A former premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands called on islanders Tuesday to resist Britain's imposition of direct rule in the territory following corruption claims.

Michael Misick, who is facing a criminal investigation, urged the 23,000 people on this island chain south of the Bahamas not to respect any laws or decisions made by the London-appointed governor.

"I also call on all TCIs to unite and fight against the occupation of the foreign invaders," Misick said in a statement released to the news media.

London put Governor Gordon Wetherell in charge of the islands and suspended the legislature last week after a panel appointed to look into corruption allegations found "clear signs of political amorality and immaturity and general administrative incompetence."

Investigators also called for criminal probes targeting five officials including Misick, who resigned in March.

In his statement, Misick calls Wetherell a "dictator" and says the takeover amounts to a coup d'etat.

Wetherell's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said many people in the territory support Wetherell's appointment.

New ferry service

Those seeking a new way to explore the eastern Caribbean islands might soon have another option.

A ferry slated to serve Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Grenada and St Vincent is expected to start operating daily by late October, according to Grenada-based BEDY Ocean Line.

Prices will range from US$120 to US$140, and some trips will last up to nearly four hours, CEO Benjamin Ross said Tuesday.

The announcement comes as travellers face pricier airline tickets, increased baggage restrictions and cancelled flights by regional carrier LIAT due to wage disputes.

One ferry will be based in St Vincent and serve Barbados and St Lucia, while another will operate out of Grenada and serve Trinidad and Barbados, Ross said. Between 260 to 300 seats will be available per ferry.

Passengers will be allowed to carry two 60-pound (27-kilogramme) suitcases without charge, and alcohol is prohibited on board.

In 2005, Barbadian company Remac Tours announced it would offer ferry service between Barbados and Guadeloupe, with stops in St Lucia, Dominica and Martinique.

But the service was never begun for internal reasons not related to costs or demand, CEO Reynold McClean said.

Currently, only a couple of ferries operate between Florida and the Bahamas and among Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.

Cuba to cut international call rates to US$1 per minute

Cuba says it is reducing international calling rates for residents with land lines to US$1 a minute.

Cuba's telecommunications monopoly, Etecsa, says the discount applies to all international calls through December 15.

Details of the promotion appeared on its website and were confirmed Monday by a company representative who did not provide his name.

Residential calls from Cuba had cost US$2.45 a minute to the United States and Canada, US$3.45 to Central America and US$5.85 to Europe.

Most Cubans don't have Internet access and cannot afford cell phones or computers.

Despite the cuts, international dialing remains a costly proposition for most Cubans whose average state wages are US$20 a month.

News of the offer hadn't been published by state media as of Monday. Etecsa said details about the plan will appear on residents' telephone bills.

Residents wanting to call abroad must first request activation of international calling service, the company said.

No reason was given for the discount. But Cuba is dealing with a severe economic crisis that has affected islanders and prompted the government to announce spending cuts for education and health care, two pillars of its communist system.

Three hurricanes last year caused more than $10 billion in damage. The global recession has cut export earnings and caused budget deficits to soar, leaving Cuba short of cash. The government's most recent forecast puts 2009 economic growth at 1.7 per cent, compared to a 6.0 per cent forecast made in December.

Etecsa said it will announce new international rates for cellphone users but provided no details. The government made private service available to all islanders in 2008. Cellphones previously were restricted to foreigners and Cubans with key state jobs.

- AP reports