Virgin Atlantic is campaigning against the APD

UK airline Virgin Atlantic is to put a message on all its e-tickets criticising a planned hike in the UK's Air Passenger Duty(APD) airport departure tax.

Caribbean countries have been urging Britain not to implement the planned increases because they argue the move will hurt Caribbean tourism.

The proposed measures were also heavily criticised in the House of Commons last week by some Conservative MPs as well as Labour MP Diane Abbott.

Virgin Atlantic owner Richard Branson has described the tax as one of the most unjust taxes.

The message on Virgin e-tickets will ask passengers to visit a new website so they can protest to their local MP about the increases.

The APD rates are due to rise in November this year and again in November 2010.

Some of the steepest rises are on flights to the Caribbean.

NNP objects

Grenada’s opposition New National Party on Wednesday denounced the decision of the country’s Speaker of Parliament, who on Tuesday ordered the party’s leader out of the parliament.

The NNP described the action as unfair and unreasonable and said they were “deeply appalled”.

Speaker George McGuire took the action after asking Dr Mitchell for a statement, after the former prime minister spoke directly to Government members of the House instead of through the Speaker.

In a statement, the party claims that they have observed that “a concerted effort is being made to suppress the views of the opposition.”

It further states: “The action by the Speaker is further confirmation of the emerging trend which threatens democracy in the highest institution of the state.”
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Speaker McGuire declined to comment on the NNP statement, telling BBC Caribbean he preferred to address what was a parliamentary matter - in parliament.

TCI sued

A $16 million lawsuit has been slapped on the Turks and Caicos Islands government by a Miami company that arranged medical care for sick people from the TCI.

Southern Health Network says the government had stopped paying bills for the company's services.

The company had a contract with the islands to set up treatment, transportation and lodging for people needing US medical care.

Southern Health president Henry Givens said the payment problems began as political turmoil worsened earlier this year in the Turks and Caicos.

Turks and Caicos deputy premier and health minister Royal Robinson said he was aware of the lawsuit.

But he said the government had not yet been served with the legal papers.

Expenses claim

In Britain, a former head teacher accused of charging her school for a Caribbean holiday will have to wait until at least next month to discover her fate.

Susan Duncan is alleged to have made numerous false expenses claims towards trips to Antigua and Jamaica while employed at a school as head teacher.

A disciplinary panel considering her case failed to reach a decision after deliberating for almost five hours.

Ms Duncan is also accused of making claims for items including scuba gear, computer equipment and a handbag.

She argues that she travelled to the two islands with another former teacher as risk assessment visits for future school trips.

Failing to display arm bands

Two senior trade union officials were among three people arrested in Guyana today while picketing outside the country's police headquarters.

The General Secretary of the Caribbean Congress of Labour, Lincoln Lewis, and Acting General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Norris Witter, were protesting against extra-judicial killings, targeting of government critics and discrimination - allegations they've levelled at the police.

The other person arrested was rights campaigner Mark Benschop.

Police said the protest was illegal because the men were not wearing arm-bands labelled 'peaceful picket.'

They have been have charged with illegal procession, disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest.