re: "Harsh. Very Harsh"

Charles Crawford at Blogoir ("A digital hybrid of blog and memoir presented on a daily basis, or not.") borrowed extensively from a Wall Street Journal piece.

His own comment(s):

"Apart from Belgium which ceased to exist long ago, no EU member state really wants to be subject to German intrusive control over its finances."

&

"Read the whole thing. Then run out and buy tinned food while the shops still operate."

9/20

S&S - Military to return ex-flight academy

From my archive of press clippings:

Stars and Stripes

Military to return ex-flight academy


Stars and Stripes

European edition, Sunday, February 21, 2010

The last vestiges of an American-sponsored school for NATO aviators in Belgium will be returned this year as part of the U.S. military drawdown in Europe, the Defense Department announced Friday.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Last summer, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Tactical Leadership School moved from Florennes Air Base, Belgium, to Los Llanos Air Base, Spain. The school had been located for 20 years at Florennes"

"The Belgium military is taking over the 10 empty buildings once used to support the school. They include aircraft hangars, briefing rooms, a dining facility and fitness center, according to the Belgian Ministry of Defense."

&

"Built in the early 1940s by the German military, the facility was used by the U.S. 9th Air Force during World War II to launch its bombers on German targets. The U.S. military deployed cruise missiles to Florennes in the 1980s, drawing the ire of some residents."

JG - Falmouth port gets nod from investors

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Gleaner

Falmouth port gets nod from investors

Published: Sunday April 26, 2009

ContributedThe latest rendering of the historic Falmouth port.


Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer


WESTERN BUREAU:


After months of trying to secure money for the construction of the island's cruise ship port in Falmouth, Trelawny, The Sunday Gleaner has been told that the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) is wrapping up debt-financing proposals from three international government banks.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The Export Import Bank of the United States Government, in addition to the Belgian and Danish governments, have shown keen interest in the US$250-million project, one of the port's developers, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) confirmed to The Sunday Gleaner at the just-concluded Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC) in Hamilton, Bermuda."

"Falmouth is one of three projects being developed by RCCL for a western Caribbean itinerary, which includes Labadde, a private destination in Haiti and Cozumel in Mexico. The cruise company, in its proposal to the Jamaican Government, has committed to bring in a minimum of 400,000 passengers annually for the next 20 years. An average cruise ship passenger spends US$105 per person per port."

&

"The project is broken down into two components: The marine works, which include the pier and terminal building; and the land side project "which will feature a variety of business entities to be housed in structures", including shops, entertainment and restaurants that mimic Georgian style architecture. It is understood that some of the work to be done by Royal Caribbean could include renovation of historic structures at Hampden Wharf and Tharpe House.""


_____



Janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

TTOI - Obama nominates Indian-American fundraiser as Belize envoy - Indians Abroad - World

From my archive of press clippings:

The Times of India


Obama nominates Indian-American fundraiser as Belize envoy

PTI 12 June 2009, 08:11am IST

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Friday nominated one of his eminent Indian-American bundler, Vinai K Thummalapally as the next American Ambassador to Belize.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Along with Thummalapally, Obama nominated two other bundlers with plum diplomatic posts, according to a White House announcement. They are former Virginia Lt Gov Don Beyer, a successful auto dealer who raised at least half a million dollars for his campaign, to be ambassador to Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Howard Gutman, a lawyer at Williams and Connolly who also raised more than $500,000, has been nominated to serve as ambassador to Belgium."

JG - The 'art' of diplomacy

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Gleaner

The 'art' of diplomacy

published: Sunday June 29, 2008

Photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
LEFT: Ambassador Madge Barrett peruses one of Ambassador Portocarero's pieces.
CENTRE: Joaquin Portocarero (right), one of the organisers of the Kingston On The Edge Urban Festival, coaxed dad, Herman Portocarero, Belgian ambassador to Jamaica, to show off his own art at an exhibition at Oakton Park.
RIGHT: Cindy Breakspeare-Bent (left) and Lois Lake-Sherwood, two of the island's more fashionable women, show us their glam once again at the exhibition. Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Who knew? That's the question a few persons were left asking after they viewed some of the artwork presented by Belgian Ambassador, Herman Portocarero. The ambassador hosted his first exhibition at the Jamaica Guild of Artists headquarters in Oakton Park.

Read the whole article here.