CARIBBEAN CORNER

Compiled By Neil S. Friedman

from AP Newsfinder

U.S. Legislators Tour Vieques

VIEQUES, Puerto Rico — Six U.S. legislators toured the Puerto Rican island of Vieques on Sunday to see for themselves the Navy bombing range at the center of a dispute between Washington and the U.S. territory.

The legislators, all Democrats, landed in a helicopter at the observation post overlooking the range. Navy officers pointed out where planes make their bombing runs and where some protesters have been detained.

Officers also showed members of Congress where civilian security guard David Sanes was killed by errant bombs in 1999, an accident that touched off mass protests among Puerto Ricans frustrated with the Navy’s six decades of exercises.

"All of us understand military preparedness, training, is key," said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas. "I’d like to see them be able to train and not be in conflict with the people of Vieques."

Navy Rear Adm. Kevin Green, who accompanied the legislators, said the 1999 accident "is an argument for more training." Navy officials say they have installed a new radar system and established new procedures in an effort to prevent such mistakes in the future.

Migrants Die As Boat Overturns

ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands — Three people died when a boat carrying more than 20 illegal immigrants overturned Sunday in international waters near the British Virgin Islands while apparently trying to elude authorities.

The U.S. Coast Guard was searching for two people believed to be missing from the 25-foot (7.5-meter) fishing boat that overturned about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast of Virgin Gorda island, U.S. Coast Guard duty officer Tim Lavier said Sunday.

Crews rescued 20 survivors, who are to be turned over to U.S. immigration authorities. The boat had left French St. Martin and was apparently headed for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Lavier said.

The passengers on board were Colombian, Haitian, Mexican and Dominican. Two women and one man died, but officials have not confirmed their nationalities.

A Coast Guard patrol ship had spotted the boat around 1 a.m. Sunday and became suspicious because the passengers tried to crouch out of sight and the boat appeared to be evading the patrol ship, Lavier said. Then the boat slowed down and a wave came over the bow, causing it to overturn.

Sprinter Tests Positive For Steroids

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Sprinter Patrick Jarrett has tested positive for steroid use, but says he doesn’t know how it entered his system, the head of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association was quoted as saying in a newspaper Sunday.

Association president Patrick Anderson told the Observer newspaper Sunday that Jarrett had tested positive for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol after the National Championships here in June.

"He has denied knowledge of the substance and how it got into his system," Anderson was quoted as saying.

Officials were not available for comment Sunday because the association’s offices were closed.

The Jamaican association has informed the International Amateur Athletic Federation of its findings, Anderson was quoted as saying.

Jarrett, 23, is to have a tribunal hearing of the Jamaican association this week.