to a bunch of Nigerian guys and record them back then, was remarkable,” she said.Sonny Roberts would record two albums with another Nigerian, saxophonist Peter King. His work for Orbitone, previously available on vinyl, is now available on compact disc.Now 82, Roberts lives in St Andrew with his wife. Only four members of the Nkengas survive; they live in Nigeria.Cleon Roberts hopes the new deal with Secret Stash and UK interests will revive interest in their work.“My father is a firm believer that nothing happens before its time. This sound is timeless and can appeal to a new generation including the hip hop community.”Sonny Roberts cutting master tape in studio.ROBERTS… there’s been a resurgence of interest in America for the Afro-funk beatMembers of the 10-piece Nigerian band, Nkengas.

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Nkengas" second coming

McPherson second, as Fraser-Pryce is beaten again

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Emerging track and field star Stephanie McPherson ran a new personal best 49.92 seconds to place second in the women’s 400m at yesterday’s IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco.

It was the best by a Jamaican woman so far, and it made her the third fastest woman in the world over the one lap race so far.With exactly three weeks to go before the start of the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, McPherson elevated herself into medal conversation with a superb run, setting a fourth personal best of the season, but beaten only by Botswana’s Amantle Montsho’s national record, world leading and Diamond League record 49.33 seconds.Diamond League leader Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was beaten into third place in the 200m by yet another national record by an African runner, Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast, while the Jamaican 100m men were kept off the podium.In the 400m Novlene Williams-Mills failed to complete the race.Another Jamaican Rosemarie Whyte was fourth in a season’s best 50.86 seconds, behind American Francena McCorory, who was third, while Shericka Williams was seventh in 51.95 seconds.Montsho, who has four of the six fastest times of the season so far, leads the world as she seeks to defend her title, while two Russians, Antonina Krivoshapka is the second fastest with 49.57 seconds, and Kseniya Ryzhova has run 49.80 seconds.Meanwhile, Fraser-Pryce, who was beaten in the event at the Birmingham Grand Prix on June 30, ran a sluggish corner and despite coming back into contention in the home stretch, could not catch the Ivorian, who ran a new personal best 22.24 seconds, running into a negative wind (-0.5m/s).Ahoure’s time is the second fastest this year, behind the 22.13 seconds the Jamaican set while winning the JAAA National Senior Championships in June.Tiffany Townsend of the USA ran a personal best 22.26 seconds for second, as Carmelita Jeter, who was expected to feature in the top three, did not run after competing in a relay earlier in the day.Justin Gatlin, who has emerged as Usain Bolt’s main rival in the 100m at the World Championships with the withdrawal of defending champion Yohan Blake, and Tyson Gay due to a drug suspension, won the men’s 100m in 9.94 seconds (-0.4m/s), ahead of Dentarius Locke (9.96 seconds) and Jimmy Vicaut (9.99 seconds).Kemar Bailey Cole was the best placed Jamaican in sixth place with 10.10 seconds ahead of Nickel Ashmeade (10.13 seconds), as St Kitts’ Kim Collins ran 10.08 seconds for fifth.Trinidad and Tobago’s former World Junior champion Jehue Gordon won the 400m hurdles race in 48.00 seconds, just outside his season best, beating American Johnny Dutch (48.20 seconds) and Javier Culson of Puerto Rico (48.35 seconds). US athlete Justin Gatlin reacts after winning the 100m contest during the IAAF Diamond League Herculis meeting at the Stade Louis II in Monaco yesterday. (PHOTO: AFP)

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McPherson second, as Fraser-Pryce is beaten again

Windies defeat Pakistan by 37 runs in second ODI

Sport

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 | 4:29 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — West Indies bowled out Pakistan for 195 in the second One Day International at Providence in Guyana to level the series at one all.Pakistan was set 233 to win after Windies made 232 for 8 off 50 overs.Pakistan won the first ODI by 126 runs.The third ODI is scheduled for July 19 in St Lucia.

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Windies defeat Pakistan by 37 runs in second ODI

Windies 81 for 2 in second ODI v Pakistan

Sport

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 | 10:18 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Windies are 81 for 2 in the 19th over after Johnson Charles (31) was out a short while ago.Darren Bravo and Charles put on 79 for the second wicket.Marlon Samuels is now at the crease with Darren Bravo on 34Chris Gayle was out for one in the first over.

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Windies 81 for 2 in second ODI v Pakistan

Windies 232 for 8 in second ODI v Pakistan

Sport

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 | 12:48 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Windies made 232 for 8 off 50 overs against Pakistan in the second One Day International underway at the Providence ground in Guyana TuesdayPakistan won the toss and sent WI in to bat claiming the wicket of Chris Gayle for one run in the first over with WI at 2 for 1.Johnson Charles and Darren Bravo put on 79 for the second wicket with Charles out for 31 in the 19th over.Darren Bravo top scored with 54. Pakistan require 233 for victory (at 4.66 per over) from 50 overs. Scores:West Indies 232 for 8 off 50 overs – (Darren Bravo 54, Johnson Charles 31, Dwayne Bravo 43 not out, Keiron Pollard 30, Marlon Samuels 21; Shahid Afridi 2/29, Saeed Ajmal 2/45).

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Windies 232 for 8 in second ODI v Pakistan

Windies defeat Pakistan by 37 runs in second ODI

Latest News

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 | 4:29 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — West Indies bowled out Pakistan for 195 in the second One Day International at Providence in Guyana to level the series at one all.Pakistan was set 233 to win after Windies made 232 for 8 off 50 overs.Pakistan won the first ODI by 126 runs.The third ODI is scheduled for July 19 in St Lucia.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Windies defeat Pakistan by 37 runs in second ODI

Second invitation from C-Sharp

Entertainment

Simone MorganFriday, June 28, 2013

ALMOST two years after its official release, The Invitation, the debut album from reggae band C-Sharp, has been re-launched by VPAL, a subsidiary of VP Records.The 13-track album was originally released in December, 2011. It has been re-packaged with a new jacket and is part of VPAL’s latest releases.According to C-Sharp’s bass player, Aeion Hoilett, the VPAL link means more exposure for The Invitation.“This is really a good look as VPAL will get to distribute the album in places that we have not been able to reach,” he said.VPAL is also distributor of You, the band’s latest single.The Invitation includes a cover of The Heptones’ Book of Rules which gained solid airplay locally.Hoilett says he and bandmates Lamont Savory, Dwain Campbell, Randevon Patrick and Kevon Clayton are recording songs for a second C Sharp album, expected to be released next year.

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Second invitation from C-Sharp