Four members of the St. Kitts Football Referees Association (SKFRA) have been selected to FIFA’s 2010 Referees International list. They are Messrs James Matthew (Referee), Graeme Browne, Ike Inniss and Lloyd Rouse (Assistant Referees).
These four (4) gentlemen are therefore qualified to officiate at any level football in any of FIFA’s, CONCACAF’s Or CFU’s competition, including World Cup, Gold Cup and the Olympic.
SOURCE: Techeira’s Sports Page (TSP)
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Tagged: FIFA, Graeme Browne, Ike Inniss, James Matthew, Lloyd Rouse, Referees 2010 List, SKFRA, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Kitts Football Referees Association, Techeira Sports Page, TSP
Govia
Jennifer Aniston / Image via Angela George
My dog hates Jennifer Aniston. He stands and barks at the TV whenever he sees her face. He hated that they showed her movies all day long, and that we sat and stared at the screen as if she is a God. My dog has never heard about Angelina Jolie. He prefers to stand on the window sill 18 floors up, and watch people walk the street. If things could get better for my dog, my dog would be sniffing at a tree.
Gizmo
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Tagged: Angelina Jolie, dog, Gizmo, Jennifer Aniston
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced the 12 finalists for the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Under WTTC’s stewardship since 2003, the prestigious Awards recognise best practice in sustainable tourism in four different categories – Destination Stewardship, Conservation, Community Benefit and Global Tourism Business. Over 160 entries were received this year from over 45 countries.
The 12 finalists were selected by an international team of independent judges in each of the four award categories for having successfully demonstrated sustainable tourism practices, including the protection of natural and cultural heritage, social and economic benefits to local people, and environmentally friendly operations. The 2010 Finalists are:
Destination Stewardship Award
- Botswana Tourism Board, Botswana – www.botswanatourism.co.bw
- Ministry of Tourism, Montenegro – www.montenegro.travel
- Mount Huangshan Scenic Site, China – www.chinahuangshan.gov.cn
Conservation Award
- Emirates Hotels & Resorts, UAE – www.emirateshotelsresorts.com
- Inkaterra Perú SAC, Peru – www.inkaterra.com
- Singita Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania – www.singita.com
Community Benefit Award
- Namibia’s Communal Conservancy Tourism Sector / NACSO, Namibia – www.nasco.org.na
- Tourindia, India – www.tourindiakerala.com
- Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd, New Zealand – www.whalewatch.co.nz
Global Tourism Business Award
- Accor, France & Global – www.accor.com
- Banyan Tree Holdings, Singapore & Global – www.banyantree.com
- Wilderness Safaris, South Africa & Global – www.wilderness-safaris.com
Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges said: “The travel and tourism industry is at a critical crossroads, not because of the global economic recession, but rather, as more travel companies and destinations understand that a paradigm shift is underway, where addressing social and environmental issues is an important part of business success. Sustainable practices have become a new measure of quality service, and the excellent Award entries we received this year in all categories support this. Our 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow finalists represent that new reality in action, where good stewardship is now good business.”
“It’s great to see that, despite these difficult times, we have received so many outstanding applications from organisations committed to sustainable tourism development,” said Jean-Claude Baumgarten, WTTC’s President & CEO, on announcing the 12 finalists. “This augurs really well for the future of the industry.”
The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards can be viewed on YouTube.
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Tagged: 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, Accor, Banyan Tree Holdings, Botswana Tourism Board, Emirates Hotels and Resorts, Inkaterra Perú SAC, Montenegro Ministry of Tourism, Mount Huangshan Scenic Site, The World Travel and Tourism Council, Tourindia, Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd, Wilderness Safaris
Prageeth Eknaligoda / Image via lankanewsweb.com
“The Sri Lankan leadership appears to have only a slim grasp on the concept of democracy,” said CJA President Hassan Shahriar. “So let me, as a representative of journalists across the Commonwealth, state the obvious: any government that subjects its independent news media to such violent and arbitrary actions has no right to call itself democratic. Sri Lanka doesn’t even come close to adhering to the most basic principles of the Commonwealth or, for that matter, of basic human rights.”
Shahriar urged Commonwealth leaders to use all the influence at their disposal to reverse this “vicious” trend.
“A government that has zero tolerance for criticism is a government that lusts for power for power’s sake,” he added. “If Sri Lanka’s efforts to ingratiate itself with the Commonwealth are to be taken remotely seriously, then Commonwealth leaders need to speak as one in condemning this appalling state of affairs.”
The ugly and oppressive actions make a joke of President Mahinda Rajapaksan’s offer to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – an offer that was wisely shelved, though not yet rejected, by Commonwealth leaders at their Trinidad and Tobago summit.
Shahriar also sent heartfelt wishes to Prageeth Eknaligoda’s wife Sandhya and the couple’s two sons.
“We can only imagine the agony you and your family are suffering,” he said. “Everyone in the Commonwealth journalists family are praying for your husband’s safe return.”
In urging the Commonwealth to pressure the Sri Lankan government on the issue of press freedom and the safety of journalists, the CJA president also endorsed the following statement from five Sri Lankan media groups – SLWJA, FMETU, SLMMF, SLTJA, and FMM.
These incidents show clearly that media suppression is on the increase in the post-election period. These developments will hamper any informed discussion on the aftermath of the presidential election and the malpractices reported. The result will be the violation of people’s right to information. This in turn will seriously limit people’s ability to make informed judgments on political developments. We would like to reiterate that in the light of the parliamentary election due in a few months time, it is all the more necessary to re-establish our people’s right to information without delay by making the media environment free.
In this context, considering that press freedom as the expression of people’s right to information and freedom of speech, we, the five media organizations in Sri Lanka earnestly urge all democratic forces in the country, diplomatic corps in Sri Lanka, United Nations, International human rights, press freedom, and journalists safety organizations to use their good offices to ensure that government of Sri Lanka stop the media suppression and create a free and democratic post election environment.
Sri Lankan media groups have condemned the forced suspension of a pro-opposition newspaper, Lanka, and the arrest of its editor and the apparent shutting down – however temporarily – of lankaenews.com, the website to which Prageeth contributes.
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Tagged: CJA, Hassan Shahriar, Human Rights, Prageeth Eknaligoda, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, The Caribbean, The Commonwealth Journalists Association, The Commonwealth of Nations, Trinidad & Tobago
The Thai Government and Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), as well as the private sector, cooperated together in transporting 100 tons of Thai rice on a THAI freighter aircraft to Haiti. The humanitarian donation of Thai rice will benefit the people of Haiti who have been affected by severe earthquake. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of Thailand, presided over the donation ceremony witnessed by representatives from the government and various organization in the ramp area of THAI Air Cargo, Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Mr. Piyasvasti Amranand, THAI President, said that transporting 100 tons of Thai jasmine rice from the government of Thailand to the Republic of Haiti was possible due to cooperation from the government and various organizations, in order to provide assistance as quickly as possible. THAI Limited provided relief aid by conducting a humanitarian freighter flight to transport the rice to the Republic of Haiti, at a flight time of 36 hours on the route. A transport by ship would take approximately 5 to 6 weeks to travel from Bangkok to Haiti, and it was decided through the initiative of the Thai government, THAI, and various organizations, to expedite the humanitarian relief. In particular, the donation of Thai rice reflects on Thailand’s national identity as a country that is known as a “world kitchen” and one the world’s largest sources of rice production.
The aircraft utilized in transporting the rice from Thailand to Haiti is a THAI cargo freighter Boeing 747-300F. The freighter flight departed from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday, February 1, 2010 at 1400 hours, with refueling at Incheon Airport in Korea; Anchorage, Alaska; and Miami, Florida in the United States of America, and arrival at Port au Prince Airport in the Republic of Haiti on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 0800 hours (local time).
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Tagged: Abhisit Vejjajiva, Haiti Earthquake, Piyasvasti Amranand, relief effort, rice, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, Thailand, The Americas
Govia
They buried her in St. Paul’s next to my Grandparents. It was a sad day for all of us.
My aunt was the person who raised me. She took her strong hands when I was a baby, and shaped this lump of clay into what I became.
My aunt was a stern woman and sometimes she was cruel…
Go tell her how much I love her. She would not believe that love could last past three decades. The hands that molded this lump of clay are now dust itself. It is settled there in St. Paul’s where breadfruit trees grow tall and people are resilient.
Go tell her how much I love her. The ghost of her being still walks the streets of St. Paul’s. She walks there with my father. He was buried in the same plot of earth next to our Grandparents.
Go tell my aunt how much I love her. Tell her how far our name has travelled. Tell her about the millions of people between us…
Go tell my aunt I long to see her face.
Go tell my aunt I love her.
Go tell my aunt I love her.
Tell my aunt I am still her native son.
Tell my aunt that I long to see the beautiful sunsets in St. Kitts.
Tell my aunt I miss New Street.
Tell my aunt I miss the lovely beaches and the clear blue sea.
Tell my aunt I miss hearing the bells ring at St. George’s Anglican Church.
Tell her I miss cricket at Warner’s Park, and soccer on Sunday afternoon.
Tell her I miss the long treks up Mt. Liamuiga, and the views of the Caribbean from Brimstone Hill.
Tell my aunt I miss my people.
Go tell my aunt I love her.
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Tagged: Caribbean Authors, Go Tell Her, Govia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Paul's
Govia
When Jesus walked on water it was winter. The surface was so cold a man could drive a truck across it.
I do not believe a man is my savior. I know I am responsible for my sins; and only my good works will save me.
I do not believe in three. I believe in one. That there is a God who formed the moon and the stars, and that I am his experiment.
I am tossed in this bowl with other ingredients for his cake — provoked to perfection or less.
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Agoda.com, a leading Asia-based hotel booking site and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline.com, is ramping up the romance this Valentine’s Day with an array of seductive room rates for couples wanting to plan something extra-special this February 14. Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, presenting the perfect opportunity for lovers to take a romantic weekend break.
Valentine’s Day gained popularity in the late 18th century when courting couples would write sonnets and love notes to each other. In the west, the tradition continues in the form of Valentine’s Day cards, roses and candle-lit dinners. In Japan, Valentine’s Day is celebrated differently. On February 14, women are expected to give chocolates to all the important men in their life, including colleagues and friends – the best chocolates given to the men they love most. Their special guy will – hopefully – reciprocate the act a month later on White Day, March 14, with gifts of marshmallows, white chocolate, and jewelry. In South Korea, a similar exchange of gifts occurs, followed up on April 14 by Black Day, when singles who received nothing from the previous events congregate to eat black noodles and mourn the state of their love life.
With more than 103,000 hotels listed worldwide, Agoda is offering special rates for couples and singles alike, announcing its Top Five Romantic Getaways and Top Five Hot Spots for Singles this Valentine’s Day.
AGODA’S TOP FIVE ROMANTIC GETAWAYS
Royal Pita Maha Hotel, Ubud, Bali – Rates as low as US$319 per night. Nestled in the Ubud Valley, these luxurious Balinese villas help put romance into overdrive. The resort offers a full range of activities, including spa treatments, fruit carving, and dance classes for guests who can tear themselves away from their super-sized, linen-draped canopy bed.
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE – Rates from US$488 per night, including breakfast. This fort-like structure in the Liwa Desert is the best place to enjoy a few romantic Arabian nights. Couples can stay ensconced in their luxury villa or embark upon twilight camel rides through the dunes. After a Bedouin-influenced dinner, lovers can retreat to their private terraces to survey the stars.
Sofitel Palais Jamai Fes Hotel, Fez, Morocco – One night for as little as US$198. There’s something about Moorish architecture that fires off the brain’s romance receptors, and this 19th century former palace, with its intricate mosaics and meticulously-restored interiors, is no exception. Soirees on the roof terrace with views of Fez’s medina are particularly enchanting.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives – Super Special Offer: 70 percent discount on Pool Villas and Water Villas at US$480 per night. This lavish property has all the ingredients for romance: luxury, privacy, and a heavenly setting off the Adu Atoll. Guests can choose from stilted bungalows over the water, private pool villas, and intimate tree houses – all with oversized tubs and far-reaching views over the Andaman Sea.
Romanico Palace Hotel, Rome – Stay 3 nights for 10 percent discount, from US$220 per night. Wall frescoes and period furniture give this city center hotel a touch of la dolce vita – “the sweet life.” A rooftop terrace provides city-wide vistas and on-street level visitors are a short walk from the famous Via Veneto.
AGODA’S HOT SPOTS FOR SINGLES
Palms Casino and Resort, Las Vegas, USA – Hot rates from US$125 per night. While Vegas might specialize in shotgun weddings, the city is also the perfect place for the unattached to paint the town red. “Palms” delivers the ultimate Vegas fantasy with themed party suites, a massive nightclub, Turkish baths, and 95,000 square feet of gaming.
Eurostars BCN Design, Barcelona, Spain – Rates from US$550 per night. Barcelona simply doesn’t tolerate sullen travelers – to fully appreciate the city, visitors must immerse themselves in the passionate Catalan culture. The Eurostars BCN Design is a few minutes’ walk from the buzz of Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas, the vibrant heart of Barcelona.
Fresh Hotel, Athens, Greece – Rate from US$180 per night, breakfast included. The beauty of Athens and its culture is a constant draw for romantics from around the world. The city sets a fast pace and the Greek’s Olympian approach to partying is best witnessed from the hip suburb of Kifissia, where this hotel and many clubs and lounge cafés are situated.
The b Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan – Rates from as low as US$168. A short cab ride from Roppongi – Tokyo’s premier party district – this affordable hotel is nestled in a prime spot for single travelers. Mega malls, nightclubs, karaoke bars, and restaurants draw a lively international set, many of whom have no intention of going home before sunrise.
Art Series The Cullen Hotel, Melbourne, Australia – 10 percent discount, rates from US$235. This boutique hotel in Melbourne’s ultra-fashionable South Yarra/Prahran area is surrounded by hip bars, swanky restaurants, and cool shops where visitors can rub shoulders with celebrities and meet like-minded trendsetters.
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Tagged: Abu Dhabi, Agoda, Australia, Bali, Barcelona, Greece, Hospitality Industry, Hotels, Las Vegas, Maldives, Morocco, Rome, Travel, Valentine's Day bargains
Govia
We hardly ever used the coasters. They stood on the cabinet as ornaments.
It was more fun as children to pour the drink into a glass and swallow it down with a large gulp.
We did not believe that the coasters would be used to harm us. They were so pretty with the puppies painted on to them.
That all changed the night we fell asleep at the living room table with our schoolbooks under our faces.
Nobody heard the footsteps of my aunt as she entered the space, but we were startled from our sleep by a piercing wail.
It was at that moment I saw the hand of my aunt using a coaster like a weapon to smash the head of my sister until blood came streaming from a wound down the side of her face.
And sullenly, we went back to reading our school books.
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Tagged: Caribbean Authors, Govia, Growing Pains
What is the least crowded week to visit Disney World? Which websites help you find the cheapest airplane tickets? Where can you find true travel bargains? These are some of the answers you may find in “The Bargainomics: Money Management by the Book, which is written by Judy Woodward Bates.
Ms. Bates is affectionately known as “The Bargainomics Lady” to audiences everywhere through her books, conferences, personal appearances, and radio and television guest appearances, as well as her regular segments on Fox-6 TV in Birmingham. She writes about ferreting out travel bargains.
Her new book is full of practical advice for stretching your dollars for travel, entertaining, and shopping, among other topics. Its 255 pages pick up where Bates’ The Gospel Truth about Money Management left off: with 18 info-packed chapters of easy-to-implement ways to reduce spending and find the best bargains on practically anything.
Included are money-saving recipes, websites, and phone numbers for health care discounts and assistance, tips on understanding and improving credit scores, and more – all directing readers to top budget-minded sources.
A highly-sought speaker, Judy Woodward Bates shares her proven tactics for becoming a better money manager. Her books offer hope to readers that they can economize through the art of shopping for bargains – while still enjoying personal pampering and luxury travel.
Ms. Bates is the author of several books, including “The Gospel Truth about Money Management,” and “Blessedly Budgeted Women’s Events.” A freelance writer, speaker, and TV personality, her name has become synonymous with the practice of Biblical money management.
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Tagged: Blessedly Budgeted Women’s Events, books, Economics, Judy Woodward Bates, Money Management, The Bargainomics Lady, The Gospel Truth about Money Management, Travel
The Muffin Post
