Haitians drown as boat capsizes in Turks and Caicos

Tragedy continues to plague Haitians who attempt to flee their impoverished homeland in boats in search of a better life. Last week, a boat transporting some 150 Haitians capsized as it was being towed by Turks and Caicos police to a harbor. Reports are that thirty six people drowned, and more than forty are missing in the shark-infested waters. Seventy-eight Haitians were rescued and are being held in a detention camp at South Dock, in the Turks and Caicos.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are British territories just north of Haiti, and is a frequent destination for Haitians fleeing their homeland.

Reports from the Turks and Caicos are that the 30-foot sailboat which was extremely overcrowded had been intercepted about two miles south of Five Cays on Providenciales Island in the early hours on Friday, May 4. After being intercepted the vessel was being towed by the police to the island. The boats encountered rough seas and the one transporting the Haitians capsized. Although the Turks and Caicos police immediately tried to rescue the ill-fated passengers, many disappeared. Reports that several of the bodies recovered had shark bites all over them.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the call for assistance and sent a cutter that was already in the area to participate in search and rescue efforts. An HH-60 helicopter stationed in nearby Great Inagua, Bahamas, and a C-130 aircraft from Clearwater, Florida also assisted in the search for survivors.

The disaster was the seventh since 1999 involving boats carry Haitians fleeing that country. All of these resulted in lost of lives.

Florida primaries will be very early

Florida’s Legislature has passed a bill to hold the 2008 presidential primaries on January 29, which make the Florida primary among the earliest in the nation. Governor Crist is expected to approve the bill which will make Florida’s primary be six weeks earlier than the traditional mid-March date. However, the new date is not going down well in many circles.

For one, the electorate in South Carolina is upset because traditionally South Carolina is the first southern sate to hold presidential primaries. These primaries are scheduled for also scheduled for January 29, and February 2. In maintaining the tradition both parties in South Carolina could most likely move up the primary date. Iowa is also bent on keepings that state’s tradition as the first to hold the presidential primary and if other states keep pushing up their primary date it would not be surprising if the first primary is held in 2007, the first time that a primary would not be held in the election year.

The Florida Legislature is attempting to make Florida the state that sets a trend in the presidential nominations, and accordingly, the primary will be ahead those of two dozen states scheduled to have primaries on February 5. However, now that Florida has moved up its date, it is expected that some of these states will also move up their primaries.

This movement of dates will put significant pressure on candidates who now have to cover a number of states for the early primaries. With so many candidates in each party, an early, good showing will be critical. Accordingly, both parties have implemented harsh penalties to prevent states holding primaries prior to February 5. Under these penalties candidates could lose their delegates regardless of how well they do in the primaries. To avoid these sanctions the Florida Democratic Party is considering a post-February 5 caucus to pick the party’s delegates for the national presidential convention instead of relying on the state primary.

Florida insurance rates on hold until 2009

Floridians who insure with Citizens Property Insurance received some good news last week. The state-backed company has announced that there will be no rate increase for its clients before 2009. This rate freeze was part of a bill approved by the Florida Legislature. The bill also gives Citizens the right to compete with private insurers across the state.

Governor Crist says that he sees a more competitive Citizens insurance, as a means of lowering rates in the Florida. The intent is that with the competition from Citizens, private insurers would reduce their rates so as to prevent losing business to Citizens.

Under the new bill approved by the governor homeowners can now switch to Citizens if the premiums offered by private insurers are more than 15 percent higher than Citizens’ rates. Also, property owners with homes valued at more than $1 million can continue with Citizens coverage until January 1, 2009. Significantly, with this bill homeowners anywhere in the state can choose not to buy windstorm coverage.

Rift between Episcopalians and Anglicans widens

Archbishop Peter Akinola the powerful leader of the Nigerian Anglican Church is bent on expanding the network of conservative U.S. Anglican churches as an alternative to the more liberal Episcopalian Church. Last Saturday, Archbishop Akinola installed a bishop to lead the conservative church, he created. This was done despite the objections from the head of the Episcopal Church, Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori.

In a letter to Akinola, Jefferts told him that the installation of Martyn Minns, a former Episcopal clergyman as bishop and the U.S. leader of Akinola’s Convocation of Anglicans in North America, would violate the Anglican tradition that national churches leaders only minister to churches within their own provinces. However, Akinola had replied that the usual protocol and permissions were “No longer applicable” because of the “Unbiblical agenda” of the American church.

Anglican Church leaders and the U.S. Episcopalian church have had serious differences ever since the Episcopalians ordained a gay bishop in New Hampshire. The U.S. church was given until September 30 to rescind its support of gays, including the recognition of gay marriages. If the U.S. church persists with its practice it could lose membership in the 77 million Anglican Diocese.