Volume 8 Issue 14

APRIL 6TH - APRIL 13TH, 2012

Page $1 1

VOLUME 8 No. 14

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Derek Browne says Interim Government ‘sinking’ TCI

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

At least one clergyman is calling for the return of former Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands Richard Tauwhare, to face questioning and possibly charges in the ongoing Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) corruption probe, since he was the chief overseer for government affairs during the Michael Misick administration.

Bishop Derek Browne, President for the Methodist Conference of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands and Pastor for the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Blue Hills, said that former governor Tauwhare was equally responsible for anything found to be untoward during the former Misick administration, and should be asked to answer to charges similar to those that his former cabinet colleagues were facing, which included corruption and money laundering.

“I have shared in the past, and I continue to share now that the situation that we are in now has not started with the British folk. For me, it started with the former administration, which included the Governor Richard Tauwhare. Richard Tauwhare needs to come back here or wherever to and answer in the same manner in which the local leaders are being called to respond to whatever charges.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

POLICE GETS ATV

SEE GSAT PRACTICE PAPER ON PAGE 20

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police was presented with an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) by the Zero Tolerance Committee and Crime Stoppers. The ATV was paraded to the media on Wednesday, April 4, along the Grace Bay Beach which it will be patrolling. The ATV is outfitted with medical equipment and, according to Head of Community Policing, Inspector Nigel Couch, the officers who will be manning the units are trained in first aid. From left are Constable Gloria Rigby, Constable Demetre Green and Inspector Nigel Couch.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

Derek Browne says Interim Government ‘sinking’ TCI ...Cont’d CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“He should be here because much of what went on went on either with his approval, or if it was any matter of being set up, he set up for others to do the dirty work.

But he was a part of what was going on, and we should not look at justice as being something which is one-sided.

Whatever is good for the local leaders must also be good for the leaders of Britain who are part of the administration here,” Browne charged.

Unimpressed by the leadership of the Interim Administration, Bishop Browne said that the church could not sit idly by and watch injustices run amok. He also called on the current leadership to change its style of governance from an autocratic one to one of plurality, since the people have a part to play in deciding how they should be governed.

“The Church is the conscience of the society; the church has to speak out against the dictatorship, and that kind of style. The church has to also speak out against things that would happen that are not in-keeping with the law. It is the church’s responsibility to speak out against injustice. But for me, we do not speak on hearsay.

“I have said that the current administration which is led by the governor, in many instances, they do what they feel like doing. They don’t consult, and much of what is happening, as far as I am concerned, is not for the benefit and the betterment of the Turks and Caicos Islands. As

Bishop Derek Browne

far as I am concerned, when I looked at certain things being done, it seems to be done with the intention of sinking the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Browne argued.

Bishop Browne pointed out that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands would come away with a different point of view of the Interim Administration, if, when considering to implement certain measures, they

would garner the input of the people, coupled with their ideas, to arrive at a bipartisan decision, instead of arbitrarily implementing their plans.

“What can give persons a different perspective is, if they would sit more frequently and discuss in an open way, and not come with preconceived ideas, because the Turks and Caicos Islands economy is not the economy of Britain, and you cannot run it in the same way.

“The whole matter of increasing taxes; you may have to increase taxes, but you must do it wisely and sensibly. And when you look at it, there has been an exodus outside of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and so, things have changed in many ways. Things are getting worst; persons are being laid off; and taxes are increasing in many instances. And so, where you would have had more people involved – for example, national health – now there is less. It was not sufficient when you had more people, what about now?” Browne asserted.

He added: The governor and his team, who seemed to have come having all the answers; I think they need to work with people; here their concerns and be objective. But they have come with a subjective view.

They already know what they are going to do, and it is sad. They have issues (in the UK) the same as we have here; they can’t fix them, but somehow, they have this bright idea that they can fix the things in the Turks and Caicos.

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APRIL 6TH - APRIL 13TH, 2012

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APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

British not serving the best interests of the Turks and Caicos Islands, says Lillian Boyce

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Former Deputy Premier Lillian Boyce says British direct rule was not in the best interest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, since they were not looking out for the benefit of the people of this country, but for themselves.

Therefore, she urged the young people to make themselves available for service to their country, so that the British would never again take what was rightfully theirs.

“Every one of our young people who have the ambition to enter politics, you should go forth and do it.

Go and serve your country. Make that important contribution, so that they (British) cannot keep on bringing in these old, lazy, good for nothing, baldheaded, grey haired British People, who are sleeping on the job.

You, Young people, who we are educated, take your position in our country because we certainly don’t need them to push papers,” Boyce said during a Progressive National Party rally on Friday night, March 30, at the

comparison between the two administrations.

“When we were the government, the PNP, and of course the PDMbecause I prefer to have an elected government any day than this British colonial party – we cared about education. Now, hundreds of children are on the streets not being educated.

Whether they are our nationality or whether they are our Caribbean brothers and sisters, it is important for our children, any children living our country, to be educated. Under an elected government, you know that we would educate our children from early childhood education to tertiary level.

We have thousands of educated people today because of the education policy that we, as a government, had,” Boyce said.

On the matter of investment, Lillian Boyce delivers her speak at the PNP Rally Boyce said that the former PNP PNP headquarters along Airport Road administration, through its policies, modernized the Turks and Caicos. She in Providenciales.

She said that the PNP trumped the said however, that the British Interim Administration on education Government was planning to decimate at all levels, the management of the all that was achieved.

“I sometimes wonder what would economy and human rights as a whole, and as such, there was no really happen if the international media would just take for a moment and find out what is happening in the Turks and Caicos. Many of you who had a piece of land to build your dream home or just to build a home, today you can’t even afford it. They have raised the price above affordability. Those of you whose children have finished college, the

community college or high school, at least three years ago are here unemployed,” she said.

Boyce also lamented the massive cut in the civil service, which she said was designed to leave many on the street jobless in a shrinking economy.

She charged that a number of locals who had been axed from the civil service were frustrated out of their jobs by the Interim Administration, who wanted to replace them with UK workers.

“We have Dr. Ewing here, and Sonia Williams, who used to be my undersecretary in Education (Ministry); we have many other Turks and Caicos Islanders, who spent their last day in the civil service today (Friday, March 30), simply because the Brits want to push them out to bring in their lazy, good for nothing people, to go up on Grace Bay Beach to cool out; to live in big time hotels and cool out on our beach.

“Of course we have some Turks and Caicos Islanders, who love to lick, lick, lick (sell-out their own at any cost), but I am happy that people like Dr. Ewing and Sonia Williams told them to ‘go to hell’; ‘give me my package’ or ‘I resign’; ‘I will definitely go and serve my country’, ” Boyce noted.

Boyce said that she was happy that the rally attracted not only PNP supporters but also PDM sympathizers. Among the members of the audience was the PDM’s Secretary General Ewonka Selver.

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LOCAL NEWS

Energy cost has serious ramifications for Turks and Caicos Islands

BY CLARENCE W. SELVER

I have noticed that a recent article “Governor Declines Fortis request for price hike” did not make the front page despite its implications for all who live and visit the Turks and Caicos Islands. Energy cost has serious ramifications for business and the economy as a whole. Too many things are happening simultaneously and important matters are being buried in rubble without consultation, reply or resistance.

I understand the nature of people in general; that they don’t like to speak in public. However you can cry in private and hopefully you cry to God because He is the only one who can hear a cry in private and reply in the appropriate manner.

We rely primarily on tourism to drive the economy at this time as new construction has been in decline or on hold for years. Governor Ric Todd is not being honest in his statement when he is reported to say “I have listened to the feedback of the people of the TCI who have made it clear to me that an increase in their utility charges will not be welcomed........”

This statement is credible because a review was conducted coming out of the utility companies request to hike the rates.

What was NOT a part of that discussion was the granting of further concessions to Fortis TCI to have the sole right to provide electricity to islands that were not a part of their agreement.

This was unnecessary because power is not being consumed on these islands because for the most

part they are uninhabited. A trade off of future profits from these islands in return for a deferral of a rate in crease until next year makes no sense.

If those islands were inhabited and Fortis was providing energy to them and did not have exclusive rights to do so, one could see how the action of the Governor could give Fortis some level of comfort in light of their investment on those islands.

Fortis has NO investment on those islands. A sensible government would have taken this opportunity to work out an arrangement in favour of the people. For instance, I would have: 1. Keep those island out of Fortis hand because the potential is still there for a major investment on East Caicos and the other islands such as Joe Grant’s Cay and Sail Rock even Ambergris Cay could have benefitted. Remember the East Caicos Cruise port project? That project was making cheaper, new generating technology a part of the project. In other words, there was going to be an alternative to Fortis or PPC. Concessions of these other islands were assets with monetary value. What is the long tern benefit that was exchanged with Fortis?

2. Negotiate with Fortis to make Government a shareholder of not less than 30 % of the Equity in Fortis in return for the concession over the islands of interest to them.

3. Not allow an Increase to ANY hotel at this time until the economy is more buoyant.

4. Make Fortis pay interest on Deposits that people are not likely to recover during their life

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

Turks and Caicos Sun Suite # 5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 946-8542/ (649) 241-1510 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com Read us online at www.suntci.com

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The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd. We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

time equal to the rate earned on saving accounts with commercial banks. Fortis charge interest for late payment on overdue bills while still holding deposits on the same accounts.

We have lost a golden opportunity to make better choices for the people. It is for reasons like these why we need our own people who are elected to make decision on behalf of the country.

e indignities that we suffer

BY PETER FORBES

On Friday (30 March 2012) hundreds of Government workers finally received letters formally confirming the interim regime’s acceptance of their requests for the severance package. Up until that point nothing was formalized and they were all in limbo, with no certainty that they were in fact leaving. If that seems like a trite observation, not everyone who applied for the package was accepted,

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN’S LETTERS POLICY

The Turks and Caicos SUN welcomes Letters to the Editor.

Letters containing libelous or defamatory charges, personal attacks or abusive language will not be considered for publication.

We would prefer letters of 500 words or less, and we will not print anonymous letters or letters tagged with initials.

All letters are subject to the final approval of the Publisher and Editor-inChief, who reserves the right to accept or reject submissions and to edit letters and headlines to meet our established standards for grammar, clarity and length.

and almost everyone who accepted the package do not have a job to go to today (Monday, 2 April, 2012). Most people got their confirmation letters around 2:38 pm on Friday, although it was dated 27th March 2012. That is formal notification of just 1 hour and 28 minutes before they were terminated!

I can’t imagine any better indication of the level of respect, gratitude, and compassion that the interim regime has for Government employees.

Neil Smith issued a press release quoting Patrick Boyle as saying that he has spoken to many Government workers over the last few weeks who “have told him about their new and exciting plans for the future.” That statement is a remarkable piece of spin on what is actually happening in these people’s lives.

I have a number of family members who accepted the severance package and Mr Boyle is full of manure. It is true that workers have embraced the severance package in droves, but that is only because the “carrot” was more appealing than the “stick”. The prospect of being forced out of the public service with NO job prospects but with a severance package was better than the prospect of being forced out of the public service with NO job prospects, NO savings, and NO severance package.

I understand that close to five hundred people left Government’s employment on Friday, and almost all of them are on the street today looking for jobs in an economy where tourism is the only activity and where resort managers, with a few exceptions, prefer to see Belongers making beds

than in upper management. If these individuals wish to establish their own businesses, providing services to tourists, they face the prospect of a growing number of resort operators that are offering meal plans, their own boating excursions, and that generally discourage guests from leaving their properties (and I am not only talking about the three all-inclusive resorts).

You only have to think back a few months to remember the email from Durliat, hypocritically threatening a local business for throwing an outdoor concert, when he did the same just a few days earlier. Durliat’s promise to the local business was that no guests from his resort would patronize that business. I give that example only to say that resort operators try to control their guests, and while most do refer them outside of the resort to the select establishments of friends, they are, in my opinion, unlikely to be sending them to the newly established businesses of what they see as fresh nosed former Government employees.

The most that Boyle should say is that these people are bravely making the best of a bad situation, but instead after urinating on us he prefers to tell us that it is raining. It is remarkable what indignities we are willing to endure before we take arms against this sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them.

•Editor’s note: Based on previous submissions by this author and a subsequent clarification, this Peter Forbes is apparently not the Peter Forbes who is employed by TCIG in the Aviation Department.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

No ‘white man can tell me when to resign’, says PNP leader Clayton Greene

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Stressing that “no white man can tell me when to resign”, leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP) Clayton Greene announced that the party’s National General Council (NGC) will convene a meeting at the end of May to choose a leader.

“There have been calls for my resignation, and I have been categorical that no white man can tell me when to resign as leader of the Progressive National Party. What is going to happen is this, by the end of May of this year I intend to ask the National General Congress to call a convention of this party, and at that convention we will determine the leadership of this party. And what will happen then is that we will elect a leader of the people’s choosing,” Greene declared.

Greene maintained that the British were on a mission to discredit as many former leaders as possible in their bid to destroy the PNP, and some members within the party had taken the bait.

“They changed our laws, beginning with the right to jury trial, and very few of us had the courage to say it was wrong. Around the middle of November of 2010, I publicly warned that what we were witnessing was a thin edge of the wedge. For whatever reason, too few of us saw that it would not affect us, so they didn’t care to speak out,” the attorney-at-law and former Speaker of the House of Assembly added.

“The thick edge of the wedge was

PNP Leader Clayton Greene

pushed down our throat when we saw changes to the Hearsay Laws and other laws, all to secure the convictions of Turks and Caicos Islanders. Again, too many of us remained silent because it did not affect us or, perhaps, that we were so confident that those who were being accused were guilty that we did not see the wrong in the British messing with our laws in the way that they were.”

Greene also lashed out at some Turks and Caicos Islands for what he described as ‘too judgmental, too arrogant and too self righteous’ to trust a system that he said had served the country for hundreds of years, but in which the people now lost confidence in. He also blasted some members of his party for not gelling together to resist some of the measures that the Interim Administration successfully

implemented, which he said was not in the best interest of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“We have failed to come together as a party and as a people and the result have been catastrophic. We have allowed the evil of one to dominate this country. One evil British man has brought this country from the heights of success to the pits of despair.

“I came to the leadership of this party with one goal and that was to ensure that we as PNPs never lose sight of our rich heritage, and to ensure that we, as Turks and Caicos Islanders, are not relegated to the back of the bus. We seek justice for Turks and Caicos Islanders who are outnumbered, and who, more than eve, are being crushed under the large and unforgiving foot of white greed,” Greene charged.

Greene, who became the chief of the party two years ago, was charged by the Helen Garlick-led Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) with two money laundering counts.

Since his charge, a number of persons, even some within his party, had been calling for his resignation, fearing that his staying on as head of the party could affect the party in future polls. However, Greene was unmoved so far, even though he had indicated prior to being charged that he would seriously consider whether or not to tender his resignation in the event that charges were laid against him.

The resignation crescendo increased when fellow party member and Queens Council attorney Carlos

Simons publicly made the call when he circulated an email to media houses and others he considered to have interest in the matter, including Greene. This resulted in a war of words among Simons, Greene and former Deputy Premier Royal Robinson, who sided with the party leader.

But Greene, at the meeting, signaled his intention to at least give others a chance to compete against him at the National General Congress– the highest decision making body in the party – next month.

According to Greene, the British looked at Turks and Caicos Islanders as mere statistics rather than human beings, which was the reason they had applied extreme draconian measures to the detriment of the people.

“We thought we were on our way in this country to eradicating poverty, but every day more and more of us are falling below the poverty line, and there is no justice, no safety and no caring government. If we are to realize the justice that we all seek, then we must come together as PNPs and as Turks and Caicos Islanders.

“Those of us who have the benefit of education, and in many cases, profession, must not remove ourselves from the masses of the people. We must fight for, and with them. The fact of the matter is that the little education that we have been blessed with had been, in many cases, paid for with the tax dollar of those same people. And we succeed in our professions and our businesses because they support us,” Greene added.

DONT BE A VICTIM OF CRIME

1. Stay alert: Keep your mind on your surroundings, who's in front of you and who's behind you.

2. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. If you feel uncomfortable in a situation, leave.

Page 8

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

British not serving the best interests of the Turks and Caicos Islands, says Lillian Boyce

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Former Deputy Premier Lillian Boyce says British direct rule was not in the best interest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, since they were not looking out for the benefit of the people of this country, but for themselves.

Therefore, she urged the young people to make themselves available for service to their country, so that the British would never again take what was rightfully theirs.

“Every one of our young people who have the ambition to enter politics, you should go forth and do it.

Go and serve your country. Make that important contribution, so that they (British) cannot keep on bringing in these old, lazy, good for nothing, baldheaded, grey haired British People, who are sleeping on the job.

You, Young people, who we are educated, take your position in our country because we certainly don’t need them to push papers,” Boyce said during a Progressive National Party rally on Friday night, March 30, at the

comparison between the two administrations.

“When we were the government, the PNP, and of course the PDMbecause I prefer to have an elected government any day than this British colonial party – we cared about education. Now, hundreds of children are on the streets not being educated.

Whether they are our nationality or whether they are our Caribbean brothers and sisters, it is important for our children, any children living our country, to be educated. Under an elected government, you know that we would educate our children from early childhood education to tertiary level.

We have thousands of educated people today because of the education policy that we, as a government, had,” Boyce said.

On the matter of investment, Lillian Boyce delivers her speak at the PNP Rally Boyce said that the former PNP PNP headquarters along Airport Road administration, through its policies, modernized the Turks and Caicos. She in Providenciales.

She said that the PNP trumped the said however, that the British Interim Administration on education Government was planning to decimate at all levels, the management of the all that was achieved.

“I sometimes wonder what would economy and human rights as a whole, and as such, there was no really happen if the international media would just take for a moment and find out what is happening in the Turks and Caicos. Many of you who had a piece of land to build your dream home or just to build a home, today you can’t even afford it. They have raised the price above affordability. Those of you whose children have finished college, the

community college or high school, at least three years ago are here unemployed,” she said.

Boyce also lamented the massive cut in the civil service, which she said was designed to leave many on the street jobless in a shrinking economy.

She charged that a number of locals who had been axed from the civil service were frustrated out of their jobs by the Interim Administration, who wanted to replace them with UK workers.

“We have Dr. Ewing here, and Sonia Williams, who used to be my undersecretary in Education (Ministry); we have many other Turks and Caicos Islanders, who spent their last day in the civil service today (Friday, March 30), simply because the Brits want to push them out to bring in their lazy, good for nothing people, to go up on Grace Bay Beach to cool out; to live in big time hotels and cool out on our beach.

“Of course we have some Turks and Caicos Islanders, who love to lick, lick, lick (sell-out their own at any cost), but I am happy that people like Dr. Ewing and Sonia Williams told them to ‘go to hell’; ‘give me my package’ or ‘I resign’; ‘I will definitely go and serve my country’, ” Boyce noted.

Boyce said that she was happy that the rally attracted not only PNP supporters but also PDM sympathizers. Among the members of the audience was the PDM’s Secretary General Ewonka Selver.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 9

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

UK officials visit raises early election hopes for PDM The two main political parties, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) and the Progressive National Party (PNP) have held discussions with members of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy on Thursday, to especially hammer out the final details of campaign financing which is one of the milestones set out by the United Kingdom Government before elections can be held.

After the talks, the two parties decided to work together to come up with recommendations for the document which is expected to go into law later this year. The Westminster delegation comprised Members of Parliament from the three major political parties in the United Kingdom.

The Foundation is being used to assist with the return to democracy in the TCI, working with the two major political parties to ensure accountability on the political periphery.

The talks and other developments in the political sphere made Derek Taylor, Leader of the PDM to believe that elections could be lurking around the corner, even indicating that local polls could be held by August 1, which is celebrated as Emancipation Day. “I feel that elections can be called

by August 1, because there are a number of things happening. By early April, there will be a voters’ registration taking place, where citizenship cards will be issued. This will be done jointly with the Immigration Department and the Election Office and will take about three

PDM Leader Derek Taylor (centre) is flanked by Deputy Leader Doug Parnell (left) and National Chairman Reuben Hall

months to cover registration.

“Simultaneously, the Election Office would be dealing with sensitizing, along the political parties, the general public of the requirements under the new Election Regulation and Legislation, so that is the reason I believe that election is in the air,” Taylor declared.

He added: “It would be gesture and a historic event, that the Turks and Caicos be returned to democracy during Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.”

Taylor said among the concerns raised by the parties during the meeting were: the overall campaigning financing ceiling; who would be able to make contributions to the parties; the total dynamics of the Turks and Caicos with

the changing of the political especially as it related to At Large constituencies; logistics of campaigning; and paraphernalia.

For his part, Deputy Leader Doug Parnell, informed members of the media that the PDM was relentless in its efforts to get the Westminster Foundation members to come here and hold talks

with political stakeholders.

“In February of last year we led a delegation to the Westminster Foundation’s office in London. In fact, we took two other members who are not members of the party, because we wanted to have a wider cross-section of represented, and we lobbied them to intervene from a political standpoint for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Westminster for Democracy has done that. So we are pleased that they did come.

“We believe that elected politicians will always have a better appreciation for a return to democracy than FCO civil servants and advisors. There seems to be a better appreciation from the delegation, which is made up of MP’s, for what we yearn to do, to represent the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and to advocate on their behalf. So, it stands to reason that they would be more sympathetic to some of the views that we would share,” Parnell declared.

Parnell added: “Now, our hope moving forward is that the new document that will govern how political parties raise money, how political parties spend money in the lead up to election, how political parties are registered, and the symbols and colours and all of the financial transactions that a party would engage in; we hope that the words that we have left with them would find their way into the new document.”

Government Vacancy

JOB TITLE: PLANT PROTECTION OFFICER

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: An exciting opportunity awaits you for the post of Plant Protection Officer in the Department of Agriculture. The incumbent in this position is responsible for providing technical support to the Chief Plant Protection Officer (CPPO). The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the development of the Agriculture Plant Health Program; conduct inspections of agriculture materials at air and seaports, plant nurseries, crop farms, farmers’ markets and any premises where plants are cultivated; as well as collect, store, and ship product samples for analysis based on international protocols and standards. He / She must treat infested plants and associated plant materials using chemicals sprays, fumigation; assist the CPPO at the Plant Quarantine Station; review Phytosanitary Certificates and Plant Import Permits; as well as contribute towards the development and implementation of guidelines and operational standards for Plant Health. The incumbent must work closely with the Management Team to conduct workshops, seminars and other educational programmes for key stakeholders for the Agriculture Department. Other duties include providing assistance and extension services to Crop and Livestock Farm Managers, conducting various treatments and remedial measures, such as disinfection, sterilization, methyl bromide fumigation, hot and cold-water treatments, irradiation of regulated articles for plant pests and diseases; as well as providing progress reports to the Chief Plant Protection Officer.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE A Diploma in Agriculture with at least five (5) years experience working in the field.

The position also requires a Diploma in Entomology. The successful candidate must be knowledgeable of WTO SPS Agreements; as well as be able to easily identify plant pests and diseases. He / She is also expected to have working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite Applications as well as possess excellent communication skills.

SALARY T28-T33 $28,512.00-$32,292.00 PER ANNUM For more information on the Job Description, please contact the Office of the Public Service Management Telephone 649-946-2801 Extension: 10318, Facsimile: 649946-1582, E-mail: recruitment@gov.tc . All resumes should be addressed to Mr. Mark Greenway, Director of the Human Resource Management Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Resumes must include applicants current contact information and be accompanied by two letters of reference and a police certificate. Serving Officers should apply through their Heads of Department.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20th April 2012 ONLY SUITABLE CANDIDATES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED

Page 10

LOCAL NEWS

APRIL 6TH - APRIL 13TH, 2012

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Dr. Rufus Ewing says he has a vision for an independent Turks and Caicos Islands

BY VIVIAN TYSON

Former head of the Civil Service Association Dr. Rufus Ewing delivered what many people, who attended the Progressive National Party (PNP) rally last Friday, March 30, at the party headquarters on Airport Road in Providenciales, described as a speech that would be normally be Page 10 delivered by someone who is a party leader.

Not only did Ewing blast the Interim Administration for what he insinuated was its ineptitude towards advancing the TCI, but unreeled a raft of plans that he said should return the Turks and Caicos Islands to prosperity and enhance the wellbeing for its people.

Ewing, who told The SUN last week that if and when current leader Clayton Greene stepped down he would join the leadership race, left no doubt in anybody’s mind at the meeting that he was campaigning for leadership of the party, and that total independence was his ultimate goal.

“I have 20/20 vision for an independent Turks and Caicos Islands. And we have achieved much in realizing this vision, but there is much left to be done to achieve our goals,” Ewing said, while warning that the road ahead would not be easy, but he was committed to preparing the people for the unforeseen challenges. “ I have a vision for our youth, who are well developed mentally, physically, spiritually and in good health, who have attained their true educational potential and are ready to accept the role of being model citizens of our country. I have a vision for a booming TCI economy that is environmentally friendly and sustainable with the majority, if not all

LOCAL NEWS

Turks and Caicos Islanders employed and are holders way of minimizing such ill was to ensuring that as of the majority of the top management and middle many Turks and Caicos Islanders as possible were management jobs, and successful business owners in equipped with a college education.

“One of the programmes that we have failed to this country of ours,” Ewing asserted. Ewing noted too, that under his watch, senior citizens would enjoy implement in the past is our vocational training their twilight years in the comfort of their wealth and programme. Different people have different abilities. not under distress, saying also that his plan was to Different people have different interest, and we have make the Turks and Caicos Islands a melting pot for to ensure that no one is lost along the way.

“We have to expand our programme so that we the present nationalities, while preserving the culture.

TURKScan ANDtake CAICOS SUN 13TH, interest 2012 those studentsAPRIL who6THhaveAPRIL different “I have a vision for a nation that would be truly in the practical areas that they can go straight from out of many one people, one in which our culture and heritage and national pride are magnified as we live high school into college and get a degree in whatever in harmony and unity. I have a vision of a politically field they want, be it carpentry, be it electronics, be it independent, prosperous and stable Turks and Caicos plumbing, they can get a degree in that field if they Islands, with democracy, justice, integrity and good want to,” Ewing stressed.

Ewing also decried that the existing situation governance are the order of the day,” Ewing affirmed. where it is said that a number of Turks and Caicos Ewing warned however, that the road to independence would not be placed on the fast lane; Islands were jobless while work permit holders were since the people would have to be prepared for such allowed to stay employed. He said that such a practice milestone, stressing that education would be the should be stopped.

Ewing also batted for the diversification of the forerunner. “We need to expand on early childhood education; that is where it begins - from the cradle. economy, so as to create far more employment.

“This economy needs to be diversified. We need We need to develop our programmes whereby we can diversification in the tourism sector. We need to see have our preschools where children can be properly assessed, to achieve their true potential; where our health tourism, ecotourism, educational tourism, kids would not be pushed aside and told that they sports tourism and events tourism. IT is not just well are mentally retarded. We need to encourage them enough to see people come to this country, come off to achieve and attain their true potential. We would American Airlines, go to their hotels, sleep in their expand and continue to practice our ‘no child left bed, eat at the hotel, do whatever activities the hotels behind’ policy, which honorable Lillian Boyce was do, and then back on the plane and away.

“We need to create services that bring the money famous for. We truly believe that every child that is a legal resident in this country should have access to from the hotel and bring out into the community, an education because you never know what they are and put money in the pockets of Turks and Caicos Islanders, because full hotel doesn’t mean we are going to become,” Ewing said.

On the matter of crime, Ewing stressed that one making any money,” Ewing stated.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Repairs to the causeway between North and Middle Caicos to start in June Bids for the repair and maintenance of the Caicos Causeway will be issued to prospective local contractors this week, it was announced by His Excellency Governor Ric Todd on his return to office on, Mon, 2 April 2012.

The Governor expressed his commitment to hastening the repair of the Causeway following his second visits to North and Middle Caicos earlier this year. In particular, residents raised the prospect of some improvement works being made in advance of this year’s hurricane season.

Tenders are being invited for a four month contract beginning in June 2012

which will see the following improvements made to the Caicos Causeway which was extensively damaged during Hurricanes Hanna and Ike in 2008: • Clearing concrete debris from causeway side slopes • Reinstalling rock armouring to Causeway side-slopes • Repairs to approach ramp to bridge deck • Construction of 30ft wide concrete box culvert • Filling and grading of roadway to 6ft above the low water mark • Installation of 4 solar powered street lights

• Removal of Casuarinas and planting of vegetation (mangroves) to stabilize the side slopes of the Causeway • Careful removal of limestone fill and exposed damaged geotextile waterproof membrane (which protects the Causeway’s foundations) • Repairing of damaged geotextile by sewing holes, seams etc • Refilling geotextile blanket with crushed limestone • Sewing seams to enclose crushed limestone “As the financial situation of the TCI Government continues to improve we can continue the process of better prioritising Government expenditure in

line with the people’s expectations,” said Governor Todd. “In this regard we have already seen repair works begin take place at the Ona Glinton School canteen in Grand Turk, and an extensive street light repair programme on Providenciales.

“Clearly the damage sustained by the Causeway during Hurricane Ike will require additional future works, including establishing a proper repair and maintenance programme, but this is an important and significant beginning to helping improve the lives of local people, businesses and the visitor experience when travelling between North and Middle Caicos too.”

WHATS IN THE BOX WINNER GETS PRIZE The ‘What’s in the Box’ Christmas campaign Winner, Roxanne Lewis-Jhun was presented with her prize of a trip for two to New York, during a special flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday, April 3, at the First Caribbean Round-a-bout in Providenciales.

The What’s in the Box Christmas Promotion is an initiative hatched by the Grace Bay Resorts Community Foundation, telecoms company LIME and CIBC First Caribbean.

During the presentation ceremony, Brenda Clare, of Grace Bay Resorts, highlighted her company’s commitment to education citing its adoption of schools on South Caicos, North Caicos, Middle Caicos and Providenciales. The Flag was raised by Kavon Hamilton of the Ianthe Pratt Primary – one of the schools that the entity adopted. LewisJhun, after receiving her prize said the she was happy to be the winner of the competition, and that she planned to make the most of her trip.

Lewis Jhun (right) is seen accepting her prize from Brenda Clare

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LOCAL LOCAL NEWS NEWS

JANUARY 13THAND - JANUARY TURKS & CAICOS SUN TURKS CAICOS20TH, SUN 2012 APRIL 6THAPRIL 13TH, 2012

TCI to host historic Caribbean Methodist Conference

BY VIVIAN TYSON SENIOR SUN EDITOR

The Island of Grand Turk is expect to be buzzing with excitement between May 23 and 31, when, for the first time in its history, the Turks and Caicos will be hosting the Methodist Connexional Conference, which is a gathering of leaders representing the eight conferences within the Caribbean area.

The Methodist Connexional Conference is in its 37th year of staging.

Bishop Derek Browne, President for the Methodist Conference of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands and Pastor for the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Blue Hills, who announced the occasion at a news conference at the Blue Hills church last week, said that the event will coincided with the 200th year of the Conference of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, which began back in 1812.

He said that eight districts that will be meeting in the TCI comprised of: Belize/Honduras; Panama/ Costa Rica; Guyana; Jamaica; Haiti; Leeward Islands; and Bahamas/Turks and Caicos Islands. He said each district will be represented by ministerial representatives as well as the laity.

“We are going to be bringing together the leaders of the church from those areas, and also there is going to be the officers of the Connexional Conference, which is the president and the

secretary Dr. George Mulrain and Rev. Otto Wade’; and other ministerial officers. And then you have the vice president, Mr. Randall Robinson, and Mr. Theodore Foy. With these, will be representatives of the British Church – a minister and a lay delegate. There is going to be a minister and lay delegate from the United Methodist Church and representative from the United Church of Canada, “Bishop Browne revealed.

After arriving on May 22, the ministers will be expected to engage in a ministerial session on May 23. The opening ceremony and official welcome, which is scheduled for May 25, will include a flagraising ceremony, which for the first time will be a Turks and Caicos flag. In addition to the Methodist flag, It was always customary that only flag in which the president resided - which always been the Bahamas – would be raised.

Now that Bishop Browne was the president, the TCI flag would be raised at the conference.

However, Bishop Browne pointed out that since the TCI would be hosting the historic it would also hoist the Bahamas flag as well.

He said that following the official opening of the conference, they would go into sessions, to discuss the issues that were affecting the church throughout the region. The highlight of the conference, he said, will be the induction of Rev. Otto Wade as new Connexional President.

The TCI’s very own, Rev. Julia Williams, was

also expected to be ordained. The event will close with the induction of the Vice President, Peggy Smith, who is from the Leeward Islands.

There will also be a memorial service for all of the ministers who have died for over the past three years that the triennial conference last met. “We are happy to be the hosts, and so, we are looking forward to this event. As a conference (Bahamas/ Turks and Caicos), we are currently in a heritage year where we are celebrating our bicentennial –our two hundredth annual meeting of our conference, which began in 1812 in Rock Sound, Eleuthetra in the Bahamas. We therefore held in January of this year, 2012, our 200th annual session of the conference, and this was an awesome time of fellowship, of services of our meetings,” Bishop Browne said. In the meantime, Bishop Browne said that the Methodist Church in Blue Hills had begun its fundraising campaign to reconstruct the building which was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008. The fundraisers included concerts and other endeavours. He noted that following Ike they recognized that the building was poorly constructed and needed to be demolished in a hurry for fear of it collapsing on persons. “We are seeking whatever help we can get. We don’t have any godfathers within the church; we are looking to God to help us, and for other persons who will be able to help us in building the new sanctuary, to the glory of God,” Bishop Browne said.

Norman Sunders pushing for self rule

Chairman for the Progressive National Party (PNP) Norman Saunders Sr., has declared that the Turks and Caicos has had enough of its decisions being made externally and is therefore calling for the people of the country to prepare for the process of self determination, since that was the only avenue through which the country can manage its affairs effectively.

Saunders, who was speaking at a PNP rally on Saturday, March 30, at the party’s headquarters on Airport Road in Providenciales, said that the current situation in the TCI was

reminiscent of the period 1972 to 1976, when there was no ministerial government and the people were treated with scant regard.

“I want you to know that the members of the House of Assembly or the Legislative Assembly, or whatever it was called, felt as strongly as you feel today that the time had come when Turks and Caicos Islanders had to make decisions in their own interest.

“No longer should the country be led from outside and that people different from us should be setting the pace for our development. I don’t want to get into the bad times when

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you couldn’t get scholarships, or Interim Administration was seeking if you got scholarships, it was only through the courts, Saunders warned: for nursing and teaching…nothing “ If they do so, then there are hundreds else. Nobody wanted development, of Turks and Caicos Islanders who because they wanted the country to are prepared to die in the process. stay poor and humble, so that others And if they come through the dead could enjoy it,” Saunders said. of the night and break it down, as I He said at that time the members hear they have intentions of doing, of the house, who were determined somebody is going to pay the price.” to change the status quo, heaped Saunders conceded that mistakes pressure on the powers that be, and and negligent actions took place was successful to have a change in during the last administration, and constitution, and election was held that the party had owed money on for the first time in 1976, even though the building, but nonetheless, the the PNP, which was then the PNO structure should not be torn down, (Progressive National Organisation) but rather, the authorities should did not win. allow the party to clear its debts.

In the meantime, Saunders said “That is what fairness dictates. It that there were, what he described as doesn’t affect anybody for the PNP ‘foreign powers’ working to scrub the to continue with its building; pay the PNP into oblivion.

Government for the grounds and let “They would like to know that us go on,” he urged. the PNP’s name is never called again, Saunders also rubbished remarks but let me say it to anyone who want by Attorney General Huw Shepheard, to hear it, that the PNP will never die. who said he acting on behalf of the This generation of PNP’s will die people in that regard. and go, but another one will come “I would like to tell the attorney up bigger and stronger across the general that the PNP consist of more length and breadth of the Turks and than half of the People of the Turks Caicos Islands. So let no Englishman, and Caicos Islands, so on whose let no German, and let nobody be behalf is he taking this? The PNP is misinformed or have wrong ideas. an organized party. They represent at We are here, and we are here to stay. least 50 percent of the people – no Hell will not move us; no power will less. And I am sure that a number move us,” Saunders asserted. of PDMs who are saying the PNP Turning to the planned demolition should be allowed to keep the of the PNP headquarters that the building,” Saunders said.

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TURKS&AND CAICOS APRIL APRIL 13TH, 2012 TURKS CAICOS SUN SUN MARCH 23RD6TH- MARCH 30TH, 2012

Police get new ATV

By Vivian Tyson SENIOR SUN EDITOR

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police unveiled one of two new All Terrain Vehicles (ATV) that will be used to patrol the Grace Bay Beach with the intention of not only thwarting criminal activities along that strip but also to engage in rescue and first aid operations.

The ATV, which was donated by the Zero Tolerance Committee, in conjunction with Crime Stoppers, should enable the police’s patrolling job on that strip to be much more effective, and according to Inspector Nigel Couch, who heads the Community Policing Unit, beach-goers should be betters served with the acquisition of the vehicles.

“We will be using the ATV to patrol the beach and provide safety and security for everybody who uses the beach, and we will be using it as a tool to speak to tourist, speak to all the beach vendors and people who work in hotels; provide safety and security, and also educating the public as well about the dangers of the beach. We will also try and promote the TCI Police and the TCI as a safe destination to work and to play,” Couch said.

He pointed out also that in recent time there had been a number of medical emergencies on the beach, and with the ATV being equipped

Police ATV

with first aid apparatuses, lives can be saved. “There has been a number of medical emergencies, like any beach, and we are working closely at the moment with the emergency medical services – with the paramedics – trying to identify access points that we can assist to get them onto the beach and emergency quickly. The ATVs are going to be stocked with first aid; all the officers are first aid trained,” Couch revealed.

He said also that efforts to source other first aid devices to assist in land rescue were in gear, as well as devices such as megaphones, whistles and binoculars, to keep swimmers from danger.

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For her part, Woman Constable Melonda Robinson, one of the Community Policing Officers, who will be manning the ATVs, reiterated that their response time would be much quicker as opposed to foot patrol.

“I believe it would help us to access the beach better than when we are on foot patrol. We can respond to incidents on the beach faster that we can respond in vehicles and on foot patrol. It has also been a great addition to our department. We will also have EMT with us, just in the event that one of the tourists does go out and get into some problems, we can assist them as quickly as possible,” Robinson said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Brad Sullivan, who was on hand to witness the commissioning of the first ATV, stressed that the police hierarchy would be making every effort to ensuring that its officers received what was necessary to make them serve the public even better.

“This just gives us better accessibility to the beach to help the tourists and the businesses along the

LOCALNEWS NEWS LOCAL beach and the whole environment.

When we have somebody patrolling constantly on the beach, it is going to deal with a lot of issues in a very timely manner,” Commissioner Sullivan said.

In the meantime, Couch said that while the shelf life for an ATV is between two and three years, he and his officers were committed to ensuring that they remained in operation even longer, with frequent washing and application of rust proof solutions.

“One of the problems we had with the old ATVs was that they were not properly rust-sealed when they arrived. These are well sealed, including sealing within the pipes – they had been injected with sealant.

And in addition to the nightly cleaning, once a week they would be stripped down completely, power washed, dried and rubbed down as well. We have a sense of pride; the officers know it’s their baby, and we will all be responsible, including myself , to taking care of them,” Coach asserted.

NEW ATV COMMISSIONED: Police Constable Melonda Robinson sits on the newly commissioned ATV while colleagues in the Community Relations Unit (from left) Constable Gloria Rigby, Constable Demetre Green and Inspector Nigel Couch share in the photo opportunity moment.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

ADVERTISEMENT

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 15

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Ten TCI Top Model contestants selected

Contestant #1: Trinee Bethell, 2012 TCITM

Contestant #2: Washanda Registre, 2012 TCITM

Contestant #3: Frenica Wiliams, 2012 TCITM

Contestant #4: Aaliyha Bain, 2012 TCITM

Contestant #5: Taciana Bin-Amie, 2012 TCITM

Contestant #6: Lashanda Adams, 2012 TCITM

Contestant #7: Sheldlene Pubien, 2012 TCITM

Contestant #8: Breanna Johnson, 2012 TCITM

Contestant #9: Vielka Salvador, 2012 TCITM

Contestant #10: Vernessa Williams, 2012 TCITM

The 10 young ladies that will vie for the title of the 2012 TCI Top Model Contest have been selected, following a grueling selection exercise.

They are: Trinee Bethell , Wahanda Registre, Frenica Williams, Aaliyha Bain, Taciana Bin-Amie, Lashanda Adams, Sheldlene Pubien, Breanna Johnson, Vielka Salvador and Vernessa Forbes.

The hotly anticipated event is expected be more extravagant than before, with over ten thousand dollars (USD$10,000.00) in cash and prizes going to the winner, with press and publicity being immeasurable.

The most coveted prize for the 2012 TCI Top Model Contest winner is being named Digicel TCI Brand Ambassador for a year. The TCI Top Model will appear in all local television, print and billboard advertising campaigns, as well as making appearances at Digicel TCI events throughout her reign.

Additionally, the TCI Top Model winner will also be a cover model and appear in an editorial spread of the 2012 Summer Times of the Islands magazine and have a profile page their sister publication – Destination: Turks & Caicos 2013, along with appearing in the 2013 Discover: Turks & Caicos Islands magazine, among many other national and international publications.

As part of her prize package, the 2012 TCI Top Model will receive a postpaid Digicel TCI cellular phone for a year, round trip ticket to New York, USD$500.00 FirstCaribbean International Bank Savings account, weekend get-away to Parrot Cay, gift certificate to Spa Sanay, gift certificate from Jai’s, dinner for two to Gracie’s Cottage, one month’s membership to Rock It Hot Fitness, gift certificate from Wish Boutique, and a photo shoot with Brilliant

by Tropical Imaging Ltd. There will also a be a bevy of cash prizes and awards for contestants that place second and third runner’s up, along with consolation prizes for: industry readiness, best runway walk, best body, model’s portfolio folder, fashion forward, Radio Turks & Caicos (RTC) listeners choice award and the Facebook ‘like’ award. (The complete lists of prizes are below.)

On Saturday, April 14th the ten contestants will debut at our launch event - Infiniti Catwalk - being held at The Somerset Resort Infinity Pool, on Providenciales at 3PM. This year’s event will feature international designer Oyuna – who will showcase her 2012 Spring/Summer collection on the contestants. Infiniti Catwalk is expected to be a fabulous start to Carnivaé: Culture. Music. Fashion!

The actual TCI Top Model Contest will be held at the Williams Auditorium in Providenciales on Saturday, May 12th - seeing to the catwalk competition, guest appearances by Ashley Smith, 2010 TCI Top Model and Davia Chambers, 2009 TCI Supermodel, along with the Bowen Dance Academy, Leeward Heights, Mike Dizzo and other noted entertainers.

For more information call 649.347.7261 or visit www.tcitopmodel.com

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

Value Added Tax (VAT) in the Turks and Caicos Islands Frequently Asked Questions and Answers 1. Why is the Turks and Caicos introducing VAT?

2. What are the benefits expected from VAT in TCI?

a. Over the last two decades most countries have either been replacing their ineffective sales tax systems with a VAT or adding a VAT system to their revenue generating programme. In order to have an efficient tax system in countries without an income tax, it is necessary to rely on other tax mechanisms. In most cases the preferred choice is a regime of import duties, national social and health insurance, and a broad based VAT. b. In the case of the TCI a large portion of recurring revenues is generated from the tourism industry in the form of import duties, work permit fees and stamp duties from land transactions, which have fallen drastically during the current recession. The tax regime is filled with exemptions and concessions in one form or another which also reduces revenues. Introduction of VAT will widen the tax base and result in a more stable and predictable revenues on which to plan essential expenditure. c. VAT is operational in more than 140 countries worldwide and has been introduced in most of the Caribbean countries. Twelve out of fifteen CARICOM members and five out of seven OECS members have introduced VAT successfully in recent years. Saint Kitts and Nevis introduced VAT in November 2010. Most of countries in the Caribbean have a VAT rate between 15%-17.5%. a. The VAT would simplify and modernize the tax system in the Turks and Caicos Islands. VAT promotes growth as VAT paid on capital costs investments are recovered by the investor. Since VAT will apply to a wide range of services and have a much broader tax base, revenues to the TCIG will increase, thereby allowing the government to improve its fiscal position and invest in infrastructure and social development programmes. b. Compliance with tax payment responsibilities should improve because of the “self-policing” mechanism inherent in VAT administration. Invoices are required to verify VAT credits, so businesses will require invoices from their suppliers, providing documentation to support transactions.

3. Why is the TCI implementing VAT, which appears to be a relatively complex taxation mechanism as opposed to other taxation measures?

a. While there are complications associated with VAT operation and administration, it is not as complicated to administer as other taxes such as Personal or Corporate income taxes. b. Since VAT has recently been implemented in several countries with similar demographics, the TCI will benefit from their experience and be able to transition to VAT smoothly. c. As is the case in other countries who have introduced VAT, a long implementation period is required as part of a wide-ranging public education and awareness programs that will be undertaken.

4. What is a Value Added Tax?

a. Value Added Tax is a tax applied, at a predetermined rate, on the value of the good and/or service purchased. b. A Value Added Tax system is a multistage sales tax collected at each stage of the import, production and distribution process. Suppliers purchase and pay for inputs (raw materials, services, finished/unfinished goods, etc.) and use their capital and labor expertise/services to “add value” to the inputs (via processing, manufacturing, transporting, distributing, marketing etc.) and sell the output. The value of final good/ service is equal to the sum of the initial value and any value added along the production and distribution process. VAT is a tax on the total value of final good/service provided. c. VAT is a tax imposed on consumer purchases. Ultimately, investment will not be taxed under VAT. VAT is designed to ensure that almost all forms of consumer spending are taxed evenly and fairly.

5. How does VAT work?

a. VAT is paid on import at Customs by all importers and on almost all goods imported. b. Only suppliers, who produce goods and/or services valued over an annual threshold amount, will be registered to charge VAT on their sale of goods and/or services. c. These registered suppliers are called “Registrants”. d. Registrants will pay VAT on imports and other items such as utilities and items purchased from other registrants. e. Registrants will charge and collect VAT from purchasers, along the distribution chain. f. Registrants will forward to the government VAT charged and collected from purchasers. g. However, any VAT paid on inputs by registrants is deducted from the VAT charged to purchasers and only the difference is paid to the government. h. VAT is similar to a retail sales tax. However, retail sales tax is usually applied only at the final retail level. VAT will be applied on the value added to goods/services, at each stage of the production and distribution chain. This eliminates the prospects of taxes being paid on taxes that were already paid (cascading taxes are eliminated). i. VAT is included in the final price the consumer pays for goods and services.

6. What is Value Added?

a. The "value added" is the value added to the final product from import to sale. The value added will include the value of inputs such as labour, overhead, transportation and mark-up. For example let’s assume a 10% VAT rate. If a registered furniture manufacturer purchases lumber for $110 ($100+$10 VAT) and builds a table which is sold for $165 ($150+$15 VAT), the value added is $50. b. The registrant would charge VAT at the prescribed rate based on the selling price of the table. c. Any VAT which the registrant paid when purchasing the lumber ($10) would be deducted from the VAT collected from the purchaser ($15) on the sale of the table. Only the difference ($5) would be paid directly to the government.

7. Will all suppliers charge VAT a.

Only suppliers, who produce goods and/or services valued greater than a predetermined annual threshold, will on goods/services sold? be registered to charge VAT on their sale of goods/services. b.

These registered suppliers are called “Registrants”. c.

Suppliers, under the threshold, will pay VAT on their imports and purchases from registrants, but will not be permitted to charge VAT on their goods/services sold d.

Registrants would be required to have their registration certificate clearly displayed at their place of business.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

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8. What will be the registration threshold?

a. In the TCI there will be a relatively small number of suppliers identified as “registrants”. b. The registration threshold in the TCI will be set sufficiently high so as to exclude smaller suppliers who would represent a disproportionate burden on the TCIG VAT administration, in comparison to the revenue generated. c. Small suppliers are large in number, but collectively would be responsible for relatively insignificant VAT revenue from their supply of goods/services. d. A study will be undertaken to establish the annual threshold, over which suppliers will be required to register, charge, collect and remit VAT.

9. Is it expected that unregistered suppliers will be in a better position as far as price is concerned since they will not be required to charge VAT on their sales of goods/services?

a. Actually most unregistered suppliers will be disadvantaged to a certain extent since they are unable to claim back any VAT that they paid on inputs. b. In addition, since they cannot charge VAT, their clients cannot claim back and VAT paid to them, so their clients will look for a registered supplier. c. In most cases unregistered suppliers will simply add any VAT they paid on to the price they charge for the goods/services provided.

10. How do consumers know if a supplier is registered to charge VAT?

a. All registrants must confirm their eligibility to charge VAT by displaying their VAT registration certificate for public viewing. b. If a supplier does not openly display their certificate then they are not permitted to charge VAT on their sale of goods/services. c. All receipts issued by VAT registrants must also display their VAT registration number and clearly identify the amount of VAT charged in the transaction.

11. Will the introduction of VAT require the TCIG to introduce price controls?

a. One of the many concerns regarding VAT is the issue of price controls. Some consumers feel the need for government to control the prices of goods and services in order to ensure that they are not taken advantage of. b. However, TCI operates in a free-market economy and the government prefers not dictate prices to suppliers.

Prices charged depend on competition, mark-up, which includes the costs incurred prior to the sale of the good/service and profit. c. The TCIG will not decide what mark-up suppliers should add to the cost of their goods/services. Consequently the consumers should be aware of matters such as these. Having done this, they will be in a stronger position to make informed decisions on where to purchase goods and services. d. TCIG is in the process of preparing a TCI consumer price index and will monitor prices in the economy which will be published a part of the effort better inform the public of price movements from time to time. An educated consumer tends to be a good defense against excessive price hikes.

12. When is TCIG considering introducing a VAT?

a. The TCIG is expected to introduce a VAT in April 2013

13. Would VAT replace any taxes?

a. Once VAT is introduced it will replace the Hotel/Restaurant (accommodation) tax, the Stamp Duty on Vehicle Hire, the Domestic Financial Services Sales Tax, the Insurance Premium Sales Tax and Telecommunications tax. b. There would likely be some reduction in import duty tariffs as well.

14. Who will pay the VAT?

a. VAT is a consumption tax that will ultimately be paid by consumers, not suppliers. b. VAT is charged and collected by Customs at import and by VAT registrants when selling their goods/services.

15. What will be the impact of VAT on the price of goods?

a. Once VAT is introduced the price of some goods will rise, the price of some goods will remain the same and the price of some goods will decrease. b. TCIG is in the process of preparing a TCI consumer price index and will monitor prices in the economy which will be published a part of effort better inform the public of price movements from time to time. An educated consumer tends to be a good defense against excessive price hikes.

16. What will be the impact of VAT on the price of food?

a. The price for food items contained in a basic basket of goods determined by the TCIG will not have VAT applied and should remain unchanged once VAT is introduced. b. However, the price of food items that may currently not be subject to import duty and fall outside the basic basket of goods determined by the TCIG will increase.

17. What will be the impact of VAT on the price of services?

a. VAT will apply to many services not currently subject to other taxes. b. VAT will apply to services such as telephone, utilities, internet, cablevision, haircuts, hairdressing and spa/beauty treatments, recreational, landscaping etc. Consequently the cost of these services may increase depending on the level of competition in the sector. c. VAT will also apply to many professional services such as those provided by architects, lawyers, accountants etc.

Consequently the cost of these services may increase depending on the level of competition in the sector.

18. It is understood that financial services are seldom subject to VAT or sales taxes in other countries. Why is VAT going to apply to financial services in the TCI?

a. In the past many jurisdictions had determined that taxing all transactions within the financial sector was difficult. However when the allowable exemptions for VAT purposes are clearly articulated in the Law and applied together with the help of more advanced accounting systems, the taxing of financial services for VAT purposes has increased and proved to be valuable. b. In the TCI the taxing of activities such as the purchase and processing of cheques, mortgage application processing, the use of ATMs, debit card transactions etc. can be identified and are currently subject to the Domestic Financial Services Sales Tax (DFSST) c. Those activities subject to the current DFSST will transition to VAT once implemented.

19. What will be the VAT rate?

a. The rate will depend on which goods/services will be subject to VAT and the fiscal needs of government. A specific Rate Study will be undertaken to objectively determine the VAT rate. While rates in the Caribbean vary between 15 and 17.5%, it is expected that the TCI rate will be lower.

20. How will I know how much VAT I paid subsequent to purchase?

a. The price you see in the store on the item you purchase will have the VAT included in the price. Consequently the price you see will be the price you pay. b. Once you have completed your purchase your sales receipt will break down the cost for each item you bought. c. Each item will identify if VAT was applied to the purchase or not. d. Your sales receipt will illustrate the price of the goods and the total amount of VAT that was included in the price of what you purchased.

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Come and join our winning team!!!

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, the only 6 Diamond all inclusive property in the Caribbean is inviting applications from suitably qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders for the following vacant positions.

Applicants must have a clean police record and a good command of the English language

The Entertainment Department requires:

DIRECTOR OF ENTERTAINMENT Requirements include but are not limited to:

o Provide leadership for the entire Entertainment events throughout the property. Responsible for the coordination and presentation of all Events, integrating and supervising all show elements including talent, bands, DJs, specialty transportation, costuming, cosmetology.

Plan and lead rehearsals, sound checks, work calls.

Assure accountability for safe/secure handling of all show assets. Partner with different lines of business to resolve Guest/Cast issues. Coordinate and process all pertinent work orders and requisitions consistently, accurately and completely including oversight of day-to-day schedules and time sheets. o Minimum 10 years Stage Management or equivalent entertainment experience o Minimum 3 year proven experience in a role of higher responsibility such as Coordinator, Crew Chief, Lead or the like o Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred Salary for the above mentioned position is negotiable and based on experience The Food and Beverage Department requires:

• DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE • ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE Requirements include but are not limited to:

- 10 years’ experience in F/B Management, 5 years of which as a Food and Beverage Director.

- Knowledge of restaurant, bar/lounge, banquets, room service and kitchen operational experience.

- Knowledge of menu composition, food preparation and basic food handling and sanitation standards.

- Knowledge of OSHA standards.

• FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER

both written and spoken. In addition candidates must be able to work nights, public holidays and week-ends.

The Resort thanks everyone for their interest in advance and advises that only short listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.

Requirements include but are not limited to:

- 10 years’ experience in F/B Management, - Knowledge of restaurant, bar/lounge, banquets, room service and kitchen operational experience.

- Knowledge of menu composition, food preparation and basic food handling and sanitation standards.

- Knowledge of OSHA standards.

Salary for the above mentioned positions are negotiable and based on experience The Kitchen Department requires: • FRENCH CHEF/ SOUS CHEF • ENGLISH PUB CHEF/ SOUS CHEF

Requirements include but are not limited to: - Assisting the executive chef in the management of the operation of the kitchen, monitoring all stations for lunch and dinner.

- Ordering and inventory maintenance of all produce, meats, seafood and specialty items, perform daily administration tasks such as documentation, assisting in menu revisions, fabrications, daily specials, menu promotions, club events and private party events.

- Five (5) years’ experience in specialty area indicated above - Degree in Culinary Arts preferred

Salary for the above mentioned position is negotiable and based on experience The Food and Beverage Department requires: • ITALIAN MAITRE D • FRENCH MAITRE D

Requirements include but are not limited to: - Expedite on floor or in Kitchen as business demands.

- Resolve guest complaints, ensuring guest satisfaction.

- Maintain complete knowledge of: all liquor brands, beers and non-alcoholic selections available to the outlet

Salary for the position indicated above ranges from $20,000 to $35,000 The Security Department requires: • DIRECTOR OF SECURITY

Requirements include but are not limited to: - Direct and supervise all Security Personnel on a daily basis.

- Complete security incident reports as needed, ensuring all incidents are handled in a professional.

- Ensure all incidents are accurately documented and filed.

- Ensure all Security logs are documented, filed and organized.

- Prepare the weekly schedule for all Security personnel.

- Manage departmental budget.

Salary for the position indicated above ranges from $30,000 to $50,000

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road Or

The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and should reach not later than April18th 2012 Otherwise, please call for additional information tel # 649-946-8000 ext 4138

JASON LAPORTE SEEKS

1 GARDINER Salary $5.00 per hour Please contact 245-1055

GLAMOUR GIRLS

CARIBBEAN SECURITY SERVICES Caribbean Security Services is looking to fill the following positions;

Unarmed Security Officers Turks and Caicos Firearm Licensed Security Officers Armored Transport Security Officers K9 Dog Handlers Chief of armed Services Alarm & CCTV Installation Technicians Applicants for the Security Officers must have a clean police record, speak and write English, follow orders well and agree to undertake the CSS training and Certification Program.

Applicant for the Chief of Armed Services must have a clean police record, hold a current weapon permit, have advanced weapon training, have a recognized weapon instructor certification speak at least 4 languages including Spanish, French and English. Applicant must have been part of the armed forces and have received specialized training in personal protection and crisis management. Belongers only need apply for the chief of Armed Services position.

Interested parties please call 649-941-4466 or send email to: Career@CaribSecurity.com

2 Hairdressers 1 Nail Specialist 2 Domestic Workers Needed

CHERLIE CLARE SEEKS 1 BABYSITTER Salary $5.00 per hour 6 days per week Must speak fluent French Contact 345-6383

Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 347-2707 or 431-2707

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LOCAL NEWS NEWS LOCAL

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH,APRIL 20126TH - APRIL 13TH, 2012

Sherlin Williams (left) receiving his Paul Harris award from Art Forbes (right), Director of Rotary Foundation committee for Rotary Club of Providenciales

Dr. Ewan Menzie (left) receiving his Paul Harris award from Art Forbes (right), Director of Rotary Foundation committee for Rotary Club of Providenciales

Rotary honors the community

By Karl A Isaac, Secretary of Rotary Club of Providenciales

On 23 February 2012, the Rotary Club of Providenciales honored two persons for their contribution to the community.

Mr Sherlin Williams of Church of God of Prophecy and Dr. Ewan Menzie of Menzies Medical were recipients of the Paul Harris award, the highest recognition Rotary Foundation (Rotary International) bestows to Rotarians and non-Rotarians. The Club’s

Director of Foundation, Art Forbes, who is also the Immediate Past President, in presenting the Paul Harris certificate and pins to the recipients highlighted a service each had performed.

Mr. Williams spends mentoring youths though basketball in a partnership project with the 100 Black Men of Turks and Caicos Islands.

One Rotarian noted that Mr. Williams was her inspiration to enter her first marathon which will be in Washington, DC. Mr. Forbes spoke of an incident where a child in need required a doctor

and Dr. Menzie was available at the time to assist.

When Mr. Forbes later inquired to Dr. Menzie the amount owed for his service, he learnt the good doctor had waived the fee.

President Owen Hamilton remarked both gentlemen are good examples of what Rotary around the world is about, “Service above Self”, the motto of Rotary International.

Rotary Club of Providenciales was chartered in May 1996 and meets every Thursday at 7pm at the Middle Caicos Café on Leeward Highway.

Government Vacancy

JOB TITLE: CHIEF PLANT PROTECTION OFFICER SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: An exciting opportunity awaits you for the post of Chief Plant Protection Officer in the Department of Agriculture. The incumbent in this position is responsible for the implementation of an effective and sustainable Plant Health Program for the control and prevention of pests and diseases.

He / She will work closely with the Director of Agriculture to develop guidelines, operational standards and procedures for plant protection and quarantine. The successful candidate is also expected to draft proposals and implement strategies for pest and disease surveillance; institute guidelines for product sampling, pest and disease control; interpret foreign quarantine regulations to facilitate international trade; review Phytosanitary Certificates, grant Import Permits; monitor and control inter-island movement of plants, plant products, animal by-products, and other materials within and out of the Turks and Caicos Islands; conduct and / or supervise various treatments and remedial measures, such as disinfection, sterilization, methyl bromide fumigation, hot and cold water treatments, irradiation of regulated articles for plant and animal pests and diseases; validate treatments and identify when regulated sites, facilities and commodities shall be inspected; review proposals for major agriculture projects; as well as conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Feasibility studies for such projects. Other duties include developing standards for Farmers’ Markets thereby regulating the operation of such facilities; sensitizing the public on plant health; working closely with other Ministries and Department to focus on strengthening TCI’s Food Safety Program; developing progress reports; as well as performing other related duties as may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE A Bachelors of Science Degree in Agriculture with a Diploma in Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health. He / She must also have advanced knowledge of the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC) International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). The successful candidate is expected to have at least eight to ten years of working experience in plant and animal health. Advanced Food Safety Training (HACCP Trainer of Trainers/Auditor) would be considered to be an asset. He / She is also expected to have working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite as well as be able to communicate well with others.

SALARY T34-T38 $34,992.00-$38,880.00 PER ANNUM For more information on the Job Description, please contact the Office of the Public Service Management Telephone 649-946-2801 Extension: 10318, Facsimile: 649-946-1582, E-mail: recruitment@gov.tc . All resumes should be addressed to Mr. Mark Greenway, Director of the Human Resource Management Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Resumes must include applicants current contact information and be accompanied by two letters of reference and a police certificate. Serving Officers should apply through their Heads of Department.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20th April 2012 ONLY SUITABLE CANDIDATES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED

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ALPHABETICAL ORDER (1-5) Study this section of the telephone directory and answer the following questions.

Ainsley, Tim ........................ 946-4238 Box 385, Blue Hills Adam, Tom ........................... 946-2232 West Road Astwood, Lewis ......................946-3131 Marjorie Basden High School Arthur, Dolphus ...................... 946-7 102 Sandy Point 5 Anderson, Cooper....................946-6241 Conch Bar 1. On the spaces provided below, write the names of the individuals in alphabetical order. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (V) 2. From the information provided, say which person has a mailbox.

3. Which person is likely to reside on the island of South Caicos?

4. Which person is likely to reside on the island of Grand Turk?

5. lf you were calling persons in an alphabetical order, which number would you dial third?

In items 6-25 circle the letter A-D which corresponds with the correct answer.

SPELLING ln items 6-10, what is the correct spelling for the word that completes each sentence?

6. The construction __________was covered with materials to be used for the building.

A. suite B. sute C. site D. sight 7. The concert was ___________because it rained heavily and persons could not attend.

A. canceled B. cancelled C. canselled D. canceled 8. You will ____________ if you work hard.

A. sukseed B. sucede C. succeed D. suceed 9. lf you look in the _________ you will find fresh fruits and vegetables.

A. refrigerator B. refrigerator C. refregirater D. refrigarrator 10. “ __________________yourself from mental slavery” sang the popular singer, Bob Marley.

A. Emansipate B. Emancepate C. Emancipate D. Emansipeate

APRIL 6TH - APRIL 13TH, 2012

English Paper 1 GSAT ENGLISH PAST PAPER 1

NOVEMBER 25TH - DECEMBER 2ND, 2011

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ANTONYMS (11 – 15) Which word is OPPOSITE in meaning to the one underlined in the sentences given in items 11-15?

11. Many persons disliked the loud music that was played by the disc jockey A. accepted B. feared C. hated D. enjoyed 12. The cook used a straight knife to slice the ham.

A. long B. dull C. decorative D. curved 13. Mrs. Selver purchased fresh flowers at the flower shop in Grace Bay, Providenciales.

A. sold B. collected C. distributed D. bought 14. There is a plan to construct a new school in Providenciales.

A. build B. expand C. demolish D. refurbish 15. The police reported that counterfeit one hundred dollar bills are in circulation.

A. fake B. torn C. genuine D. damaged SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT (16 – 20) Circle the letter A-D which corresponding with the word or phrase which will make each sentence grammatically correct 16. The bag of apples _________ on the table.

A. is B. were C. been D. are 17. Each day of the week ___________ new challenges.

A. brings B. bring C. bringing D. is bringing 18. All the children __________ at the concert last evening.

A. was B. were C. are D. is 19. Why have they _________ so far into the next?

A. go B. gone C. goes D. going 20. “There much time left before GSAT”, Miss Brown reminded the class.

A. haven’t B. hasn’t C. isn’t

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D. aren’t BASIC PUNCTUATION (21-25) (Questions 21-23) Which sentence A-D is correctly punctuated?

21. A Give it to John it’s his.

B. Give it to John its his.

C. Give it to John, it’s his.

D Give it to John; it’s his.

22. A. “I prayed please God.” Let her listen.

B. I prayed please God, let her listen.

C. I prayed, “please God, let her listen.

D. I prayed, “Please God, let her listen.”

23. A. The two shits’ werent very dirty.

B. The two shirts were’nt very dirty.

C. The two shirts we’rent very dirty.

D. The two shirts weren’t very dirty.

(Questions 24-25) Circle the letter (A—D) which corresponds with the punctuation used at the place marked by a dash (-).

24. My friend exclaimed, “What a lovely view _” A. .

B. , C? D! 25. The teachers passed through many towns _ May Pen, Kingston, Mandeville, Santa Cruz and Negril.

A. : B. , C. ?

D. ; METAPHOR/SIMILE (26-30) At the end of each sentence write either simile or metaphor.

26. The basketball player was as tall as a steeple ______________.

27. The night was as black as ebony______________________.

28. Mary is a bundle of joy_______________ .

29. Jerry is a tower of strength ______________ 30. Paula said she felt as sick as a dog________________.

TENSES (31-35) (Questions 31-33) Choose the letter A, B, C, D or E and write it in the space to show the tense of the underlined verb in the sentences below.

A. Present Participle B. Past, Participle C. Present Tense D. Past Tense E. Future Tense 31. Our hens lay large number of eggs every day.

32. The criminals were hanged early in the morning.

33. Tomorrow my class will visit the museum.

Stay tuned next week for more past papers

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Providenciales community wins big at FortisTCI 4th Annual Spring Walk & Run A large number of people turned out this past Saturday March 31st to participate in the 4th Annual Spring Fun Walk & Run hosted by FortisTCI. The event is done each year with the intent of bringing together employees, their families and friends, corporate partners and various community members to promote healthy lifestyles amongst each other.

Winners were congratulated on a job well done as Schwinn bicycles were awarded to first place runners Leonardo Sarita for the men, Lynn Robinson for the women, and Nore Verdieu for the FortisTCI team.

Coltrane Nickson was the first child to complete the route taking home a gift certificate to the Unicorn Bookstore, and the group prize for having the most number of participants went to Team Beaches whose 40 member team was presented with FortisTCI gift bags and movie tickets. Said to have been the most anticipated part of the morning was the drawing of the winning raffle ticket for a Nintendo game system and Wii Fit won by Georgetta Smith who was ecstatic about her take home.

“We hope to continue encouraging and educating our staff and the community about the benefits and added value of being healthy,” said Shernelle Capron, FortisTCI Social Club President and event coordinator.

“This FortisTCI annual walk and run sends a number of messages, not only about the importance of exercise, but also about healthy eating habits, social development, and the potential rewards from working hard to accomplish your goals.” FortisTCI team members also made a presentation to the Turks and Caicos Red Cross noting that a contribution would be made at a later date to the charitable organization based on employee participation numbers at the event.

Provo residents came out to support the event

First place winner is Leonardo Sarit

Audience members listen to the presentations of prizes

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Now and then I think of when we were together Like when you said you felt so happy you could die Told myself that you were right for me But felt so lonely in your company But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

But I don't wanna live that way Reading into every word you say You said that you could let it go And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness Like resignation to the end, always the end So when we found that we could not make sense Well you said that we would still be friends But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over

[Gotye:] But you didn't have to cut me off Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing And I don't even need your love But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough And you didn't have to stoop so low Have your friends collect your records and then change your number I guess that I don't need that though Now you're just somebody that I used to know

But you didn't have to cut me off Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing And I don't even need your love But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough No you didn't have to stoop so low Have your friends collect your records and then change your number I guess that I don't need that though Now you're just somebody that I used to know Now you're just somebody that I used to know Now you're just somebody that I used to know [Kimbra:] Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over But had me believing it was always something that I'd done

[x2] Somebody (I used to know) Somebody (Now you're just somebody that I used to know) (I used to know) (That I used to know) (I used to know) Somebody

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ENTERTAINMENT

Whitney Houston autopsy says cocaine found in her system LOS ANGELES — Whitney Houston was found face-down in a bathtub with cocaine in her system and drug paraphernalia on the bathroom counter nearby, investigators revealed in the singer’s final autopsy report released Wednesday.

The report delivered a grim accounting of Houston’s final hours nearly three months ago. The singer complained of a sore throat before an assistant suggested she take a bath before the start of a pre-Grammy Awards gala. By the time the assistant returned, Houston had drowned and was lying face down in the tub.

Investigators who scoured the room later found in the bathroom a “spoon with a white crystal like substance in it,” and a white powdery substance in a drawer and on a mirror, according the report. The report does not specifically identify the substances as cocaine, although toxicology tests discovered the drug in Houston’s heart and extremities.

The report provides a sad footnote to Houston’s life, revealing the toll the singer’s drug use took on her body.

When coroner’s officials said two

Whitney Houston

weeks ago that Houston died from accidental drowning, they also revealed that cocaine had played a role in her death. The office has said there were signs of both chronic and recent use.

An investigator noted a hole in the singer’s nose, listed under “history of substance abuse.”

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said he could not discuss how recently Houston may have used cocaine, or

Rihanna calls Chris Brown incident 'my liberation'

Rihanna

Chris Brown

Three years after Rihanna and Chris Brown’s headline-making pre-Grammys incident, the singer is speaking out, saying it actually empowered her.

“It gave me guns ... they know more about me than I want them to know. It’s embarrassing. But that was my opening. That was my liberation, my moment of 'bring it.' I wanted people to know who I am,” the 24-year-old told ELLE magazine’s May issue.

“Whatever they take that to be, good or bad, I just want them to know the truth. There are still a lot of rumors out there, and I’ll never be able to stop that.

But you just have to ignore all that stuff,” she continued. “I have more freedom the more people know about me. It’s like, one less skeleton in the closet, one less burden, one less secret; now you know that, so you can say what you want about it. I don’t have anything to hide.”

She also spoke out about the negative response she’s had for keeping in contact with Brown.

“The bottom line is that everyone thinks differently. It’s very hard for me to accept, but I get it,” she told the mag. “People end up wasting their time on the blogs or whatever, ranting away, and that’s all right. Because tomorrow I’m still going to be the same person. I’m still going to do what I want to do.”

As for new love, the pop star said she’s looking to date again, but is having trouble finding the right guy.

“I feel like it’s hard for everybody! I don’t think it has anything to do with being famous. There’s just a major drought out there. I don’t know. I guess I’m challenging, because my job seems to affect every relationship I have or try to have. Even with people I think should get it,” she said. “That seems to be a big factor; it’s always an issue. But I just need to find the person who balances me out, because then things like my schedule won’t matter. I’ve done it before, so I know I can do it again.”

other details of the final report.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen said the investigation is still open and he could not comment on the findings. The department has said there did not appear to be signs of foul play.

On her final day alive, Houston complained she had a sore throat for several days, and an assistant suggested she take a bath, according to the report.

By the time her assistant returned, Houston had been submerged for at least an hour, the report estimates.

Water soaked the floor, seeping into the bedroom area.

Investigators initially expected drugs or alcohol played a role in Houston’s death, but no alcohol was found in her system. They eventually ruled her death an accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use cited as contributing factors.

Houston’s death came just hours before a pre-Grammy gala thrown by her mentor Clive Davis. She was attempting another comeback by starring in a remake of the film “Sparkle,” in which she plays the mother of three girls who form a singing

group and struggle with fame and drug addiction.

A trailer released Monday featured Houston prominently, including a snippet of her performance of the classic gospel song “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.”

Toxicology results also showed Houston had marijuana, Xanax, the muscle relaxant Flexeril, and the allergy medication Benadryl in her system. None of those drugs were considered factors in her death.

The singer also had buildup of plaque in her arteries that can restrict blood flow. Winter has said the condition is common in drug users. The report indicated a 60 percent blockage in the singer’s right coronary artery.

The singer had battled addiction for years, but friends and family have said she appeared committed to making a comeback in the months before her death.

“The biggest devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy,” Houston told ABC’s Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 television interview with then-husband Bobby Brown by her side.

Burger King apologizes to Blige over ad

Mary J. Blige

NEW YORK — Burger King is apologizing to Mary J. Blige and her fans for releasing an ad that garnered the singer serious fan backlash.

The clip featured Blige soulfully singing about the fast-food chain's new chicken snack wraps. It immediately went viral when it was released Monday, and some in the black community said it was stereotypical. Burger King pulled the ad Tuesday over what the company said was a music licensing issue. The company explained Wednesday the spot was unfinished.

In a statement, Blige said she understood why fans were upset. She said the ad didn't come across the way it was planned and she would never put out an unfinished spot.

Burger King said it was released prematurely and they hope to have the final ad on the air soon.

Author Harper Lee honored by Obama appearance MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama author Harper Lee doesn't speak publicly very often, but she says she's honored President Barack Obama is taping an introduction to a special showing of the movie based on her novel "To Kill a Mockingbird."

USA Network says it will air a fully restored version of the movie Saturday evening. It will include a brief introduction by the president, who recognized Lee at a White House event last year.

Lee lives in the south Alabama town of Monroeville. In a statement released by the network, Lee says she is deeply honored that Obama will introduce the movie to a national audience.

The 50-year-old film features actor Gregory Peck as Alabama attorney Atticus Finch fighting for justice for a black defendant in a small southern town.

The character is based on Lee's father.

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HIGHLIGHTS

• Redjet unlikely to return to Caribbean • Jamaica to spend Ja $688M on 50th Independence Celebration

St Vincent Ambassador assaulted

by NYC police officers at UN NEW YORK, USA -The Ambassador of St Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations, Camillo Gonsalves, on Friday became the latest victim of police profiling when he was handcuffed and arrested after walking through a barricade to get into his office building by a New York police officer who thought he could be a terrorist.

Ambassador Gonsalves, son of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, in a statement released by his government, said that he was “struck or somehow bruised’’ behind his right ear and was treated at a hospital for minor injuries to his head, wrists, hand and shoulder.

Gonsalves said he was returning to his office after lunch and stepped out of his official car and walked through a barricade in front of the building — as he has done for the past five years — when he was confronted by an officer. The building houses a number of U.N. missions including Israel’s and has a 24-hour police presence, with a guard post outside.

According to Gonsalves, the officer demanded to know why he went through the barricade. He said he didn’t respond and proceeded to the elevator. He said the officer ran into the building, approached him from behind, “grabbed me by my neck and

shoulders, spun me around and said, “Didn’t you see me talking to you?”

Gonsalves, the son of St. Vincent’s Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, said he replied calmly: “You couldn’t have been talking to me.’’

He said the officer then demanded identification.

“I said, `Why? Am I under arrest?’ He said, `Well you are now.’’’

Gonsalves said the officer tried unsuccessfully to get his hands behind his back to handcuff him, and he remained “uncooperative, but peaceful.’’ The backup officers who were called forced his hands behind his back and handcuffed him, he said.

He said other ambassadors with offices in the building — including the envoys of Gambia, Dominica and St. Lucia as well as his own staff — came into the lobby and began to tell the officer he was in the wrong, and that Israeli diplomats had crossed the barricades that day, just as he did. As a U.N. diplomat, Gonsalves has diplomatic immunity.

As the crowd gathered, Gonsalves said, the officer who arrested him “began to act in an uneasy manner.’’

“Apparently by way of post-hoc justification, (the) officer … said quietly to his fellow officers, but

Chavez back in Venezuela after more cancer treatment CARACAS - President Hugo Chavez returned home to Venezuela on Wednesday after his latest session of cancer treatment in Cuba, as he aims to fight off the illness and win a new six-year term in an October election.

The 57-year-old socialist leader walking unaided from his plane after it landed in his home state of Barinas and he was greeted on the runway by relatives, the vice president and several government ministers.

"The socialist revolution is irreversible ... I continue recuperating," he said in a brief speech on state TV, wishing Venezuelans a happy Easter weekend and saying he was "now more Christian than ever."

His second session of radiation treatment had gone well, he said, and the results of all his medical tests were positive. He is expected to return to Cuba for a third session soon.

Flying back and forth to

Hugo Chavez

Havana for the radiation therapy, Chavez has been running a kind of "virtual" election campaign via Twitter and appearances on state television, while his opposition rival tours the South American country.

Very little is known about Chavez's condition - he has had three cancer operations in less than a year - so doubts remain about the future of the man who

has dominated politics in the continent's biggest oil exporter for the last 13 years.

The opposition sees its candidate, Miranda state Governor Henrique Capriles, as its best hope of unseating Chavez at the October 7 vote. In the latest opinion poll released last month, the president had a solid 13-percentage point lead, but many Venezuelans remained undecided.

within my earshot: `I couldn’t let him just walk into the building. Look at him: he could be a terrorist,’’’ Gonsalves said.

He said senior police officers and State Department officials from the U.S. Mission eventually confirmed that he was a diplomat and his handcuffs were taken off after about 20 minutes.

The statement released by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines said The Permanent Mission of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations is located at 800 Second Avenue, New York and Gonsalves said he enters and exits those premises multiple times on each working day.

The building is also the home to many other diplomatic missions. The majority of the diplomatic missions in the building are members of the Commonwealth, with the notable exception of Israel.

“We enter the building by means of a common lobby and shared elevator system, through which we have access to our various permanent missions and office facilities,” Gonsalves explained.

The lobby of the building is staffed by unarmed personnel, who check the identification of visitors to the building, and determine who should gain access.

The lobby is also staffed by Israeli security officials, who perform separate identification and safety checks on those individuals visiting the Permanent Mission of Israel.

Uniformed police officers of the New York Police Department (NYPD) are stationed outside of the building. The NYPD officers do not engage in checking the identification of people seeking to enter the building. There is usually one NYPD officer stationed in a permanent guard post directly in front of the building. One or two other officers traditionally patrol the city block on which the building is located.

On the outside of the building, the NYPD maintains stacks of metal barricades, which normally lean against concrete structures that line that particular sidewalk. The barriers are called into use whenever political demonstrations or protests take place outside of the building. In such instances, the barricades are erected on the opposite side of the street from the Permanent Mission to contain the demonstrators, and to keep the protestors from “disturbing the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity,” as is mandated by Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961).

According to Gonsalves, ambassadors and other diplomatic staff, as well as delivery drivers, couriers, and pedestrians, regularly step between and around these metal rails when no demonstrations are taking place. It is the common practice for ambassadors and other diplomatic staff to be dropped off by their drivers directly in front of the building, and for those persons to step around/between the barricades, cross the sidewalk, and enter the building. The staff members of the Permanent Mission of Israel, as the largest diplomatic staff in the building, are probably the most frequent users of this particular mode of entry. However, all diplomatic staff frequently enter the building in this manner.

“Over the course of my four and one-half years as Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations, I have regularly entered the building in this manner,” he pointed out.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 33

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

CARIBBEAN NEWS

Dominican Republic probing multi million dollar Haiti contracts scandal SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Dominican authorities are investigating corruption allegations against an influential senator whose companies won millions of dollars in no-bid construction contracts in post-earthquake Haiti.

Attorney-General Radhames Jiminez said in a news conference that the government’s anticorruption department will be looking into alleged irregularities involving the companies of Senator Felix Bautista, a close ally of President Leonel Fernandez.

Bautista is accused of wielding his influence to win contracts for construction projects in Haiti totalling more than $200million, even though they did not meet the country’s procurement rules.

The investigation comes two days after Dominican journalist Nuria Piera aired a story in which she claimed to have combed through bank statements and property records belonging to Bautista.

Piera says she found that one of the companies owned by Bautista, HADOM Construction, was awarded a $350million contract for reconstruction

work in Haiti following the earthquake, and allegedly gave more than $2.5million to Haiti’s President Michel Martelly both before and after he won the presidency last year.

The Dominican contracts came to light several weeks ago after outgoing Prime Minister Garry Conille announced that he was conducting an audit of $500million in construction contracts signed in the months after the quake by his predecessor Jean-Max Bellerive.

Before officially releasing the audit, Conille suddenly resigned last month after only four months in office. A few weeks later, a leaked version of the “preliminary audit” was published in the Haitian newspaper Le Matin.

The document showed that some of the contracts were given to firms that didn’t meet certain procurement requirements, including HADOM. It received a $33.7million contract to rebuild parliament and did not meet the criteria of five years experience required by law.

Bellerive, Haiti’s prime minister at the time of the earthquake and now an advisor to his cousin

Martelly, said in a public statement that he was the victim of a smear campaign and that the government needed to respond quickly to the disaster.

“It’s true that Felix Bautista presented us with several Dominican companies because we asked Leonel Fernandez to help us find companies willing to work right away – even without advance payment.

[I] did not know he was owner of shares in those different companies,” Bellerive said.

Bautista has denied any wrongdoing. In interviews with Dominican newspapers, he said the contracts were awarded legally.

In a press statement, the Martelly government rejected the “fanciful accusations brought unjustly” against the leader.

“This media lynching of the President of the Republic is part of a larger campaign to poison public opinion to sully the image of President Martelly and undermine [his] integrity,” the statement said.

Martelly recently met with Fernandez during an official visit in which he received a cross under the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella, the highest honour for a foreign head of state.

REDjet unlikely to return to the Caribbean skies BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – All appears to be lost for Barbados-based carrier REDjet.

This comes as Barbados suspended the airline’s Air Operators’ Certificate (AOC) with effect March 20, four days after the airline suspended all flights to its nine destinations, and Trinidad’s revocation of its licence to fly to that country by the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority.

According to reports, this chain of events sealed the airline’s fate, making it even more unlikely for its return to the skies after a mere 10 months in the air.

It also means that the airline’s 90 employees will have to seek other forms of employment.

Directors of the airline, as well as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ian

Burns, have indicated that the airline needs an $8 million injection to remain in the skies.

However, there are some who still hold the view that all is not lost for the airline, as the Guyana and Antiguan governments pledge their continued support of the airline.

Meantime, St. Vincent Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has made it clear that he will not be sympathetic to the plight of Barbadosbased air carrier REDjet.

His reason, according to reports, is because he was never informed of the airline’s entry into the market, not even in his capacity as CARICOM air transport spokesperson.

Dr. Gonsalves is quoted as saying that the owners of REDjet did not come to see him or tell him what they were doing, so he took that to mean

POSITION AVAILABLE

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they did not want him involved in their business.

The airline suspended flights to its nine destinations on February 13, and has since had its air operators’ licence suspended by Barbados and Trinidad.

However, over the weekend, a senior government minister in Barbados has indicated that government would see out ways to have the low-cost carrier back in the skies again.

Page 34

CARIBBEAN NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

Haiti records increase cholera cases PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI – The number of cholera cases in Haiti has increased and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the new cases were found in the west and northern sections of the Frenchspeaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

Health officials said that 77 new cases were recorded a day in the month

of March and fear the number could increase as Haiti prepares for the annual rainy season.

The UN said that medical teams have been deployed to stem the spread of cholera that was first detected here last October and is responsible for more than 7,000 deaths so far.

But the UN said that their effectiveness has been hampered in part by little coordination and an

absence of salaries paid to people working in cholera treatment centers run by Haitian authorities.

The day-to-day operations of the Haitian government have been largely been put on hold after Prime Minister Garry Conille suddenly resigned in February.

The new cholera cases come after a steady decline since June of last year when aid workers saw peaks of more

than 1,000 cases on certain days. It is easily treatable if caught in time.

The disease was likely introduced by a U.N. peacekeeping unit from Nepal, where the disease is endemic, several months after the January 2010 earthquake.

Cholera is caused by a bacteria found in contaminated water or food, and can kill people within hours through dehydration.

Bermuda-born Chief Justice takes the reins Ian Kawaley was appointed Bermuda’s Chief Justice, taking over the Country’s top judicial appointment from Richard Ground, who is retiring.

“It’s great honour and privilege to be appointed Chief Justice,” said Mr Kawaley shortly after the appointment papers were signed by Governor Sir Richard Gozney.

“Bermuda is a special jurisdiction to me personally having been born here. But I think it’s also fair to say that Bermuda is one of the most respected legal jurisdictions in the Atlantic and

Caribbean region, so it’s a great honour to head up the judicial system here.”

Mr Kawaley expressed his gratitude to the Governor for appointing him and to Premier Paula Cox and Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier, “who did not object to my appointment”.

“I think that augurs well because it means that I can do my duties and do right to all manner of people according to the usages of laws of Bermuda without fear or favour, affection or ill will.”

He added: “This occasion is not only about me. This occasion is about the judicial and legal system of Bermuda and the duty of judges to do justice in a way that is fair to all the people that come before the courts.

And I am very mindful of the fact that Bermuda is a diverse community, made up not just of Bermudians but of people who have come to Bermuda to work and also we serve a number of international companies and entities that are owned by people in various parts of the world and so the judicial system has to serve very diverse interests.

“And I hope that I will be able to continue the very good work that my predecessor, Justice Ground, did in leading a judicial system that has become firm, fair and efficient in all of its areas.”

Mr Ground spent eight years in the post.

Mr Kawaley noted that the work of Chief Justice could not be done alone.

“I will be part of a team and in reality, no Chief Justice can do anything by himself or herself. I have a very important team of fellow judges some of whom have, perhaps, what some may regard as having much more star quality than myself,” Mr Kawaley said.

“I also have a very strong administrative support team. So as a team, together with those people who the courts depend on, the lawyers, the various different support services, the police, the prison service that we interact with, I hope that Bermuda’s judicial system will go from strength to strength.”

Jamaica to spend $688 million for 50th anniversary of independence The Government is to spend $688 million to celebrate Jamaica’s 50th year of Independence.

This is a serious cut from the $2.5 billion budgeted by the previous administration. Culture Minister Lisa Hanna said the final figure was arrived at after a restructuring of the programme of activities planned by the Jamaica Labour Party administration.

She explained that the new programme had to be developed because of shortcomings in the plans by the former government.

Meanwhile, Hanna said Jamaica 50 celebrations will start in mid April right up to main celebratory period of August 1 to 6.

The celebration will go under the banner “Jamaica 50 – A Nation On A Mission”.

Among the programmes are a series of concerts, cultural exhibits and the staging of a major 24-hour event which will be aired on local and international television.

Meanwhile, Hanna disclosed that the government will be undertaking legacy projects to mark the country’s Golden Jubilee.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

Page 35

• Romney accuses Obama of hiding • Screams on Trayvon 911 call do NOT belong to Zimmerman, claim voice analysis experts

British PM David Cameron’s ratings hit lowest level British Prime Minister David Cameron's approval rating has tumbled to its lowest level since he was elected two years ago, according to a poll on Thursday, after two weeks in which policy gaffes and a funding scandal battered his Conservative Party.

Only 30 percent of voters thought Cameron would make the best prime minister out of the leaders of Britain's three main political parties, the YouGov poll for the Sun newspaper conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday showed.

The figure is the lowest since the May 2010 general election that brought Cameron into power as head of a coalition government with the smaller Liberal Democrat party.

Many have billed the last two weeks as the most damaging for Cameron and his party, after a key fundraiser was secretly taped offering access to the prime minister for cash, and many in the media interpreted last month's annual budget as imposing a "Granny Tax" on pensioners to pay for

British Prime Minister David Cameron

tax cuts for the rich.

Mixed messages on how to handle a fuel strike triggered panic and an embarrassing retraction of advice telling drivers to store petrol at home, while a tax on hot food -- including on a snack said to be favored by the working class -- reinforced accusations that upper class Cameron and his posh

Anonymous says it hacked Chinese government sites

BEIJING — China was struggling Thursday to restore several government websites that international hacking group Anonymous says it attacked in an apparent protest against Chinese Internet restrictions.

On a Twitter account established in late March, Anonymous China listed the websites it says it hacked over the last several days. They include government bureaus in several Chinese cities, including in Chengdu, a provincial capital in southwest China.

Some of the sites were still blocked Thursday, with error messages shown.

Anonymous activists have defaced websites around the world. They are engaged in political causes, including opposition to the global clampdown on file-sharing sites and defense of the secret-spilling site WikiLeaks.

Some websites that Anonymous said it attacked were working Thursday, and government officials denied the sites were ever hacked. China's National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team was not available for immediate comment.

In a message left on one of the hacked Chinese sites — cdcbd.gov.cn, a home page for Chengdu's business district — the hackers expressed anger with the Chinese government for restrictions placed on the Internet.

"Dear Chinese government, you are not infallible, today websites are hacked, tomorrow it will be your vile regime that will fall," the English-language message read. "What you are doing today to your Great People, tomorrow will be inflicted to you. With no mercy."

The message also offered instructions on how to circumvent China's restrictions on its Internet. The government tries to block Internet users in China from seeing social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Information on politically sensitive topics is often blocked.

inner circle are out of touch with the poor.

Compounding Cameron's problems is a new row this week over plans to boost the state's digital surveillance powers and to hold some trials in secret for national security reasons. The proposals have drawn criticism from members of his own party, the Liberal Democrats and civil liberty groups.

The prime minister may draw some comfort from the fact that opposition Labor party leader Ed Miliband has failed to capitalize on the turbulence, with the number of people who think he would make the best prime minister rising only one point in the last two weeks to 19 percent.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's rating is still bumping along rock bottom at five percent, down one point.

Almost half of voters said they did not know who would make the best prime minister, the highest level since the 2010 election, a statistic that may reflect general disappointment with Britain's mainstream parties.

Such sentiment was seen as the driving force behind the shock win last month of maverick leftist George Galloway in a local election in the city of Bradford in northern England.

The YouGov poll weighted its data by age, social class, region, newspaper readership and political party support.

Government Vacancy JOB TITLE: RADAR OPERATOR – LEVEL 1

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: An exciting opportunity awaits you for the post of Radar Operator Level 1 in the Ministry of Border Control and Labour. Under the direction of the Radar Supervisor, Ministry of Border Control the post holder is responsible for monitoring, analyzing and reporting radar activity indicated by the Turks and Caicos Coastal Radar system plus taking action to inform the appropriate agency. Tracks radar targets and prepares reports of activities. Communicates with appropriate agency to analyze speed, heading, likely destination and other tracking, etc. information of selected radar targets. Works on a rotating 24 hour shift including statutory holidays.

Compiles clear, concise incident reports in written form and within a limited time frame.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The post holder must possess a marine qualification showing seagoing experience plus ability to read and interpret marine charts. Must have mathematical and English written language education to a senior high school level. GMDSS Communication training certification; Maritime Radio Communications General Certificate (MRGC) or Electro-Technical Officer Training with Radio and Radar modules; or be able to demonstrate operational and technical certification equivalency at a UK Commonwealth, North American or military standard. Must have a good to excellent command of oral and written English. Proficiency in oral French and/or Spanish would be beneficial.

The post holder will ideally possess a minimum of two (2) years experience in a mix of seagoing and shore side marine communications roles involving Ship or Port operations and possibly including Vessel Traffic Services (VTS); Search and Rescue (SAR); or Coast Guard/Border Security experience with two (2) years minimum experience. Able to work effectively in a team oriented environment. Must be computer literate including Microsoft OS – XP Pro, Windows 7 and Office programs; WORD, Excel, Outlook, Explorer.

SALARY $23,000 PER ANNUM For more information on the Job Description, please contact the Office of the Public Service Management Telephone 649-946-2801 Extension: 10318, Facsimile: 649946-1582, E-mail: recruitment@gov.tc . All resumes should be addressed to Mr. Mark Greenway, Director of the Human Resource Management Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Resumes must include applicants current contact information and be accompanied by two letters of reference and a police certificate. Serving Officers should apply through their Heads of Department.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20th April 2012 ONLY SUITABLE CANDIDATES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED

Page 36

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WORLD NEWS

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

Screams on Trayvon 911 call do NOT belong to Zimmerman, claim voice analysis experts A forensic expert has said screams heard on a 911 call moments before Trayvon Martin was killed were not those of George Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, 28, claims he shot the teenager in self defence after he was attacked and and told police he was the one who could be heard crying out in the recording.

However, leading voice identification expert Tom Owen has said he is certain the screams do not belong to Zimmerman after using specialised biometric software to compare the voices. Another expert, using different techniques, has come to the same conclusion.

Trayvon was killed just yards from his father's home as he made his way back from a shop in the Orlando suburb of Sanford, Florida, on February 26.

He was being followed by the Neighbourhood Watch volunteer who had called police to report a suspicious person in the area. Minutes later 911 dispatchers received several calls of shots being fired in the neighbourhood.

The first was a woman who called early enough for operators to hear panicked cries for help and the gunshots that eventually killed the 17-year-old during the confrontation.

Zimmerman, who has not been

George Zimmerman

arrested in connection with the shooting because of his self-defence claims, told police he was walking back to his SUV when the he was attacked by Trayvon.

Police were told the boy, who weighed 140 pounds, climbed on top of 250-pound Zimmerman and slammed his head into the pavement.

In police reports officers at the scene said that Zimmerman had blood on his face. Another wrote that he could hear Zimmerman telling a paramedic: 'I was yelling for someone to help me, but no one would help me.'

Mr Owen, a court qualified expert

witness and former chief engineer for the New York Public Library's Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, was approached by the Orlando Sentinel newspaper to listen to the tapes.

Using software called Easy Voice Biometrics, he compared Zimmerman's voice to the screams on the 911 tapes.

The software returned a 48 per cent match but Mr Owen said that in order for it to be a positive he would expect a result higher than 90 per cent.

Mr Owen was unable to compare the screams to those of Trayvon's because he does not have a sample of the teenager's voice.

'As a result of that, you can say with reasonable scientific certainty that it's not Zimmerman,' he told the newspaper.

Mr Owen said that voice identification had become one of the main biometric tools used to track terrorists and international criminals.

'These people don't leave fingerprints, but they do need to talk to one another,' he said.

Another forensic expert, who does not specialise in biometrics, but uses other techniques involving audio enhancement and human analysis said he also believes the screams are not from Zimmerman.

He said the tone of the voice was

that of a young man and added that he believed the screams belonged to Trayvon.

Trayvon who lived in Miami with his mother Sabrina Fulton, had been visiting his father where he live in a gated community called The retreat at Twin Lakes, 20 miles north of Orlando.

During halftime of an NBA All-Star Game, the high school junior had gone to a nearby shop to buy his younger brother some Skittles.

He was returning home when he was spotted by Zimmerman, a college student who was armed with a 9mm handgun.

Zimmerman called 911 to report a suspicious person and was told by dispatchers to keep his distance but before officers could reach the scene there had been a confrontation between the two. Trayvon was shot once in the chest at very close range and died instantly. Trayvon's father Tracy and his mother have joined marches through the streets of Sandford to demand justice for their son.

Mrs Fulton said: 'I know I cannot bring my baby back. but I'm sure going to make changes so that does not happen to another family.'

Mr Martin added: '(Zimmerman) needs to be arrested. He needs to be put on trial.'

Romney accuses Obama of hiding Republican candidate Mitt Romney accused President Barack Obama on Wednesday of being "intent on hiding" his true positions, in a growing war of words between the two men who are increasingly likely to face off in November's presidential election.

Romney slammed Obama a day after winning three presidential primaries and moving closer to finally clinching the Republican nomination.

The former Massachusetts governor cited remarks by Obama to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last week that embarrassed the U.S. president when they were caught on camera. Obama assured the Russian leader that he would have "more flexibility" to work on missile defense after the November 6 election.

"He is intent on hiding. You and I will have to do the seeking," Romney said in a speech to a conference of news executives.

Romney, who is known for his stiffness on the campaign trail, seemed relaxed while giving remarks that focused exclusively on Obama rather than his Republican rivals.

Romney was speaking at the same conference where Obama attacked him on Tuesday in comments that gave a clear signal that the general election campaign is effectively under way.

Obama mentioned Romney by name, a move he had avoided before then, and criticized him for supporting a Republican budget plan that would make stark cuts in Medicare and other programs for the poor and elderly.

In a wide-ranging speech hitting

Obama's record in office, Romney answered the criticisms.

"I looked at what the president said.

There were just so many things that I found to be distortions and inaccuracies, it's hard to give a full list," he said.

"President Obama came here yesterday and railed against arguments no one is making and criticized policies no one is proposing. It's one of his favorite strategies - setting up straw men to distract from his record."

"It's very clear that Romney now appears to be a prohibitive frontrunner and the Obama campaign, which had presumed it would have to deal with Romney all along, has now directly attacked him," said Thomas Hollihan, who teaches media and politics at the University of Southern California.

After his election victories in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Wisconsin, Romney now has more than half the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nod from his party.

But he must first knock out conservative Republican rival Rick Santorum. A battle is brewing at the April 24 primary in Pennsylvania, Santorum's home state.

The former Senator vowed on Tuesday to win the state and go on into

Mitt Romney

May when more conservative states like North Carolina and Texas will vote.

"We have to win here. ... We have a strong base of support here, and we're going to work very, very hard. And then we're going to get into May, and May looks very, very good," he said in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

In a campaign where independent voters will be a critical voting bloc, Santorum's departure from the campaign could free Romney to move to the middle in effort to court them.

Obama leads Romney 48 to 39 percent in a dozen battleground states which could swing for either party in the general election, according to a Gallup poll on Wednesday.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 37

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

UK’s Sky News: We hacked in the public interest LONDON- Rupert Murdoch's Sky News channel twice authorized its reporters to hack into computers, a potentially embarrassing revelation that could further dent the media tycoon's hope of acquiring full control over satellite broadcaster BSkyB. Sky News said in a statement that in one case it broke into emails belonging to Anne and John Darwin, the so-called "canoe couple" who became notorious in Britain after the latter faked his own death in a boating accident as part of an elaborate insurance scam.

It acknowledged intercepting the couple's emails, but said that the material was later handed to police and insisted it had done nothing wrong.

"We stand by these actions as editorially justified and in the public interest. We do not take such decisions lightly or frequently," Sky News chief John Ryley said in a statement.

He noted that, in a 2004 investigation, a Sky News journalists had bought an Uzi submachine gun to illustrate the availability of banned weapons in Britain. In 2003, a reporter penetrated security at London's Heathrow Airport to highlight failings in the system.

"These investigations serve the public interest and are a legitimate part of responsible journalism," Ryley said.

A media frenzy was kicked off when John Darwin — long thought to have died in a boating accident in the North Sea — walked into a London police station in late 2007 and said: "I think I'm a missing person."

He claimed to have amnesia and said he could remember nothing since 2000, but his story unraveled as journalists and police started digging into his background.

Sky News didn't identify which of its stories was the result of hacking, but in an article dated July 21, 2008, journalist Gerard Tubb said the channel had uncovered documentary evidence showing that John Darwin had decided to come back to England because he was having trouble staying in Panama.

"We discovered an email," the article begins, without giving any explanation of how the message was obtained.

Sky's public interest defense immediately drew skepticism from British legal experts.

David Allen Green, media lawyer at Preiskel & Co., said that there was no such thing as a public

interest defense as far as Britain's Computer Misuse Act was concerned.

"It is not possible for the editor of any news organization to authorize criminal acts," said Green, who's been a frequent critic Murdoch's News Corp.

Britain's Crown Prosecution Service can decide, however, that it wouldn't serve the public interest to file charges.

"As Sky News took the hacked emails to the police themselves, it appears that any prosecution was decided not to be in public interest," he said in a message posted to Twitter.

The revelation, first reported in Britain's Guardian newspaper, is a further headache for Murdoch, whose international media empire has spent the better part of a year in the spotlight over widespread illegal behavior at his now-defunct News of the World tabloid.

News Corp. owns a 39.1 percent stake in BSkyB, which owns Sky News, and Murdoch was forced to abandon a potentially lucrative bid for full control of the broadcaster after the scandal boiled over in July.

His son James stepped down Tuesday as BSkyB's chairman.

Government Vacancy JOB TITLE: RADAR OPERATOR – LEVEL 2 SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: An exciting opportunity awaits you for the post of Radar Operator Level 2 in the Ministry of Border Control and Labour. Under the direction of the Radar Supervisor, Ministry of Border Control the post holder is responsible for maintaining a schedule of maintenance of the equipment, performs routine tests on radar sub systems, computers and support equipment, analyzing and reporting radar activity indicated by the Turks and Caicos Coastal Radar system plus taking action to inform the appropriate agency. Tracks radar targets and prepares reports of activities. Communicates with appropriate agency to analyze speed, heading, likely destination and other tracking, etc. information of selected radar targets. Performs technical maintenance on a scheduled and “as required” basis. Works on a rotating 24 hour shift including statutory holidays. Compiles clear, concise incident reports in written form and within a limited time frame.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE The post holder must possess a marine qualification showing seagoing experience plus ability to read and interpret marine charts. Must have mathematical and English written language education to a senior high school level. GMDSS Communication training certification; Maritime Radio Communications General Certificate (MRGC) or Electro-Technical Officer Training with Radio and Radar modules; or be able to demonstrate

WORLD NEWS Libya refuses to surrender Gaddafi's son to ICC Libya has rejected a request to hand over Saif al-Islam Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court.

It insists that Saif al-Islam, the late ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi's son, will be tried in Libya.

It follows an ICC ruling on Wednesday that Libya must make arrangements to hand Saif al-Islam to the Hague court.

Saif al-Islam is wanted by the ICC in connection with the violent suppression of protests during last year's Libyan uprising.

However, Libya's governing National Transitional Council wants to try him in the country. A special prison and court was being built in preparation for the 39-year-old's trial, a government spokesman said.

He did not say when the trial would happen.

Saif al-Islam is currently being held by a militia from the town of Zintan at a secret location.

Human Rights Groups have complained that he has not been allowed access to a lawyer - a right set out in international law.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Saif al-Islam, as well as his father and the former intelligence chief, Abdullah al-Senussi, in June.

Mr Senussi was arrested last month in Mauritania and Libya is also keen to try him at home.

But the ICC says a UN Security Council resolution obliges Libya to co-operate with the court and hand the men over to international justice.

operational and technical certification equivalency at a UK Commonwealth, North American or military standard. Must have a good to excellent command of oral and written English.

Proficiency in oral French and/or Spanish would be beneficial.

Certificate of electronics proficiency with emphasis on microwave and radar technology.

The post holder will ideally possess a minimum of two (2) years experience in a mix of seagoing and shore side marine communications roles involving Ship or Port operations and possibly including Vessel Traffic Services (VTS); Search and Rescue (SAR); or Coast Guard/Border Security experience with two (2) years minimum experience. Able to work effectively in a team oriented environment. Two (2) years experience in maintenance of microwave and/or radar systems including trouble analysis and routine testing and repairs.

SALARY $27,000 PER ANNUM For more information on the Job Description, please contact the Office of the Public Service Management Telephone 649-9462801 Extension: 10318, Facsimile: 649-946-1582, E-mail: recruitment@gov.tc . All resumes should be addressed to Mr. Mark Greenway, Director of the Human Resource Management Directorate, Church Folly, Grand Turk. Resumes must include applicants current contact information and be accompanied by two letters of reference and a police certificate. Serving Officers should apply through their Heads of Department.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20th April 2012 ONLY SUITABLE CANDIDATES WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED

Page 38

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WORLD NEWS

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

Call for Nigerian to head World Bank A group of former World Bank officials has written a letter backing Nigeria's Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to be its next president.

Traditionally the post is given to the candidate put forward by the US, which this time is Dr Jim Yong Kim. But in an open letter, 39 former economists and managers said the Bank should choose the next chief on merit.

Another group of economists this week signed a petition backing Colombia's Jose Antonio Ocampo.

This is the first time the World Bank has had to choose between candidates since its creation more than 60 years ago.

The executive board of the Bank has to choose between Mrs OkonjoIweala, a former World Bank managing director, Jose Antonio Ocampo, a former finance minister of Colombia, and Jim Yong Kim, a public health expert and president of Dartmouth College in the US. The Bank is holding interviews next week and plans to select the successor to outgoing president Robert Zoellick by 20 April, when it starts its spring meetings with the IMF.

Nigeria's Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The three-way fight is attracting increasingly passionate comment from candidates' supporters. It has also shone a light on the way the World Bank chooses its head.

The US, which is the Bank's largest shareholder, has always picked the Bank's president. It, Europe and Japan have 54% of the votes.

Under an informal arrangement, in return, Europe appoints a European as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is the Bank's sister

Mega Millions winner says ticket still hidden inside Baltimore McDonald’s One of the three Mega Millions jackpot winners says her winning ticket remains stashed away inside the Baltimore McDonald's where she works. But some of Marlinde Wilson's co-workers think she is telling a Big Lie. "I left my ticket there, and it's somewhere safe that only I know about," Wilson told the New York Post. "I'm waiting for things to calm down so I can go back to McDonald's and get it. The people [at McDonald's] are too excited. I want their heads to cool down before I go back."

Wilson claims to have purchased one of the three winning Mega Millions lottery tickets. The three winners will each receive a share of the record-breaking $640 million jackpot. If Wilson's story is true, that would mean a $105 million ticket (after taxes) is stashed away somewhere inside the fast food restaurant.

Wilson's co-workers appear to be split in their opinion of her but all who have spoken to the media seem to share some animosity toward the Haiti native. Some of Wilson's colleagues say she is attempting to cheat them out of what should be shared winnings from a pool of lotto tickets 14 of the McDonald's employees purchased together.

And Wilson's manager, identified only as "Layla" by the Post, says she thinks Wilson isn't telling the truth about hiding the ticket inside the McDonald's. "That's impossible.

She didn't come back here" after she purchased the ticket, Layla said.

CBS News has also raised questions about whether or not Wilson actually purchased one of the three winning tickets. Mega Millions officials say they do not know who actually purchased the ticket. They have only been able to confirm that the winning ticket was in fact purchased at a Baltimore 7-Eleven just four hours before the winning numbers were announced.

The Post also raises some question's about Wilson's character, noting she has a Facebook page under the alias Sheila Paraison, on which she says she will donate her winnings to relief efforts in Haiti.

institution. It is currently run by Frenchwoman Christine Lagarde.

Emerging economies have become increasingly unhappy with this system and are pushing for change.

The leaders of Russia, Brazil, China, India and South Africa recently called for a review of that weighted voting system.

The letter in support of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, which is signed by high-ranking managers and economists, including Tunisia's central bank chief, Mustapha Nabli, criticised some aspects of the selection process.

It said that it still involves nomination by governments, based in part on nationality, and without an agreed list of qualifying criteria.

It called for the process to be made in "an open, transparent, merit-based, and competitive manner rather than simply appointed in line with understandings that no longer reflect the world as it is today".

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala herself has called for a televised debate between the three candidates.

Her supporters said: "We believe that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala has outstanding qualifications across the full range of relevant criteria."

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala "would bring the combination of her experience as finance and foreign minister of a large and complex African country with her wide experience of working at all levels of the Bank's hierarchy in different parts of the world, from agricultural economist to managing director".

It says "she would be the outstanding World Bank president the times call for" and pointed out that should would be the institution's first female leader.

They said they cared too much about the institution not to speak out.

The petition is support of Mr Ocampo was signed by economists from countries including China, India and Brazil, as well as two former governors of the Chilean central bank.

It pointed to his background working for UN agencies where "his intellectual leadership and commitment to development led to significant improvements in these institutions contribution to development thinking and to development policy design".

He has also been setting out his views of the future shape of the World Bank.

Bin Laden relatives get short prison sentence ISLAMABAD — A Pakistani court sentenced Osama bin Laden's three widows and two of his daughters to 45 days in prison on Monday for illegally living in the country, ordering them deported when the sentence ends, their lawyer said.

With credit for time served, the women and several of their other children will leave Pakistan later this month, said lawyer Mohammed Amir Khalil. They have been in detention since American commandos killed bin Laden in a large house in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad on May 2, but they were formally charged with immigration offenses only last month. The Americans left the women and children behind in the house after they flew off with bin Laden's corpse.

The women may have information about how bin Laden managed to remain undetected for close to 10 years after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S., despite being the subject of a massive international manhunt. The youngest, 30-year-old Yemeni wife Amal Ahmed AbdelFatah al-Sada, has told investigators bin Laden lived in five houses while on the run and fathered four children, two of whom were born in Pakistani government hospitals.

Pakistani officials have said they had no idea the al-Qaida chief was in Abbottabad, something many in Washington found hard to believe because his compound was located close to Pakistan's equivalent of the West Point military academy. The U.S. has not found evidence indicating senior Pakistani officials knew of bin Laden's whereabouts, but said he must have had some form of "support network."

Two of the widows are Saudi and one is Yemeni. Khalil said Yemen has consented to the return, but he is still in discussions with Saudi officials. Saudi Arabia stripped bin Laden of his

citizenship in 1994 because of his verbal attacks against the Saudi royal family.

The five women were also ordered to pay a fine of about $110 each, which has already been done, said Khalil. The lawyer said he does not plan to appeal.

The three widows would like to be deported to the same country to "stay as one family," he said.

A Yemeni Foreign Ministry official said the country has not received a request to grant the Saudi widows residency.

Al-Sada told investigators she flew to Pakistan in 2000 and traveled to Afghanistan, where she married bin Laden before the Sept.

11 attacks.

After that, the family "scattered," she said, and she traveled to Karachi in Pakistan. She later met up with bin Laden in Peshawar and then moved to the Swat Valley, where they lived in two houses. They moved one more time before settling in Abbottabad in 2005.

Al-Sada, said to be bin Laden's favorite wife, was shot and wounded in the leg during the raid.

The compound in Abbottabad was a crowded place, with 28 residents — including the 54-year-old bin Laden, his wives, eight of his children and five of his grandchildren, according to Brig. Shaukat Qadir, a retired Pakistani army officer who spent months researching the bin Laden raid and said he was given access to interrogation transcripts.

The bin Laden children ranged in age from his son Khaled, who was in his 20s and was killed in the raid, to a 3-year-old born during their time in Abbottabad, said Qadir. Bin Laden's courier, the courier's brother and their wives and children also lived in the compound.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

Page 39

Facebook ecommerce the next big thing?

READ ON PAGE 40

Americans brace for next foreclosure wave GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio - Half a decade into the deepest U.S. housing crisis since the 1930s, many Americans are hoping the crisis is finally nearing its end. House sales are picking up across most of the country, the plunge in prices is slowing and attempts by lenders to claim back properties from struggling borrowers dropped by more than a third in 2011, hitting a four-year low.

But a painful part two of the slump looks set to unfold: Many more U.S. homeowners face the prospect of losing their homes this year as banks pick up the pace of foreclosures.

"We are right back where we were two years ago. I would put money on 2012 being a bigger year for foreclosures than 2010," said Mark Seifert, executive director of Empowering & Strengthening Ohio's People (ESOP), a counseling group

with 10 offices in Ohio.

"Last year was an anomaly, and not in a good way," he said.

In 2011, the "robo-signing" scandal, in which foreclosure documents were signed without properly reviewing individual cases, prompted banks to hold back on new foreclosures pending a settlement.

Five major banks eventually struck that settlement with 49 U.S. states in February. Signs are growing the pace of foreclosures is picking up again, something housing experts predict will again weigh on home prices before any sustained recovery can occur.

Mortgage servicing provider Lender Processing Services reported in early March that U.S. foreclosure starts jumped 28 percent in January.

More conclusive national data is not yet available. But watchdog group, 4closurefraud.org which helped

uncover the "robo-signing" scandal, says it has turned up evidence of a large rise in new foreclosures between March 1 and 24 by three big banks in Palm Beach County in Florida, one of the states hit hardest by the housing crash Although foreclosure starts were 50 percent or more lower than for the same period in 2010, those begun by Deutsche Bank were up 47 percent from 2011. Those of Wells Fargo's rose 68 percent and Bank of America's, including BAC Home Loans Servicing, jumped nearly seven-fold -- 251 starts versus 37 in the same period in 2011.

Bank of America said it does not comment on data provided by other sources. Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank did not comment.

Housing experts say localized warning signs of a new wave of foreclosure are likely to be replicated across much of the United States.

Online foreclosure marketplace RealtyTrac estimated that while foreclosures dropped slightly nationwide in February from January and from February 2011, they rose in 21 states and jumped sharply in cities like Tampa (64 percent), Chicago (43 percent) and Miami (53 percent).

RealtyTrac CEO Brandon Moore said the "numbers point to a gradually rising foreclosure tide as some of the barriers that have been holding back foreclosures are removed."

One big difference to the early years of the housing crisis, which was dominated by Americans saddled with the most toxic subprime products -with high interest rates where banks asked for no money down or no proof of income -- is that today it's mostly Americans with ordinary mortgages whose ability to meet payment have been hit by the hard economic times.

"The subprime stuff is long gone," said Michael Redman, founder of 4closurefraud.org. "Now the folks being affected are hardworking, everyday Americans struggling because of the economy."

Oil rises to near Struggling Avon rejects $102 in Europe $10 billion takeover after sell-off Oil prices edged up to near $102 a barrel Thursday, rebounding from a two-day sell-off fueled by a jump in U.S. crude supplies and speculation the Federal Reserve won't implement another monetary stimulus to boost economic growth.

By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for May delivery was up 48 cents to $101.95 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $2.54 to settle at $101.47 per barrel in New York on Wednesday.

In London, Brent crude for May delivery was up 34 cents at $122.68 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

On Wednesday, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said crude inventories surged last week by 9 million barrels, or 2.5 percent, to their highest level since June. The supply jump was the largest on record for that week of the year, energy trader and consultant The Schork Group said in a report.

"The report strikes us as bearish for crude in the short term," Schork said. "Is the $100 mark next?"

Crude had mostly traded between $104 and $109 since February until this week, when investors eyed minutes from the Fed's last meeting in March that suggested the economy is gradually improving enough so a third round of Treasury purchases, known as quantitative easing, could be unnecessary.

Global stock markets, which oil traders look to as an overall measure of investor sentiment, also dropped. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 1 percent Wednesday while most Asian and European stock markets slid Thursday.

Energy consultant Ritterbusch and Associates said over time oil could fall below $100 and then to around $94 to $95 a barrel.

Coty, a leading global beauty company, said Monday it has made an offer to buy struggling cosmetics company Avon Products in a deal valued at approximately $10 billion.

The offer, of $23.25 per share in cash, represents a premium of 20 percent over the closing level of Avon shares last Friday. Shares of Avon surged on the news in trading Monday.

Avon said Monday it has carefully considered the offer, but has rejected it, calling it “opportunistic” and “not in the best interest of Avon’s shareholders.”

Linda Bolton Weiser, an analyst at Caris & Company, told CNBC Monday the bid might end up being a positive for Avon, as it implies that the company’s direct-seller model of retailing is still relevant.

Coty said it decided to make the transaction public “in order to inform Avon's shareholders of the significant value in a transaction.” Coty added “it has no intention of pursuing an acquisition on a hostile basis.”

“Our objective is to engage in discussions with Avon and conduct due diligence so that we and Avon can together determine if there is a basis for a transaction,” Bart Becht, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coty, said in a statement.

“We believe Avon’s shareholders would

want their Board to explore with us the benefits to shareholders of a transaction,” Brecht said.

Becht detailed the details of the deal in a letter to Avon's board of directors.

Coty said it has held extensive discussions with its financing sources about obtaining the debt and equity financing necessary to complete the transaction, and is confident it will obtain the necessary financing for the transaction.

Known in the U.S. for its “Avon ladies,” who sell Avon’s products door to door and to friends and family, Avon has struggled in recent years, turning in poor performances in key markets such as Brazil and Russia.

The company has also suffered from a leadership vacuum.

Avon said late last year it has begun a search to replace chief executive Andrea Jung, who will remain as chairman. Jung has attracted the ire of investors because of slumping sales and a federal probe about whether the company broke bribery laws overseas

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BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

APRIL 6TH- APRIL 13TH, 2012

Facebook e-commerce: the next big thing?

SAN FRANCISCO - A group of ecommerce start-ups, backed by some of the tech world's most pedigreed financiers, are betting that Facebook Inc can become an e-commerce powerhouse to rival Amazon.com Inc and eBay Inc. As the world's largest social network hurtles toward a $5 billion initial public offering, it will come under more pressure from Wall Street to find new sources of profit growth and reduce its reliance on advertising, which accounted for 85 percent of its 2011 revenue.

Some entrepreneurs and investors increasingly think "f-commerce" meaning e-commerce on Facebook - is the answer. Start-ups such as BeachMint, Yardsellr, Oodle and Fab.com are coming up with novel ways to persuade Facebook users to not just connect with friends on the social network, but to shop as well.

Backed by tens of millions of dollars from venture capital firms like Accel Partners and Andreessen Horowitz, and other big investors like Goldman Sachs, these start-ups are pushing out shopping apps, hosting online garage sales and testing out new business models on Facebook.

"E-commerce is a huge category with very strong tailwinds and it's a natural move for Facebook," said Sam Schwerin of Millennium Technology Value Partners, which owns Facebook shares and has a stake in BeachMint.

Amazon revolutionized online shopping by crunching lots of customer and purchase data to come

up with relevant, personalized recommendations. In the same vein, Facebook's combination of data, analytics and payment technology could fuel the next generation of ecommerce, Schwerin said.

Facebook declined to comment, but investors said the company understands the importance of having an e-commerce strategy.

"It's a big imperative for them," said Theresia Gouw Ranzetta of Accel Partners, an early backer of Facebook.

"They understand it's an important strategic benefit for them to make ecommerce players successful on the platform."

Facebook had 845 million monthly active users at the end of 2011, far higher than Amazon's 164 million active accounts or the eBay online marketplace's 100 million active users.

But despite that huge base, Facebook is primarily a way to

China overtakes US as world’s top grocery market The Chinese economy may have slowed from its red-hot growth pace, but that hasn’t taken a bite out of consumer demand for groceries.

China has overtaken the United States as the world’s biggest food and grocery retail market, according to a report from research firm IGD, and is expected to continue growing at a rapid clip.

IGD said the Chinese grocery sector hit 607 billion pounds ($964 billion) in 2011 versus $908 billion for the U.S. By 2015, Chinese households will spend roughly $1.6 trillion on groceries, IGD predicted, three times the amount spent in 2006. The U.S. market is expected to hit roughly $1 trillion by 2015.

“This rapid expansion (in China) has been fuelled by three main factors: rapid economic growth, population and rising food inflation,” said Joanne Denney-Finch, IGD’s chief executive.

China’s appetite for groceries is being fueled by the ongoing rise in wages among an expanding middle class, part of the government’s 30-year-old plan to transform the nation’s economy.

Though the economy came back strongly after the global recession in 2007, growth has been slowing somewhat since then. After peaking in 2010 at 10.4 percent annual growth, China’s GDP is expected to expand by 8.6 percent this year, according to estimates from Goldman Sachs.

That’s still rapid enough to continue to boost the spending power of Chinese households at a healthy clip.

“Sustained, strong wage increases should support consumption, helping the government achieve one of its key aims – the rebalancing of the economy away from its dependence on exports and investment,” according to Capital Economics Asia economists Gareth Leather and Mark Williams.

Much of the increased consumption is the result of rapid inflation, as strong demand for a variety of food and other commodities pushes up prices.

That’s expected to continue. Between 2011 and 2015, the growth of China’s grocery market will grow by 10.9 percent, double the rate of growth for the U.S. Though China’s early stages of economic growth were largely confined to coastal cities, the demand for consumer goods such as groceries is rapidly spreading inland. By 2025, according to IGS, there will be over 200 Chinese cities with a population of over a million people

connect with friends, and not an online shopper's first destination. Big retailers including J.C. Penney, Gap and Nordstrom had previously set up stores on Facebook but shut them after generating few sales.

That has not stopped venture capital firms from pouring money into rookie companies they think have cracked the code.

There is a lot of buzz about Fab.com, a one-year-old company that has amassed 2 million users who broadcast their purchases via a "bought" button that advertises their shopping habits to friends. Fab built its user base in part by offering $5 a month to those who sign up - Chief Executive Jason Goldberg said "tens of thousands" opted in.

BeachMint co-founder Diego

Berdakin said his company had set up a live video event called StyleMint.tv last holiday season featuring a brief appearance by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's sister, Randi Zuckerberg.

For about two hours, they showcased BeachMint products that people could buy with one click.

More than 50,000 Facebook users watched the show and a "huge percentage" bought something, Berdakin said, adding, "At the time, it was the biggest day in our history in terms of sales."

Yardsellr, started in 2010 by former eBay manager Danny Leffel, organizes people into 3,000 communities, or "blocks," based on common interests.

When someone posts a product for sale, it is sent to the news feeds of people in that block and purchases can be made with a few clicks.

Gross merchandise sales, a measure of the value of products, has been growing about 30 percent a month, according to Leffel. "Social commerce could be bigger than eBay," he argued.

Then there's Oodle, a start-up headed by Craig Donato, who runs Facebook's official marketplace, which boasts more than 3 million unique monthly users. When buyers and sellers post items, their Facebook identities are attached, giving users more confidence in the transactions, Donato said.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Veranda is currently seeking qualified candidates that have the requirements listed along with an outgoing professional manner. Our ideal candidates must love to work with different types of people, meet challenges with a positive attitude and live the standards of our organization.

HOUSEKEEPING QUALITY COORDINATOR

• Establishing inspection sheets for each different room type • Create scoring process for inspections • For correction documentation for low scores • Training process for new employees • Arrange certification for top scorers (American Hotel Asso’c) • Establishing new processes in the cleaning of rooms to reduce waste of materials and time • Gathering data from Guest Comment Cards and Trip Advisor, tracking same and establishing trends • Establishing and leading Problem Solving Teams within the Housekeeping and Laundry Departments; using a formal problem solving process to determine where resources/funds should be allocated to improve the product/service.

REQUIREMENTS • Professional certification in Training for Hospitality Industry.

• 5 Star Experience is preferable.

• Moderate knowledge of French and Spanish is a plus.

• Able to work flexible hours, weekends, holydays, evenings, etc • Previous experience in elaboration of Training manuals.

• Physically able to work (walk) on the floors up to 6 hrs. daily Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience

Interested persons may contact our Human Resource Manager No later than April 16, 2012 Email: deleria.simms@verandatci.com Or hand deliver to our office at Veranda Resort and Residences Princess Dr. Lower Bight, Providenciales

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 41

APRIL 6TH - APRIL 13TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Turks and Caicos Islands Carifta Track and Field Championships team named.

Read More on PG

Western Warriors are Fire Supplies Girls League

The Island Fire Supplies Girl’s La Cruz pass. The All Stars continued Development League finished in dramatic to dominate possession and with fashion last weekend as the Western three minutes remaining Hinds gave Warriors were crowned champions. her team a lifeline when she pulled Before the final all three teams were in a goal back. However, despite their contention to win the league with the best efforts the All Stars could not get Provo All Stars firmly with a two point the second goal they needed to wrest lead over the Eastern Eagles and the the trophy.

Warriors a further point behind.

Following the final game Godfrey However, three closely fought Been and Gerry Gregg of Island encounters saw the Warriors, who started Fire Supplies were on hand to give the day in third place, claimed the title. out awards to the teams. Provo All In the opening game the Warriors Stars finished in second spot behind carved out a 1-0 win against the Eagles. the warriors but even the third place Both teams knew that only a win would Eagles were close behind. give them a chance of overtaking the Provo Technical Director Matthew All Stars and in an evenly fought match Green thanked all the players, Sarah Cenary saw her team to victory with a Junior MVP Deasia Ewing is presented with her trophy by Godfrey Been of the Sports referees and sponsors for making the Commission, while looking is Gerry Gregg of sponsor Island Fire Supplies. direct free kick from 25 yards. Amelie Speer league happen. ”The league has been almost equalized in the dying minutes of the a tremendous success as it has given a La Cruz scored her second of the game from the game but Guerline Hall pulled off a tremendous lot of our young girls a chance to play 11-a-side penalty spot. Alfrena was the provider again as her football for the first time whilst encouraging some save to ensure the Warriors win.

The second game was filled with drama and skilful run into the box drew a foul which resulted of our older teenage player a chance to become tension. The Provo All Stars knew that victory in a penalty. De la Cruz’s fiercely struck spot kick more responsible as they organized the teams on would clinch the title and they appeared to have ensured that the final few minutes were a tense the day,” he said. the game under control after surging to a 2-0 lead. affair but neither team could break the deadlock.

The awards went as follows: Going into the final game both teams knew that Janice Fernandez opened the scoring as she got on IFS Girls Development League Winners – the end of Kadine Delphin’s cross and minutes later win would give them the championship, however Western Warriors Christina Hinds burst through the Eagles’ defence Provo All Stars had the benefit of knowing that a IFS Girls Development League Runners Up – to double the lead. Both teams had chances to draw would be good enough for them, the Warriors Provo All Stars score but the introduction of Jacinda Alfrena and would have to win to claim the title. Both sides Western Warriors MVP – Jessica Lange Yarielca De La Cruz into more attacking roles had early chances before Sarah Cenary finished off Eastern Eagles MVP – Briandie Brooks made the difference. Alfrena made a strong run on Yarileny De La Cruz’s pass to give the warriors a Provo All Stars - Monae Gooden the left wing and she found De La Cruz unmarked 1-0 lead.

Top Goalscorer – Sarah Cenary Hinds, Fernandez and Delphin all came close to in the penalty box, who turned and placed the ball Fair Play Award – Jachelle Gardiner equalizing but against the run of play Cenary added into the bottom corner.

Junior MVP – Deasia Ewing A few minutes later the Eagles drew level as De a second goal when she again finished from a De League MVP – Shinaydine Pluviose

Bears pip Warriors in thriller

The BCQS Bears came out on top of the Vix Warriors on in the TCIRFU Under 19 match Saturday by a 4 – 2 score line.

This was a match played with a level of commitment and skill that gave both teams reason to hold their heads high.

Defence was the overriding theme of the first half, and in fact the match. The Bears’ efforts without the ball in the opening period were probably the deciding factor in the match, as the Warriors dominated territory and possession but could only muster one try.

This lone try was a wonderful team effort though, finished off by Martin Rigby who crashed over in a double tackle after a great period of passing and offloading in the tackle by the Warriors that saw the ball travel from sideline

to sideline until the Bears defence Edward Jean who was tackled but was stretched to breaking point. The still provided a brilliant offload to slender 1 – 0 lead was pegged back a charging Alpha Georges who ran just before halftime when Lincoln close to 50m to score and gain the Outten scored a long range try on the reward for excellent support play.

As the clock counted down back of some more good work from his team mates as they fought hard both teams threw everything into it to claim the win but a couple to get out of their own half.

Outten was in again a few of handling mistakes from the minutes into the second half, this Warriors gave the Bears vital field time from closer range as the Bears position, and the dying minutes held the ball for long periods inside Outten stepped around the the Warriors’ 22 before he found the courageous Warriors defence for space to beat a couple of despairing his hat-trick try.

With time pretty much up the efforts to score.

This looked ominous for the Warriors attempted to go the length Warriors after they had faded last of the field to score a try to claim week to allow the Bears to claim a a second consecutive draw but late draw, but instead they came up Outten was involved again, this with the try of the match. time securing a great turnover from Edwardo Villanueva broke out the ruck which resulted in a try to beautifully from his own quarter, the elusive Leon Rene.

There were great performances and when he was cut down around halfway he found great support from all over the park, with man of the

match Outten ably supported by Rene and Abdis Casseus. Edward Jean was once again simply outstanding for the Warriors with his brilliant tackling, while his brother Jaebets Jean and Edwardo Villanueva were excellent with the ball in hand.

Both sides showed the benefit of a vigorous and efficient training session beforehand and will be aiming for more of the same when Under 19s rugby resumes at the Meridian Field on Saturday the 21st of April at 10.00.

The TCIRFU is running an Easter break Rugby Camp at Meridian Field on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of both weeks of the school holidays, from 9am – 12pm. Enquiries are welcome to Jamie Tait, Rugby Development Officer, at rdo@rugby.tc.

Page 42

APRIL 6TH - APRIL 13TH, 2012

LOCALNEWS SPORTS LOCAL

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Blue Hills Knight lea Bay Bistro Women’s Football Recreational

The Bay Bistro Women's Recreational Football League finished its second week of games with the Blue Knights taking an early league in the standings. Although they are undefeated so far this season, they were pushed hard by both the Red Devils and the Pink Panthers during their two games last Thursday.

Simone Smith’s loan goal proved to be the difference in the opening game against the Devils and the Knights had to wait until late on in their game against the Panthers before Yarielca De la Cruz converted Simone Smith’s cross to give her team the lead.

Smith then added a second in the final minute but the Panthers would have gained some confidence after two good performances. Earlier in the evening they had brushed aside the Black

Warriors with a 4-0 victory. Amelie Speer helped herself to two goals and Janice Fernandez and Briandie Brooks also got on the score sheet. Fernandez had an eventful evening as she set up goals for both Speer and Brooks.

In the final game of the evening the Red Devils secured a win that keeps them in second place as they defeated the warriors by 2-0. Ruth Francois scored after being set up by Jessica Lange and Lange herself added the second after good work from Jacinda Alfrena.

Technical director Matthew Green was impressed with what he saw. “The teams are beginning to get used to each other, the older players are encouraging the younger ones and the standard is improving”. He added “the league is

Louis roars for Lions

Greg Louis saved the CIBC Lions from a near certain defeat with four tries against the Scotiabank Storm last Saturday at the Meridian Field.

The Storm started stronger with Kelano Palmer taking the ball up the middle of the field and putting the Lions on the back foot. Frankie Forbes then sold a dummy before crossing for the first try of the day.

Lions Captain CJ Outten was quick to attack following the ensuing kickoff. Outten threw a short pass to Alton Saunders before looping around him.

Having created the extra pair of hands in attack Outten sailed in to level the score.

The end to end play refused to stop as Storm Captain AJ Forbes took off down the wing only just stopped by Outten. Quick hands by Palmer saw the ball back into the hands of Frankie Forbes who scored his second try of the day. The teams then traded further scores

as Greg Louis made use of a long run by Outten to touch down before AJ Forbes touched down to regain the Storm’s lead. Frankie Forbes again went in for a try and it appeared that the Storm were going to enjoy the spoils of that Saturday morning.

Louis had different plans touching down for two quick tries and ensuring that the last five minutes would be a frenetic as the rest of the match.

The Storm tried to pressure the Lions defence but the gaps were not to be found. Palmer appeared to have made a break before Ismarck Saimphe stopped him in his tracks.

A loss of possession at midfield caught the Storm unaware and Louis latched on to the ball. Like a rocket he was gone for the try line leaving a trail of Storm defenders in his wake.

The match finished 25-25 with Greg Louis being named Man of the Match.

Bay Bistro League

very competitive but it is played in a very friendly spirit which makes it enjoyable for everyone”.

Teams will return on the 12th April for the third round of games.

MVP week 2 Juniors – Briandie Brooks (Pink Panthers) Intermediate – Jessica Lange (Red Devils) Senior – Leanna Court (Pink Panthers)

Beaches washed away Kischo

The new comers; Kischo, suffered their first defeat as they lost to Beaches as the HAB Group/Gansevoort T20 Cricket Competition continued on Sunday April 1st, 2012 at the Down Town Ball Park.

Winning the toss and asking Beaches to take first strike who then scored 209 runs for 8 wickets from their allotted 20 overs. The top scorer was Damian St .Ange with 60 runs, four fours and three sixes. Osmond Sicard contributed 48 runs and ten fours.

Bowling for Kischo, Sanjay Fatnani captured three wickets for forty eights from four overs.

When Kischo batted they reached 193 runs, for 8 wickets when the overs ran out. Pawan Kumar was once again the Top Scorer with 62 runs, five sixes and six fours, his third consecutive half-century of the competition and Cyril Fernandes added 35 runs, three fours and two sixes.

Bowling for Beaches, Ancell Williams claimed three wickets for 29 runs from four overs and Yohan Grant took 2 wickets for 28 runs, from four overs.

The man of the match: Damian St. Ange The competition continues on Saturday April 14th, Jam Turk taking on Police and Jaguars face off with KB Homes.

Delano Williams spearheads Carifta Track and Field team The team to represent the Turks and Caicos Ken-james Mullings - High Jump, long jump, Islands at the Carifta Track and Field Relay- Raymond Gardiner Championships in Hamilton, Bermuda Toto Outonye - high jump, long jump, Relay between Friday, April and Monday, April 9 – HJ Robinson was announced late this week. The names of Daryl Francios -100m, 200m, Relay, - HJ Robinson the participants are as follows: Edwin Forbes -100m, 200m, Relay- HJ Under 17 girls Helcy-Ann Sauver - 100m, 200m - Raymond Robinson Gardiner High Under 20 Boys Jetavia Howell - 100m, 200m - Raymond Luke Cox - Heptathon, relay – HJ Robinson Gardiner High Desir Phignie - 1500m, 3000m- Raymond Christian Turker-400m Relays-HJ Robinson Shyon Parker - 100m, high jump, relays Gardiner -Clement Howell Under 17 Boys

Junior Fels-Ami -100m, 200m, relays- Clement Howell Kivarno Handfield -high Jump, Long Jump Marjorie Basden Delano Williams - 200m, relays –Munro College, Jamaica Ifeanyi Otounye- Long Jump, Relays- Munro College, Jamaica Angelo Garland-400m, relays- Munro College, Jamaica Team manager: Ms. Rosalie Ingham; Head Coach - Mr. Ali Smith; Assistance Coach- Mr. Neil Harrison - Jamaica (Delano Williams’ coach).

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Saints excoach heard urging injuries READ STORY ON PAGE 44

Green tea could cloud Olympic doping tests LONDON— Olympic doping officials are considering whether to tweak their tests after a recent British study showed green tea might hide testosterone from the standard test used to spot it.

The study was a test in a lab dish so scientists aren't sure if the effects will be the same in people. But some experts say the results are intriguing

enough that Olympic testing could be updated to include that possibility.

"It's interesting that something as common as tea could have a significant influence on the steroid profile," said Olivier Rabin, scientific director of the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA. He said other foods and beverages, such as alcohol, are also known to muddle test results.

Stern says deal close to keep Hornets in New Orleans SALT LAKE CITY —Commissioner David Stern said Wednesday night that the NBA is close to finalizing a deal to keep the Hornets in New Orleans with a very favorable lease, important capital improvements, intense tax benefits and a new television deal.

Stern made the comments before Utah’s game against Phoenix. He’s in Salt Lake City for a luncheon that in part will honor late Jazz owner Larry H. Miller.

Stern prefaced his comments by telling a joke, saying “soon” when asked about the Hornets’ deal.

But he said the league was in intense negotiations with three groups.

He was hopeful he could tell team owners at a meeting next week that the deal was done, close or that he was on the verge of a deal.

Stern also said he was more “hopeful than confident” the situation regarding Sacramento’s arena would be resolved to keep the Kings from moving.

“I’m very, very hopeful that it gets on track because I think the owners have a respect for the Maloofs and I think the owners also have an enormous respect for what Sacramento has done over the years in supporting an NBA franchise,” Stern said. “It’s always been our first preference … to keep a team where they’re at if they’re playing in a good facility.”

While praising the Miller family for keeping the Jazz in Salt Lake City, Stern said the team should continue to benefit from the new collective bargaining agreement.

“It takes the edge away for people who could just throw money at it,” Stern said.

He referred to comments made recently by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

“He said under the old deal he could just throw money at things. He could stockpile players, use exceptions, do all kinds of interesting things,” Stern said.

“We think (the new CBA) is a real game-changer for leveling things out.”

The Jazz, despite no All-Stars, entered play Wednesday a game out of eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race.

Asked if he was surprised, Stern deferred, recalling how one of the great minds, Red Auerbach, once was annoyed because the Jazz had drafted Adrian Dantley and he got stuck with Kevin McHale.

“So I don’t even bother to make predictions about what’s going to happen in our league,” Stern said. “I will say that the Jazz came out of the trade with New Jersey as well as Denver came out of the trade with New York, and they’re both fighting for playoff spots and the Knicks are fighting for a playoff spot and New Jersey might be but for injuries they had. So maybe it was a good trade for all parties.”

"We may need to adjust our steroid (test) to allow us to exclude whether a test is modified by food or training or disease, before we can say that it's doping," Rabin said. He said they might have to raise their normal threshold for what is a considered a legal amount of testosterone to allow for any such interference.

In the study, researchers added green and white tea extracts — or catechins — to testosterone and tested whether the enzyme that usually detects testosterone in the body could still identify it. Tea seemed to reduce the testosterone concentration by up to 30 percent and appeared to work best when testosterone was only slightly higher than normal. Similar results have been found in rodent studies, Rabin said.

Experts say athletes taking testosterone for doping purposes typically have 200 to 300 percent more in their bodies than normal.

WADA has tight controls on other commonly consumed substances like caffeine. It bans diuretics that could mask drug use and warns athletes about taking nutritional supplements, which could be spiked with banned drugs.

The researchers said it was too early to tell what the effect of green tea might be in humans, but said other beverages or foods likely produced similar effects.

"There's no reason to think we just happened to pick the only food in the world that does this," said Declan Naughton of Kingston University, who published the green tea research with colleagues in the journal, Steroids.

Naughton said the green tea contains catechins, also found in white tea, which seem to stop an enzyme

involved in detecting testosterone. By preventing that enzyme from working, testosterone largely goes unnoticed in the body and doesn't get passed into the urine — where officials usually test for the hormone.

Charles Yesalis, a doping expert at Pennsylvania State University, said officials needed to react quickly.

"Athletes will not wait for the clinical trials," he said. "I'll bet there are already lots of athletes out there drinking loads of green tea," he added.

Yesalis said many scientists were aware of foods that could skew drug tests but would not talk publicly about them. "There's no sense helping out the doping athletes by telling them what to eat," he said.

Yesalis was unconvinced that new tests could solve the problem. "There's too much scientific uncertainty that can cloud the results," he said.

WADA's Rabin said all atypical results from doping tests involved an expert analysis, not just a lab result.

"There's a human interpretation of the data," he said, explaining that officials regularly accounted for potentially troublesome results by considering things like intense exercise, jetlag and diet.

Rabin also said it might be possible to test for testosterone in blood rather than the standard urine test.

Some experts said the limited effects of foods like green tea on masking illegal drug use would be too small to help doping athletes. "You would probably need to drink the tea continuously to get any sustained but minor effect," said Andrew Kicman, head of research and development at the Drug Control Centre at King's College London, which is providing the anti-doping laboratory for the upcoming Olympics.

"It would be a very foolish athlete who's thinking of doping with testosterone and thinks he could drink white or green tea to beat a drug test," he said. "And I personally wouldn't want to drink nine cups of tea on the day of a race."

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In audiotapes, ex-Saints coach Gregg Williams heard urging injuries NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and two other key members of the organization in New York Thursday to hear their appeal on suspensions for their part in "bounty" system. Payton received a one-year ban while former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely by the league.

CBS News correspondent Armen Keteyian reports that the release of an audio tape leaves little question what Williams had in mind.

The violent nature of the NFL is an alluring, often celebrated, part of the sport.

But even in the confines of these human car crashes, there are rules, legal and ethical boundaries prohibiting the purposeful injury of an opponent.

But now an audio tape has surfaced on this website that appears to paint a disturbing picture of the mindset of former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

The architect of the Saints pay-to-injure bounty system that implicated as many as 27 players paid as much at $1,500 for a "knockout" hit. It cost Williams his job.

"Little 32, we want to knock the (expletive) out of him," Williams is heard telling his players in a profanitylaced speech to his defensive players the night before the Saints lost a playoff game to the San Francisco 49ers last

January.

Williams appears to target specific body parts of several 49ers for injury, including running back Frank Gore's head.

"We've got to make sure we do everything in the world to make sure we kill Frank Gore's head. We need to decide on how many times we can meet Frank Gore's head," Williams is heard saying.

They also allegedly targeted tight end Vernon Davis's ankle.

"We need to decide how many times we can bull rush and we can (expletive) clip Vernon Davis's ankles over the pile," Williams is heard saying.

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree's already-damaged knee ligament was an apparent target.

"He becomes human when you (expletive) take out that outside ACL," Williams says.

Wide receiver Kyle Williams, coming back from a concussion, was a target too.

"That little wide receiver, number 10, about his concussion. We need to (expletive) put a lick on him right now," Williams says on the tape.

The audio recordings were made by filmmaker Sean Pamphilon, who followed the Saints last season as part of a documentary on football in the U.S. Late today he released a statement that said, in part: "Some will call me releasing this audio for fame or

Gregg Williams

money grab. People of character and conscience will call it was (what) it is: tru [sic]."

Contacted by CBS News, the NFL had no comment on the tape, while Williams could not be reached for comment. This speech came right before Williams final game in the league, just seven weeks before the bounty scandal broke.

Magic coach Van Gundy says he’s heard that Dwight Howard previously asked that he be fired ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Thursday he has been told by high-ranking team officials that star center Dwight Howard has previously asked that he be fired.

“I know he has,” Van Gundy told reporters after the team’s morning shootaround ahead of Thursday night’s matchup with the New York Knicks. “That’s just the way it is.

Again, I’ve been dealing with that all year. It’s not anything real bothersome. You go out and do your job.”

Sounds simple — something that’s become rare in Orlando.

The stay-or-go drama surrounding Howard has haunted the Magic all season. After securing Howard’s services for at least another season at the trade deadline last month, Thursday brought the latest wrinkle to the saga.

Howard has denied reports that he has asked for Van Gundy’s dismissal.

He again denied it Thursday.

“Whatever happens at the end of the season is not under my control,” Howard told reporters. “I am a player for the Magic. I am not the GM. I am not (owner) Rich DeVos I am not (Magic CEO) Alex Martins. So that’s not my job. So you guys should stop ... every other week ... trying to find something, because there’s nothing.

“I haven’t said anything to

Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy, working together

anybody about anything. Our main concern is winning. So all the other stuff should stop.”

Asked how he was sure of a report that has been circulated and repeatedly denied by Howard and other team officials throughout the season, the 52-year-old Van Gundy said he had been told by “people right in our management, right from the top.”

Van Gundy’s normal pregame media availability was canceled Thursday night.

Howard was in the locker room before the game, but didn’t address the issue any further.

Magic reserve guard Ish Smith

said he didn’t hear about the morning’s comments by Van Gundy until he arrived in the locker room to get dressed for the game. He said he doesn’t think any internal issues have played into the Magic’s recent losses.

“My mom loves soap operas, so for me to be a part of one is pretty special,” Smith joked. “From the outside I think it looks like (a soap opera), but when you’re on the inside I think it’s no effect on us. I think defensively the last three or four games has been what’s been hurting us. I don’t think anything off the court is causing us to lose these games.”

The whole episode was a definite

change in approach by Van Gundy, who is usually mum when it comes to issues dealing with his job status.

The day before the trade deadline last month, Van Gundy himself sidestepped questions about reports that Howard had asked management to jettison both himself and general manager Otis Smith as a condition for him signing a long-term contract extension.

“If they want to fire me to please somebody, fire me,” Van Gundy said at the time.

Van Gundy’s current contract runs through the end of the season. He has guided the Magic to at least 50 wins in each of his four previous seasons and led Orlando to the NBA Finals in 2009.

Howard and Van Gundy have seemingly always been on cordial terms, though he’s sometimes been critical of Van Gundy’s direct and vocal coaching style, which he has previously said can be counterproductive to team morale.

Smith and Van Gundy met during the offseason. The coach left the meeting pledging to tone down some of his intensity during games with both officials and players. So far this season he has yet to receive a technical foul.

Asked this week to address the status of Van Gundy and Smith, Martins said only that both he and Smith will undergo end-of-the-season evaluations, as do all Magic employees.

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