TURKS AND CAICOS

Turks premier addresses nation before testifying at British inquiry

Embattled Turks and Caicos Premier Michael Misick addressed his nation on Wednesday, just days before he is scheduled to give evidence in a British government inquiry into corruption allegations.

Rights group prods Obama to lift Cuba travel ban

A human rights group is asking President-elect Barack Obama to end immediately a ban on most American travel to Cuba.

OAS chief Insulza declines Chile presidential bid

A top Latin American diplomat says he won't run in an April presidential primary in his home country, Chile. Organization of American States chief José Miguel Insulza says instead of running, he is backing ex-President Eduardo Frei as a candidate.

Chile leader announces $4 billion anti-crisis plan

President Michelle Bachelet on Monday announced a $4 billion plan to help Chile fight the global economic crisis and create as many as 100,000 jobs.

BELIZE

Obama's election inspires blacks in Latin America

Dean Barrow doesn't look like the faces on his country's dollar bills. Nor does he resemble its previous leaders -- he is this Central American nation's first black prime minister.

EL SALVADOR

Salvadoran leftist leads presidential race

The left-wing candidate in the March presidential election has been leading in polls in a polarizing El Salvador campaign.

VENEZUELA

Attacks rise as Venezuelan term-limit vote looms

Supporters of Venezuela's Hugo Chávez are increasingly attacking opposition figures in the run-up to a vote on unlimited reelection.

A MANO LIMPIA

Raul Castro says Hugo Chavez is a talker

A smiling Cuban President Raúl Castro says he has "a problem" with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez because he talks for long. Castro says he turns down the volume on his TV when Chávez talks but then sometimes asks an assistant to write up a summary because the Venezuelan "says interesting things." Chávez looks solemn as Castro spoke.

Floridians urge Obama to ease Cuba policy

Florida congressional leaders are wasting no time asking President-elect Barack Obama to roll back hard-line Bush policies against Cuba.

Grenada PM welcomes apology for imprisonment

Grenada's prime minister said Monday he was gratified at receiving an apology for his two-year imprisonment under a leftist government.

Hugo Chávez: Relations with U.S. will improve with Obama

President Hugo Chávez says relations between Venezuela and the United States, now at their lowest point in years, can only improve after President Bush leaves the White House.

VENEZUELA

Students challenge Chávez term plan

Some student groups oppose President Hugo Chávez' push for a constitutional amendment that would let him stay in office indefinitely.

Caribbean views on human rights

Selected comments from the Caribbean region on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Chávez's rivals buoyed by recent election wins

Victories by President Hugo Chávez's opponents in recent elections could pose a growing threat to his power.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Puerto Rico governor promises changes

Republicans in Washington cheered when Luis G. Fortuņo, one of their own, was elected governor of Puerto Rico on Nov. 4. But here on the island, where American affiliations are often worn and dropped like accessories, he now describes his victory as Obamaesque. (May need to register)

Obama likely to delay overhaul of NAFTA

Barack Obama, who threatened during the presidential campaign to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement unless he could renegotiate it, may delay trying to rework the accord as he focuses on the U.S. economic crisis.

WORLD POLITICS REVIEW

Obama's Latin America policy must reflect 'new reality'

On the same day that American voters elected Barack Obama the 44th president of the United States, Bolivian President Evo Morales showed U.S. narcotics agents in his country the door. Morales gave the Drug Enforcement Agency three months to pack up and leave Bolivia, accusing DEA operatives of "political espionage" and inciting violence in the country.

THE MIAMI HERALD

Opinion: Last chance for Colombia trade pact

Obama, Democrats should support deal with close ally

TICO TIMES

Violence rocks Nicaragua after election

Following a day of political violence that swept across the capital and other parts of the country after both of the main candidates for mayor of Managua declared victory in Sunday's hotly contested municipal elections, Nicaragua's private sector leaders are calling for a nationwide recount with the help of international observers.