E-mail: sun@suntci.com www.suntci.com
IN WHAT IS one of the most drastic shake-ups in the top-brass of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force in recent memory, Commissioner of Police Edward Hall and Deputy Commissioner Hubert Hughes, will be replaced by two senior Canadian Police experts in March 2011. The announcement was made by His Excellency Governor Gordon Wetherell on Friday December 17, just after Hall created history by being the first local Commissioner to preside over the first-ever passing out parade for local recruits on local soil, at the newly-established Police Training Academy in Grand Turk. The Governor said in a press release, that with Hall, Hughes and Assistant Commissioner Sherman Clarke all due to retire or start using up their accrued leave prior to retirement over the next few months, and another Assistant Commissioner David Ryder, nearing the end of his contract, discussions with the Canadian Government on assistance for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) have increasingly focused on filling crucial leadership positions in the Force. According to the Governor: “This will provide the continuity of leadership necessary for reforms of the Force to be taken forward. It will also provide the time necessary for Officers of the RTCIPF to gain the further experience and training they need to succeed to command positions.�
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Tel: (649) 946-8542 VOLUME 6 No. 46
DECEMBER 17TH - DECEMBER 24TH, 2010
$11million Christmas tree
A luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi which unveiled a Christmas tree decorated with jewels valued at $US11 million has decided to put the record straight against criticism of having gone over the top. The Emirates Palace hotel said it regretted "attempts to overload the tradition followed by most hotels in the country", in a statement. "Putting the Christmas tree... is a tradition meant to share in celebrating occasions guests hold while they are away from
$1.00
their home countries and families," said the hotel in the United Arab Emirates capital. The tree holds a total of 181 diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones, said Khalifa Khouri, owner of Style Gallery which provided the jewellery. Emirates Palace hotel general manager Hans Olbertz said the tree, which he described as the "most expensive Christmas tree ever", will probably be an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.
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Police force shake-up: top cops to retire
LOCAL NEWS
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DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
Continued from Page 1
Wetherell said that during his visit to Ottawa last week, it was agreed that two senior Canadian police experts will fill the posts of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police for a period of two years from March 2011 to coincide with when the current Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner go on pre-retirement leave. He added: “I am very grateful to Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and its Anti-crime Capacity Building Programme for this generous offer which will ensure a managed succession for two of the most important posts responsible for the safety and security of the Turks and Caicos Islands and all who live here. At the same time I would like to take this opportunity to thank Commissioner Edward Hall and Deputy Commissioner Hubert Hughes for their years of distinguished service to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. I look forward to a smooth transition and to announcing details of the new Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner in due course.” Hall, a Turks and Caicos Islander, and Hughes, who is a native of Anguilla, are veterans of the Police Force, having worked their way up through the ranks over the years. The announcement Friday was hardly surprising to many observers, since it had long been speculated, especially after the speciallycommissioned Police Report which
His Excellency Governor Gordon Wetherell
has yet to be made public, that there was going to be a major shake-up in the top ranks of the force. Coincidentally, a few months ago, Trinidad and Tobago replaced its local Commissioner and his deputy with a Canadian Dwayne Gibbs and a Canadian deputy Jack Ewatski. Antigua also recently had a Canadian deputy Commissioner of Police, Neal Parker and there have been reports that Barbados is about to replace its Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin and his deputy Bertie Hinds with two younger locals. Last week, the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), announced that two senior Canadian police experts will serve with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) as part of Canada’s
Deputy Commissioner Hubert Hughes
drive to strengthen security in the Americas. “This project demonstrates Canada’s commitment to addressing security challenges in our neighbourhood,” said Minister of State Kent. “Every investment Canada makes in the region helps to enhance security at home.” He announced that Canada’s contribution will be used to place two senior Canadian police experts in the posts of RTCIPF commissioner and deputy commissioner for two years. These placements, it was reported in the Canadian media, will provide the continuity of leadership necessary for reforms of the Force to proceed, while also helping build securitysector capacity that directly benefits Canadians and the Caribbean region as a whole.
Commissioner of Police Edward Hall
“Canada is committed to working collaboratively throughout the Americas to establish a safer and more prosperous hemisphere,” said Minister of State Kent. “This important initiative shows we can achieve effective results by working with our regional partners to advance our shared objectives.” This project will be funded by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP), which was announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in August 2009. The ACCBP provides funding and technical assistance to combat transnational crime in the areas of drug trafficking, corruption, human trafficking and migrant smuggling, money laundering, proceeds of crime, security-sector reform and crime prevention.
Ambulance system crashes
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
By Vivian Tyson Sun Senior Editor
THE GOVERNMENT A MBULANCE Service on Providenciales is paralyzed and in dire need of urgent aid and attention, with all three units officially out of commission resulting in the authorities resorting to using a vehicle with regular passenger seats in it, to transport the sick. The aging fleet became immobile due mainly to the wearing out of the vehicles’ transmissions. One of the units, which in the past operated without the reverse gear, now cannot start at all; another even if started could neither move forward nor backwards; while the third, in addition to having starting problems, releases plumes of smoke if by remote chance the ignition does work. A source at the Ministry of Health summed up the state of the ambulance service this way: “It is non-existent. It is absolutely gone from bad to worst. I can tell you that there is absolutely no ambulance service in the TCI.” The source continued: “I don’t know how those regular workers at the Ambulance Service are coping, because they must be working in sheer frustration at this time, knowing that calls are coming in and they can’t respond. This makes them look inept and clueless. The sole
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Ambulances parked on the former Myrtle Rigby Health Complex
ambulance in Grand Turk is just barely working.” The matter was brought to light by a member of the public, who said when called 911 to report an emergency, waited “almost forever” before a response came, and when it finally did, was in the form of a silver Dodge Sprinter van with no space for a stretcher. Checks made by The SUN revealed that the all three units on Providenciales, including one recently turned over to the Medical Department by Associated Medical Practices and another donated to that
department by the Church of Christ last year, are all out of commission due to mechanical failure. Over the past few months, the Ambulance Service on Providenciales has been experiencing difficulties. However, it appeared as if the solitary ambulance that was being used for everything, worked for the last time last Friday, December 10, grinding the service to a halt. Due to the state of affairs, the numerous calls that went in to that service could not be responded to, resulting in individuals having to
Ministry of Home Affairs and Public Safety
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LOCAL NEWS find alternative means to transport their sick to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, and according to the source, from all indications it appears as if minute efforts were being made to get the service up and running or to overhaul the system. While the Dodge Sprinter, which is primarily driven by the unit’s supervisor, was given to the service to assist with transportation of the sick, members of the public continued to complain that they were not being served, since when calls are put through, more times than not, the excuse giving for not responding on time or at all was that the vehicle was off property tending to nonemergency issues. When contacted, Director for Health Services, Dr. Rufus Ewing said efforts were being made to get the service back up and running, saying that the vehicles’ upkeep has been contracted to Tibor’s Machine shop and not the government garage. Dr. Ewing also said before mid January, the Turks and Caicos Islands Ambulance Service should get two new vehicles to be shipped in From Canada. He said the Health Service aims is to rebuild the ambulance system into a strong unit, which he said would not be turned over to private ownership, even though interests have been shown by private enterprises to have the service change hands.
Licensing of vehicles
The Ministry of Home Affairs wishes to announce that, after much detailed consultation with relevant stakeholders, taking into consideration the views of Taxi Associations and Hotel operators, draft legislation dealing with the licensing and operating of public service vehicles is now complete. The draft legislation was scheduled to be taken before the Advisory Council at their last sitting for their approval and forwarding to the Consultative Forum for debate. Regrettably, due to circumstances beyond our control, this was not possible. The new draft legislation is now scheduled to be presented to the first sitting of the Advisory Council in early January and to the Consultative Forum shortly thereafter. We thank all concerned for their patience in resolving this matter. We urge stakeholders to remain patient pending introduction of the new legislation and to continue to work together in the best interests of the industry and our economy. The new legislation will bring order to the transport industry which we recognise has been in need of a new legal platform for very many years.
CORRECTION
In our December 3th to 10th edition, while reporting on the Labour Tribunal case between Andy Lightbourne (Applicant) and the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (Respondent), we said: “Under cross examination (Kenneth) Abrams (Financial Controller for the TCIAA) said he felt threatened and intimidated by Lightbourne during the meeting.” That line should have read: “Under cross examination, Abrams said he NEVER felt threatened or intimated during the meeting. Also we missed reporting that Lightbourne, prior to the ruling, indicated through his attorney that he wished to seek compensation instead of reinstatement due to the time lapse on the matter, and was awarded monetarily. The Tribunal arrived at its decision upon finding that the Airports Authority breached its own disciplinary procedures as stated in its decision to terminate Lightbourne, which was reported in The SUN. We regret the error and any inconvenience it may have caused.
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
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Senior Editor: Vivian Tyson Web Designer: Patrina Moore-Pierre Graphics Editor: Joleen Grant Office Manager: Dominique Williams Distribution Manger: Kelano Howell Advertising and Marketing ManagerPatrina Moore-Pierre
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.
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Crime on the decline in Turks and Caicos Islands, says police top brass
LOCAL NEWS
MASS REDUCTION – THAT is how Commissioner of Police Edward Hall described the success by his charges in fighting dangerous crimes which reared its ugly head in recent time in the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially on Providenciales. The commissioner, who gave a news conference last week Friday, December 10, at the Chalk Sound Police Station, credited the success so far to police initiatives - Alpha Two which saw police personnel journeying from Grand Turk, North Caicos and South Caicos, to assist their Provo colleagues on that island, to mount operations aimed at caging the crime monster. According to him, 243 crimes were reported across the Turks and Caicos Islands up to November last year, while up to November this year; the country recorded 143 crimes across the country. Alpha Two commenced in October as a response to the crime wave which was threatening to unsteady the equilibrium of the TCI. “As you know, we launched Alpha Two due to the level of crime that was being experienced in Providenciales in particular, and we thought that it was necessary to act and to act decisively. As I always say, we need to do a whole lot to prevent crime from happening, and if we do a lot to prevent crime from happening, then certainly we diminish
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Rodney Adams
the need to spend a whole lot of hours and money to investigate them.” Commissioner Hall said the success so far was primarily due to the diligence of the men and women who he said sacrificed family time and social life to put in additional hours on the streets in arms way. “I have to say, really to the men and women of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, how grateful I am to them for the work that they have been doing under really strenuous and (other) circumstances that are beyond what you can comprehend. And the fact that they do so willingly; and the fact that they do so without complaining, is credit to
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
them and credit to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. These officers took one day less off, just to make sure that we have this operation running the way we want it to, and to ensure success,” Commissioner Hall said. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Rodney Adams, commenting on the crime situation, said 28 robberies took place across the TCI in July. He said August to October saw a drop to an average of 12 per month, adding that during November when Operation Alpha Two was in full force, there were only three robberies recorded. Adams heaped praises on Commissioner Hall, who he said executed sound vision and judgment in implementing Alpha Two, saying similar operations in the past reaped success. For his part, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dave Ryder, said Alpha Two, which comprised rigorous strategies to tackle criminality in general, would be on-going. ACP Ryder pointed out that each Monday, a task meeting is held to review its
Dave Ryder
operation and to plan new strategies, to stay ahead of the criminals. He said on Thursdays, what he described as reader meetings – to review actions of the past three days - are held. “The operation specifically focuses on taking the serious serial and organized offenders out of circulation. We identify them through intelligence and investigations, and where practicable we arrest them. The second approach is to disrupt, deter and make it as difficult as possible for other would-be offenders to offend and commit violent crime. “The third strand is to utilise intelligence in everything that we do, so we gather intelligence, we listen to the community, we interview suspects and we gather up and analyze it to help us make the decision as to what to do next,” ACP Ryder said. In the meantime, ACP Ryder said the feedback from the community has been tremendous, as most members of the public believe that crime on Providenciales and the Turks and Caicos Islands in general is down.
CARIBBEAN TOURS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
aNaLIa LaINe ForbeS SeeKS
1 Labourer Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 246-9525
Professional needed to assist management of a tour operation, currently working with major cruise lines. The successful candidate must reside in Grand Turk and have a minimum of five (5) years experience working with major cruise lines ships. Such experience must include tour inventory allocation and tour inventory management; pier-side operations and logistics; shore to ship communications and tour operational planning and development. Additional experience should include attraction management and/or marketing as well as tour development. Must also be proficient in Excel, Work, PowerPoint and QuickBooks and possess excellent communication skills – verbal and written. Language skills and a business degree will be considered a “plus”. Must be able to effectively communicate with company accountant and understand basic accounting principles. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. INTERESTED APPLICANTS SHOULD CALL 649-431-4022
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New Airport Transfer Bill ready for debate
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
TOURISM
STAKEHOLDERS,
hoteliers and members of the Providenciales Taxi Association will have to wait until January 2011 to see what the new draft legislation for licensing and operation of public service vehicles entails. Government said the proposed Bill, which was completed recently, was to have been presented before the Advisory Council for scrutiny this month, then tabled before the Consultative Forum for debate. However, the Bill did not make it to either of the bodies, due to what the Governor’s Office described as “circumstances beyond its control”. The new draft legislation will now be presented at the first sitting of the Advisory Council in early January and later before the Consultative Forum. The Government was forced to craft the new draft legislation after members of the Taxi Association and hoteliers butted heads in disagreement over who should shuttle commercial airline guests between the Providenciales International Airport and the resorts. According to the taxi operators, the hotels refused to use their service, opting instead to use private carriages for their guests. As a result, President
PRIMARILY
LOCAL NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
of the Turks and Caicos Associated Taxis, Toussaint Capron, accused a number of the resorts and other private persons of picking up guests from the airport, even while under the law they were allowed so to do, since they were not issued with the necessary permits. Capron, at the time, the transportation of passengers between the airport and resorts should be restricted to Belongers only. He said since hotels were not granted operation licenses and their drivers did not have public service licenses, under the law they were not allowed to pick up guests. However, the Hotel Association shot back, saying that a great number of their guests were VIPs who often made certain requests, including traveling arrangements before arriving. It stated that a number of their guests requested VIP transportation, which they argued Taxi Association did not provide. The Hotel and Tourism Association further claimed that based on the traveling requests, guests would pay up to $110 each way, since they wanted to travel in comfort. The hoteliers further asserted that in almost all thriving tourism destinations, provisions in the law make way for
HAB Group wishes to recruit a
PRE CONTRACT QUANTITY SURVEYOR/ESTIMATOR
The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate considerable experience in the preparation of all pre contract construction documentation including but not limited to; detailed take offs, bills of quantities, specification production, material scheduling. The candidate will also need to be experience in the coordination and control of various design consultants employed in the pre contract design process wit relevant input to the design process. The candidate will be required to demonstrate a familiarity with relevant industry standard compute software such as Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Design Review and Collaborative Project management software as well as standard Microsoft Office products. Applicants for this position will possess relevant industry recognized qualifications in addition to 12 years or more practical experience. The salary range for this position is $65,000 $80,000.00 per annum, commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by December 27, 2010 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 6499465191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
guests to have transportation choices, which should also be applied to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Road Safety Department, in a bid to quell the disagreement, met with both the taxi association and the Hotel and Tourism Association, and at the end of the meeting, barred hotels from shuttling guests. Road Safety Department, pointed out that since there was no provision in the Ordinance to allow hotels or private carriers to ferry guests from the airport to their respective properties; they would not be allowed to do so any longer. However, the hoteliers appealed decision to the Governor and a review was conducted. Stakeholders in the private and public sector were then invited to make their case before the Advisory Council on the matter. The persons who appeared before the Council included Denise Saunders, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and Public Safety; Barbara Higgs, Under Secretary in that ministry; Richard Garland, former Director of Road Safety; his deputy Lionel Barranco, along with Ralph Higgs, Director of the Tourist Board. The Governor’s Office, following the meeting released a statement,
stating that it was decided that the solution to the impasse was hammering out a new legislation draft. “The Advisory Council discussed solutions to resolve the problem of public vehicle licenses and private transfers. It adopted recommendations, which it believes take into account the interests of all stakeholders. The new legislation will bring order to the transport industry which we recognize has been in need of a new legal platform for very many years.”
VISIT US ONLINE
www.suntci.com
Banking Hours during tHe CHristmas Holiday FirstCaribbean international Bank, international Banking group, royal Bank of Canada and scotiabank will be observing the following business hours during the Christmas period.
december 23, 2010 9:00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. december 24, 2010 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. december 27, 2010 Closed december 28, 2010 Closed december 29, 2010 normal Business Hours december 30, 2010 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. december 31, 2010 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. January 3rd, 2011 Closed
merry Christmas to all!
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Give us proper crime-fighting tools – Police
LOCAL NEWS
CRIME-FIGHTING WITHIN these shores can only go so far with the antiquated tools that members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are made to use, this according to Commissioner of Police Edward Hall, and his assistant Rodney Adams. Speaking at a news conference at the Chalk Sound Police Station on Friday, December 10, the top cops said the men and women of the force have been doing a tremendous job in spite of lacking the right tools with which to do so. “Let’s start with proper accommodation at our offices down at Provo, there; because, in order to expect A-1 results, working conditions have to be conducive. However, there are challenges in terms of vehicles, manpower levels and those sorts of things. Those are some of the basic things that are needed,” Adams, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of crime, noted. Also speaking on the accommodation topic, Commissioner Hall pointed out that the old Myrtle Rigby Health Complex site, in the absence of anything else, probably would be the best relocation venue for the divisional headquarters. “It is not big enough for the purpose that we seek to move
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
ACP Rodney Adams
everybody under one roof and as a result of that, it would need an extension. We have submitted the costing for that with the help of EMS (Engineering and Maintenance Services), and it is now in the process of implementation. “How long that is going to take? I don’t know, but the fact that we have been operating in a condemned building for the last 14 years, if it happens tomorrow, it would be soon enough, but I hoped it had happened yesterday,” Commissioner Hall noted. Commissioner Hall argued that if
AIR TURKS & CAICOS IS SEEKING APPLICATION FOR:
PILOTS
To be a commander of the EMB 120-ATC. Must have a valid Airline Transport Pilots license, First class medical and 3,000 hours flight time aero planes, 1,600 pilot command including 500 hours experience on multi crew turbine propeller airplanes and 100 hours on type (jet prop). Position require the following: Excellent command of the English language – reading, writing and speaking. Good communication skills and team player Detail oriented & organized individual Ability to work shifts, early mornings, late nights, weekends and Holidays. Clean police record Able to work under pressure
RAMP SUPERVISOR
1. Over 5 years experience in Ramp Supervising. 2. Over 5 years experience in maneuvering heavy duty equipment e.g. (pushing and towing aircraft). 3. Experience in general handling of General Aviation. Narrow body and wide body aircraft. 4. British Airways, JAR OPS, Supervisor Aircraft loading qualified. 5. US Airways fleet service door opening trainer. 6. Awareness Certification of acceptance/refusal of hazardous material as per IATA regulations. 7. Comprehensive knowledge in the operation of all Ground Service Equipment (GSE). MUST HAVE: Excellent leadership skills Excellent customer service skills Strong work ethics and team player Track record in successful time Management of schedule ground service projects Excellent supervisory, organizational and management skills Excellent computer knowledge
BELONGERS NEED ONLY APPLY.
Interested person should apply to HR@flyairtc.com or via fax to HR Department 649-946-4040. No phone calls please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
certain legislations were in effect, such as wiretapping, crime-fighting would be much easier, while hailing the Firearms and Detention Amendment Ordinances enacted recently, describing them as very timely. Meanwhile, ACP Adams said based on the level of crime-fighting successes that the police force has had, especially in recent time, using such archaic tools and working under such sub-human, if the right tools were provided, then they would have had more successes to boast about.
“It (level of success in crimefighting) clearly says to me and many of us in the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force that the necessary tools and the right initiatives, strategies – whatever you want to call it – being put in place, that certainly it can make a difference,” Adams said. ACP Adams said 17 homicides have been recorded over the past six years, beginning with Constable Prince Smith, who was shot to death (during a robbery of the Parrot Cay payroll in 2005), at the Leeward Marina. Of that number, nine were cleared up, but said investigations into the eight unsolved ones were still being pursued. “We are confident that with the necessary time dedicated to it (unsolved murders) – because you have to appreciate that we are thinly stretched based on some of our human resource elements – we will make some headway. Who knows, a decision might be made to get some help from the outside. “But we are still of the view that giving us the necessary tools – and this is something that I have been preaching for the last couple of years – the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force can get the job done,” Adams noted.
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DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
Sarawack Ltd
Seeking qualified individual for the following jobs;
Gardener
Requirements: Fluent in Italian, Hard worker and knowledge of pool cleaning and water analysis Driving license
2 Domestic Workers
Requirements Fluent in Italian, knowledge of the Italian cuisine. Hard worker Driving license 10 years experience CONTACT: 946-4186
CASABLANCA CASINO SEEKS 1 Dice Dealer 3-5 years experience in the casino industry 2-3 table game dealt Salary $8.00 per hour Contact Ms. Ingraham at 244-4665 Closing date December 21st
Christmas Pay and Loan Scheme Agreed For Public Servants
LOCAL NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
WITH CHRISTMAS APPROACHING, the Ministry of Finance has agreed to pay more than 2,400 public sector employees and pensioners a week early, to help them plan for the festive season. The Ministry of Finance has also reached a deal with the banks to allow public sector workers to draw a loan against future salaries, to top up their Christmas pay packet. Despite the hard economic times, it was felt that a cash boost would help hard working public servants to plan their finances during what can be an expensive time of year. All TCI Civil Servants will be eligible to benefit: 1,575 salaried staff and 645 waged staff. Permanent Secretary for Finance, Delton Jones, said: “I’m happy to say we will be able to pay the
Christmas salaries and wages early for the public sector this year. The banks have also said that they will allow public servants to draw against their future salaries. I hope that, in the Christmas spirit, it will allow people to plan for and enjoy this special time of year. “People should remember, however, that Christmas loan payments will all be taken from future pay packet, and so should budget accordingly.” Salaried public sector employees will be paid on the 21st December, 1 week early. Fortnightly payments were made on the 14th December as normal and again on the 21st December, 1 week early. • Public sector workers will be able to access a Christmas loan if they currently bank with the First Caribbean and Scotia banks.
SNAP Centre support drops
B & F STORE SEEKS
1 CARpENTER
Salary $10.00 per hour
1 DOMESTIC WORKER
Salary $6.00 per hour Contact 243-4659
CLUB SODAX SEEKS
2 WAITRESSES
Salary $5.00 per hour Interested person should contact 941-4540
SNAP Centre teachers Sheniqua Morgan and Mrs. Paulette Simmons (first and second left respectively), along with Carolyn Johnson, Special Education Teacher at Enid Capron Primary takes a photo op with students at the SNAP centre
THE SNAP CENTRE, located in Kew Town, Providenciales said it has seen its support dropped and is therefore appealing to the general public for assistance. Caregiver of the Centre, Paulette Simmons, told The SUN that financial support from the community has plummeted, but said she and other caregivers at the institution were thankful that some entities continued to give. “We get a lot of support, but not much as we have been expecting. It could be the economy, because before (the recession) we had much more support, but now things have dropped. We are still thankful to God that persons still remember us at the centre and would still come just to visit and at times, bring gifts for the children,” Simmons said. Simmons also called for more focus on special needs awareness, especially from the general public. She noted that children with special needs are not being treated with the same level of adoration and love as
those that are able bodied. According to her, children with disabilities are no less worthy than those born without disabilities. “There are a lot of people in the community not focusing on children with special needs, but I would encourage each and everyone in the community to let us focus on them because they are special like our normal kids; they are special in their own way that God had created them,” Simmons noted. At present there are six students at the SNAP Centre with ages from seven to 16 years. She noted that the SNAP Centre operates as a regular learning institution, starting each morning with regular devotion before delving into the curriculum. She said students with speech impediment are taught how to call and identify words and activities that happen in their school, home and community. Students are also taught how to pronounce their names, identify places in and around their surroundings.
She said those with the capacity to learn like normal children, but were at lower levels such as K1, when they should have been at grade two, are taught how to read, call words and are given basic math problems. Simmons gave the interview to The SUN while on a tour with the children at the Enid Capron Primary School on Friday, December 3, which was observed as World Disabilities Day. Meanwhile, Special Education Teacher at the Enid Capron Primary School, Carolyn Johnson, said each year on World Disabilities Day, children and students from that institution would visit the SNAP Centre, to have lunch and interact with the students, but the SNAP Centre decided that they would be the guests this time around. She said the children enjoyed themselves, since they spent the day interacting with children at Enid Capron and visited their playground where they had a great deal of fun.
Page 12
Bumble Bee Salads recalled
LOCAL NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Department is recommending that consumers avoid buying and consuming certain canned chicken salad products until further notice, as a result of the US Department of Agriculture recalling such products which were found to contain a potentially harmful substance. The products in question are the 8.2-ounce packages of Bumble Bee Lunch on the Run Chicken Salad lunch kit and the 3.5-ounce packages of Bumble Bee Salad with Crackers. The 8.2-ounce the package contains a 2.9-ounce can of Bumble Bee chicken salad along with crackers, mixed fruit, a cookie and a spoon. The package label indicates the product is "Mixed and Ready to Eat." The
product package indicates a "Best-by" date of 07/11. The 3.5 ounce package contains a 2.9-can of Bumble Bee Chicken salad and crackers. The package label indicates the product is "Ready to Eat." The product package indicates a "Best-by" date of 01/12 or 02/12. The cans of chicken salad bear the establishment number "P-169" inside the USDA mark of inspection and the lot code "0225XXQBC" printed on the package. Suter Co., Inc. – the supplier for Bumble Bee Foods – said it was recalling approximately 72,000 pounds of canned chicken salad products since they might contain pieces of hard plastic. The recall was prompted by consumer complaints.
Illegal drivers flee from vehicles A NUMBER OF illegal drivers whose motor vehicles were without the proper documents and themselves without driver’s licences, galloped from their vehicles leaving them at the side of the road along the Leeward Highway on Tuesday morning, December 14, during a police spot check. The police seized no fewer than ten vehicles during the operation. The vehicles which were seized by the police after the drivers had darted into nearby bushes included vans and cars. Not all the drivers fled from their vehicles, as some were seen on the scene trying to negotiate their way into securing an on-the-spot release of them, but the police would have none of it. It is suspected by the lawmen
that those who fled could have been illegal in the country. The seized vehicles were taken to the Police Canteen grounds located off Airport Road, where they would be stored. An officer on the scene told The SUN that the drivers could get back their vehicles providing that they produced the proper documentation, such as an up-to-date driver’s licence, motor vehicle registration and insurance policy. Fifty dollars per day have been levied on the storage of the vehicles, and upon payment along with the documents, would be released. The main operation took place between the LaRaye Cinema and the Felix Morley (Venetian Road) Intersection. One of the police
MICROPHARMA TCI LTD is seeking a
SENIOR RESEARCH ANALYST
Duties and Responsibilities The Senior Research Analyst is responsible for managing ongoing research and evaluation, preparation of reports And overall strategic planning for the company. Duties will include the following: • Overseeing research projects • Writing reports (e.g. research studies, feasibility studies, cost benefit analyses) • Summarizing and explaining research findings and their implications and preparing findings for publication • Managing the collection of quantitative and qualitative data (compiling, summarizing and analyzing data) • Designing and conducting surveys • Strategic planning and operations management Qualifications • MSc or MA degree in a quantitative discipline (biostatistics, statistics, econometrics or equivalent) • 10+ years of experience with at least 5 years conducting research and analysis in biotechnology or the health sciences • Experience using statistical software such as SAS, SPSS or Stata • Experience designing and conducting surveys • Excellent presentation skills • Advanced MS Office • Degree or diploma in finance or accountancy would be an asset The position will be based in the Turks and Caicos Islands, but some international travel will be required. Please email all applications to Ryan@micropharma.net c/o Ryan Jones. Successful applicants will be notified by phone for interview.
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
To date, there have been no reports of injury. The USDA categorizes this recall as Class II, which means there is a low chance of adverse health consequences. In the meantime, the Environmental Health Department is notifying food distributors throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands that with immediate effect, none of the products implicated in the recall should be displayed for sale or be used in any way for human consumption. The Ministry of Health said while to date no reports of injury was reported, is asking anyone who has consumed canned Chicken Salad products and is suffering from any signs or symptoms of an illness that may be related to the consumption of the recalled products, to report to the Turks and Caicos Medical Department or anyone any medical officer acting on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Government.
A car seized by the police being loaded on a tow truck to be taken to the Police Canteen at Airport Road
officers on the scene expressed concern for the safety of some of the drivers who ran from the scene into bushes, saying that parts along that
stretch contained deep drops, and feared that fleeing men could have at least broken a limb in their efforts to elude the police.
Kadeen agency is looking for one domestic worKer on behalf of a
client to run household. interested person must be honest and be willing to work hard without supervision. salary is $5 per hour, closing date is december 15th 2010. contact mrs. Handfield at 3443144 between 9:00am – 5:00pm
INTERISLAND AVIATION SERVICES GROUP
Ground Mechanics: Experience in repair and maintenance of the Airline ground service equipment gas/diesel engine etc. Ability to drive trucks, towing vehicles. Salary range - $8.00$10.00 per hour. All positions require the following: Excellent command of the English language – reading, writing and speaking. Good communication skills and team player Detail oriented & organized individual Ability to work shifts, early mornings, late nights, weekends and Holidays. Clean police record Able to work under pressure Belongers need only apply. Interested person should apply to HR@flyairtc.com or via fax to HR Department 649-946-4040. No phone call please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interview. Application deadline Dec 30, 2010
Page 13
LOCAL NEWS
Red Kettle aims for $15,000
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
THE TURKS AND Caicos Islands Salvation Army is looking to better the $13,500 collected last year from its Christmas Red Kettle Project, looking to raise in the region of $15,00 in its second year. The Christmas Red Kettle project, which is popular around the world, sets out to raise well-needed funds geared towards the needy in a number of different ways. This year’s launch was held outside the Graceway IGA Supermarket along Leeward Highway, and the first donation was made by that entity. Head of the Salvation Army in the Turks and Caicos Captain Matthew Trayler, in his appeal to the public to give generously, said the organization has a number of projects running, and the donations would assist in fueling the existence of those initiatives. “First of all, we have a free transportation for the elderly in Middle Caicos. Twice a week, a van goes and picks up any senior in Middle Caicos who wants to get on the van, and ride over to North (Caicos), to shop, do banking, to visit, or just to get out of their homes and be with other seniors; they are able to do that, at no cost to them. The van also takes them to doctor’s appointments and that sort of thing,” Captain Trayler said. Captain explained that the organization was also aiming to jumpstart its feeding programme, saying that last year the Salvation Army provided hot meals to at risk students, who did not get to eat at home or the ones that had hard times finding meals. “We provided 25 hot lunches a day, so last year we were able to provide a total of three thousand six
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
hundred lunches to needy students, who were unable to eat (regularly). And so we are hoping to jumpstart that programme through a (just-concluded) Thanksgiving event and the Red Kettle,” Captain Trayler noted. Captain Trayler noted that its thrift store which is located off the South Dock main road in Providenciales, not only provides affordable clothing and other items for persons at the lower end of the stratification ladder, but also raises well-needed funds for its projects. At the event, the IGA was asked to be honorary guests of the Salvation Army, and according to Manager, Ken Burns, the supermarket graciously accepted the offer, recognizing the importance of the entity in the community. “We wanted to make the first donation, because they do so much work in the community and throughout the world. We like to pay the community back for the business they bring to us, and that comes with the sharing of those revenues back into the community through the Salvation Army and other organizations that do a lot of work in the community,” Burns said, noting that each year IGA donates to hundreds and organizations and individuals. Also in attendance at the event were: Todd Foss, Advisory Board Chairman of the Salvation Army; Major Lester Ferguson, overseer for the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands Salvation Army; and Edith Cox, Account Executive at IGA. Salvation Army representatives will be stationed at the IGA Supermarket leading up to the Christmas period to collect donations in their red kettles.
SCOTIA BANK CRUISE WINNER
Mr David Gillett of Providenciales collects his prize – a certificate for a seven night cruise on the world’s largest cruise ship – the Oasis of the Sea - from Scotia Bank’s Branch Manager for Scotia Centre, Joy FieldRidley, after being announced the Provo winner for a recent credit card promotion. According to Field-Ridley, Scotia Bank recently ran a credit card campaign amongst its customers, with the winners earning a dream cruise. Customers were required to sign up on-line to participate. Every $50 spent using credit card entitled the user to earn one ballot in the contest. There were two winners from the Turks and Caicos Islands, Gillett and Ms Rosenthal Gardiner from North Caicos. Eighteen other countries in region, including the English-speaking Caribbean, participated in the campaign. Their ports of call will be Labadee, Haiti; Maya and Cozumel in Mexico. Both also received $500 cash spending money. The presentation took place at the Scotia Bank Leeward Highway branch on Thursday, December 16.
(1) LIQUOR ASSOCIATE Graceway Supermarket Requires
This position is responsible for providing superior customer service to customers while performing general duties such as: stocking, ordering, directing vendors, assisting with inventory and setting up of store displays.
ML TRUMP Agency
Leeward Highway, Providenciales is seeking and 1 cook and on behalf of grace Bay club - 1 cook Mon – Fri 6am – 5pm Salary $6 per hour contact 649 242 0521
TOP enD SeeKS
3 HigH SKiLLeD FiniSH cARPenTeR/FURniTURe Must be able to read drawings Salary $9.00 per hour interested persons should contact 331-4417 Between 10am-3pm
All applicants must be able to read, speak and understand the English Language and will be expected to sit and pass an in-house Math and English Test WAGES RANGE: $6.50 TO $7.00 / HOUR
Deadline for submission of applicants is December 23rd 2010 Submit to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracewayiga.com Previous experience will be an added plus
Please Note: Only short –listed applicants will be contacted to attend interview
ROYAL FOOTWEAR SEEKS
1 RETAIL CLERK
Must be hardworking and reliable Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 232-0833
Page 14
Turks and Caicos Islands Government sues Billionaire owner of luxury island Emerald Cay
LOCAL NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
By Hayden Boyce SUN Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
THE GOVERNMENT OF the Turks and Caicos Islands, through the Civil Recovery Unit, has brought a milliondollar law suit against billionaire Tim Blixseth, one of the richest men in America, for underpayment of stamp duty in relation to Emerald Cay, a private luxury island off Chalk Sound and Silly Creek in Providenciales. In a writ filed in the Supreme Court on December 3rd 2010, the Turks & Caicos Islands Government is seeking a declaration that adequate stamp duty was not paid, and that Blixeth, Emerald Cay Limited, Worldwide Commercial Properties Limited and Andrew Hawes are liable for the outstanding stamp duty of $1.7million as well as a penalty of $7million under section 8(c) of the Stamp Duty Ordinance, as well as damages, interest and costs. Government’s claim against the above-mentioned individuals and companies alleges that by a series of agreements of no or little practical or commercial value, they concealed the true value of the consideration paid for the land in August 2006, leading to an underpayment of stamp duty owed
Emerald Cay is owned by billionaire Tim Blixseth
under the Stamp Duty Ordinance. The Government alleges that the true consideration paid was $28 million whilst it was recorded on the Land Transfer Certificate as just $10 million, and that the defendants conspired together to enter into a scheme to avoid payment of stamp duty of $2.7million properly due, but instead they paid just $975,000. Emerald Cay was for sale last year at $75 million, but the price has since dropped to $48million. The luxury island is accessed via a remote-controlled swing bridge and a Turkish marble driveway. It
TURKS AND CAICOS WATER COMPANY LTD
TURKS AND CAICOS WATER COMPANY LIMITED is seeking suitably qualified individuals to fill the following opening. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.
MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS (2)
Job Description • Responsible for maintaining the general condition of the company’s properties with regards to all aspects of basic electrical, plumbing and mechanical. • Complete daily tasks as outlined by Supervisor. • Complete maintenance request work orders on a timely basis. • Performs all weekly, monthly and other scheduled preventative maintenance programs. • Actively pursue new tasks or jobs when assigned work is completed. • Maintain Wastewater Treat Plant. Requirements • Should have eight years experience as a Maintenance Technician or experience working in a similar position. • Must have strong skills in troubleshooting and repair of electrical, plumbing and general maintenance. • Work with minimal supervision. • On standby for 24 hours call out emergencies. • Should have great oral and written communication skills. • Must be proficient in Microsoft Office.
The salary for this position is $26,000.00 per annum. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by December 27, 2010 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
encompasses approximately 30,000 square feet of interiors all wired for everything through a Crestron system. A three-story great room has 45-foothigh cypress ceilings and there is also a three-story library, a master bedroom pavilion and an award-winning home theatre. The estate includes three guest suites, a 6,000-bottle wine cellar, two adjoining swimming pools with a waterfall, a barbecue pavilion, tennis and volleyball courts, two boat slips, a boat house, a guest house, a caretaker's home, and two private beaches.
Blixseth, a regular visitor to the Turks and Caicos Islands, has been making international headlines over the past few years after his famous Yellowstone Club went bankrupt. According to Forbes, Blixseth, founder of Yellowstone Club of Montana, ranks as the 897th richest people in the United States with a net worth of $1.3 billion. The Oregon-born Blixseth grew up poverty-stricken and eventually made millions early in his twenties by buying and selling lumber and timberland at high profits. When lumber moguls intentionally took hits on his sales causing him to lose all his money, he went out to re-develop his fortune through strategic real estate investments in the state of Montana. Apart from owning the Yellowstone Club resorts and golf courses, this billionaire also has worldwide properties, including castles in Europe. Recent news reports said Tim and his ex-wife Edra Blixseth owe the state of Montana $57 million in taxes on the money they drained from the Yellowstone Club and spent on luxury jets, cars and yachts that they wrote off as business expenses.
IMMEDIATE OPENING PASTRY CHEF
Requirements: • Must have previously worked as a pastry chef for a minimum 2-3 years in a luxury resort Duties include: • Assists in creating and developing dishes for the pastry department • Ensures the highest quality of product within cost constraints by participating in the preparation of baked goods, pastries, desserts, ice carvings and show pieces • Assists in creating daily specials and signature desserts • Assists in producing the production of all pastry items, ensuring the right quantity and the highest standards of quality Maintenance of pastry equipment • Requisitions food with necessary approvals according to policy Starting salary $17,000 per annum plus service charge
COOK
Requirements: • Experience with, and are comfortable preparing a variety of different cuisines in a fine dining environment • Understand the importance of consistency • Knowledge of food preparation techniques and health/safety requirements Duties Include: • Prepare all food items according to recipe cards and correct handling procedures. • Maintain highest quality and appearance of all foods sent from kitchen and make sure plates are clean and appetizing. • Maintain orderly and clean refrigerators and work areas. • Rotate all foods and correctly fill out production charts. Starting salary $17,000 per annum plus service charge. All applicants must be hardworking team players and must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours in length. Applicants must also be willing to work varied shifts, split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays as required to meet resort demands.
Interested applicants should apply to the Regent Palms, in person, for a first interview Monday through Friday 10AM to 12PM and bring along a recent C.V. Appointments may also be made by calling the Regent Palms Human Resources department at 946-8666 during business hours.
Page 15
Turks and Caicos participates in World Gourmet Affair
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
LIVING UP TO its reputation as a top gourmet destination, Turks and Caicos will play host to the first annual World Gourmet Affair from January 17th until 22nd, 2011. During this tasteful week-long event, five of the most exclusive resorts in the country will each be inviting an internationally renowned chef to prepare a culinary evening extravaganza. Let your senses be tempted by their passion for the culinary arts, while enjoying all the splendors the world-class resorts Amanyara, Gansevoort TCI, Grace Bay Club, Point Grace and Regent Palms have to offer. The five guest chefs hail from France, Spain, Belgium and the US bringing their creative culinary talents to the TCI. They include a Michelin star chef, a former Belgian parliamentary chef and they each own and operate their own leading restaurants in Europe and America. The resorts will each host a memorable dinner event, at which their selected guest chef will prepare a unique five course menu, paired to perfection with selected beverages.
LOCAL NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
195 USD (subject to 11% government tax and 10% service charge) per person, inclusive of the gourmet fare and the beverage pairings making this the ideal Christmas gift. You can also reserve tickets online at www.tcigourmetaffair.com The World Gourmet Affair is proudly presented by Digicel. Scotiabank Private Client Group as well as Turquoise Distribution are associate sponsors. The World Gourmet Affair is taking place in January 2011 for the first time and will return to the TCI each year with a different team of internationally acclaimed guest chefs
Chef Bernard Guillas
The highlight of the gourmet extravaganza event will be the gala dinner featuring signature dishes from all five guest chefs, to be held on January 22nd at the Regent Palms. Tickets for each of the evening affairs are available through the resorts for $120 USD (subject to 11% government tax and 10% service charge) and for the gala evening for
MECHANIC
GOLF COURSE EQUIPMENT
Provo Golf Club seeks a QUALIFIED MECHANIC. A minimum of twelve (12) years experience in golf course equipment is required and the applicant must possess the following skills and experience. • A history of maintenance of Golf Carts, mowers and tractors. • General maintenance and repairs of all equipment used and operated on the Golf Course. • Ordering or replacing any parts necessary. • An aptitude to work unsociable hours is required. • Salary is $600.00 per 44 hour week
Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by December 27, 2010 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649946-5191. Only persons selected for an interview will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
and their mouth watering specialties. The resort events will take place on: • January 17th at the Regent Palms with guest chef Christian Ville • January 18th at the Amanyara resort with guest chef Jordi Pallas • January 19th at Point Grace with guest chef Fernando Canales • January 20th at Gansevoort with guest chef Bernard Guillas • January 21st at Grace Bay Club with guest chef Eric Crutzen • And the grand finale gala dinner January 22nd at the Regent Palms About Point Grace Resort, Turks & Caicos Islands
OLINT LOSES CEASE AND DESIST ORDER APPEAL IN JAMAICA
Convicted fraudster David Smith lost his appeal against that country’s financial services commission for a cease and desist order against his former company Olint Corporation, which was accused of operating as a financial entity without the requisite credentials. The Jamaican court of appeal ruled that the financial services commission acted properly when it issued the cease and desist orders in 2006 against the failed investment club. the ruling was handed down on Monday, December 13. Olint and its former head David Smith had appealed against a Supreme Court ruling by Justice Norma McIntosh in December 2007 which upheld the cease and desist order. The financial services commission issued the orders on the grounds that Olint was trading in securities but had no licence to do so. Following its lost in the supreme court, Smith moved Olint’s operation to the Turks and Caicos Islands, where he ran into further troubles. He was charged here for fraud, theft and conspiracy to defraud, and was sentenced to six and a half years after pleading to two counts of fraud and two counts of conspiracy to
defraud. Smith is now in the United States facing a raft of other financial crime charges after he was indicted in a Florida court earlier this year. Lord Anthony Gifford, QC, and attorney-at-law Huntley Watson, who represented Olint and Smith, had argued that Justice McIntosh erred in her ruling because the FSC had no authority in law to issue the order. However, attorneys-at-law Nicole Foster Pusey and Jerome Spencer, who represented the FSC, argued that when the FSC issued the cease and desist order, it had reasonable suspicion that Olint was dealing in securities. The further argued that the fact that Olint was collecting monies from investors and paying returns on the investments meant Olint was doing business, in contravention of the Securities Act. In its judgement, the court ruled that Justice McIntosh was correct in finding that the procedure for the issuing of the cease and desist orders was fair and met the requirements of natural justice. It is unclear as to what step if any Smith will be taking in that matter. His next course of action would be the London-based Privy Council.
Page 16
Miss Enid Capron takes on recycling project
LOCAL NEWS
THE ENID CAPRON PRIMARY School has a thriving solid waste recycling project operating at that institution in conjunction with the TCI Waste Disposal Services, thanks to the efforts of the 2010 Miss Enid Capron Pageant winner, 12 year-old Akia Guerrier. Each year the winner of the Miss Enid Capron pageant is mandated to head a project in her community or school, and little Akia chose recycling of solid wastes. So far she has had great success, as the project which began in the latter part of November, with four containers, increased to eight containers in just two weeks due to the level of interest shown by the general school population courtesy of the Miss Enid Capron and her fellow students. The Miss Enid Capron 2010 Queen told The SUN that she was dedicated to the project, saying that she wants to ensure that not only her school is kept clean but also her community. “Recycling is about less garbage going to the dump and being burnt. Recycling helps (the environment) a lot better than burning garbage that will make carbon going into the earth’s atmosphere,” she asserted. Through the programme, TCI Waste supplied the school with a number of containers so as to separate
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
Miss Enid Capron Primary, Akia Guerrier (third from left) and her team proudly display their collection of recyclables
the wastes. Cardboards, glass bottles, plastic bottles and plastic bags all have their respective containers. In her quest to get the job done more effectively, Akia selected four other schoolmates to assist her with the project, and according to her; so far, they have been doing a wonderful job. Not only did Akia implement the initiative to rid her school of solid waste, but she also got other students to go back to their community to
educate their parents on the dangers of garbage pile-up and burning of them. And as a result, many students have been bringing solid wastes from home to store them in the school containers. “Everyday there is a class that comes, and they bring a garbage bag, and we sort out the wastes. After the students bring their garbage bag and we sort them out, all the composed garbage goes into regular garbage bins and we keep the recyclables for a later
date when the waste management company would come in and take them. It has been a success so far,” Akia explained. Akia, who wants to be a lawyer, told The SUN that her reward from the project was knowing that she has been afforded the opportunity to make a difference in her school and the wider community, by protecting the environment. Vice Principal for the School, Candace Malcolm, explained that TCI Wastes Disposal Services is the main sponsor of the project. She said the school was much cleaner nowadays, as students literally walked the compound in search of garbage, to store them in the containers. She said since the school does not have much glass bottles on property, the bulk of those wastes are carried from home. She noted that due to the enthusiasm shown by the students, the number of collection containers had to be increased. “They are extremely excited; they also go into the community, collect recyclables and take them to school to put in the containers. We started off with just four bins, and we had to increase it to another four, to accommodate recyclables, so it’s going great,” Malcolm said.
HAB MANAGEMENT LTD.
HAB MANAGEMENT LTD IS SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:
RESERVATION ATTENDANTS (2) Job Description The successful candidates will be required to welcome and serve guests in a courteous, efficient and friendly manner, both face-to-face and on the phone. The candidates will also be required to take reservations via the telephone, email and walk-in requests. Candidates will also be responsible for promoting the resort at all times. Requirements Candidates should have seven years or more experience as a Reservation Attendant. Candidates should also have an extensive knowledge of Visual One Property Management System. Candidates must be proficient in Microsoft Office. Candidates will be required to check guests in and out; perform certain accounting procedures, such as preparing bills for guests, performing audit duties, balancing work and preparing paperwork for the following day; present a friendly, outgoing, energetic and guest service demeanor. Candidates will also be required to work cohesively with coworkers as part of a team. Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Salary is $14,400 per annum.
BARTENDER (1) Job Description This is an enhanced position and requires a bubbly personality as well as some guest services experience. The successful candidates should be well versed in bar service and drink preparation. Requirements Candidates should have six years or more experience as a Bartender. Candidates will be required to solicit guests drink orders from around the pool and on the beach area and deliver drinks to guests when needed. Plan and maintain bar inventory. Maintain cleanliness of all workplace areas that apply to the bar. Candidates will be required to be able to multi-task and assist at front desk when necessary. The candidates will also be required to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Good presentation and a pleasant, friendly personality required. Salary is $12,000 per annum. HOUSEKEEPERS (9) Job Description Candidates will be required to clean guest rooms as assigned, ensuring the hotel’s established standards of cleanliness. Requirements Candidates should have six years or more experience as a Housekeeper. Candidates must have knowledge of proper cleaning techniques. Maintain positive guest relations
at all times. Candidates will also be required to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Good presentation and a pleasant, friendly personality required. Salary is $12,000 per annum. LAUNDRY ATTENDANT (1) Job Description Process soiled linen and distribute clean linen in accordance with standard operating procedures in a safe, accident-free manner, as assigned by management. Requirements Candidate should have seven years or more experience as a Laundry Attendant. Candidate will be required to receive and sort soiled linen; process sorted linen utilizing the washers, dryers and ironers ensuring finished product meets the quality standards of the resort. Notify supervisor of malfunctioning equipment, supplies needed, damaged linens, to ensure laundry operation is running at maximum efficiency level. Maintain assigned work area in a clean and safe condition. Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Must be well presented and physically fit. The candidate will also be required to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. Salary is $12,000 per annum.
SECURITY OFFICERS (2) Job Description The successful candidates will be responsible for the safeguarding of the owners property, hotel property, assets, guests, visitors and employees. The Security Officers will also be responsible for insuring a safe environment; patrolling; documenting; reporting; and following-up on safety and security hazards or infractions. Requirements Candidates should have eight years or more experience as a Security Officer. Candidates will be required to work flexible hours. Record problems encountered in the area during the course of duty. Check effectiveness and safety and availability of security and safety equipments. Respond immediately to emergency or crisis situations. Candidates will be required to maintain positive guest relations at all times. The candidates will also be required to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Good presentation and a pleasant, friendly personality required. Salary is $14,400 per annum.
Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by December 27, 2010 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Only persons selected for an interview will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview. BELONGERS PREFERRED.
Page 17
LIME’s Christmas at Oseta Jolly Primary School
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
LOCAL NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
ADOPTED SCHOOL RECEIVED A VISIT FROM SANTA
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands: December 14, 2010: LIME, the Turks & Caicos Islands’ full service telecommunications provider stepped up once again to show appreciation at our adopted school, the Oseta Jolly Primary School. Principal Rachel Handfield said, “The family at Oseta Jolly Primary welcomes our sponsor LIME and we are very happy to have Mr. Seymour and his team at the school. The children are always excited when this time of the year comes around.” Mr. Drexwell Seymour, General Manager commented, “The Oseta Jolly Primary School has over 500 students and it is one of the largest Government Primary schools in the nation and LIME is elated to partner with this institution to bring some holiday cheer.” He continued, “We adopted the Oseta Jolly in Dec 2005 and now this is our 6th year providing gifts to the Oseta Jolly Primary School. This year, LIME also sponsored the Christmas tree for the school.” It was further noted by Mr. Seymour that, “LIME was one of the main sponsors of the Oseta Jolly science lab, the only public primary school in TCI that has a science lab. We are so proud to be a part of the progress and growth of this school.” There were several employees from LIME who joined Mr. Seymour as gifts were distributed to every student from the school. The Teachers and Ancillary staff also received a gift from LIME during the holiday season. Team LIME was treated to a few selections by the Oseta Jolly Primary School choir and a warm greeting from the entire school population. Marketing Manager, Rachel Harvey said, “The stop at Oseta Jolly Primary School is always a good highlight during LIME’s Christmas activities. LIME is touching lives this holiday season and to see the smiles on the faces of the hundreds of students at the school was well worth the effort in seeing the completion of planning for the day’s event.” Team LIME is motivated and the students from Oseta Jolly Primary should be seeing more staff involvement over the months to come. “Go LIME!” “Educate! Celebrate! Participate!”
Team LIME with teachers at OJPS
Mr. Seymour accepts a beautiful card from students at OJPS
Team LIME on hand with Santa at OJPS
The children looked forward to this day
OJPS entertains Team LIME
More smiling faces at OJPS
Page 18
Sandals Foundation Brings Christmas Joy to Over 1,600 Children
LOCAL NEWS
CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY for over 1,600 children at two government schools this week as the Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Beaches Resorts International treated students for the holidays. The Sandals Foundation Team from Beaches Turks & Caicos visited newly adopted Clement Howell High School and the Enid Capron Primary bringing plenty of gifts and goodies to hundreds of students. The mid-week festivities offered an array of delicious food and drink and saw a large crowd which included 1,053 students and 68 teachers from Clement Howell, the largest high school in Turks & Caicos and another 503 students at Enid Capron Primary School. The Sandals Foundation has been working tirelessly throughout the year collaborating with Travel Partners to collect hundreds of toys for the annual Holiday Toy Drive. In addition to the donated toys, the Foundation also made a generous donation of purchasing additional toys to ensure that every student of the sponsored schools receive a Christmas gift. Public Relations Manager of Beaches Turks & Caicos, Elanor Finfin who was on hand at the giftgiving, commented on the successful toy drive. “It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to bring smiles to the faces of so many children this Christmas,” She continued, “Not only were we able to bring a fun filled Christmas party and holiday treats to students of our sponsored schools, but we are also
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
Clement Howell High School Students, Principle Lloyd Fearon with Beaches PR Manager Elanor Finfin and Sandals Foundation Volunteers
able to ensure that every student received a gift courtesy of Sandals Foundation.” Principal of Clement Howell High School, Lloyd Fearon also expressed his appreciation for Sandals Foundation’s successful Holiday drive. He said, “On behalf of the faculty and students of Clement Howell High we would like to thank the Sandals Foundation for creating a remarkable academic year for our school,” he continued, “For the first time in our school’s history we were able to treat the entire student body to a Christmas party inclusive of gifts and concluded, “We are very grateful, the Christmas treats were certainly a wonderful end
to a stressful school year.” Rachel Taylor Principal of the Enid Capron Primary school also commented on behalf of her school, “We are really privileged and pleased to have our sponsor the Sandals Foundation sharing these holiday festivities with us,” She continued, “It is with great appreciation that the Enid Capron Family expresses profound thanks to the Sandals Foundation for once again hosting the Annual Christmas Party,” she continued, “The students look forward to these visits, especially the gifts that bring bright smiles to every student.” In addition to the Christmas festivities, the Sandals Foundation also
hosted a Teachers Appreciation Christmas Dinner for teachers of newly adopted Clement Howell at the Resort’s grand ball room. At the dinner Sandals Foundation representatives outlined new initiatives for the upcoming 2011 school year while highlighting the progress made since the adoption. According to Principal Mr. Fearon this is the first time that teachers and the entire administration team and school’s security department, were treated to a Christmas Appreciation dinner and have not contributed to the cost. The Sandals Foundation has already drafted a 12 months curriculum aimed at enhancing both sponsored schools. The projects on the Foundation’s agenda are to establish a sick bay at both schools and provide CPR training for teachers. Other benefits will include, fundraising for the commencement of the highly anticipated library building project and also the implementation of a breakfast feeding program for under privileged students. In 2009, over 10,000 children across the Caribbean benefited from the annual Christmas toy drive and this will be replicated this year as treats and gift-giving are planned for Jamaica, St. Lucia, Bahamas and Antigua. Since its inception Sandals Foundation has gone from strength to strength and has been responsible for a wide range of community, educational and environmental initiatives in the Turks & Caicos.
Page 19
Talks of Christian council for TCI initiates
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
IF LOCAL CHURCH leaders put aside denominational squabbles which have dogged the church of Jesus Christ in general for centuries, very soon a Christian council could be established in Turks and Caicos Islands possibly through an amalgamation with the Bahamas Christian Council. President of the Bahamas Christian Council, and General Superintendent for the Assemblies of God Church in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, Rev. Patrick Paul, met with local representatives while on Providenciales last week, to hammer out the possibility of establishing a Christian council arm here. Rev. Paul was in the Turks and Caicos Islands with other executives of the Bahamas/Turks and Caicos Islands Assemblies of God Church as part of their monthly executive committee meeting, which was held for the first time outside of the Bahamas. At a news conference on Thursday, December 9, held at the Somerset Resort, Rev. Paul explained that he met with members of the Providenciales Ministerial Fellowship and during the meeting, introduced the idea. He said the majority warmed towards the gesture, with a few expressing minor concerns, while not revealing what the concerns were. “That meeting had to do primarily with consideration of them joining with the Bahamas Christian Council in the Bahamas. And so, we talked along that line on what would be the pros and the cons, which will be the benefit with respect to them joining and how we can have to facilitate that kind of coming together; and so, it was a very interesting meeting,” Rev. Paul said. Rev. Paul explained that the 39 yearold Bahamas Christian Council has been a driving force behind moral and social development in that neighbouring country. “The Bahamas Christian Council, in time past, was an affiliate on the protocol list in the Bahamas. Now, I think we are
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Pastor Terrence Jones, Presbyter for the Grand Bahama Assemblies of God Church; Pastor Unay Jones, National General Secretary; Pastor Simpson McKinney, Presbyter for Abaco; Pastor Bradley Handfield, Presbyter for the Assemblies of God Church in the TCI and Pastor for the Community Fellowship Centre; Pastor Stafford Symonette, General Presbyter for Bahamas/TCI Assemblies of God Church; Rev. Patrick Paul, General Superintendent for the Assemblies of God Church in the Bahamas/Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas Christian Council; and Pastor Robert Lockhart, Assistant General Superintendent for the Assemblies of God
ninth on the protocol list. In that regard the Bahamas Christian Council is noted by the government as an institution and an arm that helps to sustain the viability and the credibility of our country, hence the Bahamas Christian Council having involved in some of the social aspect of our country, some of the educational aspect of our country, some of the economic aspect of our country. “And our pastors and ministers serve on various boards within our country, and are there to bring council, and to bring support and to bring strength with respect to the holistic development of our country,” Rev. Paul said. Turning to the current political situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Rev. Paul described as very fortunate that the country was allowed to plummet in such a fashion, saying that it could have a psychological effect on, especially the local people. “In that regard, I think it is a tremendous time Turks and Caicos locals
start to regain and to re-gather. In every situation there is an opportunity, and I think the need with regard to what is presently going on has to do with persons and people coming together, to help facilitate the next step of what you should be taking as a country. “I believe that the church should lead in that direction, if not lead, play a very important role, to assist this country at this time in this present dilemma that this country faces,” Rev. Paul said, telling the media that some of those topics came up during the meeting with the Providenciales Ministerial Fellowship. He said both parties are expecting to have another meeting very early in the New Year, to further discuss the possibility of establishing the Christian council here, and according to Pastor Bradley Handfield, Vice President of the Providenciales Ministerial Fellowship and Presbyter for the Assemblies of God Church in the TCI, said it is his wish that
the Christian council be established early next year. The Assemblies of God Church is known as a mission organization, which preaches the word of God, but mainly to teach the 16 tenets of faith, aimed at bettering the spiritual, economic as well as the social development of the community. At current the Assemblies of God runs two arms of what it describes as continuous education – Caribbean School of Theology or CST(a credited institution with one of the six credited institutions in the US) and the Centre Bible School for the Church, which he said serves as a prep for the CST. Locally, the Assemblies of God Church, in addition to having an English congregation – Community Fellowship Centre - also boasts a Haitian and a Dominican branch. It also runs the Community Christian Academy, which has more than 100 students on roll
HOLIDAY VILLAGE The Sands is now accepting applications/résumé for the following position. Only highly self-driven & motivated, personable and professional individuals, who have the desire to serve others, need apply:
EXECUTIVE HOUSEKEEPER
Responsibilities Establish and/or implement operating procedures and standards. Plan and coordinate the activities of housekeeping supervisors and their crew. Coordinate inspection or inspect assigned areas to ensure standards are met. Handle administrative tasks. . Requirements Education: A secondary school diploma is an asset Experience: Minimum of three to five years as an Executive Housekeeper is required Turks Island citizens only need to apply in person to Tiersa Smith, Human Resources Manager at The Sands Resort located on Grace Bay Road, Providenciales, or via e-mail: tsmith@thesandstc.com . Applications must be in by December 20, 2010.
Is seeking a Domestic Worker Weekly salary $215.00 working six days per week Contact 946-5500 Winky’s Catering is seeking a full time Chef and or Caterer who can cook Jamaican food and cater Jamaican style. Must be over 30 years old and possess the necessary qualifications such as a certificate. Salary commiserates with experience. Please contact 345-1247
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Museum and DECR join efforts to save Sapodilla Hill LOCAL NEWS
SAPODILLA HILL, THE southernmost point of Providenciales is one of the most historically significant sites in all of the Turks and Caicos Islands. For centuries, passengers and crew members passed the hours spent waiting for their ships to load and unload in Sapodilla Bay by carving inscriptions into the soft rocks on top of the hill. The inscriptions include the names of many of the most
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prominent families in the TCI as well as dates and images of houses and ships. The increase in population and visitation on Provo has resulted in theft and vandalism on Sapodilla Hill to the point where it is apparent that the inscriptions will all be stolen or destroyed if left unprotected. In an effort to save this important site the Turks and Caicos National Museum in collaboration with the
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Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) is planning to remove all the portable inscribed stones to secure storage and replace them on Sapodilla Hill with casts made from molds of the original stones. More than half of the inscriptions, including the oldest date (1767), are cut into bedrock and cannot be removed. These will have to be molded in place.
Removing and storing the stones will be neither difficult nor expensive; however, molding and casting will entail a good deal of effort and cost. Fortunately, the details of how to do this have already been worked out by Dr. Donald Keith who molded and cast many of the inscriptions more than 10 years ago The plan includes a series of steps: • Establish boundaries around the land on which the inscriptions lie to preserve it as a site of historical importance. Already done. • Place signage at the top and bottom of the trail that leads from the road to the site. • Identify all the portable inscribed stones, hand-carry them down the hill where they can be loaded onto a flatbed trailer for the trip to the Museum’s storage building in the Village at Grace Bay. • Use the news media to make the public aware of what we’re doing and why. • Mold all the stones. • Cast them in three dimensions. • Replace them on Sapodilla Hill along with explanatory signage. • Mold and cast the bedrock inscriptions in situ and keep the molds and casts in storage. • Create walkways around and through the site to encourage visitors not to walk on the inscriptions. This activity took place on December 11th and 12th 2010 at Sapodilla Hill. Interested persons can email Dr. Donald Keith directly at dhkeith@shipsofdiscovery.org for more information or visit TCI Environmental Club on Facebook.
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After 25 years, Larry King is giving up his throne
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NEW YORK — Early last June, CNN celebrated 25 years of "Larry King Live" with a week of shows whose Alist guests included President Barack Obama, LeBron James, Bill Gates and Lady Gaga. It was hyped to the hilt and suitably eventful, even as King and Lady Gaga regarded each other with the bemusement of a human encountering an alien life form. Then, at the end of June, King suddenly announced he was retiring from his show — a weeknight fixture at 9 p.m. Eastern since June 1, 1985. He told viewers, "It's time to hang up my nightly suspenders." After Thursday's edition, (December 23) King will indeed hang it up, suspenders and all. The lineup for this farewell hour should be stellar, though no names have been announced. The mood should be spirited and flowing with emotion. But until now, it's been an oddly subdued leave-taking. The promotion machine at a network can make noise over most anything. Or try. CNN isn't bothering. Having paid King his tribute last June, before he even said he would be stepping down, CNN now is treating him as a lame-duck star, a chapter the network is rushing to move past. The focus is on Piers Morgan, whom CNN named as the new guy in September. It is busily promoting his January debut. Morgan, a 45-year-old British journalist and TV personality known mainly in the U.S. as a judge on NBC's "America's Got Talent," promises that "Piers Morgan Tonight"
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Larry King
will be "exciting and slightly dangerous." He is the future — or so CNN hopes. King, who has never been exciting or dangerous (nor tried to be), is clearly seen by CNN as yesterday's news. Sure, it would be easy to argue that the 77-year-old King waited too long to hang up those suspenders. Once the leader in cable TV news, he now ranks third in his time slot behind Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. His show was seen by 700,000 viewers this year, less than half the nightly audience his peak year, 1998, when "Larry King Live" drew 1.64 million viewers. As recently as 2003, he was averaging 1.54 million. Wide-eyed and nonconfrontational, King's regular-guy approach to
interviewing feels dated in an era of edgy, pushy or loaded questioning by other hosts. "I ask short questions, I have no pretense at intellectuality, I don't pretend to know it all," King said years ago in explaining his style. "Not, 'What about Geneva or Cuba?' I ask, 'Mr. President, what don't you like about this job?' Or 'What's the biggest mistake you made?' That's fascinating." Fascinating, until it seems sluggish or toothless or like automatic pilot. It has become easy for the viewer to lose patience with King's accommodating, hunched-at-his-desk Q-and-A's with his guests. As recently as last week, he landed Wesley Snipes for an interview just days before the actor began serving a three-year prison sentence for failure to file income tax returns. But the ponderous interlude served mostly as a platform for Snipes to complain about his mistreatment at the hands of the media and the judicial system. King was ill-equipped to cut to the heart of the matter: How Snipes could have gotten himself into such a jam. King's famous avoidance of overpreparation — he has always opted to approach each interviewee fresh, unburdened by too many facts — has begun to catch up with him in recent years. His occasional flubs have made him seem out of touch. Or worse. (A prime example from three years ago found King asking Jerry Seinfeld if he had voluntarily left his sitcom or been canceled by his network, which, as everybody else knows, had been ready
'JEOPARDY!' TO PIT HUMANS AGAINST IBM MACHINE NEW YORK – The game show "Jeopardy!" will pit man versus machine this winter in a competition that will show how successful scientists are in creating a computer that can mimic human intelligence. Two of the venerable game show's most successful champions — Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter — will play two games against "Watson," a computer program developed by IBM's artificial intelligence team. The matches will be spread over three days that will air Feb. 14-16, the game show said on Tuesday. The competition is reminiscent of when IBM developed a chess-playing computer to compete against chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. The "Jeopardy!" answer-andquestion format is a different kind of challenge. It often requires contestants to deal with subtleties, puns and riddles and come up with answers fast. "Watson" is named for IBM founder Thomas J. Watson. It will look nothing
like the computer "maid" on "The Jetsons." Rather, IBM said its on-screen appearance will be represented by a round avatar. The computer has already been tested in some 50 games against past "Jeopardy!" champions. But neither IBM nor "Jeopardy!" representatives would say what "Watson's" record was. The winner gets a $1 million prize. IBM said it would donate its winnings to charity, while Jennings and Rutter said they would give half of their prize money away. Jennings had the game show's longest winning streak, taking 74 games in a row during the 2004-2005 season. Rutter has won more money than any other "Jeopardy!" player, nearly $3.3 million during his original appearance Ken Jennings, left, and Brad Rutter, two of the most successful contestants on the and three subsequent tournaments. game show 'Jeopardy!,' are shown. IBM is hoping the technology it Jennings and Rutter two of the venerable exhibits will have some practical uses game show's most successful champions, eventually, for instance helping doctors will play two games against 'Watson,' a diagnose illnesses or solving customer computer program developed by IBM's artificial intelligence team problems at technical support centers.
to hand him the keys to the treasury to stay. "I was the No. 1 show in television, Larry," replied Seinfeld with a flabbergasted look. "Do you know who I am?") At its start, "Larry King Live" was based in Washington, which gave the show an air of gravitas. King, too. He was the plainspoken go-between through whom Beltway bigwigs could reach their public, and they did, earning the show the reputation of a place where things happened, where news was made. Then in 1997 he moved to Los Angeles, which seemed a nod to show biz over substance — not to mention a more convenient routine for King. A man who once had hosted a nationwide radio program in the wee hours of the night, now he was done with "Larry King Live" at 7 p.m. local time. After Thursday's show, he's flat-out calling it a day. The points of light that form his dotted world-map backdrop will be dark. The end of "Larry King Live" is undeniably a cultural milestone, the end of a remarkable run. King, the suspenders-sporting everyman, is a pioneer in cable and a TV institution. He has estimated that he's conducted 50,000 interviews during his half-century-long broadcasting career. Maybe so. And maybe he should have stopped a couple thousand earlier. But that doesn't mean King (and his nightly suspenders and the safe space he created for his thousands of guests) won't be missed after Thursday, when he's gone.
JUSTIN BIEBER CLEARED OF CHARGES IN LASER TAG ASSAULT CASE The 16-year-old singer has escaped criminal charges related to an alleged Oct. 15 incident at a laser tag center in Richmond, British Columbia; a 12year-old boy had reportedly accused the pop phenom of punching him. "This investigation into the incident is now complete and no charges will be forwarded as the evidence collected [doesn't] support doing so," Corporal Turley of the Richmond Royal Canadian Mounted Police told RadarOnline. Shortly after the talked-about scuffle, witnesses told UsMagazine.com that it was Bieber, in fact, who was tormented at the laser tag center. "The 12-year-old and his friends were targeting Bieber and shooting him over and over," an observer said. "They were calling him names. He was being harassed for his notoriety."
Rapper Ja Rule: 2-Year Prison Sentence a "Minor Setback"
Ja Rule is about to spend some quality time behind bars. The rapper (real name: Jeffrey Atkins), 34, was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday, December 13 after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a gun. Had the rapper's case gone to trial, he would
have faced up to 7 years in jail if found guilty. The Associated Press reports that he will likely serve 16 months in prison followed by 18 months' probation. The gun possession charges stem from a July 2007 incident involving fellow rapper Lil Wayne, who was also arrested that night on similar charges after he and Ja Rule performed together. NYC police
discovered a semiautomatic .40-calibre pistol in the back seat of Ja Rule's luxury sedan; the rapper, his manager and their driver were all arrested on the scene. Ja Rule's response to the news? "Minor setback for a major comeback," he Tweeted Monday.
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Jamaica PM Insists cooperation with Cuba on drug smuggling has changed since 2009
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Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding is defending a WikiLeaks cable that claimed the Cuba authorities were frustrated with the response of Jamaica officials to drug smuggling. The PM said in a statement Thursday that while an investigation by his Minister of National Security confirmed that the 2009 concern by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior was correct, the unit has since been reorganized and renamed the Transnational Crime Narcotics Division. He added the officer who headed the unit at the time has since been replaced. Golding, in the statement, said that since then, “there has been full and active cooperation between Jamaica and Cuba on counternarcotics surveillance and interdiction and no concern has been expressed by officials of the Cuban government.” He added that the new level of cooperation has since assisted in the conviction of a number of persons on charges of drug trafficking and that officers from the Transnational Crime Narcotics Division and other security forces personnel have made a number of visits to Cuba, the most recent being less than a month ago, to confer with Cuban authorities on ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and measures to
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Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding
strengthen cooperation between Jamaica and Cuba. “These include greater interface among high level officers of both countries involved in counter narcotics, intelligence sharing and interdiction operations,” the statement added. According to the cable, Cuban Ministry of Interior (MININT) officials on multiple occasions contend that narcotics smugglers from Jamaica were utilizing both Cuban airspace and waters to transport narcotics ultimately destined for the United States, but
their repeated attempts to engage Jamaica on the issue had been ignored. “A prevailing concern and significant frustration on the Cuban side is the reportedly complete lack of cooperation afforded them by the GOJ when it comes to CD information sharing,` the cable states, citing conversations between the U.S. Coast Guard Drug Interdiction Specialists and ‘no fewer than 15 Cuban MININT officers whose primary missions/roles are drug interdiction or support to drug interdiction.’ “Collectively and continually, they express frustration over the GOJ`s consistent ignoring of Cuban attempts to increase the flow of drug-related information between the two island nations to increase interdictions and avoid ‘being surprised by drugs,’” added the document. The Cuban officials also reportedly claimed that narcorelated information on go-fasts and aircraft transiting to/from Jamaica in the vicinity of Cuba was passed to the government of Jamaica in English but “GOJ officials still do not respond.” “MININT officers mention that Jamaican officials commonly agree to greater information sharing in person; however, that is the extent of their efforts,” stated the cable.
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GUYANESE FORMER MP GETS LIFE IN TERRORIST PLOT
NEW YORK, NY- A former Guyanese parliamentarian has been sentenced to life in prison for a terror plot to detonate the fuel system under John F. Kennedy International Airport. Abdul Kadir along with former airline cargo worker Russell Defreitas and Abdel Nur are`believed their attack would cause extensive damage to the airport and to the New York economy, as well as the loss of numerous lives,` the Justice Department said after the sentencing in Brooklyn federal court. A jury trial earlier this year heard that Kadir and Defreitas had begun preparations in 2006 to blow up fuel tanks and the fuel pipeline under the airport, which is located about 12 miles (19 kilometers) from Manhattan. They were found guilty and Defreitas will be sentenced on January 21st. Nur, pleaded guilty to supporting the conspiracy and faces up to 15 years behind bars. A fourth alleged plotter, Kareem Ibrahim, faces trial on the same charges as Defreitas and Kadir. `The sentence imposed on Abdul Kadir sends a powerful and clear message,` said US Attorney Loretta Lynch. `We will bring to justice those who plot to attack the United States of America.`
British travelers to the Caribbean face further charges BRIDGETOWN, Barbados– Even as Caribbean tourism officials try to woo British travelers to the islands despite increased air passenger duties (APD), one of their staunchest allies in opposing the APD has now further compounded the problem. British Airways announced yesterday that it would be increasing its fuel surcharge on longhaul services from tomorrow, Thursday, December 16 by an additional £10 (US $15.86) per sector, which equals £20 (US $31.71) per sector for a return fare. This now means that return travelers to the Caribbean from the United Kingdom would face an additional minimum surcharge of £126 (US $199.77) or a maximum of £216 (US $342.47), depending on what class of flight they purchased. The British Airways Press Office stated in its Tuesday release that the move reflected the “substantial” recent increase in the price of oil. Also on Tuesday, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that higher fuel costs would be the biggest challenge for airlines in 2011, pointing to the fact that the price
of jet fuel was currently 17.6% higher than a year ago and had risen by almost 5% in the past month. The price of oil has risen steadily from about US$72 a barrel in August to just over US$90 currently and IATA forecast the average oil price in 2011 would be US$84, up from US$79 this year, sparking concerns that other airlines would soon follow suit and raise their surcharges. However, Caribbean tourism officials might again feel that they are being placed at an unfair disadvantage as British Airways also announced that there would be no fuel surcharge increase to any British Airways’ shorthaul services. The increased airport passenger duty (APD) implemented by the British government in November, which garnered strong opposition Caribbean lobbying efforts from, was characterized by regional tourism officials as unduly penalizing Caribbean destinations because they faced a higher duty than comparable destinations in the United States due to the way in which distances between destinations were calculated. This saw APD on outbound flights from
Britain to the Caribbean triple from £50 (US $79.28) in November 2009 to £150 (US$237.83) from November 1, 2010. The Caribbean’s lobbying efforts were at the time supported by major British holiday carriers British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. In its mid-year management report British Airways came out strongly against the effects that the increased APD would have on longhauld airfares stating: “Next week there are further increases in APD of up to 55 per cent on some longhaul flights. We already meet our carbon costs twice over even before these increases. Aviation supports more than 500,000 jobs in the UK and provides the transport links that are vital to the success of UK businesses in a globalised economy. Excessive taxation puts aviation’s social and economic benefits at risk.” According to British Airways, the airline has more direct Caribbean services than any other European airline with 64 weekly flights to 15 destinations. Next summer it plans to increase flights from Gatwick to Barbados and Antigua and between St Lucia and Port of Spain.
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Raul Castro touts Cuba’s economic changes
CARIBBEAN NEWS HAVANA- Cuban President Raul Castro told legislators that the future of the country's revolution is at stake as the government tries to institute sweeping economic reforms, adding that the changes are meant to strengthen socialism — not replace it. Cuba has announced it will lay off a half-million workers from bloated state-run enterprises, while simultaneously allowing more free enterprise. It has also begun to scale back many of the subsidies Cubans have come to rely on to compensate for salaries that average just $20 a month. Castro has argued that the changes are needed to boost notoriously low productivity, and that once that happens, living standards will begin to rise. He urged his countrymen to embrace the changes, and warned that anybody who doesn't will be left behind. "The life of the revolution is in the balance," Castro said in a two-hour speech closing out a twice-yearly meeting of the island's national assembly. He repeated his contention that the dollop of limited capitalism being injected into the economy does not mean the end of the revolution's ideal to create an egalitarian utopia. "The strategic economic changes are being made to sustain socialism," he said. "They are to preserve and strengthen socialism, so as to make it irrevocable." Still, Castro had a message to
Trinidad Gets New Ambassador To U.N.
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Cuban President Raul Castro
those who wonder if the Cuban government is serious this time around — since past economic openings have fizzled. He said the changes are "the result of profound meditations and analysis, and we can assure you this time there will be no going back." He urged Cubans not to listen to naysayers — particularly in the United States — who have dismissed the economic changes as windowdressing. "Our adversaries abroad, as we might expect, have challenged our every step, first by calling the measures cosmetic and insufficient and now by trying to confuse public opinion by prophesying a sure failure,"
CaribWorldNews, UNITED NATIONS, NY, Fri. Dec. 17, 2010: The oil rich twinisland Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has a new ambassador to the United Nations. Rodney Charles yesterday presented his credentials to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at U.N. Headquarters in N.Y. The communications specialist was handed his instruments of appointment by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last month. Charles was most recently the Special Policy Adviser to the President of The College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago (COSTAATT), Emmanuel Rodriguez. He has worked extensively in the field of media, corporate communication, political communication and marketing in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. Charles holds a Master of Journalism (MJ) degree from Carleton University.
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he said. "Sometimes it seems that their most heartfelt wishes (for Cuba's failure) prevent them from seeing the reality." He also warned his countrymen that they'll have to work in the new Cuba, and can no longer rely on the state for handouts. "Many of us Cubans confuse socialism with freebies and subsidies, and equality with egalitarianism," the president said. Castro also announced that a major Communist Party Congress where many of the reforms are to be enshrined will be held April 16-19, with the end date coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Cuba's victory in the U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion. The government had previously said only that it would be held in April. Cuba's economy minister, who also spoke to the legislators, said the government expected the economy to grow by 3.1 percent in 2011, up from 2.1 percent this year. Revolutionary icon Fidel Castro was not present. Normally a ceremonial seat is left empty for the former president, with a glass of water set out in front of it. But the tradition was dispensed with this year. Raul Castro also used the speech to blast Washington for its policies toward Cuba, saying it has shown itself completely closed to better ties. "There isn't the slightest willingness on the part of the United
States to change the policy against Cuba, not even to eliminate its most irrational aspect," he said. "The U.S. policy on Cuba does not have an ounce of credibility." Washington has maintained an economic embargo on the communistrun country for 48 years, and effectively bars most U.S. tourists from visiting. Despite hopes by many that President Barack Obama would usher in a new era in Cuban-U.S. relations, little has changed and the countries remain enemies. Two U.S. diplomatic cables from late 2009 recently released by WikiLeaks indicate Raul Castro was perhaps hoping to change that, requesting through a senior Spanish diplomat that a secret back channel be opened between him and the White House. The overture was rejected, however, and Castro was told that if he wanted to engage he should do so through normal channels. Cuban officials have expressed exasperation that Washington is not more interested in talking, noting that the government has released many of the island's dissidents and that they are reforming the economy to inject more aspects of the free market. A State Department spokesman on Thursday said Cuba had not made serious efforts to change the country's political system — dominated since 1959 by Castro and his brother Fidel — or truly reform the economy.
U.N. may set up panel to find origin of Haiti cholera
The United Nations has set up an resembled a South Asian strain. independent panel to investigate A leaked study by the source of cholera in Haiti. epidemiologist Renaud Piarroux The move comes after on behalf of the French and accusations that UN peacekeepers Haitian governments also from South Asia introduced the suggested the strain had been disease to the poverty-stricken imported from South Asia. country. Sources who saw the report The UN has previously denied said it had evidence the outbreak any connection. was caused by river More than 2,000 people have contamination by Nepalese died and thousands more have been troops. infected by cholera in Haiti since But Mr Ban said that initial the outbreak began in October. reports by the UN suggested that UN Secretary General Ban Kipeacekeepers from Nepal were Moon said the scientific panel was not responsible. necessary to "find answers that the The Nepalese army denies UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon people of Haiti deserve". the accusation, but said earlier "There are several theories of this month that soldiers were not the origins of the cholera outbreak in Haiti - not all tested for cholera before they went. reports have reached the same conclusion," he said The UN has said that health officials now at a news conference on Friday. estimated that 650,000 people in Haiti could become "There remain fair questions and legitimate infected with cholera over the next six months. concerns which demand the best answers that science Nearly 100,000 people in the country have can provide," he added. already contracted the disease. He said the panel would be "completely Haiti`s cholera epidemic, which broke out in independent" and have full access to UN premises October, has already killed more than 2,000 people, and personnel. according to figures from Haiti`s Ministry of Health. Nepalese peacekeepers became the object of Some 44,000 others are hospitalized, even as the local suspicion partly because cholera is very rare in country struggles to recover from the January quake, Haiti but endemic in Nepal. which killed 200,000 people and displaced some 1.3 In November, the US Center for Disease Control million others – most of whom are still living in found that the cholera strain in Haiti most closely crowded and unsanitary tent camps.
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One seat win for St. Vincent PM
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
The Comrade" has five more years. But it was a close run thing for St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and his governing the Unity Labour Party (ULP). The ULP squeaked home with an 8-7 majority in Monday's general election in the multi-island nation. "A win is a win and we will proceed to do our work with the people," Dr Gonsalves said after claiming victory amid the loss of four seats. For the New Democratic Party (NDP) - the other party in the House of Assembly - it was a dispiriting defeat following their successful 'no" campaign in a referendum on constitutional change last year. The election campaign was fiercely-fought and Dr Gonsalves acknowledged it had left some scars. "This country has seen a lot of divisiveness and bitterness, perhaps even hatred through politics," he said. "I am hoping that now we have this
contest behind us we can have time for healing and cooperation," he added. "Internal warfare" The Prime Minister sought to put the best spin on his narrow win, calling it statistically razor-thin but suggesting that his 51.6% share of the vote was more comfortable than it seemed. The NDP received 44.4% and more than doubled its seats in parliament. "The result certainly gives the opposition the platform to continue the fight - from three seats to seven seats," lawyer Andrew Cummings said on state-owned NBC radio. However, there are likely to be questions about the political future of NDP leader Arnhim Eustace, who has now lost three times and is aged 65. Mr Cummings believes that Dr Gonsalves' administration can survive even with the slimmest of majorities. "Nothing is wrong with 8-7, we can still govern the country and need not have internal warfare." However another lawyer, Jomo
Thomas, was more cautious, noting that there was a history of crossing the floor in St Vincent and neighbouring countries. Challenging year In his first major appointment, Dr Gonsalves named the lone woman elected to the House, Girlyn Miguel, as the new Deputy Prime Minister. He said the government had little time to spare as the next national budget must be presented to parliament by the end of January. "We are still in the throes of a very difficult economic situation externally," he told the nation. "We've weathered the financial and economic storm pretty well but I say to you next year is also going to be a most challenging year. We are not yet out of the woods." The opposition had cited the contraction in the economy and the close ties the Prime Minister has forged with Cuba and Venezuela in particular as key issues in its campaign. But having the political as well as
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Outgoing Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary general, Sir Edwin Carrington has described 2010 as a year of “great difficulty” for the regional integration movement. Sir Edwin, addressing his final news conference as the region’s top public servant, said that the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti and the cholera outbreak in the French speaking CARICOM country also added to the woes of the region. “The community was preoccupied with the situation in Haiti and perhaps it is good that it is preoccupied it demonstrates the true value of membership of the community that when one partner is damaged all turn to its aid…as we speak a small team from the Secretariat is in Haiti”. Sir Edwin said that the region also had to deal with the death of Barbados prime minister David Thompson as well as the death and destruction caused by the passage of Hurricane Tomas in late October. But Sir Edwin, 72, who demits office after 18 years in the job, said that despite the challenges the region was able to overcome and provide assistance to member states that were affected by natural disasters and other unrest. “In a way you see some good coming out of this disaster, out of this devastation, it reminds us of the principle that out of adversity comes some good because the community has demonstrated its strength of unity by the response to the disaster of January and by the present epidemic.
“That January 12 earthquake cast a giant shadow over the Community in 2010.There was need for response to Haiti from that time. The situation was compounded by the cholera of the last six weeks or so,” the SecretaryGeneral said. “Our own Assistant SecretaryGeneral Foreign and Community Relations Ambassador Colin Granderson has been integrally involved in the Haitian situation and over the last two months or so has been domiciled in Haiti as head of the Joint Electoral Observer Mission of the OAS and CARICOM. As you all are aware there are still issues to be resolved in respect of the polls of 28 November and as such Ambassador Granderson remains in Haiti,” Sir Edwin said, making reference also to the role played by the former Jamaica prime minister PJ Patterson as the Special Representative of the regional leaders on Haiti. The outgoing Secretary General said that one of the positives for 2010 was the Special Summit on Youth held in Suriname in January, which he said demonstrated in no uncertain terms the commitment of young people to the integration process. In addition, during 2010, Sir Edwin said CARICOM persuaded the United Nations to adopt a resolution calling for a Special Session of the General Assembly on chronic Non Communicable Diseases. He said there were significant advances made with regard to the establishment of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) which has gained support
from a number of international aid donors. Sir Edwin said that the endorsement of the Regional food and Nutrition Policy was also a significant milestone for the 15-member grouping. Sir Edwin also urged the media to continue playing a positive role in pushing the integration process adding “you must better prepare for
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves
the economic winds, Dr Gonsalves said he would now focus on important goals, such as completion of the island's international airport, providing one laptop for every student and reducing poverty. Above all, he promised to listen more to the people in future. "I will be in communion with you."
WHEW!:Outgoing CARICOM Secretary General describes 2010 as a tough year
questioning of my successors to get to the very root and branch of what we have embarked on”. He warned that without the media, all the Community’s efforts would be fruitless. “One can never afford to forget the importance of the role of the media in what is happening in the community,” he said.
Snow and ice disrupt pre-Christmas travel in Europe
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DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
Europe saw little respite on Sunday from the Arctic conditions that closed airports and disrupted travel over the weekend before Christmas, traditionally one of the busiest times of the year. London's Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport, which was forced to close both its runways for much of Saturday because of heavy snow, was not accepting inbound flights on Sunday and said only a few planes would be leaving. About 30 metric tons of snow were being shifted away from each parking stand around the planes, but ice was making it dangerous for the aircraft to be moved. "There comes a point at which the weather has such an impact that it's Cars are stuck as a wheel loader tries to get the snow off the road during a heavy snow storm near Neu Mukran on the island of Ruegen at the Baltic Sea, northern Germany, simply not safe to fly," Andrew Teacher, spokesman for airport operator BAA, "We've had about three or four At Germany's second largest airport told BBC television. incidents where people have had panic in Munich, about 75 flights were The runway at London's second attacks, chest pains, vomiting. They canceled on Sunday out of 1,100 in all, busiest airport Gatwick was open but won't let us off the plane," passenger mostly due to problems at other airports thousands of passengers faced delays Marium Hassain told BBC television. such as Amsterdam, Paris and Brussels, and cancellations, as they were at most In Germany, Frankfurt airport a spokesman said. Planes destined for other British airports. operator Fraport said 560 flights had London were being diverted to Munich A plane bound for Islamabad was been canceled by Sunday afternoon and and other German airports. stranded on the runway at Birmingham a large snow front coming in could Many trains were also delayed or airport for more than six hours. mean more cancellations. canceled and the speed limit for
intercity train travel was restricted across Germany. Snow blanketed northern France and authorities mobilized light armored personnel carriers in some areas to help motorists stranded on roadsides by the white stuff. Around 700,000 people had been expected to travel through Paris' two main airports over the weekend. But at the biggest, Roissy Charles de Gaulle, 40 percent of flights were canceled and over 5,000 people were stranded. At Orly, the city's second airport, 20 percent of flights were canceled. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was closed because of the snow and a pop concert by Lady Gaga due to be held on Sunday was canceled because restrictions on heavy trucks in the Paris region prevented the show's equipment from arriving on time. British Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said he had asked the government's chief scientific adviser to assess whether the country was experiencing a "step change" in weather patterns due to climate change and if it needed to spend more money on winter preparations.
Shoppers crowd the malls in Christmas countdown
NEW YORK — Packed malls? Healthy gains in holiday spending? It's beginning to look at least a little like a pre-recession Christmas. Americans spent more on clothing, luxury goods and even furniture, delivering healthy gains across the board, according to MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse, which tracks spending across all transactions including cash. The online category continued to be a bright spot. The big exception was consumer electronics, dragged down by deep discounting of TVs amid a glut. That area was virtually unchanged from a year ago. "This is the first normal Christmas in three years," said Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis for SpendingPulse. He said there is "genuine demand" for a variety of products, even higher-ticket items. Sales of clothing rose 9.8 percent, with particular strength in men's clothing. Jewelry revenue rose 2.6 percent and furniture rose 3.4 percent, according to SpendingPulse, whose data covered the period from Oct. 31 through Saturday compared with the same period a year ago. Malls reported higher traffic over the weekend, including the Saturday before Christmas, known as "Super Saturday." It's one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Research firm ShopperTrak expects it will be the third-busiest this year. The lack of any major storms nationwide was a boon for shoppers. The strong numbers are encouraging to retailers, who only this fall remained worried that the inventory they ordered earlier in the year when the economic recovery looked stronger might end up being too much. But after a slowdown in spending this summer, spending has picked up amid more positive economic signs. McNamara said that there's no evidence of emergency discounting and that stores
have appropriate levels of inventory. Robin Lewis, CEO of The Robin Report, a retail insiders' newsletter, said the spending stems from three factors: consumers have been paying down their debt slightly, the savings rate has decreased slightly and working hours have increased, partly due to seasonal demand. "Those three things put a few more bucks in their pocket," which becomes signficant combined with pent-up demand. Still, spending is still below pre-recession levels in many categories. McNamara estimated that furniture is about 20 percent below the level before the Great Recession, while luxury and jewelry sales are about 10 percent below the peak before the big downturn. Clothing sales are recovering faster. At the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., the nation's largest mall, Public Relations Director Dan Jasper said a big snowstorm the weekend before that closed the mall early had shoppers packing the mall to catch up. Preliminary reports showed 200,000 came to the mall Saturday, making it one of its busiest days ever and the busiest day so far this year. "People are a little panicked. I'm hearing them say 'We've gotta get this done,' and that doesn't usually show up until the 22nd or the 23rd." It wasn't the only mall that saw packed stores and parking lots. Greg Maloney, CEO of the retail practice of Jones Lang LaSalle, which operates about 90 malls across the country, said traffic was up 10 percent to 12 percent across the country over the same weekend last year. Karen MacDonald, a spokeswoman for Taubman Centers Inc., which owns or manages 26 shopping centers, said many stores were reporting higher traffic. Most shoppers still had about half their
Christmas shopping left heading into the weekend, according to the National Retail Federation trade group. It raised its holiday sales forecast last week to a 3.3 percent rise, approaching 2007 levels, from an earlier forecast of a 2.3 percent increase. Shoppers stuck to lessons learned during the recession: using cash, not credit, and sticking to a budget. Although they are spending slightly freer, with unemployment still stuck at 10 percent and a strained housing market consumers are still under pressure to spend wisely. "The consumer has returned, not blindly, but thoughtfully," said Stifel Nicolas analyst Richard Jaffe. "I have a budget and when it's gone, it's gone," said Nicala King of Vancouver, Wash., who was at Barnes & Noble picking up a few final items. She was set on preserving the savings she built up after paying off her credit cards last year. Online shopping was going strong as well. On Saturday, online retail spending rose 18 percent, and the average order size rose 4 percent to $169.04 compared to the same day a year ago, according to IBM Coremetrics. As of Friday, shoppers have spent $27.46 billion online since Nov. 1, up 12 percent from last year, according to research firm comScore Inc. Paul and Connie Surface drove about 60 miles Saturday from their Waveland, Ind., farm to downtown Indianapolis to buy a bottle of Coach Inc.'s Poppy perfume for their daughter-in-law and take in the mall scene. They've shopped every weekend since Thanksgiving and are pretty much finished. "This is not a bad economy if you've got a job," said Paul, 62. "The stores are discounting nice, and the interest rates are low."
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US seeks legal pursuit of 'hi-tech terrorist' Assange: Biden
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
WASHINGTON – US vice president Joe Biden on Sunday blasted Julian Assange as a dangerous "hi-tech terrorist" and said Washington was exploring a legal pursuit of the WikiLeaks founder. Biden made the comments as Assange spent his third full day under "mansion arrest" at a friend's house in eastern England while he fights extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations of sex crimes. The Australian has enraged the United States by obtaining a cache of some 250,000 US diplomatic cables and slowly releasing the documents through his whistleblowing website, often causing huge embarrassment in Washington. Assange voiced fears last week that the US would try to extradite him on charges related to the leaked cables, and Biden said the US Justice Department was examining how to take legal action against Assange. "We're looking at that right now," the vice president told NBC's Sunday talk show "Meet the Press", without elaborating on just how the administration could act against the WikiLeaks chief. "I'm not going to comment on that process." When asked whether he thought
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Julian Assange
Assange was a hi-tech terrorist or a whistleblower akin to those who released the Pentagon Papers -- a series of topsecret documents revealing US military policy in Vietnam -- Biden said: "I would argue that it's closer to being hi-tech terrorist." As he savoured his first day of freedom Friday after a British court released him on bail, Assange said his lawyers believed a secret US grand jury investigation had been started into his role in the diplomatic cable leak. Media reports suggest that US prosecutors are trying to build a case against him on the grounds that he encouraged a US soldier, Bradley Manning, to steal US cables from a
government computer and pass them to WikiLeaks. Assange has denied knowing Manning. A report by congressional researchers said the Espionage Act and other US laws could be used to prosecute Assange, but there is no known precedent for prosecuting publishers in such a case. Assange is staying at Ellingham Hall, the mansion in eastern England of journalist friend Vaughan Smith, as part of the conditions of bail, which he was granted by London's High Court on Thursday. He must also report daily to a nearby police station and wear an electronic tag. On Saturday, WikiLeaks was dealt another blow when Bank of America, the largest US bank, became the latest institution to halt financial transactions for the site after MasterCard, PayPal, Visa Europe and others. The bank said its decision was "based upon our reasonable belief that WikiLeaks may be engaged in activities that are, among other things, inconsistent with our internal policies for processing payments." But Assange lashed out at the move, telling AFP it was a "new type of business McCarthyism in the US." The term was coined to describe the anti-communist pursuits of former
Mugabe wins endorsement for Zimbabwe's 2011 vote
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe's party has backed him to run in polls which it said must take place next year, paving the way for a fierce contest with his arch-foe Morgan Tsvangirai. Mr Mugabe, Africa's oldest leader and in power since independence from Britain in 1980, said he was "very confident" of winning the elections. The long serving ruler, slammed by human rights groups and the West for stifling democracy and sweeping abuses, addressed thousands of delegates from his ZANU-PF party on the last day of its annual conference in the eastern city of Mutare. A party statement said the conference "unanimously endorsed the president as the party's presidential candidate in the 2011 Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe harmonised elections". "The country must hold harmonised elections in 2011 without fail," it added, calling for presidential and parliamentary polls to take place on the same day. Mr Mugabe, 86, had earlier urged his followers to prepare for elections, a few hours after his party chairman pledged to "bury forever" the veteran leader's "Western" backed rivals. "We are indeed a fired up, fuelled and fast moving train. Those who stand in the the way of that train stand the risk of being crushed," Mr Mugabe told thousands of ZANU-PF members. "Let other parties now take care... 2008 will never come back again, never, never, ever," he said, alluding to the election win that year of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). "We cannot fail because that would be a disaster," Mr Mugabe added. The power-sharing government has been on the brink of collapse for months with Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai at loggerheads over how to handle the country's massive debt and food shortages, and internal haggling over who gets key jobs.
US senator Joseph McCarthy from the late 1940s to the 1950s. New information about the allegations Assange faces in Sweden also emerged at the weekend. Several British newspapers published lurid new details of the claims of sexual assault against two women, over which Swedish prosecutors want to question him. The 39-year-old denies the charges. The Guardian newspaper -- which has cooperated with WikiLeaks on the publication of the US documents -and the Mail on Sunday both reported that the two women with whom he had sex in Sweden had gone to police after he refused to take an HIV test. Assange hit out at Swedish handling of the case, accusing authorities there of leaking fresh details about the case that even he and his defence lawyers have not had access to. The former computer hacker also reiterated that there were threats against his life and those of the website's staff, but he vowed that WikiLeaks would continue publishing the cables. "We are a robust organisation. During my time in solitary confinement we continued to publish every day and it's not going to change," he said.
Irans cut in fuel and food aid raises protest fears
Iran has cut energy and food subsidies, risking a repeat of angry protests which followed fuel rationing in 2007.The cuts, introduced on Sunday, mean a four-fold rise in the price of petrol and reduced subsidies for bread. Each car will get 60 litres of fuel per month at a subsidised price of 40 cents per litre, up from 10 cents per litre. Iran, whose fragile economy has been hit by United Nations sanctions, has said it pays about $100bn (ÂŁ64bn) in subsidies annually. In 2007, protesters set alight dozens of petrol stations after the system of fuel rationing was introduced. News agency reports on Sunday said there was a heavy police presence in the capital Tehran, but there were no reports of trouble. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the cuts in subsidies were the "biggest surgery" to the economy in 50 years. Mr Ahmadinejad also said his government was paying $4bn in bread subsidies, which are being gradually phased out. Inflation Iran's oil-based economy has been hit by four rounds of UN sanctions, as well as those from individual countries over its controversial nuclear programme. The government says that under its Subsidy Smart Plan, money from increased prices will be returned to the people through cash payments. But some economists fear the increased prices, which also apply to electricity, water, and flour, will fuel inflation, already thought to be running at 20%.
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Congress repeals ban against gays in military
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Congress on Saturday repealed the ban against gays serving openly in the military, a major victory for President Barack Obama who had promised to end what his liberal supporters said was an outdated and discriminatory policy. Obama intends to sign it into law next week, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. But Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who had pushed for the change, warned gay men and women serving in the military that the current "don't ask, don't tell" policy will remain in effect for some time while the new rules are put in place. "By ending 'don't ask, don't tell,' no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love," Obama said in a statement. The Senate voted 65-31 to end the 17-year-old ban following passage by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. Democratic leaders had pushed for its passage before the end of this session since in January Republicans, many of whom did not support the change, will control the House and will have greater numbers in the Senate. Gay men and women were barred from serving in the military until 1993, when Democratic President
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) (center L) smiles with Mike Almy (center R), who was dismissed from the U.S. Air Force for being gay, at a news conference
Bill Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" policy allowed them to serve as long as they kept their sexual orientation secret. Bolstering the case for ending the policy, which has seen more than 13,000 men and women expelled from the U.S. military, a Pentagon report found that most in the armed services did not object to lifting the ban.
CHAVEZ TO REJECT US AMBASSADOR NOMINEE TO VENEZUELA
Venezuela's president has vowed to reject the U.S. nominee for ambassador to the South American country. Hugo Chavez said Saturday in a televised speech Larry Palmer will not be allowed to take up his post because the diplomat has been critical of Caracas. Palmer upset the Chavez administration when he told a U.S. senator that morale was low in the Venezuelan military. Palmer also expressed concern about Colombian rebels finding refuge in Venezuela. President Chavez says he has told Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro to detain Palmer if he tries to enter Venezuela. The U.S. Senate is expected to confirm Palmer's appointment soon. On Friday, Venezuelan lawmakers voted to allow Chavez to bypass parliament and rule by decree for 18 months. That move was denounced by opposition rivals and the U.S. government.
Rick Jacobs, who heads the group Courage Campaign that pushed to end the ban on gay marriage in California, said the move was a major advance for gay rights. "I look at it as a 100 percent unmitigated success for the movement," Jacobs said. "We are certainly at the end of the beginning, and we may be at the middle of the process as far as total legal equality." Many of those who were dismissed due to their sexual orientation have said they hope to return to service. Former Air Force Major Mike Almy, at a news conference with Senate leaders following the vote, said he was dismissed after another officer read his private e-mails to loved ones back home. He had faced mortar attacks while commanding a unit of 200 in Iraq and was recommended to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. "There is nothing more that I want than to resume my career as an officer and a leader in the Air Force," he said. Gates and other supporters of the repeal had argued that Congress needed to act if the military was to have time for an orderly transition to the new policy. A U.S. court-ordered end to "don't ask, don't tell" would be disruptive, he said. The policy faced numerous court challenges. Gates said in a statement that once Obama signed the bill, the Defense Department would begin immediately with the "planning necessary to carry out this change carefully and methodically, but purposefully."
Hotel boasts $11M Christmas tree
A glitzy hotel in Abu Dhabi has put on show a jewel-encrusted Christmas tree which it says is worth over $11m (ÂŁ7m). Items of jewellery studded with scores of precious stones are draped on the tree's branches, along with more traditional baubles and lights. While the tree alone is worth a mere $10,000, the jewellery adds more than $11m to the value, said the hotel's general manager Hans Olbertz. He admitted the idea for the tree was hatched by the hotel's marketing team. The hotel has a tree every year, Mr Olbertz said. But this year, "we said we have to do something different", AFP news agency quoted him as saying. The vast majority of the population of the oil-rich UAE are Muslim. But Mr Olbertz said he did not think the tree would offend local sensibilities.
Larry Palmer
Ostentatious: The $11m Christmas tree
"It's a very liberal country," he said, according to AFP. '24/7 security' The Emirates Palace hotel would ask the Guinness World Records to
certify the tree as the world's most expensive, Mr Olbertz said. The bracelets, necklaces and watches which adorn the 13m (43foot) tree contain 181 diamonds,
pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones. The tree sits in the sumptuous lobby of the 302-room hotel, which is reportedly decorated with gold leaf. Asked what security measures were in place to prevent theft of jewellery from the tree, assistant director of marketing Hazem Harfoush said the tree was "good proof that Abu Dhabi is a safe destination". And the hotel was even safer, Mr Harfoush told the BBC. "We have 24/7 security, four security guards closely monitoring the space plus security cameras." Previous publicity-seeking efforts by the hotel include the creation of a $1m Valentine's Day package and the installation of what was said to be the world's first gold vending machine. Asked whether the tree had brought fresh media attention, Mr Harfoush said it had. "We've had non-stop interest," he said.
U.S. sues BP, eight others for Gulf spill damage
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
The United States, for the first time, is suing BP and eight other companies for billions of dollars in damage from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the worst in U.S. history. The U.S. Justice Department filed the complaint Wednesday with a federal court in New Orleans, which has already consolidated more than 300 spill-related claims by individuals and small businesses. The federal lawsuit, separate from a criminal probe, alleges that violations of federal safety rules caused the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig. "We intend to prove that these violations caused or contributed to this massive oil spill, and that the defendants are therefore responsible – under the Oil Pollution Act – for government removal costs, economic losses, and environmental damages," Attorney General Eric Holder said during a news conference in Washington. "We are also seeking civil penalties under the Clean Water Act, which prohibits the unauthorized discharge of oil into the nation's waters. "This is first shot across the bow from the Obama administration to hold
FACEBOOK SALES LIKELY TO HIT $2 BILLION IN 2010: REPORT Facebook Inc is likely to generate 2010 revenue of about $2 billion, more than previously expected for the popular social networking site, Bloomberg reported, citing three people familiar with the matter. Facebook's 6-year-old service, which ranks the world's largest Web social network with roughly half a billion users, posted 2009 revenue of around $800 million, Reuters reported earlier this year. Facebook is privately held and does not publicly disclose revenue figures. Bloomberg's story on Thursday said that 2010 revenue was previously expected to be closer to $1.5 billion, which still would have been nearly double 2009 sales. It now appears Facebook will reach $2 billion in sales faster than Yahoo Inc and at almost the same pace as Google Inc, the Bloomberg report said.
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A controlled oil burn is seen near the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday, July 11, 2010.
legally accountable BP and the other companies involved in this disaster for their reckless actions," Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said in a statement. He said BP is already trying to limit its liability by questioning the U.S. estimate that the busted Macondo well spewed 206 million gallons of oil into the Gulf. BP said it would respond to the claims later but, in a statement, it noted
that it is the only party that has stepped up so far to pay for the cleanup, reports the Associated Press. Aside from BP, the lawsuit names rig owner Transocean but not Halliburton, the project's cement contractor, or Cameron, the company that made the malfunctioning blowout preventer. Both could be added later. The other six named: Transocean Holdings LLC; Anadarko Exploration
and Production LP; Anadarko Petroleum Corporation; MOEX Offshore 2007 LLC; Triton Asset Leasing GMBH; and QBE Underwriting Ltd/Lloyd's syndicate 1036. Transocean disputed the allegations, insisting it should not be held liable. "No drilling contractor has ever been held liable for discharges from a well under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990," Transocean said in a statement. "The responsibility for hydrocarbons discharged from a well lies solely with its owner and operator." The government did not set a dollar figure in the lawsuit, but under the Clean Water Act alone, BP faces fines of up to $1,100 for each barrel of oil spilled, AP reports. Based on the U.S. estimate of oil spilled, BP could face civil fines of $5.4 billion to $21.1 billion. If BP were found to have committed gross negligence or willful misconduct, the fine could be up to $4,300 per barrel. The U.S. lawsuit did not say whether it believes there was gross negligence, but it left open the possibility for such a finding later, AP reports.
After dozens of deaths, drop-side cribs outlawed
WASHINGTON – It's the end of the traditional crib that has cradled millions of babies for generations. The government outlawed drop-side cribs on Wednesday after the deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers in the past decade and millions of recalls. It was a unanimous vote by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban the manufacture, sale and resale of the cribs, which have a side rail that moves up and down, allowing parents to more easily lift their child from the crib. The new standard requiring cribs to have fixed sides would take effect in June. The move by CPSC would also prohibit hotels and childcare centers from using drop-sides, though those facilities would have two years to purchase new cribs. CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum hailed the new standard for cribs as one of the strongest in the world. "I believe these new standards will markedly reduce cribrelated hazards and help to ensure that young children sleep more safely in their cribs," Tenenbaum said after the vote. Around for decades, drop-side cribs have come under scrutiny in recent years because of malfunctioning hardware, sometimes cheaper plastics, or assembly problems that can lead to the drop-side rail partially detaching from the crib. When that happens, it can create a dangerous "V"-like gap between the mattress and side rail where a baby can get caught and suffocate or strangle. In all, drop-side cribs have been blamed in the deaths of at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000 and are suspected in another 14 infant fatalities. In the past five years, more than 9 million drop-side cribs have been recalled, including cribs from big-name companies such as Evenflo, Delta Enterprise Corp., and Pottery Barn Kids. Michele Witte of Merrick, N.Y., lost her 10-month-old son, Tyler, in 1997 when the drop-side rail on his crib came loose, partially detached and then trapped his neck between the rail and the headboard. "It's been a long 13 years," said Witte. "I feel like it's a
celebratory time because things are finally being done about the issue." Witte appeared at a news conference on Capitol Hill with Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Rep. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., all of whom have pushed for stronger crib safety rules. The new standard mandates tougher safety testing for cribs, tests that more closely mimic a child in a crib. As children get older, they can apply more force to the crib — shaking on it, running around in it, jumping up and down. The new tests aim to make sure the cribs can take that kind of pressure. Better labeling on crib pieces will also be required — a measure that aims to cut down on the misassembly problems that some parents have encountered, problems that can lead to the death of a child. Parents who lost their children in drop-side cribs say Wednesday's ban couldn't come soon enough. Chad Johns, whose 9-month-old son, Liam, died in a drop-side crib in 2005, said he was a little relieved. "Yes, it's a long time coming," said Johns from Roseville, Calif. "But the fact that it is happening — that's what is important." Crib makers were already phasing out drop-side cribs over the last couple years, amid increasing problems with them. And last year, the organization that sets voluntary industry standards — ASTM International — approved a drop-side ban. Many parents, however, still have drop-sides in their homes. They can also be found at secondhand stores. Parents who are using drop-side cribs are advised to check the hardware on the cribs to be certain it's working properly and to make sure their crib has not been recalled. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 percent of the crib industry, says properly assembled drop-sides that haven't been recalled can be safely used.
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U.S. arrests 4 in widening hedge fund probe
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY NEW YORK - Three technology executives and a salesman for an "expert network" firm were arrested and charged with leaking confidential information about companies including Apple Inc and Advanced Micro Devices Inc in a widening probe of insider trading at hedge funds. The defendants are accused of illegally passing on tips to at least two unnamed hedge funds. In one instance, an employee of contract electronics manufacturer Flextronics International Ltd is accused of leaking inside information about the release of the iPad as well as an updated version of the iPhone. The FBI has arrested the four men, a law enforcement source said. They were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy. The technology company defendants were identified as Walter Shimoon, who worked at Flextronics; Mark Longoria, 44, employed by AMD
as a supply chain manager; and Manosha Karunatilaka, 37, who worked for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd. The fourth defendant, James Fleishman, 41, was a sales manager for the California-based expert networking firm, which was not identified. Court papers, however, said it was the same firm that employed Don Ching Trang Chu of Primary Global Research, who was arrested on November 24 and charged with arranging for inside information to be leaked to hedge funds. Authorities announced the guilty plea of a fifth man, a former employee at Dell Inc. Names of their defense attorneys were not immediately available. The court papers said Shimoon, Longoria and Karunatilaka were hired consultants for the expert networking firm, which helps put hedge funds in contact with industry executives and
MYSPACE AND GOOGLE REACH NEW SEARCH, AD DEAL
News Corp's social networking site MySpace and Google Inc have reached a multiyear search and advertising agreement, ending months of uncertainty surrounding the partnership. Under the new deal, Google will power MySpace search results and search advertising as well as provide additional display ad services. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Under a 2006 deal, Google had guaranteed $900 million to News Corp for the right to sell advertisements related to user searches on MySpace and some other small News Corp websites over three years. That deal expired in June but was temporarily extended as News Corp and Google continued talks. It was not expected that News Corp would be able to sign an agreement as lucrative as the original deal. News Corp also reached out to Microsoft Corp and Yahoo about powering search advertising on MySpace. News Corp acquired MySpace in 2005 for $580 million after News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch famously swooped in to beat rivals like Viacom in the bidding. But since then, the website became increasingly irrelevant as a social network for many users as they migrated to Facebook. MySpace recently relaunched as a social entertainment site rather than a direct social networking rival to market leader Facebook. News Corp COO Chase Carey told Reuters in November that the company is open to a sale or partnership with MySpace. "There are opportunities here to do 20 things (with MySpace) but that doesn't mean you're going to do any of the 20. If there's something there that makes sense you ought to think about it," Carey told Reuters recently
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consultants. "CORRUPT NETWORK" The government said it had intercepted phone calls in which Shimoon, 39, a senior director of business development at Flextronics leaked inside information about the release of the iPad as well as an updated version of the iPhone. Flextronics was privy to those details as an Apple supplier, according to the complaint. "Today's charges allege that a corrupt network of insiders at some of the world's leading technology companies served as so-called 'consultants' who sold out their employers by stealing and then peddling their valuable inside information," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement. Bharara said that "over the next many months and beyond, we will continue to enforce the law, police the market, and protect honest businesses
and their shareholders by working methodically with the FBI and SEC to root out corporate corruption and insider trading." Authorities also announced that Daniel Devore, formerly a global supply manager for Dell, who worked as a consultant to the expert networking firm, pleaded guilty related wire fraud and conspiracy charges on December 10. The charges, filed in Manhattan federal court, are part of a long-running insider trading investigation that included the 2009 charges against Galleon Group hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam and a score of others. Dell said it "is committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity" and will "cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities." An Apple representative declined immediate comment. AMD, Flextronics and Taiwan Semiconductor were not immediately available to comment.
US documents: Chavez selling China inexpensive oil CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez's government sold China oil for as little as $5 a barrel and was upset that China apparently profited by selling fuel to other countries, according to a classified U.S. document released by WikiLeaks. The report about Chinese companies diverting oil was one of several newly released documents that also describe falling crude output in Venezuela caused by a host of problems within the national oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA. The documents, posted online Monday by the Spanish newspaper El Pais, also showed that American officials have managed to cultivate sources within the state oil company in spite of Chavez's antagonism toward Washington. The confidential memo from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas on Feb. 26 said a PDVSA director revealed that the state company "had analyzed its crude sales to China and determined that China had only paid $5/barrel of crude on a couple of deals" — a small fraction of the market price. The document said that according to the official, Chavez's government was "extremely upset with Chinese companies due to the discrepancy between Chinese petroleum import statistics that suggest (China) is profiting from Venezuelan oil purchases by diverting the crude to third markets and earning a sizable margin." The Venezuelan official, whose name was not released, "intimated that tankers had been
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez
diverted to the U.S., Africa, and elsewhere in Asia." The Venezuelan government or PDVSA did not react to the report. Calls to the Chinese Embassy in Caracas went unanswered Tuesday. In China, there were no immediate responses to requests for comment from Sinopec, China's largest oil refiner; the China National Petroleum Corp; the Foreign Ministry and the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planning body. Chavez relies on oil sales to his No. 1 client, the United States, to help fund his socialist-inspired programs. But he has been building up oil sales to China, and in October said oil shipments to China had reached about 500,000 barrels a day, in spite of higher transport costs to reach Asia. It said the official, whose name was not divulged, confirmed
that Venezuela "manipulates its Venezuelan Crude Oil basket index by including refined products in the mix." That method of calculating oil prices, which the official said "accurately reflected revenue from all of PDVSA's sales of crude petroleum and refined products," was responsible for narrowing the gap between prices for Venezuela's heavy sulfur-laden crude and benchmark light, sweet crude. The document, which was signed off on by then-Ambassador Patrick Duddy, said the official's admission "reinforces suspicions about the Chavez administration's willingness to manipulate official government statistics." A confidential document from the Embassy on Jan. 6, 2010, analyzed problems in the oil industry, concluding that "by all accounts ... PDVSA activity levels are down." It said government seizures of oil service companies, combined with maintenance and labor problems, would likely "result in further crude oil production erosion." While Venezuela says it produces about 3 million barrels of oil a day, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates the amount at 2.2 million barrels a day in 2009, down about 190,000 barrels from 2008. The U.S. Embassy predicted that Venezuela's declining oil output and years of inadequate investment will eventually force "hard economic choices." It said "President Chavez will react when he can no longer ignore the problems in the oil sector."
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CT20 is a WICB investment in young players - Hilaire
St John’s Antigua – West Indies Cricket Board CEO, Dr. Ernest Hilaire says that the US$3M investment in Caribbean Twenty20 2011 represents an investment in regional players. In an exclusive interview with WindiesCricket.com Dr Hilaire outlined that the tournament which will run from January 10th to the 23rd will not bring in a profit for the WICB but that the regional governing body was committed to broadcasting it globally in order to offer an opportunity to players to showcase their skills. “Important for the WICB is the fact that T20 cricket has become such a huge commercial entity that we want to be able to give our players maximum global coverage to allow them to be more attractive to the other T20 leagues around the world,” Dr. Hilaire explained. “Players get the opportunity to be showcased on a global stage and we hope it will develop into a very valuable commercial commodity that would bring in returns for the WICB,” Dr Hilaire added. Dr Hilaire revealed that the WICB will incur a cost of approximately US$800,000 for producing the television coverage for the 12 day tournament. “The WICB is spending a lot of scarce resources to ensure that the tournament is on television. Television costs are usually two-fold – the fee to produce the television production and the fee to actually broadcast the tournament in terms of buying the airtime. To produce the television coverage is almost US$800,000 so that is the first half – the production cost. “With regard to the costs for broadcasting the tournament all across the world, we are trying to ensure that
this is at no cost to us so we’ve been in negotiations with a number of broadcasters – ESPN, EuroSport and ESS in the Asian sub-continent.” In 2010 CT20 included eight teams and cost the WICB approximately US$2M. In 2011 the tournament has been expanded to ten teams with the inclusion of the two top English T20 teams – Hampshire Royals and Somerset. “We are paying just about US$500,000 in appearance and players fees alone. There is the cost for the television production, travel, hotels and other logistical costs,” Dr Hilaire pointed out. Asked about the projections for earnings from sponsorship, Dr Hilaire said there was interest but no title sponsor as yet. “There are quite a few sponsors who want to be associated with CT20 but they still want to see that the tournament continues to be broadcast internationally and that it has commercial value before they put in a significant amount of money.” Asked whether he had any indication that players were uneasy over any image rights issues, the WICB CEO said he was aware that players are excitedly preparing for the tournament and that they should act responsibly as they are the ones who lose most from any protest action. “No foreign league, no overseas franchise, no international club team, no sponsor wants to be associated with players who do not show a commitment to the game. CT20 is an opportunity for them, the WICB is investing in it for the players and for the region. I believe the players would be committed to that and would go out and give their best.”
BOLT CLOSE TO 3-MILLION MARK ON FACEBOOK
Just over four months since Usain Bolt lost his first race in two years at the August 6 Stockholm meet, his popularity has not waned — well, certainly not on Facebook. His Facebook statistics is showing an additional 930,000 fans since that time. Bolt's numbers on Facebook has shown a 45 per cent increase, taking it to 2,996,814 fans. The breakdown of fans shows that at least 950,000 fans log on each month with just about 250,000 on average each week. Bolt's philanthropic contributions to the completion of the Sherwood Content Health Centre and his visits to his community reported top figures in early December with an average of 1.2 million hits per story; while the other major stories with record impressions of over one million came from the serialisation of his illustrated autobiography — My Story: 9.58. Another astounding fact on Facebook is that 75 per cent of the users are male while the remainder is female. Of the total fans, 41 per cent is in the 1317 age group while 39 per cent are in the 18-24 age group. The third most popular group is 25-34 totalling 12 per cent. The top countries are UK, USA, France, Italy, Canada and Chile. Bolt launched his book in London in September and in Jamaica in October. The attraction Usain Bolt Tracks and Records is set to open first quarter of 2011 in Kingston. The World and Olympic champion for the 100 and 200 metres is currently training in Kingston and is "in pretty good shape" as he prepares for the 2011 World Championship, scheduled for Daegu, South Korea.
Drew Brees is the AP's Male Athlete of the Year
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees has New Orleans swinging, singing and trumpeting their Saints like never before. When the Rebirth Brass Band tears it up during one of their late night shows at a funky old neighborhood bar, the tin-walled place bounces to a drum beat and a tuba's bass line. Their song goes like this: "We used to say 'Who dat' since way back when / Now we're saying 'We dat' every time we win / You can write it down, take a picture, tell a friend / We already done it. We're gonna do it again." Brees is a big reason New Orleanians can smile and boast. Not only did the reigning Super Bowl MVP turn around the Saints' football fortunes and bring the city its first NFL championship in February, he's become a civic leader as his adoptive hometown recovers from a time of turmoil and suffering. That record of accomplishment is why the down-to-earth quarterback was voted the 2010 Male Athlete of the Year, chosen by members of The Associated Press. There were 176 ballots submitted from U.S. news organizations that make up the AP's membership. Brees received 48 votes, while the 2009 AP Male Athlete of the Year, NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, finished second with 31. Boxer Manny Pacquiao was third with 21 votes, followed by Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay with 17. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, a comeback story himself, rounded out the top five votegetters with 10.
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"I've always tried to visualize myself in that position of being considered one of the best and winning championships," said Brees, who won his first title in his ninth NFL season. "Certainly the way you're perceived, the way people talk about you, the kind of category they put you in — that stuff changes and it's flattering, certainly humbling." Brees is only the fourth quarterback to receive the honor in the past four decades, along with the Patriots' Tom Brady in 2007, the 49ers' Joe Montana in 1989 and 1990, and the Raiders' George Blanda in 1970. The place Brees finds himself now is even more remarkable when you consider that he came to New Orleans having been unceremoniously discarded by the San Diego Chargers after a career-threatening injury to his throwing shoulder. New Orleans was at its nadir in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints needed a lift and their new, undersized quarterback was looking for a second chance. Brees embraces the chance to talk about those moments, because in his mind, they are linked with the success that followed. "I believe that 100 percent. New Orleans is the last place I ever thought I'd be," Brees said. "The Saints organization and team didn't have that great a reputation prior to (2006) and so it was probably not the most attractive place for anybody to come. Then right after the storm, the city's destroyed and everybody's displaced and I look back on those times and it was like we were really starting over." Nearly five years later, many are
now familiar with how Brees rebuilt his arm, his career, his team and even helped rebuild New Orleans through millions of dollars in charitable contributions. Since 2006, he has thrown for more yards (22,153) and touchdowns (150) than any NFL quarterback and in the process set club records in both categories. His 70.6 completion percentage in 2009 set a single-season NFL record. He took the Saints to their first NFC title game in his first season with the club and to a championship in his fourth with a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Miami. Brees completed 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards and two TDs in the Super Bowl
Manchester City eye Christmas number one and dream of title
LONDON - For the first time in 81 years Manchester City are poised to be England's number one at Christmas but whether they can push on to take the League title for only the third time is another matter entirely. The freeze that wiped out the Chelsea v Manchester United and Arsenal v Stoke City matches this weekend could still account for City's home game against Everton on Monday night but everyone at the club will be doing all they can to get the game played given the reward at stake if they should win it. United, with a game in hand, top the standings with 34 points, with Arsenal and City on 32 and Chelsea on 31. The prospect of City leading the way at Christmas has sparked the club's various forums into life with fans already warming up their chants of "City, top of the league." It is hardly surprising, as their acquaintance with the top four, let alone pole position, has been fleeting to say the least. They finished fifth last season, their best since the last year of the old first division in 1992, when
Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints
they were also fifth. They were fourth in 1978, second behind Liverpool in 1977 and have to go back to 1968 for the last time they won the title -- their second after their initial 1937 success. When it comes to being top at Christmas, City have to go right back to 1929, when the oft-quoted phrase "busy holiday programme" really meant something. Having beaten Blackburn Rovers on December 21 that year, City beat Aston Villa away on Christmas Day. Then they played Villa again at Maine Road the next day, and lost. City, like every other side, played six games in 15 days over the Christmas and New Year period, but a run of one win in eight after their Christmas Day victory effectively ended their hopes of a first league title and they eventually finished third, 13 points adrift of champions Sheffield Wednesday. In the 18 completed seasons since the formation of the Premier League in 1992, the team top of the table on Christmas day have gone on to take the title only seven times. Norwich City, Aston Villa, Leeds United,
without an interception. Now the Saints are 10-3, hitting double-digit wins for the third time in five seasons and in another playoff race. Brees deflects much of the credit for his prolific production to head coach Sean Payton, who believed in Brees like few others did, and who designed his offense to suit Brees' strengths. Payton, however, is quick to assert that the signing of Brees was the single most important step toward building a Super Bowl champion. "It starts with his skill set," said Payton, who calls the plays. "You're a good play-caller when you have a good quarterback and I've been a bad play-caller before."
Newcastle (twice) and Liverpool (twice) have all had their eyes on the prize when unwrapping their presents only to come down with the Christmas decorations. All the current excitement is based on the assumption that City will beat Everton on Monday, which is hardly a given as David Moyes's side have won on their last three visits to Eastlands. Yet the very fact that City are right in the title shake-up at the halfway point shows that their limitless funding has turned them into serious contenders. They still often give the impression of a group of big names who have met for the first time in the changing room five minutes before kick-off but the sheer depth of talent in the squad goes a long way to making up for the lack of "gel." Their key man remains 10-goal leading scorer Carlos Tevez, who is expected to play on Monday and appear before the City fans for the first time since handing in his transfer request. A huge crowd favourite before his public fallout with "some individuals," Tevez has divided opinion among fans. Some are furious with him for what they consider his "greed and betrayal" while others are prepared to overlook virtually anything to end decades of trophy-free frustration. The Argentine striker's team mates certainly value his presence though, with defender Micah Richards saying: "We need him in our team if we want to achieve what we want to achieve. He's our main man and our captain. Carlos is our special one."
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Els Holds Off Goosen to Win South Africa Open
DECEMBER 20TH- DECEMBER 27TH, 2010
DURBAN - South Africa's Ernie Els held off a strong finish from compatriot Retief Goosen to secure a one-shot victory at the South African Open on Sunday. Els claimed his fifth South African Open title thanks to a final round sixunder-par 63 to finish on 25-under 257 at the Durban Country Club in the 100th edition of the tournament. Goosen could not halt Els's charge to victory as he also carded a final round six-under-par 63 to end on 24under-par. Els looked to have shut the door on Goosen thanks to a snaking 15-foot putt which resulted in an eagle on the 527-yard par-five 14th hole. The eagle helped Els to a four-shot lead with four holes to play but Goosen hit back as he birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th holes but the 41-year-old Els held his nerve to close out the victory with four consecutive pars. Els, ranked 12th in the world, began the final round holding a onestroke lead over Goosen and he was quickly out of the blocks as he picked up three birdies with just one bogey on the front nine. The 41-year-old Goosen fought back with three birdies in four holes from the seventh hole to the 10th.
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drop on the par-five third. Els said his bogey on the eighth had caused a few flutters. "I felt in control until I threeputted on eight for bogey and that threw me even though I made some good putts especially for eagle on 14," he told a news conference. Els may have walked off with the 158,500 euro ($211,000) first prize but
he said the Goosen had made him work hard for the victory. "I knew Retief was going to come hard but I didn't know he would come so hard," he said. "We go back a long way, we played junior golf together in 1983. He is a great player and he showed it again by finishing with three birdies." British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen was third on 21-under-par after a final round six-under 63 while fellow South African Charl Schwartzel was fourth on 18-under. The leading foreigners were Briton Robert Rock and Frenchman Romain Wattel who finished tied for fifth on 16-under. Heavy overnight rain meant organisers reduced the competition to 70 holes after the weather rendered the par-three fourth hole unplayable. The decision meant that the final two rounds were contested on a par-69 course instead of par-72. The tournament has been plagued by bad weather with only two-and-ahalf hours of play possible on the opening day which resulted in the organisers having to schedule 36 holes for the final day.
PERTH - Australia removed England's last five wickets early on Sunday to win the third Ashes test in Perth by 267 runs and level the fivetest series at 1-1. England had resumed on 81-5 needing another 310 runs to seal an unlikely win and take the Ashes home for the first time in 24 years but paceman Ryan Harris snuffed out their hopes with four wickets as they were skittled for 123 within an hour. The comprehensive victory was a remarkable turnaround for the hosts after last week's innings and 71-run hiding in the second test in Adelaide. "No better birthday present than that, winning an Ashes test match," said Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who turned 36 on Sunday. "Especially after last week. We had to bounce back and respond and the players need to take a great deal of credit for that ... We've played the test match cricket I knew we were capable of this week." Harris bowled nightwatchman James Anderson for three in his second over of the morning with a sizzling fuller delivery that sent offstump flying. The 31-year-old then trapped Ian Bell lbw for 16 for his fifth wicket of the inning. Bell requested a review but the simulation showed the ball crashing into middle stump. Harris had Prior nicking an edge to gully three balls later where Mike
Hussey capped his brilliant test match with the bat with an acrobatic catch, diving to his right to dismiss the England wicketkeeper for 10. Mitchell Johnson, who took 638 in England's first innings, picked up his ninth wicket of the match when he had Graeme Swann play onto his stumps for nine. "Mitch Johnsons spell on day two was probably one of the all-time best spells in Ashes test match history," said Ponting. Harris then removed Steve Finn for two, the paceman edging to Steve Smith at third slip to wrap up the innings and leave Australia with all the momentum heading into the fourth test at Melbourne. "Cricket's a funny game," said England captain Andrew Strauss. "We're disappointed with our performance, there's no doubt about that. "Give credit to Australia, you've got to take your hats off to them, but we're still upbeat and we've still got a good chance of winning this series." Ponting did not take the field after breaking his little finger in a catch attempt during Jonathon Trott's dismissal on Friday but said he was hopeful of being fit for the next match, which starts on December 26. "I think I'm a good chance to play in Melbourne," the Australian skipper said. "We've got a little bit more recovery time. Fingers crossed everything will be okay."
Ernie Els celebrates after his final putt on the 18th green to win the South African Open.
However, Els's eagle on the 14th proved to be the difference as he completed rounds of 65, 65, 64 and 63 to claim the title. In all Els helped himself to five birdies and an eagle with just one bogey marring his card while Goosen picked up seven birdies and a bogey after he struck his tee shot left into a thick bush and was forced to take a
Orlando land Arenas in blockbuster trade
The Orlando Magic underwent a stunning transformation with a pair of blockbuster trades on Saturday, acquiring Washington Wizards' troubled All Star Gilbert Arenas along with Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson. The three-team deal saw the Magic ship forward Rashard Lewis to Washington for Arenas while moving Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus, Marcin Gortat, a 2011 first round draft pick and $3 million to the Phoenix Suns for Turkoglu and Richardson. Washington had long been expected to offload Arenas, who had an expensive contract and had pleaded guilty in January to felony weapons possession for bringing four guns into the team's locker room. "This trade allows us to continue to rebuild around our core group of young Rashard Lewis players and provides financial flexibility as we move forward," Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement. "We're thrilled to have been able to accomplish those goals while also getting back a two-times All Star in Rashard Lewis, who brings us versatility, three-point shooting and a veteran presence." Arenas, whose contract is worth around $62 million over the next three years after this season, heads to Orlando after spending seven-plus seasons with the Wizards. The 28-year-old guard, who spent the first two years of his NBA career with Golden State, averaged 25 points and 5.7 assists with the Wizards. "When we re-signed Gilbert prior to the 2008-09 season, we envisioned a level of team success that we unfortunately were not able to achieve due to injuries and other factors beyond our control," said Grunfeld. The 31-year-old Lewis, in his 13th NBA season, has career averages of 16.5 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic. The trade is a homecoming of sorts for Turkoglu, who had spent five seasons with the Magic helping them reach the 2009 NBA Finals, before signing with Toronto as a free agent.
Australia Win Third Test In Perth By 267 Runs
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