CARIBBEAN TODAY ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC - Dominicans go to the polls on Dec. 18, with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit confident that his ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) will be returned to power for a new five-year term. "I am tonight ringing the bell...ladies and gentle- men, the day we shall choose between going for- ward and going back- ward...that day is Friday the 18th day of December 4 2009," Skerrit, 37, said 5 while addressing a political meeting in the western community of Mahaut last _ month, urging supporters to give his party an over- whelming mandate. The prime minister said 2010 would usher in a new era in Dominican politics, and called on supporters to "approach the new year with renewed vigor and enthusi- asm. "We need to clean the slate and start a fresh we need to rally around a common cause to take the beautiful country of ours to the next level," he said. The DLP won 12 seats in the last general elections, held INa IPrime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on May 5, 2005, while the main Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) won eight seats. The other seat was won by an independent candi- date. OPPOSITION Meanwhile, in an immedi- ate response to the announce- ment by the prime minister, the UWP Leader Ron Green, on a privately-owned radio station, appealed to voters to "build a new way forward" by removing the Skerrit adminis- tration from office. The UWP said it was preparing to contest all 21 seats at stake. Apart from the UWP, the governing party is expected to face a revitalized DFP, which controlled the government of this mountainous Caribbean island from 1980 until 1995, but failed to win a single seat in the last elections. The DLP and the DFP formed a coali- tion government after the 2000 general elections. Hotelier Judith Pestina, a former career local and inter- national public servant, is heading the party that was once led by the late Dame Eugenia Charles. She said the party would soon announce candidates for the elections. 0 POLITICS BRIEFS * Vincentians say no to new constitution The government of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves suf- fered a major setback after voters in St. Vincent and the Grenadines overwhelming rejected a new con- stitution in an historic referendum late last month. Preliminary figures released by the Elections Office showed the "No" vote totaled 29,019, com- pared to 22,493 people casting ballots in support of changing the 30-year old constitution. * Ruling party distances itself from 'Jagdeo Third Term' The ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has distanced itself from a campaign to get President Bharrat Jagdeo elected for a third consecutive term in Guyana. The campaign is being led by a group calling itself the "Guyanese Coalition for Jagdeo Third Term" (GCFJTT) and is urging citizens to support a referendum that would allow the president to stand for a third term when Guyanese go to the polls in 2011. Under the Guyana Constitution, presidents are limited to two-five year terms. * P.M. predicts 'clean sweep' in St. Kitts elections Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas is predicting a "clean sweep" of the seats up for grabs when voters in St. Kitts and Nevis go to the polls to elect a new govern- ment. In the last general elections, held Oct. 24, 2005, the St. Kitts Labour Party (SKNLP) won seven of the 15 seats in the Parliament. The main Opposition People's Action Movement (PAM) won a single seat. The prime minister, however, gave no indication as to when he would call the general elections due in 2010. - Compiled from CMC * Dominicans vote for a new government on Dec. 18 Geraldine Lauraine Haber DOB- 11/24/1980 5'8" 130 Ibs. LSW- white tank top wl pink poka dots & blue jeans On Saturday, June 6th, 2009 at approximately 5:45 a.m. West Palm Beach Police received a report of a deceased white female In the westbound lanes of traffic of 45th St. at the Intersection of Corporate Way. The female was later Identified as Geraldine Lauraine Haber. Haber appears to have been struck by a vehicle. At this time, the Traffic Homicide Unit is requesting any person with information concerning the accident or may have see Haber prior to the accident is asked to contact the investigators below. Those wishing remain anonymous may call Palm Beach Co. Crimestoppers @ 1-866-458-TIPS. Officer Karl Seifel (561) 822-1630 Detective Dennis Hardiman (561) 822-1666 OFM LN PCO7M MC SERENA STROKE - American star Serena Williams, the world's top female tennis player, tries her stroke with a cricket bat during a visit late last month to Barbados to play in an exhibition series with the world's fourth ranked Caroline Wozniacki. Williams, a right-handed tennis player, shows a left-handed batting stance. She received a commemorative bat from ICC World Twenty20 West Indies 2010 Corporate Communications Manager Gayle Alleyne at the Sugar Hill Tennis Resort. It features the tournament logo and an image of a batsman on the blade, plus the tournament tagline "Captivating, Contagious Cricket" along with her name "Serena" on the back. The ICC WT20 West Indies 2010 championship takes place in four Caribbean countries Barbados, Guyana, St. Kitts and St. Lucia from April 30 to May 16. 600 BANYAN BLVD. WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33401 '5s0i)2ntS October 9, 2009 TiPS LINE -86 33271,3 ROYAL WELCOME Britain's uueen Elizabetl II, right, stands witn Irinidad and lobago's Prime Minister Patrick Manning, center, and India's P.M. Dr. Manmohan Singh during the opening of the 21st Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad last month. OWEN TAYLOR Principal Agent 18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 648 Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157 305.232.8222 Fax 305.232.9334 Cell: 786.512.0174 otaylor@bellsouth.net December 2009 1-1 -