Premier calls snap poll

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands (CMC):

Premier Galmore Williams yesterday advised the governor of this British overseas territory to dissolve the House of Assembly, paving the way for general elections.

"My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, pursuant to Article 55(1) of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006, I have today advised His Excellency the Governor to prorogue the House of Assembly effective August 21st, 2009, and to dissolve the House of Assembly pursuant to Article 55(2) of the Constitution on October 1st, 2009 and set October 22nd 2009 as the date for the next General Elections," Williams said in an address.

"I understand that setting a date for elections in October may seem far off, but I assure you that this was only done so as to ensure that new laws governing political parties, funding of election campaigns and laws governing elections generally, are in place before these elections are held."

St Lucians asked to make sacrifices

CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

The leading private sector grouping here has called on St Lucians to be prepared to make sacrifices now that the government has agreed to give public-sector workers a pay increase that is higher than what is feasible at this time.

The executive director of the St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Brian Louisy, said that cuts will now have to be made in other areas to facilitate payment of what government expects to amount to over EC$12 million (US$4.5 million), adding that all sectors and all people should expect to feel the pinch.

"All St Lucians understand that government's revenue is used for a multitude of economic and social expenses, including civil servants and teachers salaries, and therefore, if government is made to pay salary increases that it agreed to, then tough choices and sacrifices will have to be made to accommodate that," Louisy told the Caribbean Media Corporation yesterday.

Carib countries turn away US cruise ship

MIAMI, Florida (CMC):

A United States cruise company says one of its ships has been turned away from St Lucia and Antigua over fears that the vessel was carrying the H1N1 virus, more commonly referred to as swine flu.

The Miami-based Royal Caribbean said the 3,114-passenger Adventure of the Seas was turned away from St Lucia on Wednesday and that Antiguan authorities also told the ship not to visit the island as scheduled yesterday.

Royal Caribbean said the islands' decisions came after the line reported two crew members and a passenger on the ship had been experiencing flu-like symptoms.

However, the company said the affected people were immediately isolated, as is standard procedure.