AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
VOLUME 8 No. 34
$1.00
TOUGH NEW LAWS
FOR POLITICIANS Website: www.suntci.com
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BY HAYDEN BOYCE PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Candidates who are contesting the November 9th general elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands do not need a certificate of clearance from the Integrity Commission to run, but those who are successful will be required to file extremely detailed reports of their income and assets within three months of becoming a Member of Parliament (MP). In addition, all persons who wish to run as candidates, must declare with the Integrity Commission, before they are officially nominated, if he or she is a party to, or a partner in a firm or a director or manager of a company which is a party to any contract with the Government and the nature of such contract and his or her interest or the interest of such firm or company in it. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
TCI BANK PAYING OUT $20MILLION IN DIVIDENDS READ MORE ON PG 8
PNP REVEALS FULL SLATE OF CANDIDATES
The Progressive National Party (PNP) revealed its full slate of candidates to contest the November 9 General elections. The candidates were presented to the media and a throng of party faithful at the PNP Headquarters along Airport Road in Providenciales on Wednesday, August 22. They are (from left standing) George Lightbourne, representing Electoral District #1 – Grand Turk North; Adrian Williams running in Electoral District #8 – Blue Hills (High Rock area); Don Hue Gardiner, Electoral District #4 – North Caicos, Middle Caicos and Parrot cay; Rex Swann, Electoral District #2 – Grand Turk South; Royal Robinson – At Large; Carlos Simons (Deputy Leader) At Large; Leader Dr. Rufus Ewing – At Large; Wayne Garland – At Large; Thomas Clay Ewing, will represent Electoral District #9 – Five Cays; another former MP Gregory Lightbourne, who will be running in Electoral District #10 – Wheeland and West Caicos; and former chief minister and veteran Norman Saunders, Electoral District #3 – South Caicos. Seated from left: Amanda Missick, Electoral District #7 – Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill; Akierra Missick - Electoral District #5 - Leeward; and Porsha Stubbs-Smith, Electoral District #6 – The Bight. Missing is Washington Misick, who was said to have involved in a freak accident while on the campaign trail and was not available for presentation.
NEW RULES FOR RTC READ MORE ON PG 9
TCIG CHANGES FROM FCIB TO SCOTIA READ MORE ON PG8
ROBERT HALL DISLIKES HOW PNP TREATED HIM READ MORE ON PG 8
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
Tough new laws for politicians ...Cont’d
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Moreover, elected or appointed Members of Parliament who find themselves in breach of any aspect of the new Integrity Commission Ordinance, could find themselves losing their seat in the House of Assembly. These are among some of the new rules that will govern the next general elections which will return the Turks and Caicos Islands to self rule, after parts of the Constitution were suspended on August 14th, 2009. According to the Integrity Commission Ordinance, within 90 days of becoming a member of the House of Assembly, all MPS must make a declaration giving “full, true time and complete particulars” of their income, assets and liabilities; assets of the spouse and the dependent children; any gifts received in the course of the performance of their public function. It also states that a declaration may be accompanied, if the person in public life so wishes, by a statement giving details of his income, assets and liabilities which shall be certified by an accountant and that if a person in public life holds any money or other property in trust for another person, not being his spouse or child or another
person in public life, he shall so state in his declaration but shall not be required to disclose the terms of the trust. According to the new constitution which comes into effect on October 20th, at the close of nominations of candidates for election to the House of Assembly the Integrity Commission shall publish a notice informing the electorate before the date of election of those members who have declared their interests and are eligible to run. The new Constitution says that if the Integrity Commission determines that an elected or appointed member of the House of Assembly has acquired a prohibited interest in a contract with the Government, the Speaker shall declare the seat of that member vacant. In addition, the Integrity Commission shall make and publish rules defining the circumstances in which the acquisition by an elected or appointed member of the House of Assembly of an interest in a contract with the Government is prohibited, and each such member of the House shall disclose to the Integrity Commission every interest he or she acquires in any such contract within seven days of acquiring it. Where a person who is required to do so fails to file a declaration in
accordance with the Integrity Commission Ordinance the Commission of Integrity or Governor, as the case may be, shall publish the fact in the Gazette and a newspaper and that person can be fined $20,000 or to a term of imprisonment of three years or to both fine and imprisonment. Any person who fails, without reasonable cause, to file with the Commission or the Governor, as the case may be, a declaration which he is required to be filed in accordance with the provisions of the Integrity Commission Ordinance; or knowingly files a declaration that is not complete or is false in any material particular;
shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of $15,000 and to imprisonment for a term of one year. And where the offence involves the non-disclosure, by the declarant, of property, which should have been disclosed in the declaration, the magistrate convicting the person shall order the person to make full disclosure of the property within a given time and on failure to comply with the order of the magistrate within the given time, the said offence shall be deemed to be a continuing offence and the person shall be liable to a further fine of $10,000 for each day on which the offence continues.
WALK INS WELCOME!
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
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LOCAL NEWS
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AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
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AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
TCI Bank paying out $20million to depositors BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR
The liquidators of the now defunct TCI Bank, said they intend to pay out approximately $20 million to its 3,300 depositors between now and then next two weeks, at a rate of 20 cents on the dollar. Head Liquidator Anthony Kikivarakis told The SUN that they have begun to pay out funds to depositors of the failed bank on a steady basis for the past two weeks and would be doing so for the ensuring two weeks when the first payment phase would end. He said except for minor glitches, mainly having to do with logistics, all was going well. “I think at the end of the day, we are going to pay out about $20 million. I think we have collected over $30 million over the last two years, and after expenses we are paying practically all of it out. We are nearing the end of the first phase of payments. I think we have another two weeks of making the payments. People are coming in the bank on a daily basis, and once they are properly identified and properly filled out the claims form and everything like that, they are handed their cheques. “They get 20 percent of their deposit balance or credit balance that they had with the bank. So, that is ongoing, and I think it would take another two weeks, but it is
Head Liquidator, Anthony Kikivarakis
progressing nicely,” the liquidator said. Kikivarakis explained that some of the challenges faced were that a number of depositors had left the TCI, while others who were living in the country reside on other islands, and so the process would require for them to visit its Grace Bay office to make the necessary application and verification in order to collect. “There are also situations where you have people who are away, people on different islands and accounts with two peoples’ names and only one that come in to make the application, so they have to go and get the other one. Those were the types of issues but they were all been resolved. It takes some time and I think that everyone was being patient and cooperative,” he
explained. Kikivarakis declared that depositors could get above 20 percent of their deposits back, which he said could be done in segment two of the exercise. He however, warned that the process could be very challenging since, in that particular phase, foreclosures would be the focus. He pointed out that since the real estate market was not at the desired level, it could prove difficult to turn the assets on its books into cash so that depositors could get more funds, and to this end, such a process could take longer than imagined. “We have collected most of the good loans and most of the loans that could be refinanced and paid out by another bank. And that’s where we have managed to push and get the cash to pay out the 20 cents. However, the next stage is all about foreclosures, and that is the hard thing; putting things on the market, whether they would sell, that is the longer process. “Because basically, who knows, you put something on the market, it may not sell and you may have to go through various auction process, under the laws of the country and all that. The thing is, we do have assets. We have properties down the road that we can sell, but that would take time, particularly in this market. So there are assets that would take a little longer to turn into cash than the first round,” he said. Kikivarakis was not in any rush to place a value on the assets on hand, citing future decline.
“In this market, it is very, very difficult to put a value on things. You may have a piece of property with an appraised value of over $500,000, and you can’t get $300,000 for it. So, basically we never go and put our necks out to place value on properties. But basically, on the book loans, I think we would have about another $30 million to collect now. “If those are not paying off, only God knows how much that would turn out to be, because we are talking about values between now and the next couple of years to get these things sold, and there is not much of a market here right now,” he said. The liquidator pointed out that the foreclosure phase would begin shortly. “We have some things in the process to dispose of, and basically we try to tell the borrowers to try to put the assets on the market themselves and let them see if they would be able to get the best price for it. After they have tried and are unsuccessful, we would then take over and try to get rid of it. We are at the stage where a number of borrowers have put up their properties for sale,” Kikivarakis said. Dubbed as the country’s first socalled indigenous financial institution, TCI Bank collapsed four years after its grand gala-like opening in December 2005. Its demise was said to have occurred mainly from debtors not living up to their expectations, as the liquidators reported that 76 percent of its borrowers, who were loaned in excess of $66 million, went in default.
Robert Hall not pleased with PNP treatment but could run independent BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR
F o r m e r Progressive National Party (PNP) leader and minister Robert Hall is contemplating his faith as to whether or not to break ranks with his party in the wake of how he said the entity treated his bid. Hall, a former radio talk show host, walked away from his Expressions call-in programme initially to contest the party’s leadership, but later decided to run on its ticket as a candidate on the capital island of Grand Turk. He was however not chose by the party
Hall told The SUN that he was not pleased with the way he was treated by the Dr. Rufus Ewing-led party, although he refrained from divulging specifics about his grouse. “My general position is, while I am not pleased with the way I was treated, I am taking a few days to consider all the avenues that are available to me, and in the coming week I will make a press release of what I intend to do. So that is all for the time being,” Hall said. However, pressed by this newspaper to state how he was treated and the options that were before him, Hall replied: “I could not be satisfied with the treatment, but I am a grown
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man, and I am not one who believes in making a lot of noise and dividing this even more than it is right now. So I would rather just take it easy, relax, consult with some of my friends and relatives, and in the coming week, I will make my decision on whatever I choose to do in the interest of my own family and the country. Hall indicated that he would not be taking running as an independent candidate off the table, saying that his options were many. “There are all sorts of possibilities, and as I said, I would examine all of them, then, hopefully, make the right decision in the coming week,” Hall said.
Robert Hall
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LOCAL NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
OUR PRESS TOWARDS NATIONHOOD by Royal S. Robinson, MBE
senior positions that would allow them to effectively It is becoming clearer everyday participate in the development that the current Interim of our country. Administration is doing a lot of Mrs. Susan Malcolm has a things in our name, but totally Masters in Human Resource against our interest. Management, and so too a They are doing things in number of other Turks and the interest of good Caicos Islanders. I cannot see governance, so they say, but why it is therefore necessary to every aspect of their actions insert a British retread into our points in a different direction. public service who would Years ago, TCIG had thereafter be paid for by us. established a policy of not That makes a total nonsense of allowing any Technical the process to get Turks and Corporation Officer to return Caicos Islanders that have to this country unless two been trained, many at the years would have elapsed since country’s expense, into these ROYAL ROBINSON his stint with TCIG had positions. CONTRIBUTER elapsed. This was done We cannot continue to be specifically subsequent to the perpetuating this “BS” theory Terry Donnigan affair, when he about experience. Everyone as Attorney General had engaged in a number of come from an institution of higher learning without corrupt practices and had returned to TCI to benefit experience. However, that person must be given the from them. chance to gain the requisite experience. The Turks But it seem now that these Brits do not even and Caicos Islander, post graduation must be given have to leave the country after completing their tour the opportunity to get his or her foot on the first rung of duty before they can take up other posts that are of the ladder. What better place to start than the paid directly from the purse of the Turks and Caicos public service, which is geared to career Islands people. development and succession planning! It cannot be right that Mark Greenway, who It makes no sense whatsoever, to have a Brit in came here ostensibly as an IT specialist, as an place that has no loyalty to this country, while a advisor supposedly paid for by the UK government, Turks and Caicos Islander is scrounging for work or through either DFID or FCO ended up, after he could sitting at home in his own country. More and more not cut it in that arena, was transferred to the CEO’s of them are going to be placed “on the dole” in the office as the Human Resource specialist. very near future. To add insult to injury, a post of Director of Are we going to fill every available position Humans Resources was created in our establishment with them and leave our people to fend for and he was encouraged to apply for that position. themselves and/or take up the menial jobs for which What was even more egregious was that a panel they are over qualified? In hell’s name that cannot consisting of two Turks and Caicos Islanders and a be so! Brit, in the persons of Clara Gardiner and Susan More and more Turks and Caicos Islanders must Malcolm, aided and abetted by Patrick Boyle could speak out against the injustice that is meted out to have allowed his name to be shortlisted in the first us. Is this the “greater British presence” that Colin place, but actually recommend his appointment to Roberts spoke about? Certainly we cannot stop them Patrick Boyle the CEO. If this is not incestuous, then from putting these retreads in our country if they are pray tell what is! paying for them directly. But we must not be asked These people are getting more bold and brazen to pick up the tab for transportation, housing or in their acts of cementing their cronies into the public office space for them! If the British want to pay all sector of our country to displace qualified Turks and that is fine and dandy as long as they are attached to Caicos Islanders from taking their rightful places in the Governor’s office and no put in apposition of
EDITORIAL CARTOON
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 Journalist/Web Designer: Patrina Moore-Pierre Graphics Editor: Joleen Grant Office Manager: Dominique Rigby 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.
interference in our locally run government. Of course as a growing county we will need expert help in a number of areas. These, however, must be identified by us and when their tenure is up, having participated in the technology transfer to a Turks and Caicos Islander, then their time would have expired and they should be catching either BA or American out of this country! We must insist that the good paying jobs that are created in this country that Turks and Caicos Islanders have first call on them. We cannot shy away from that! We cannot allow ourselves to buy into the false premise that if we skew all of our policies so that our people can benefit from the economic activity that has been generated by other policy initiative that that is discriminatory. If we are not developing our country so that Turks and Caicos Islanders are active participants in the development process, then we are putting ourselves further down the totem pole and we will never be able to reach the top. Until we have reached the point of total “equality of arms” in every facet of our lives, then we must continue to give our people a leg up the ladder. As big and great the good U S of A is, you see their congressmen and Senators fighting to maintain a number of job opportunities at home by adjusting their tax and incentive policies. So don’t you think that is even more critical that we do a similar exercise for us here? If we are, as we say that we are, on a pathway towards building the Turks and Caicos Islands as a place that we can live and work in, while accommodating those that come and live amongst us to help us build this country, then we must try as best as possible to protect this endangered species called “Turks and Caicos Islander”! All of the silos that have been created in the past must now be part of a cohesive whole that would allow us to achieve what we set out to do. Of course you will have some persons with a different view and agenda. But just remember that many of them still have the option, when the going gets tough to leave. Many of us do not have that luxury. We have to start seriously to put in place policies and mechanism that would protect us from ourselves so that in the long run we will have a place in the sun called home and we can enjoy the fruits of our labour in our old age! Royal Robinson was a former Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance and Health in the Progressive National Party (PNP) Administration.
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AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
Fortis loses $2.8 million to power thieves BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR
Light and power company Fortis TCI has reported more than $2million revenue loss since the start of the year as a result of electricity theft, which the entity described as non-technical loss. The police said the communities of Kew Town and Five Cays were the main culprits in electricity theft. Talisha Simons, Corporate Communications Office for Fortis TCI, told The SUN that since January the company recorded 30 cases of electricity theft on Providenciales, adding that the company was weighing its criminal and legal options on the matters. “We estimate that our nontechnical losses from January to June
of this year total $2,792,936.00. Nontechnical losses are primarily the result of theft or power diversion which is extremely dangerous. Tampering with power supply is illegal, but it can also end in severe injury, electric shock, explosion, fire, even death. “So far this year, we have 30 cases of theft that have been found in Providenciales. Each case is forwarded to the Revenue Protection Supervisor for further action before services can be restored,” Simons revealed. The police in conjunction with Fortis officers will be launching a crackdown on electricity theft on Providenciales as a result of the growing number of thefts in the various communities on that island. According to the police, offenders would face arrests and prosecution. A Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force spokesman was quoted as saying: “There have been a number of
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incidents reported in recent weeks in areas such as Kew Town and Five Cays. Obviously stealing electricity from the main power lines is a serious offence and we are determined to crackdown on it. “Not only is it a serious criminal offence, it is also a very dangerous practice too. Those tampering with supplies are not only putting their own lives at risk, but also those of innocent people, including young children. The police, in partnership with power company workers, will continue to monitor the situation and we will be patrolling areas on a regular basis in a bid to stamp out this illegal and potentially life-threatening practice.” That warning has today been echoed by Fortis TCI, which operates a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to electricity theft.
In the meantime, Allan Robinson, Vice President for Customer and Corporate Services was quoted as saying that Fortis TCI has implemented a zero tolerance approach to power theft and where such activities occur, electricity services will be suspended with immediate effect. “Our main concern is the safety of residents, especially children and animals that may wonder into areas where there are uncovered or exposed wires. It is also important that we advise the public that Fortis TCI will take full legal action if and when theft is detected and will seek to recover lost revenues. We are urging residents to regularise illegal services by visiting the Fortis TCI Customer Service Centre at 1030 Leeward Highway.” “Additionally we will work closely with the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force to eradicate this practice. It is not only illegal to tamper with electric power and defraud Fortis TCI, but public safety is also a major concern. Illegal power connections are unsafe and extremely dangerous. Such activity can result in severe injury, and in some cases death,” Robinson said.
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
Government now banking with Scotiabank instead of CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank After many years of banking with FirstCaribbean Bank, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government has changed over to Scotiabnk. In a Government press release, Athenee Harvey, Accountant General, TCIG Treasury Department said: “I am pleased to welcome this new banking relationship between TCIG and Scotia Bank, which will not only provide much needed banking services through access to cash withdrawal services and depositing facilities in the islands of South and North Caicos, but will also help to modernise our cash management capabilities in the Treasuries of both Grand Turk and Providenciales.” According to the Government statement, the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Tourism has revised TCIG banking arrangements to provide a more modern and efficient payment and collection system for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The migration of services from First Caribbean International Bank to Scotia Bank (Turks and Caicos) Ltd. will allow electronic banking to be introduced for
many government financial transactions, including payments to TCIG by Debit and Credit Cards and direct payments by TCIG to staff and vendors. Mr. Cecil Arnold, Managing Director, Scotia Bank, said: "We are excited about this new partnership with TCIG, as we support and work together to automate and enhance government revenue collection and payment services. Scotia Bank has been in Turks & Caicos for 30 years and this partnership further demonstrates our commitment to the Islands and the people.” The new arrangements have made it possible for TCIG Treasuries on both Providenciales and Grand Turk to accept payments via Debit and Credit Cards including Visa and Master Cards
since June 2012. As of September 2012 new ATMs will be located on the islands of South and North Caicos to facilitate salary withdrawals by TCIG staff and a machine in downtown Grand Turk later this year. TCIG is now able to pay for many of its services via Credit Card. TCIG will benefit from a reduction in wire transfer fees and a reduction in transmittal times for wire transfers to Canada and the United States from days to minutes via Scotiabank’s Online Banking, Automated Clearing House Platform “NAFTA”. In preparation for full implementation of the direct payment facility, the Treasury is encouraging all TCIG employees to open bank accounts. For its part, Scotiabank has
offered to provide assistance to those wishing to open an account and has also offered to waive fees for cashing TCIG cheques until September 2012. Plans are also in the pipeline for the introduction of card payment capabilities in the Road Safety Department, Customs and Immigration Departments; as well as online payment of TCIG Receipts. Other services are expected to come on-stream later. The move was initiated in January 2012, when the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Tourism requested proposals for the provision of banking services for TCIG from the three major banks operating on the Turks and Caicos Islands. Beginning in March this year, TCIG began transferring its banking services. The banks invited to compete for TCIG’s business were: First Caribbean International Bank, Scotia Bank (Turks & Caicos) Ltd. and the Royal Bank of Canada. After careful evaluation the TCIG chose Scotiabank as that which best suited the needs of the Government.
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
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AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
Major changes coming to Radio Turks and Caicos The Interim Administration has introduced a draft bill to set up a clear and impartial Board of management for Radio Turks and Caicos (RTC). According to a Government press release, the proposed new bill would “replace the present ill-defined and largely ineffective oversight arrangements” for the only public broadcaster on TCI. The draft bill introduces the separation of roles described in the present Broadcasting Commission Ordinance. First, a Commission would be re-created to oversee the regulation and standards across the whole broadcast sector and hence have a role similar to that of the Telecommunications Commission and secondly, a separate and properly constituted Board of Management would be established to manage RTC. The release said this separation of roles is no different to the arrangements established in many countries with an open and diverse range of broadcasters. Under the new arrangements the proposed Board of Management would oversee the functions of Radio Turks and Caicos to ensure that it fulfils its
obligations as an impartial and apolitical public broadcasting service, as well as ensuring that a system is in place to ensure editorial independence. The proposed bill would also make it illegal for elected politicians to give directions to the Board, impose a decision on the recruitment or job security of any employee, or seek to influence any aspect of the reporting of news, journalistic freedoms or content of any programme. The Draft bill has been reviewed by the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Advisory Council and has been forwarded to the Consultative Forum for its review and consideration. The Consultative Form has deferred presenting their views on the Bill in order to seek public views and the Governor has agreed. Under the proposed new law, there will be a Radio Turks and Caicos Board of Governors, whose function is to oversee Radio Turks and Caicos in fulfilling its purpose as a public broadcasting service to ensure editorial independence. The members of the Board shall be the Permanent Secretary, Government Support Services and government’s senior press officer; such other
members not exceeding five, as the Governor may appoint of whom one must be a person who is qualified in or knowledgeable in broadcasting matters; one must be a person qualifies to practise as an attorney in the Islands; and one must be a person who qualified as an accountant. No member of the House of Assembly shall be appointed as a member of the Board. The new law also states that Radio Turks and Caicos shall do all it can to ensure that controversial subjects are treated with due accuracy and impartiality in all output and that Radio Turks and Caicos must not broadcast any output which expresses the opinion of Radio Turks and Caicos or the Board on current affairs or matters of public policy other than broadcasting or the provision of online services. It also states that no minister may give a direction to the Board, Radio Turks and Caicos, or any director, officer of staff of Radio Turks and Caicos, in respect of a particular programme of a particular allegation or a particular complaint; or the gathering or presentation of news or the preparation of presentation of current affairs programmes; or programme standards. Government shall also provide broadcasting time free of charge by Radio Turks and Caicos to the Governor, Deputy Governor or any Minister, such time as he may require in connection with the business of the Government; to every political party registered with the Integrity Commission, such time as the political party may require for political
purposes, not exceeding six 15-minute slots in a calendar year; to every independent candidate registered with the Integrity Commission, such time as the candidate may require for political purposes not exceeding one 15-minute slot in a calendar year. Free broadcasting time shall not be provided after the publication of a proclamation dissolving the House of Assembly other than to the Governor, the Deputy Governor and Ministers for purposes not related to the general election. During the period between the date fixed for nominating candidates for a general election or election to fill a vacancy in the House of Assembly, as the case may be, and 24 hours before the taking of the poll, the Government shall authorise the provision of broadcasting time free of charge by Radio Turks and Caicos to every political party registered with the Integrity Commission, such time as the political party may require for the purposes of the election not exceeding four 15-minutes slots; to each independent candidate registered with the Integrity Commission, such time as the candidate may require for the purposes of the election not exceeding one 15-minute slot; in the case of an election to fill a vacancy in the House of Assembly, to every political party registered with the Integrity Commission, such time as it may require for the purposes of the election not exceeding 15 minutes; to each independent candidate registered with the Integrity Commission, such time as it may require for the purposes of the election not exceeding 5 minutes.
Beaches security guard remanded to jail on gun charges
Claudin Ulysse (R) leaves the courthouse with his lawyer Clayton Greene (L)
A former security guard at Beaches Resort and Spa has been remanded to Grand Turk prison until October 5th. The man, Claudin Ulysse, was denied bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Clifton Warner. He subsequently appealed the bail denial at the High Court but this was denied. Ulysse, who is a well-known boxer, was apprehended by police near Leeward Gate, in possession of a 9mm gun, six rounds of ammunition and a bullet-proof vest. He was apparently fired from Beaches recently. The accused was represented by attorney Clayton Greene, while Samantha Williams-Glinton was the prosecutor.
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
PNP presents full slate of candidates BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR
The Victory Team – that is how Leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP) Leader Dr. Rufus Ewing dubbed the slate of candidates his party will be fielding for the November 9 General Elections. Parading the 15 candidates, including himself in front of a throng of media representatives and vociferous party faithful at the PNP Headquarters in Providenciales on Wednesday, August 22, Ewing asserted that his crop was the best bet to dig the country out of its present economic abyss.
The At-Large Candidates that were first presented comprised Ewing, his deputy QC lawyer Carlos Simons, former Chief Minister Washington Misick, former deputy premier and minister of health Royal Robinson and former Member of Parliament Wayne Garland. The constituency candidates are: George Lightbourne, who will be running in Electoral District #1 – Grand Turk North; Rex Swann, who will be the standard-bearer for Electoral District #2 – Grand Turk South; former chief minister and veteran Norman Saunders, who will be running in Electoral District #3 – South Caicos; attorney Don Hue Gardiner, who will be looking to secure
Deputy Commissioner of Police not retiring Brad Sullivan, Deputy Commissioner for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has flushed reports in sections of the media that suggest he was retiring from the force, one year before the end of his three-year contract with the organization. In a statement earlier this week, Paul Baker, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Spokesman, explained that the allegations were false, and that Deputy Commissioner Sullivan wanted to make that quite clear. Baker quoted the deputy commissioner as saying: “I would like to make it clear that my contract as Deputy Commissioner with the RTCI Police runs until the end of February 2013, and I have no intention of retiring from my position before that date.” Sullivan – an almost 35-year veteran of the Canadian Mounted Troop, and his superior, Commissioner Colin Farquar took control of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force in March, 2011. In their first news conference held at the Chalk Sound Police Station, they promised to hoist the force to international standard by addressing the personal and working environmental needs of its men and women. However, some members of the force have expressed displeasure at their stewardship, saying that they were not holding true to their promises, and at some points, had been involved in micromanagement of the force and unwarranted disciplinary measures, much to their chagrin.
NEEDLES & PINS UPHOLSTERY SERVICES HAS VACANCIES FOR THE FOLLOWING:
UPHOLSTERER - 10 years+ experience DOMESTIC WORKER Applications to: needlesandpins@express.tc or P.O. Box 364, Providenciales
NOTICE
The general public is hereby notified that Mr. Julian Garland is no longer employed with the Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board and is therefore not authorized to act as an agent or conduct any transaction on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board. TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD
Electoral District #4 – North Caicos, Middle Caicos and Parrot cay; budding attorney Akierra Missick, who will be seeking to snare Electoral District #5 - Leeward; Porsha Stubbs-Smith representing Electoral District #6 – The Bight; former member of parliament Amanda Missick, running in Electoral District #7 – Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill; Adrian Williams running in Electoral District #8 – Blue Hills (High Rock area); Thomas Clay Ewing, will represent Electoral District #9 – Five Cays; and another former MP Gregory Lightbourne, who will be running in Electoral District #10 – Wheeland and West Caicos. Ewing stressed that his bunch would ensure what he described as a productive, vibrant and diverse economy, with happy, well-educated, healthy and prosperous Turks and Caicos Islanders at the core of its genesis and sustainability. “In harmony with the natural environment and with a God-fearing people that are diverse in ethnicity and culture but with a dominance of TCI national pride and patriotism, all on a foundation of good governance in readiness for self-determination. “It is our mandate to care for our people from the womb to the tomb. Our policies will address the most pressing issues of the day, whilst ensuring that at every stage of the development of our people, they are provided with the tools to capitalise on the many opportunities that we will make available to ensure that they maximise on their potential and God given talents,” Ewing told the apparent fired up crowd, which replied with reverberated cheers and whistles. While stressing that PNP policies would ensure that in the short, medium and long term persons would get the opportunity to retire in the comfort of
their wealth and in good health, Ewing emphasized employment would be its number one focus. “The PNP will have employment as its number one priority on a foundation of good governance in the creation of an economy that is diversified, productive and vibrant. An economy in which, tourism, infrastructure, financial services, manufacturing, fishing and agriculture are the main revenue drivers. An economy, which has Turks and Caicos Islanders not only as employees, but as top level employees and are major business owners,” Ewing asserted. He added: “This PNP team will continue our PNP pioneering and leadership role in education and youth development. Our policies will be directed at ensuring that no child is left behind and that all Turks and Caicos Islanders go to college and are empowered to be outstanding citizens, to own businesses and to assume roles as competent leaders in our society, to ensure that Turks and Caicos Islands will become a prosperous independent nation. “This PNP team will address the challenges in the health sector and in so doing will improve on the major initiatives that were designed by the PNP but poorly implemented and mismanaged by the Interim Administration. Our Health Policies will ensure that health care at all levels is affordable to all TCI residents and delivered in an equitable and cost effective manner.” Ewing urged those who made failed candidate bids to continue to support the party, since they would play a key role in ensuring that the party scores victory at the polls.
1 LABOURER
To work 5 days per week Salary $5.50 per hour Please call Davis Walkin at 333-1778 F CHAMBERS A modern law firm in the Turks and Caicos Islands seeks 1 QUEENS COUNSEL DEFENCE ATTORNEY (25 years + experience) 1 SENIOR DEFENCE ATTORNEY (20 years + experience) 1 DEFENCE ATTORNEYS (10years + experience) 1 DEFENCE ATTORNEYS ( 5years + experience) Specialty: all aspects of criminal and civil practice, in particular: Corruption Fraud Money Laundering Bribery Defending Civil Recovery Claims All resumes and cover letters should be sent to: Unit 007 SDR Complex 176 South Dock Road P.O. Box 666 Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands hr@fchamberslaw.com
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Page 11
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
John Smith denies that Servisair is leaving TCI John Smith, Chief Executive Officer for the Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority is denying widespread reports that international aviation ground handling company Servisair, which is embroiled in a court battle with existing ground handling companies, was abandoning its bid to operate here. The Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority had entered into a joint venture agreement with Servisair to operate alongside the three other players in the market - Interisland, TCA Handling and new kid on the block, Skyblue Aviation, all of which publicly opposed the agreement and have been seeking the authority of the court to have declared null and void. A well-placed source told The SUN that the British-based entity did not want to entangle in “nasty small island politics”, and so, it was taking steps to pull out of the TCI, before its image became tarnished. The source said that pieces of ground handling equipment brought in by Servisair to kick-start its operation, were shipped back to their places of origin, stressing also that the company ostensibly did not have the stomach for the vehement push back from existing ground handling companies.
“Yes, they are pulling out. They have shipped back all their equipment from the Turks and Caicos, because they said they were not prepared to have their names dragged through the mud here. The case in court now means nothing to them because they have decided against operating here. They are not concerned with the results,” the source said. But when contacted, Smith said that as far as he was concerned, Servisair had not pulled out of the joint venture agreement with the TCIAA, and there was no indication that it would. “Things are the same since the last time we spoke. Servisair has not pulled out. The case remains before the court. Unfortunately, it has been delayed because the Justice is not available, and so, the court delayed it. So, really, nothing has changed in that regard. From what I gather, the agreement remains in force,” Smith said. Quizzed as to why the pieces of equipment brought in by Servisair were shipped out of the country, the TCIAA boss said that the company operated in a number of other places across the world, and it would not make sense for the equipment to sit idly here while court proceedings dragged on, and when they were needed elsewhere.
Position Available
Marketing Analyst
Job Details -This position is responsible for designing, producing and testing real estate related ads, email campaigns, web product images, on-site campaigns, and web pages that clearly convey promotional messages, satisfy branding requirements and motivate customers to purchase merchandise online. Set up campaign tracking and the sharing of information across internal and external teams. Video editing and design mandatory. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong, real estate specific graphic and web design capabilities and design principals. Must be multi lingual, able to work with multiple projects and be able to perform within tight deadlines, strong written and verbal communication skills.
REQUIREMENTS A degree/diploma in Visual and Graphic Design, Marketing & Advertising studies 5-7 years minimum experience designing in digital print, multi media and 3D modeling environments Expert knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash. InDesign, HTML, XML, Javascript coding, Final Cut Pro Video editing for optimizing online media Photography portfolio for onsite photo shoots and development of international client portfolios A overall portfolio that demonstrates successful application of design principles and successful Real estate marketing campaigns and strategies Knowledge of MLS real estate protocols Fluent in English & French languages *We are only reviewing full applications including CV and an Online Portfolio. Salary: $20,000 per year
Interested applicants please contact: Robert Greenwood Regency International Estates CONTACT PERSON: TEL # 649-244-1151, EMAIL Robert@tcibrokers.com
“Whether they have or haven’t (moved the equipment out of the country) is neither here nor there. It would make good sense if I needed it elsewhere I am not going to leave it here. Its business,” he said. The SUN understands that the first court hearing was to have held earlier this month, but was pushed back to six weeks. TCI Handlers and Skyblue Aviation opposed the joint venture deal between the TCIAA and Servisair on the grounds that the TCIAA was a regulator, and by entering into such agreement was a conflict of interest as it could breed unfair competition. To this end, two of the ground operators, TCA Handlers, which is part of the Butterfield Group, and Skyblue Aviation, of which former People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) politician Shawn Malcolm is a partner, successfully sought a court injunction to prevent Servisair from opening its operation, while their lawyers build their arguments to present to the court. The Ex Parte decision, which was handed down on May 11, by Justice Margaret Ramsey-Hale stated: “1. Pending determination of the judicial review herein in which it is contended that the aforesaid Joint Venture, embodied in a Joint Venture
LOCAL NEWS
John Smith, Chief Executive Officer for the Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority
Agreement dated 11th November 2011, is unlawful: “(a) The Respondent (The Queen and The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority) shall take no further steps pursuant to or in furtherance of the Joint Venture with Servisair PLS Ltd. whether by waiver of any taxes or fees, or by providing facilities, equipment or services, or by granting permits or licences, or otherwise, under or pursuant to the Joint Venture Agreement, including through its nominee on the Board of Servisair PLS Ltd., Mr. Herbert Ingham. “2. For the avoidance of doubt, the Respondent shall not grant a ground handling licence and/ or permit to Servisair PLS Ltd. to operate ground handling services at Providenciales Airport.”
AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD POSITION AVAILABLE Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking a suitable applicant to fill an available post on Ambergris Cay ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS. The available post is for an:
Job Summary:
ELECTRICIAN
• Responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of machinery, lodging, phone lines system, in accordance with international standards; • Checking all installation for fire Alarm system and Detection • High voltage maintenance and inspection • Power plant switchgear maintenance • Electrical maintenance of all kitchen and laundry equipments • Electrical maintenance of all pumps and motors • Ensuring spare parts for equipment are on hand for consistent functioning without discontinuity. Requirements - Applicants must be and or have: • At least three (3) years of experience in electrical maintenance • A high school diploma or equivalent • Attentive to details and self-motivated • Able to understand and speak English fluently • Able to work with little or no supervision • Physically fit, dependable and hard working • In possession of clean police record and valid TCI Driver’s License • Able to understand and follow policies and procedures of the department. • Required to work and live on Ambergris Cay with rotated weekends off. Salary Scale: $31, 000 to $33,000 per annum
Closing Date for Applications is Tuesday September 11, 2012 Applications must be addressed to: Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 Fax: (649)-941-3778
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
Medical College to open next autumn The medical university aiming to set up shop on Providenciales next autumn is to begin with approximately 20 overseas students, according to Governor for the Turks and Caicos Islands His Excellency Ric Todd. Speaking to the media in a post Advisory Council interview on Wednesday, August 22, Governor Todd said that the university will cost at least $8 million to set up, and in the medium term aim to register up to a hundred students. Known as Global University of Medicine and Public Health (GUMed), the school will provide a fouryear course leading to a doctor of medicine (MD) degree, as well as several other certificates for medical practitioners, nurses and public health accreditation. It is thought that the existence of this facility when operational will attract students from overseas that will boost the economy. The school will be the first fouryear university in the TCI, joining the Community College campuses in Grand Turk and Provo. It is unclear where the faculty will be sourced but it has been announced that some local
Governor Ric Todd
physicians will play into the curriculum. Governor Todd described the setting up of the university here as a win, win situation for the country in general since, the institution would provide employment, raise the profile of the TCI, while at the same time its students, who he said should start the college already having some level of medical experience, would spend some of their time working in and with the local medical system.
AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD
POSITION AVAILABLE Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking a suitable applicant to fill a post on Ambergris Cay. The available post is for a:
GENERATOR TECHNICIAN MECHANIC
Daily tasks will include, but are not limited to: • Overseeing all electrical maintenance operations of Prime Power Generators on Ambergris Cay. • Providing full maintenance services as a certified Level three (3) Power Generator Technician and an authorized supplier and dealer of Cummins Power Generation. • Cooperating and coordinating closely with the Employer and Cummins Power Generation so as to ensure the efficient functioning of all generators. • Any other related duties as may be required to ensure the smooth operation of the Prime Power Generators. Requirements: Successful applicant must: • Highly technical - possessing a Level three (3) Power Generation certification authorized by Cummins Power Generation • Have at least five (5) full years of direct experience in servicing Prime Power Generators manufactured by Cummins Power Generation. • Be reliable, hard working and enthusiastic • Be attentive to details • Be able to work under little or no supervision • Produce a clean Police Record Salary: $25,000 to $30,000 per annum.
Closing Date for Applications is Tuesday September 11, 2012 Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 Fax: (649)-941-3778
“So, I think you have a very good case of win, win situation all round. They have been working patiently to get the accreditation which they need; the Interim Administration has been supporting them throughout this process, and I am glad we have made the progress we have,” Governor Todd said. Governor Todd said that while the long term aim of the Turks and Caicos Islands was to establish medical tourism, the medical school would primarily be a learning institution, and not a medical facility that caters to tourists. “The people who come to the medical university would be students who have a certain level of skills and they would pay for their education, though there would be arrangements for scholarships, and also they will make available arrangements for a number of scholarships to the people of the TCI. “Medical tourism is something that we do want to develop. This university is not specifically about medical tourism. However, as you raise the profile of the TCI as a
medical destination, as a centre of medical excellence, then I think that would have beneficial effects to attract medical tourism, which we see as an element to the TCI’s economic diversification. It is not a silver bullet that would cure all our ills – it is not in itself, going to transform the economy – but is one of these that would make a very valuable contribution,” Governor Todd said. Governor Todd also explained that while the first batch of students will be international, the majority of them should come from the region. Applications are expected from across the world but the bulk is likely to come from British, American and Canadian students. The temporary site for the facility is to be based at Queen’s Landing in Grace Bay but students will transfer to an 11 acre plot in Long Bay when construction is completed campus next year. It is said that students will live in the college-based accommodation while staff members will reside in recently acquired apartments in Glass Shack.
AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD
POSITION AVAILABLE Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking a suitable applicant to fill an available post on Ambergris Cay ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS. The available post is for an:
LABOURER/HOUSEMAN
Job Summary: • Assisting the Housekeeping Team with daily housekeeping duties. • Cleaning of guest’s homes, staff dormitories, offices. • Ensuring that the housekeeping area is kept in a tidy manner at all times. • Clean and maintain all housekeeping equipment as required. • The Employee will operate in the safest possible manner at all times.
Requirements - Applicants must be and or have: • At least three (5) years of experience in Housekeeping • A high school diploma or equivalent • Attentive to details and self-motivated • Able to understand and speak English fluently • Able to work with little or no supervision • Physically fit, dependable and hard working • In possession of clean police record and valid TCI Driver’s License • Able to understand and follow policies and procedures of the department • Required to work and live on Ambergris Cay with rotated weekends off. Salary Scale: $8.00 per hour paid fortnightly.
Closing Date for Applications is Tuesday September 11, 2012 Applications must be addressed to: Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 Fax: (649)-941-3778
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Page 13
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
PNP defends its candidate selection process In defence of its controversial process of choosing candidates for the November 9th general elections, the Progressive National Party (PNP) says its constitution was followed in all cases to ensure that candidates were fairly treated. “As an organisation the PNP is guided by a Constitution which outlines the rules with regards to the selection of candidates for elected office. The PNP Constitution was followed accordingly for the recent selection of the party’s candidates,” the PNP said in a press statement. According to the PNP statement, the party’s constitution allows for three levels selection to take place that would ultimately result in the approval of an applicant as a candidate: 1. The Constituency Council shall recommend the name of a person to the National Executive Committee (NEC) (membership of 14) to stand as a candidate. The process the Constituency Council uses to select such persons is by a vote of the members of the constituency council. 2. Persons recommended by the
PNP Leader, Dr. Rufus Ewing
Constituency Council to the NEC to stand as candidates are deliberated on by the NEC and are selected by a simple majority vote of the NEC or denied by a 2/3 majority vote of the NEC in favour of another applicant. 3. In cases where no Constituency Council Exist such as the Leeward and Wheeland Constituencies and also in the case of the new system with At large
Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking to employ someone to work ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS to fill a post on Ambergris Cay. The available post is for a:
FIRE FIGHTER/SECURITY OFFICER
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: • Enforce procedural rules and regulations of Ambergris Cay. • Ensure the personal safety of guests, staff and property at Ambergris Cay. • Maintain security and safety for assigned areas and working knowledge of the locations of various departments, buildings, access routes and admitting requirements. • Operate and monitor security Cameras, control panels, alarms and related security equipment to provide area and visitor surveillance. • Patrol assigned areas including parking and back of house areas, while checking for suspicious occurrences and enforcing relevant rules and regulations. • Check employees entering and departing Ambergris Cay. • Maintain shift logs and records of occurrences and complete necessary paperwork. • To respond to both airport and domestic fires and emergencies • Conduct fire safety inspections of all property • Perform designated training activities in line with OTAR 140 standards • Act as first responders to the Ambergris Cay ‘Emergency Plan’ • Maintain all Fire fighting vehicles and equipment KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS: • General knowledge of routine security rules and procedures.
PNP Deputy Leader, Carlos Simons
Candidates, the NEC deliberates, votes and recommends the names of successful candidates to the National General Council (NGC) for approval. 4. All Candidates selected by the NEC are then presented to the NGC (membership of 60 delegates) for approval as candidates. The PNP said it has started constitutional review since the first day the new executive took office.
This constitutional review and redrafting is being headed by Carlos Simons QC, and supported by other local and regional legal minds. The party added that the review is taking into consideration the changes in the provisions of the TCI Constitution 2011, the Political Activities Ordinance, the Integrity Commission Ordinance, the Elections Ordinance, and the Electoral Boundaries Commission Ordinance. “It is also making provisions for Constituency Councils to be better structured so that they can continue to support the process of selecting candidates at the constituency level while playing more meaningful roles in communities. This would enable better representation of the people of a community when the party is in government or is the opposition. This PNP Party is a strong and focused party that will continue in its quest forward to represent the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands when elected into Government on November 9, 2012,” the statement added.
• Ability to interact and communicate with people. • Ability to write clear, concise reports. • Ability to stand or walk for extended period of time. • Two (2) years of general experience in security. • High School Diploma or equivalent combination of experience and education. • Basic Aerodrome Firefighter certificate • A certified Firefighter • At least two (2) years experience as a Firefighter • Evidence of an unblemished disciplinary record • References from the CFO and DCFO of any previous Fire Service organization • A Civil Aviation Authority medical certificate • Current First Aid certificate REQUIREMENTS: 1. Excellent oral and written communication skills, and advanced computer skills required. 2. Must be physically fit. 3. Must be able to work under little or no supervision 4. Must possess a valid TCI driver’s license. 5. Must produce a clean Police Record 6. Must be reliable, hard working and enthusiastic 7. Required to work and live on Ambergris Cay with rotated weekends off. Salary: $23,000 - $25,000 per annum. Applications must be submitted to: Closing Date for Applications is Tuesday September 11, 2012 Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd, Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, E-mail: burkley.malcolm@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 ; Fax: (649)-941-3778
Page 14
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
Turks and Caicos Islands teenage turtles finally leave home The migrations of two teenage turtles fitted with satellite transmitters have been tracked as they leave the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), with one turtle heading to North Carolina, USA and the other to Cuba. The two sub-adult (teenage) green turtles were caught on the Caicos Banks last August by TCI Turtle Project Officer Amdeep Sanghera, with the assistance of legendary South Caicos fishermen Gilbert Jennings and Dave Clare. The two turtles were too young to sex when captured, but were named Gilbert and David in honour of the fishermen, fitted with satellite transmitters and released the next day. The turtles were then tracked remotely as part of an ongoing TCI Turtle Project study that is investigating the behaviour and range of TCI’s larger turtles. “For the first 10 months these turtles didn’t stray far from the sea grass beds where they were caught and released on the Caicos Banks, and we thought they would never leave home” said Amdeep Sanghera, “But to our surprise and relief, at the end of May
Gilbert suddenly took off, heading west to Providenciales and then north and out into open ocean – it was very exciting!” Over the next four weeks Gilbert negotiated strong oceanic eddies, passed through the Bahamas, crossed the Gulf Stream and arrived on the Florida coast just north of Daytona Beach. He then continued his epic journey north, passing Florida, Georgia and South Carolina before settling in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina at the end of July. He had swum over 2,100 miles. “Sub-adult turtle migrations have rarely been tracked before, so we had no idea where Gilbert was heading. Now he has settled in Pamlico Sound where we know there are extensive sea grass beds and where green turtles are known to forage in the summer” said Sanghera, “It is an amazing migration, at one point he passed within a mile of our project partners at Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort. Pamlico Sound is interesting because in the Fall the water will become too cold for green turtles, so we expect Gilbert to migrate south again in a couple of months. We
STAFF VACANCY –
SNR. HIGH VOLTAGE PLANT SUBSTATION ELECTRICIAN
Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified individuals for the position of Snr. High Voltage Plant Substation Electrician, FortisTCI, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Description • Responsible to lead and participate in the layout, installation, modification, maintenance and repair of the company’s high voltage electrical distribution facilities. Under the direction of the Plant Production Manager, the High Voltage Plant Electrician will maintain and install high voltage equipment and electrical control systems both in the Plant and in the Substations in a sound technical manner, to ensure the reliable operation and functionality of the equipment, as per design specifications.
Main Duties • Lead and participate in the layout, construction, installation, modification, maintenance and repairs to FortisTCI facilities by interpreting blueprints, plans specifications, catalogue data, written and verbal instructions. • Plan, provide materials and schedule work for subordinate employees ensuring proper assignment, tooling and techniques in performance of duties. • Mentoring of the existing work force in conjunction with training provided by outside trainers in order to assemble a knowledgeable and motivated electrical plant workforce. • Maintain and install all rotating and stationary electrical equipment with particular emphasis on control systems. All such work will be performed with safety, efficiency and functionality of the FortisTCI system as the guiding factors. • Maintain and install all breakers and associated equipment at the plant and in Company Substations. • Assist the Plant Production Manager in preparing costs estimates and materials lists for various projects as assigned. • Assist the Plant Production Manager in the preparation of capital and maintenance budgets. • Assist fellow team members in acquiring relevant experience in the testing and trouble shooting of plant apparatus. • Be familiar with all Company policies and procedures (including those established by past practice) relating to the position and to observe and enforce same. • Plan and conduct work in a manner consistent with the Company’s commitment to the environment and ensure that subordinate employees are likewise in compliance.
are hoping his satellite tag batteries last out so we can follow him when he makes his next move.” Meanwhile, David the turtle surprised the project researchers in another way. The TCI Turtle Project always tries to take blood and tissue samples from tagged turtles for genetic and hormone analysis at the University of Exeter, UK. Amdeep was unable to get a blood sample from Gilbert, but did get one from David, and in July the University posted the results of the blood analysis, revealing that David was in fact a female. Shortly afterwards, David made her move off the Caicos Banks and by the 2nd of August had arrived off the coast of Holguin Province, south east Cuba. Sadly, the team have not received any transmissions from David since her arrival at Cuba shores. “We are a bit worried about David. She has gone quiet for a few days before when she was safely on the Caicos Banks, but her silence now may mean she has been taken by Cuba’s outlawed turtle fishery” said SangheraAnyone with internet access can follow Gilbert and David’s journeys
online by signing up to the turtle tracking web pages on the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) website http://www.mcsuk.org/conservation_in _action/Marine+turtles/Tracking+turtle s/Tracking+turtles The TCI Turtle Project has so far tagged a total of nine green and hawksbill turtles in TCI waters, including another sub-adult green turtle that was fitted with a tag sponsored by the Amanyara Resort in Providenciales. Other tracking programme sponsors include the British Chelonia Group, The People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the National Aquarium in the UK. MCS is seeking funds to expand the TCI Turtle Project satellite tracking programme and if anyone is interested in finding out how to support this exciting research, please contact Amdeep Sanghera on +1 649 347 6651. The Department of Environment and Marine Affairs (DEMA) respectfully requests TCI citizens to leave satellite tagged turtles unharmed if encountered in TCI waters, and report them immediately to Amdeep Sanghera.
• Be familiar with safety and operating procedures of the Company and see that all in the Electrical Plant Department follow them. • Assist in the maintenance of statistical records required by the Company. • Be calm and competent in response to plant emergencies in a manner that inspires others to do likewise. • Operate Company vehicles as required and in adherence to Company policy and the driving regulations of the TCI authorities. • Be professional in dress and demeanor as befits an employee and ensure that a good public image of FortisTCI is maintained at all times. • Perform other duties as may be assigned and/or required by system contingencies from time to time. Daily Duties: • As indicated in weekly plan developed by Plant Production Manager • Submit job reports and failure analysis reports as may arise due to equipment abnormalities
Minimum Requirements • Successful completion of a 4-year high school programme • Successful completion of 2 years in a post-secondary education programme, preferably in the power generation and distribution field. • Minimum of 10 years working experience conducting corrective and preventative maintenance to transformers, circuit breakers and relays as a senior high voltage technician in substations in a generating plant environment • Minimum of 10 years working experience as a senior technical personnel conducting corrective and preventative maintenance in a generating plant environment • Familiarity with and competency in the use of computers and standard computing software programmes. • Above average analytical skills in math and electrical theories • Excellence in interpretation of engineering drawings and manuals • Professional competency in written and oral communication skills in English • Experience in working under utility emergency response conditions • Experience in high voltage installation, maintenance and repairs. • Ability to function effectively under emergency situations and think clearly and effectively deliver within deadlines. • Self-motivated, solution-oriented and positive outlook • Team player Compensation Grade: 13 (Range US$58,420.00-US$73,030.00 per annum (based on qualifications and ability) Deadline for submission of applications is August 29, 2012. Kindly submit applications stating qualifications and work experience to: Director, Human Resources FortisTCI Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: hrapplications@ppcltd.tc fax: 649-941-4304
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Page 15
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT VAT should PriCes alWays be Vat inClusiVe? All VAT registered persons must display VAT inclusive prices. Will Vat be CharGed on eleCtriCity and Water?
General
What is Vat?
The supply of electricity and water will be zero rated, except bottled water are there any ProVisions in the ProPosed Vat laW to deal With delinquent taxPayers?
Value Added Tax or VAT as it is commonly known is an indirect tax charged on taxable imports and the added value to taxable goods and services, supplied to one business to another or to a final consumer.
The VAT Act allows for temporary closure of the businesses with outstanding tax obligations and for other serious penalties and fines.
There will be two VAT rates; the standard rate is 11%, and 0%. Which tax legislations will be replaced by the VAT Act?
Even if no provision was made for VAT, the registered person must charge VAT on taxable supplies made after the effective date
What Will be the Vat rate in tCi?
VAT will replace the following taxes: • Communications Tax, • Hotel & Restaurant Accommodation Tax, • Vehicle Hire Stamp Duty, • Insurance Premium Tax and • The Domestic Financial Service Tax. hoW Will Vat affeCt PriCes?
The prices of goods and services may, in some cases, decrease, increase or remain the same. are there any benefits from ChanGinG to a Vat system?
Yes. VAT will improve, simplify and modernize our tax system. Can anyone CharGe Vat?
No. Only those businesses that are registered for VAT with the VAT Unit can charge VAT. A list of registered persons will be made public. What are the requirements for Vat reGistration?
In order to charge VAT, a business must be trading in taxable supplies and meet a particular Threshold. The threshold is the minimum sales of taxable supplies for a business in one year. The threshold for TCI is $200,000 and $50,000 for person who provide hotel accommodation hoW does a Consumer knoW that a business is reGistered?
Every registered person will be issued a Certificate of Registration, which must be displayed in a conspicuous place at the business location. If the business or person cannot show the consumer the Certificate of Registration, the consumer should not pay the VAT, and must report the incident immediately to the VAT Unit. is Vat CharGed on all domestiC ProduCts?
Not all goods and services will be charged under a VAT system and these will be classified as exempt or zero rated. What are zero-rated Goods and serViCes?
Zero-rated supplies are goods and services that will be taxable but at the rate of zero percent. Even though a zero percent rate is charged on supplies to the consumer, a VAT registered person is allowed to claim input tax on purchased/expenses used in making the zero-rated supplies. This mechanism ensures that VAT is completely removed from the supply. What are exemPt Goods and serViCes?
Exempt supplies are those goods and services that are not directly subject to VAT. This means that VAT cannot be charged on the sale of exempt supplies. Businesses and persons engaged in supplying exempt goods and services cannot claim input tax credit on purchases associated with the exempt supplies. should a Consumer be GiVen a reCeiPt eaCh time a PurChase is made from a reGistered Person?
Registered persons must issue a receipt to the consumer each time a purchase is made. Further, customers that are registered businesses must be given a proper tax invoice for every purchase, from a registered business. Would Vat be CharGed on all imPorts?
Not all imports of goods and services will be charged VAT and these will be classified as exempt or zero rated.
hoW Would ContraCts already siGned before the imPlementation of Vat be treated?
What Will haPPen to items already on the shelVes at imPlementation date?
Some items already on the shelves at implementation date would have higher custom duty included in the prices. At implementation date, these items will now also attract VAT. hoW Would the PoliCinG of the Vat ChanGe ComPared to the Present system?
Under the VAT system, the Input /Output Credit system enforces the issue of having correct invoices, which allows for paper trail (one business’ output is another business’ input), therefore encouraging the self policing nature of the tax. Further, the VAT legislation makes provisions for the strict enforcement of penalties for those who are in violation. are mediCal serViCes exemPt?
The supply of medical services, except for elective services that are cosmetic in nature, is exempt from VAT What other suPPlies Will be exemPted from Vat:
The following are some of the supplies that will be exempted from VAT: • the rental of residential property for residential purposes; • some financial services • prescription drugs; • education services; • a supply of the transportation of passengers within the Islands, but not including the rental of passenger and other vehicles • a supply of services provided directly by a facility to the following persons who need care - aged persons, indigent persons, infirm persons, disabled persons, and handicapped persons. • Some printed matters • Most agricultural input • Fuel • A supply of services from the operation of a gaming machine subject to the gaming machine tax, except when the gaming machine is operated by an operator of a casino governed by the Casino Ordinance • Basic food items such as rice, flour, sugar, milk and eggs • Chicken (Fowls of the species Gallus; Fowls of species Gallus domesticus; not cut in pieces frozen) • Meat fresh, chilled or frozen • Fresh Fruits and Vegetables • Canned corned beef (of bovine animals) • Infant and deictic use • Preparation for oral hygiene, dentifrices • Sheath contraceptives • Napkins and napkin liners for babies and adults (incontinence aids) • Exterior shutters (Hurricane) • Baby carriages and parts • Cement • Steel • Coffins end.
issued by Vat unit, tCiG
for further information kindly contact the Vat unit at vatunit@gmail.com, or vatunit@gov.tc
Page 16
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS Coney’s ConstruCtion
PAINTER Is looking for a
To work 6 days Per week Salary $8.00 per hour Contact 245-6994 TAYLORS VARIETY STORE SEEKS 1 COOK -$5.50 5 SALES AGENTS $6.50 3 LABOURERS - $6.00 1 SALES MANAGER $8.00 3 DOMESTIC WORKERS - $5.50 Interested persons should Contact 441-0225
YARDMAN/ GARDENER NEEDED For an apartment complex in Leeward Palms. Must be able to speak English and understand instruction to do task, such as cleaning yard and looking after all the things a gardener do. Salary $6.50 per hour. Expected to work 6 days a week. Contact Desiree Durham 649-242-2968
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
Governor Todd blames Conch Farm owners for its closure Governor Ric Todd says the Conch Farm owners are responsible for its closure, not the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG). In a press statement issued on Tuesday August 21st, Todd said TCIG has completed all the legal and documentation requirements needed for the development to go ahead in line with the Development Agreement. However, he said, the developer is now attempting to alter the terms of the Development Order by adding more items requiring duty concessions, and also to expand the development to include operations not included on the Development Agreement. “The developers were asked to make a business case for the additional concessions and the fish farming operations but have failed to do so,” the Governor added. Trade Wind Industries Ltd, the owner of the Conch Farm in Providenciales, issued a statement Sunday saying that in early August this year, after 28 months of efforts, they secured a Letter of Intent from a qualified long term lender for $15 million in financing for the redevelopment of the Caicos Conch Farm. They said that subsequent to the failure of the TCIG to fulfil its obligations, the letter of intent from the lender to TWI has been withdrawn, forcing the Conch Farm to close. Saying that the statement from developers contained “factual inaccuracies”, Governor Todd said the negotiations to convert the original Development Agreement (signed in 2009) into a Development Order took some time. He said they were renegotiated after Hurricane Ike destroyed some of the building supplies purchased for the construction of the conch farm in 2008 and the final Development Order was signed by the Acting Governor on 28 June 2012. This Order, the Governor added, detailed a number of concessions agreed with the developers designed to offer them the incentive to commence operations at the farm as quickly as possible. “It is important to stress that the signed Development Order was agreed with the developers. They had made no objections to the content of the Order when they were consulted on a draft document during June 2012. The developers subsequently requested that TCIG make changes to the terms of the original Development Agreement to extend the operation of their facility to
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Photo of the Conch Farm
include the capacity to farm fish as well as conch. In other words the developers sought, after agreeing to the Development Order, to add further concessions. The request for further concessions was not received during the consultation phase, nor was it highlighted when the developer was asked for comments on the draft Development Order,” Governor Todd stated. “It is unfortunate that the Caicos Conch Farm has ceased operations, especially as the development order giving TCIG support for its operations was signed so recently. TCIG has made every effort to accommodate the wishes of the developers, and has consulted them at every stage of the process. The developer’s statement that TCIG has not honoured the terms and conditions of the Development Agreement is not accurate.” In response, the TWI directors said Governor Ric Todd is very misinformed. They said the TWI Development Agreement that Governor Ric Todd refers to has always included the right for TWI to farm “finfish”. According to TWI: “If Governor Todd or any of the members of his staff had bothered to read the Development Agreement rather than rely on information supplied to them by others, they would be fully aware of this fact. In addition, TWI has asked the present administration for no concessions whatsoever. TWI has asked only that the Crown & TCIG honor the Development Agreement and supplemental concessions granted in writing by former Governor Gordon Wetherell. The Crown & TCIG have refused to respond. The Chairman of the TWI Board has repeatedly
requested an audience with the Attorney General’s Office or the Governor’s Office but no reply has been forthcoming. It appears that the Crown & TCIG do not wish to be confused with the actual facts.” TWI had said that the commitment for the loan was secured by producing, among other documents, the May 28, 2010 Development Agreement between the Conch Farm and the Crown and the TCIG that was signed by Governor Gordon Wetherell, and supplemental letters and e-mails from Governor Wetherell and former Chief Economic Adviser Brian Titley granting and outlining support and certain concessions from Government. The Conch farm owners added that despite Government obligations to draft a Development Order "within 30 days of signing" of that document, approximately 26 months time elapsed. They also said that when the Development Order was finally Gazetted the concessions previously granted had been modified after the fact by the present administration and they have refused the repeated requests of the TWI Chairman of the Board to meet with TWI to discuss the matter. The TWI said it considers the British staffed TCIG & the Crown to have breached the terms and conditions of the Development Agreement signed by Gordon Wetherell on May 28, 2010. The TWI Board stated that it will now consider its options and is consulting Counsel with respect to legal remedies that may be available to the Company and other policies that must now be considered in the light of the TCI Government’s obstructive stance with respect to the development of the company’s assets.
THREE (3) LABOURERS Truly Nolen is looking for
who are fully trained in the pest control field. Interested may apply to trulynolen@tciway.tc or by contacting 231-0195.
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Page 17
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
e forgotten children among us need help Summer school break is almost over and the time approaches for our children to return to school. In the midst of the rush and the hustle and bustle to get our children ready, I am haunted by a sad reality when I was reminded that not all our children will have a place in school this year. My readers, I had a visit this week from a mother of six children. She is unemployed and her husband is deceased. She is already a grandmother due to an unfortunate teenage pregnancy. This mother has never experienced the joy of seeing her children going off to school nicely groomed and having the kind of childhood that is deemed normal and accepted as a basic part of life by many of us. Education is a fundamental right. This is backed up by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26: “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory.” It is disheartening to see those little ones left by the wayside and floundering due to flaws that might be in an established system. As I rest my hands on one of her children, an eight year old girl, she says, “I want to learn my lessons.” My heart was broken. I realize that it is quite normal for a child to have such a need even if (s)he has never been introduced to it. It is natural for us to want to learn, even more
Issue #16 so for a young mind, eager for development. My readers I have given you snapshot of this family’s present situation and this is but a microcosm of a problem that exists here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Too many children go on without an education, whether it is due to a lack of space in our public institutions or the financial difficulties that are associated with educating a child privately. And it is true that a vast majority of our children that are out of school are underprivileged children. It is up to us to secure a better future for our children. It is our Government’s responsibility to provide education for all and we have to demand it. Education is more than just learning and teaching; it diminishes poverty, creates leaders, and provides a sense of freedom. Education provides a nation with more opportunity for change, spreads knowledge and information, and allows for growth and international recognition.
TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS AIRPORTS AUTHORITY
NOTICE OF INVITATION TO SUBMIT PREQUALIFICATION DETAILS FOR SUBSEQUENT TENDERS FOR PROPOSED ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSIONS AT PROVIDENCIALES INTERNATIONAL AIR TERMINAL Submissions are invited from suitably qualified and experienced building contractors in possession of a valid Turks and Caicos Islands business license in an appropriate category and subject to the payment of a non-returnable deposit of $150.00. Full details are given in package which will be available (subject to the payment of the deposit) from TCIAA offices, Providenciales International Airport as from Wednesday 22nd. August 2012 during normal working hours. When completed one set of the completed documents shall be returned in a sealed envelope marked; “ pre-qualification offer for alterations and extensions to Providenciales international air terminal“ And addressed to : “The chairman of the Turks & Caicos airports authority, C/o TCIAA, Providenciales international airport, Providenciales “ Failure to mark and seal the submission correctly may result in the submission being incomplete and not acceptable. The envelope shall not indicate its origin in any way. The latest date for submissions to be returned shall be 12 o’clock noon on Thursday 6th. September 2012. Any submission returned after that date or time for whatever reason may not be acceptable, at the sole discretion of the chairman of the Turks & Caicos islands airports authority. The chairman of the Turks & Caicos Islands airports authority Providenciales
WITH LILLIAN BOYCE
It was recently brought to my attention that here in our little country there are over 200 documented cases of children that are presently out of school. It makes me wonder, what is a child doing with their days if they are not allowed in school? If a child is not in school and without guidance, the fallout can be the gradual demise of a prosperous, moral society. The adage is true; “the devil finds work for idle hands. The children get in trouble with the law, creating career criminals; young girls, susceptible to the charms of boys their age or seduced by older men become pregnant. And this pales in comparison to the fact that we will have a generation of illiterate children, who will grow up to become illiterate adults; unable to find the means for his or her survival. Let me introduce you to a sociological and economical phenomenon called the “cycle of poverty. The cycle of poverty has been defined as a phenomenon where poor families become trapped in poverty for at least three generations, i.e., for enough time that the family includes no surviving ancestors who possess and can transmit the intellectual, social, and cultural capital necessary to stay out of or escape poverty. Such families have either limited or no resources. There are many disadvantages that collectively work in a circular process making it virtually impossible for individuals to break the cycle. This occurs when poor people do not have the resources necessary to get out of poverty. In other words, povertystricken individuals experience disadvantages as a result of their poverty, which in turn increases their poverty. This would mean that the poor remain poor throughout their lives. Education is a battering ram that can break this terrible cycle. During these times, filled with
political and economic concerns, I am worried about our children, especially the lost and forgotten ones. I am hoping that everyone who is concerned about the future of our country will become concerned about the future of the lost and forgotten children here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is a simple truth that our children are our future and the way the way we treat and prepare them is the way we will be repaid tenfold in the years to come. If we really want to serve mankind and bring relief to the downtrodden and chart a course for a better Turks and Caicos Islands you need to advocate now not later for the education of all children living here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. How can you help? Let some of your issues and goals be to advocate for the expansion and improvement of comprehensive early childhood care and education- the starting point of our educational development, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. You can rally for the improvement of all aspects of the quality of education, so that recognized and measurable learning outcomes are achieved by all, especially in literacy, numeracy and essential life skills. I have always been a huge advocate for education and the poverty stricken, because I remember where I came from and what I would have wanted someone to do for me. I need the help of the people to remember that these are merely children, children who do not deserve the denial of education. It is depressing some of the things that I have seen on this little island. I have seen mothers with over four children, none of which ever attended school; to children over eight who stutter and stumble, almost brought to tears when asked to repeat the alphabet. Turks & Caicos, education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits. Yet millions of children and adults remain deprived of educational opportunities, many as a result of poverty. Let us use this as a stepping stone and make TCI a leader in the quality of education by expanding our schools, teaching a skill, catching learning disabilities at an early age, there should be NO CHILD LEFT
NOTICE
The general public is hereby notified that Mr. Ricardo Fulford is no longer employed with the Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board and is therefore not authorized to act as an agent or conduct any transaction on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board. TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD
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BELONGERSHIPS BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MRS. BERTHA PIERRETTE-GRANT of Providenciales, a national of Haiti being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MRS. ISEMANE JOSEPH-EXILUS of Providenciales, a national of Haiti, being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MRS. MARTHA YRIS RODRIQUEZJENNINGS of Providenciales, a national of Dominican Republic, being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MRS. YVONNE JOY BOYDEN-EWING of Providenciales, a national of Jamaica, being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MRS. MARIE LYVIE TOUSSAINT-TAYLOR of Providenciales, a national of Haiti, being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
BELONGERSHIPS BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance
Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MRS. ROSE AMILA DANGER-WILLIMAS of Providenciales, a national of Haiti being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MRS. ADELINE ETIENNE-BROWN of Providenciales, a national of Haiti, being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MRS. MARIE AVENAGARDINER of Providenciales, a national of Haiti, being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MRS. MARGARETTE ALCINEUSJENNINGS of Providenciales, a national of Haiti, being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
BELONGER STAUTUS APPLICATION (Section 3 (2) of the Immigration Ordinance Take notice that I, Ric Todd, Governor of The Turks and Caicos, in excercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 3 (2) of Immigration Ordinace, intend to grant a Certificate of Belonger Status to MR. EXANORD LORDEUS of Providenciales, a national of Haiti, being satisfied by virtue of marriage to a belonger of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Page 19
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
FortisTCI awards engineering scholarship to Clement Howell High School graduate Following through with a commitment to advance young Turks and Caicos Islanders, academically and professionally, FortisTCI has named Judine Gaudard as the Utilities 2012 Scholarship Recipient. Judine anticipates the start of her studies in Electrical Engineering at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. While there is a scarcity of local engineers, Judine says that she was destined to work in the field. The young scholar placed second overall in Electrical and Electronic Technology at Clement Howell High School in Providenciales. She has also obtained the highest possible score in that category during CXC examinations, and acquired an Associate’s Degree in Electrical
Engineering from the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College. “I became interested in engineering while in the fourth form. It was then that I recognized my talent with troubleshooting and working with my hands,” said Judine. “I am very excited about my future because this is what I have always wanted to do. Furthering my education is important to me.” To date FortisTCI has awarded four, four-year scholarships. Two candidates have earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Electrical Engineering. One candidate is currently abroad studying for her Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and is expected to return to the Islands upon completion of her studies. Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Ruth Forbes said,
“Developing human resources will continue to be one of our major strategic priorities. The Company spends about a quarter of a million dollars on training, which is in addition to the recently launched Student Summer Internship and Employment Programmes. We are certain that Judine will be a credit to herself, to the Company, and to the country.” Judine officially joined the FortisTCI team in May 2012 and is currently employed as a Mechanical Apprentice. FortisTCI aims to give their scholarship recipients hands on experience in the utility industry prior to, during, and following studies to better enhance their skills and knowledge base. She is expected to depart for Canada in September 2012.
Judine Gaudard
Blue Hills main road gets attention Work has begun on the Blue Hills main road in Providenciales commencing with the clearing of excess earth, debris and overgrown trees. The overhauling of the pothole-riddled stretch of road is to be rehabilitated under $1million country-wide road repair project, the majority of which will be patched. However, the Blue Hills main road is to be resurfaced, according to Permanent Secretary of Finance Anya Williams, who was recently addressing the issue of road repairs at a news conference. The SUN understands that the overhauling work is being carried out by Herzog Construction, however the cost of the project was not ascertained, neither was the level of work that is to be undertaken under the contract. The Blue Hills main road/Millennium Highway, which are busy thoroughfares, had been neglected for a number of years, with the occasional haphazard patching when the craters along the road surfaces got really deep. However, for the past several years, nothing had been done to rectify the problem, and the condition of the road was gradually reduced to a mere death trap, blowing out tyres and causing a number of motor vehicle front ends to bad, resulting in hundreds of not thousands of dollars in expense for motorists. Williams had pointed out that work should be
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Work being carried out on the Blue Hills main road
completed within 45 days after the commencement date. Earlier this week, frontend loaders and were seen clearing the road flanks of debris and dumping them into waiting trucks, at times reducing traffic to single lane. It was being banded that the dilapidated state of
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the road was, in part, due to it not being created with curb walls, and so when it rained there was no channeling of water from the road surface. Concerns have been raised as to whether or not this time around such corrective measures would be taken by the contractors.
Cyber Arts Electronics
2 PUBLIC AREA SUPERVISORS is seeking
Salary $6 per hour Please call 649 441 4612 Position Available
Restaurant Saucier Minimum 3 years experience in similar position. Full knowledge of all basic sauces, food preparation & knife skills. Formal qualifications essential, experience in high pressure environments a must. Two Year contract. Qualified Belongers need only apply. Position requires a six day work week Including holidays and weekends. Pay dependant on experience and qualifications. Send resumes to: magnolia@tciway.tc or PO Box 782, Providenciales, TCI
Page 20
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
Dr. Menzies throws his support behind the Progressive National Party BY EUAN MENZIES SUN CONTRIBUTOR
Let us be positive for a change. I have experienced seven of the nine General Elections in TCI. The first in 1984 when I was the holiday doctor at the PHMC now the Post Office in Providenciales. Knowing little about the country at that stage I remember being very surprised at the pronouncement of the only Surgeon and government CMO that he wouldn’t be over visiting Provo the next week from Grand Turk, which he usually managed 2-3 times a month, as he had to be at the hospital in case of trouble during the election and possible medical need at the hospital. There had been historically some gun related incident alluded to perhaps in Providenciales related to an election period in a previous one which older folk will know about. I really wondered what lay in store. All passed peacefully as it has without significant exception since. Election time has always been a time for noisy argument and very noisy rhetoric. It was brought home to me the other evening in the Bight that one of the parties was again gearing up their machinery and on the move, an extended family army on two feet. Cell phones going off, information coming in, departures to planned appearances, trips to other islands discussed, principal players being briefed, sometime in private, and new boundary changes being checked on a Laptop. Just as striking was that people would pop in during the evening, to socialize, opinionate, have a beer, gossip and reminisce. Don’t doubt that TI’s don’t take their politics seriously but it is also an opportunity for catching up and uniting with family and friends used to growing up in a small community. The darker side of politics is the degeneration into mudslinging and worse, of character assassination and firmly held disparate views often
based on impressions or inaccurate snippets of information. It left me in a reflective mood. What or who did I believe in. As always it comes down to people and you have to make your mind up from your own experience with them. We all have a personal view and some share it more than others, often for then own end. Some appear cogent and then put a twist in the end invalidating but still propagating the view. I believe some people have true leadership qualities, logical intellect, significant ability, maturity, substantial record and maintain selflessness with a large motivation for the better good of their people’s lot. From the electable, and excluding those who have no wish to enter into the mire (and who can blame them), which narrows it down a lot, within our own community there are very few who stand out in this arena. There is also a deadwood element and those with an inflated notion of their abilities continuing to aspire in both parties which new leadership tries to juggle and has to accept. Some are well over their sell by date. Someone commenting on a probable candidate recently made I thought a rudely comic comment as to why they were running when if successful all they could hope to achieve in sitting in The Assembly was to keep their bottom warm. It is nice to see even this day as I write two new young blood candidates surfacing in Providenciales and I suspect there will be more. That I have a preference for one particular party currently is more to do with that I have known more of them historically and like most of them sometimes small warts and all. I have watched some of them grow up from being teenagers. A difference in policy is currently and has always historically been difficult to see. One thing that is important is to see which party and leadership comes out of the trap of just ’Bashing the Brits’ exclusively, take on their opponents and proposes a sound, considered credible way forward.
ROYAL FOOTWEAR PLUS SEEKS
1 LABOURER
Salary $5.00 per hour 6 days per week. Contact 242-0388
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ROUTER OPERATOR SEEKS
Salary $6.50 per hour Contact 242-0388
Dr. Euan Menzies
But now mostly it is to do with the potential for future leadership that I see. This is probably the key factor I have watched Rufus Ewing over the last 10 years, with closer involvement over the last 3-4 years, on Boards and medical meetings and sometimes socially. All he seems to get as thanks, for some I feel very distinguished service to the community, is often a barrage of negative press and innuendo. In my view he meets the requirements I lay out in one of the preceding paragraphs. Where is the positive comment! Why do we always seem to trash the brightest and the best or attempt to pull them back into the Barrel? Who cares to defend them? In my dealings with him I have found him honorable, focused and good advice. I lamented the passing of his commitment to purely surgery which his surgical peers assessed him as being more than talented. He took on a more fundamental role increasingly administrative seemingly by default. There were so many national needs in a neglected government health service. Another colleague made an astute comment that part of his maturity was gained in dealing with international bodies and agencies in his government role and professionals experienced as a major player in the planning of the clinical services side of a large hospital project. Not an area that he was initially experienced in. In a recent article emanating from Middle Caicos he was alluded to as a young doctor who had hijacked the civil service association for political ambition. Get real whoever you are, I for one don’t agree with your convenient political snapshot and I
think you will realize his level of commitment as the months and then years play out. In his senior group I have always admired Washington Misick and have known him personally a long time. My respect extends to him as a man and a developed statesman with still a lot to give. He was extremely industrious starting from fresh at the top about twenty years ago in political office and handled himself in my view extremely creditably. One of the handfuls alluded to earlier that I know personally as being worthy and capable of high office with the right motivation. Carlos Simons I came across repeatedly starting in the 90s when I sat with him on a scholarship foundation. He appeared thoughtful fair and impartial through those years and I doubt he has changed. I remember pondering whether he would end up on the Bench ultimately but he has now taken a political turn. Of course Gilley Williams is always there for sound advice and support although choosing not to be a candidate. He has maintained my regard and respect over longer than I care to remember. Fresh off the press comes news that Donhue Gardiner was nominated to stand. Another man with depth of intellect, regional and international perspective and someone I feel comfortable with from personal discussion. Other declared Seniors I don’t know personally enough to comment but wish them, and some party lieutenants and worker bees I know well, in their continuing endeavors to invigorate, rehabilitate and maintain the party after being embarrassed by the alleged antics and probably worse of the senior members in the previous administration. This still has to play itself out in court and public opinion and in the election. Could I encourage more people in the community that we are not used to seeing in print to give any positive view for any political candidate for a refreshing change in the lead up to what may be an acrimonious political fight. There is leadership in the Turks and Caicos, this has to be visionary and constructive as there is so much to do. Sincerely (With some degree of optimism). Euan Menzies Providenciales
MANVELLA PRATT
1 Labourer SEEKS
Interested person must be hardworking and reliable Contact 242-0388
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
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LOCAL NEWS
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For Better or Worse
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John Lennon’s killer denied parole for seventh time NEW YORK - The man who shot and killed former Beatle John Lennon 32 years ago, Mark David Chapman, was denied parole for a seventh time, New York State's Department of Corrections said on Thursday. Chapman, 57, is serving a prison sentence of 20 years to life for shooting Lennon four times in the back outside the musician's New York City apartment building on December 8, 1980. He pleaded guilty to seconddegree murder. Chapman has come up for parole every two years since 2000 and has been turned down each time. "Despite your positive efforts while incarcerated, your release at this time would greatly undermine respect for the law and tend to trivialize the tragic loss of life which you caused as a result of this heinous, unprovoked, violent, cold and calculated crime," parole board member Sally Thompson wrote to Chapman, the department said in a statement. A parole board hearing on Chapman was held earlier this week at
John Lennon
Mark David Chapman
Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Alden, New York, where he is being held, the department said. Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, remained steadfast in her objection to parole for her husband's killer, who she has said in the past posed a risk to her, Lennon's two sons, the public and himself. "Mrs. Lennon's position remains
consistent with the prior letters," said Ono's attorney, Jonas Herbsman, in an e-mail to Reuters. In a 2000 letter to the parole board, Ono said Chapman's release would be a betrayal of justice and encourage others who feel inclined to murder celebrities to gain attention. "If it is at all possible, I would like us not to create a situation which may bring further madness and tragedy to
Rihanna chooses tattoo representing God Rihanna recently appeared on Oprah's Next Chapter where she revealed that the Egyptian falcon tattoo on her ankle was inspired by God. "I have a falcon here which is an egyptian falcon which is supposed to stand for God," Rihanna revealed to Oprah Winfrey in an exclusive interview that aired Sunday night. "Back in the day, they would carve into the walls and they would carve a falcon because they didn't have another way of saying a king in the sky." The singer first premiered her tattoo for fans on Twitter in June after she got the inking done in New York City. "Falcon: a light that shines in the darkness! Never close their eyes during sleep," the singer tweeted as the caption to the picture that she shared with her fans to debut her ankle tattoo. While the singer also showed Winfrey the cross on her collarbone, she also recently shared some words inspired by biblical teachings with fans on Twitter. The chart-topping entertainer took to her Twitter account to share a message of obedience with over 24 million followers last week. "Believing has a lot to do with obedience," the singer re-tweeted from Christian minister and author Joyce Meyer on Thursday morning. "If you really believe what God says, you'll do what He says." Most recently, the singer followed Meyer's path and shared a scripture with her Twitter followers. In a message titled "Don't Be Lazy" Rihanna shared a biblical proverb with her followers. "Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men," the Barbadian pop star tweeted from Proverbs 22:29. In the message shared on Rihanna's Instagram photograph sharing account, the passage is broken down into a detailed explanation. "Proverbs 24:30-34 gives a clear warning about being lazy. Laziness allows everything in our lives to get overgrown or broken down," the highlighted passage shared by Rihanna reads. "..If you put your trust in Him, He can turn your mess into your message. Set your way to follow God from this day forth."
the world," she wrote. Herbsman said Ono would not be commenting on the 2012 parole board's decision. Chapman was transferred in May to Wende from Attica Correctional Facility, the maximum-security penitentiary in Attica, New York, where he had been held for 31 years. A corrections spokesman said at the time Chapman was placed in protective custody at Wende, but the reason was not made public. Wende is in western New York, east of Buffalo. Chapman learned on Monday that he had been re-approved for the prison system's family reunion program, allowing him visits from his wife and stepfather, a spokesman for the corrections department said. Under the program, Chapman will be able to spend 48 hours with his relatives in a trailer within the prison at least once a year, although he is allowed to apply for additional visits. The trailer has a lounge, a kitchenette and two or more bedrooms, and there are no cameras or guards inside. "We regard the family reunion program as a management tool that encourages good behavior by inmates under our custody as well as keeping them connected to their families while they're in prison," said Peter Cutler, the spokesman for the state's Department of Corrections.
Film director Tony Scott who committed suicide did not have brain cancer LOS ANGELES — The Scott, whose family of Top Gun director directorial work included Tony Scott told medical Beverly Hills Cop II, The examiners the British-born Hunger, Days of Thunder filmmaker did not have brain and Crimson Tide, parked cancer or any serious illness his car in the middle of a when he jumped to his death suspension bridge over from a suspension bridge Los Angeles Harbor on Sunday, a Los Angeles Sunday afternoon, climbed County Coroner Department an 5.5-metre-tall fence and official said on Tuesday. jumped nearly 61 metres Craig Harvey, operations to the water below. chief for the coroner, also said His body was Monday’s autopsy revealed recovered about three Tony Scott Scott, 68, had no obvious hours later. Coroner’s signs of a brain tumour. More lab tests are officials said a suicide note was found in needed to rule out any microscopic traces his office and a list of people to contact of cancer that would have been too minute was found in his car. Authorities have not for a physician to detect while Scott was disclosed the contents of the note. alive. Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter has “The family told us it is incorrect that said investigators lacked any theories he had inoperable brain cancer,” Harvey about what led Scott, one of the most said, adding “they advised us … he had prolific and successful directors in no serious medical issues.” Hollywood, to kill himself. He was The disclosures added to the mystery reported to be involved in developing surrounding Scott’s suicide and several film projects, including a sequel contradicted an earlier unconfirmed ABC to his biggest hit, the 1986 fighter-jet News report, attributed by the network to adventure Top Gun, which turned Tom an unidentified source close to Scott, that Cruise into a major star and helped launch he had inoperable brain cancer. Scott’s directing career.
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HIGHLIGHTS
• Baha Mar, the $3.5billion hotel project in The Bahamas, celebrates significant milestone as casino tower reaches 100foot mark
Former Jamaican Minister, businessman and senior cop to face the courts on corruption charges Former Jamaican cabinet Minister Daryl Vaz, along with his friend, a prominent business man, and a senior superintendent of police, are to appear in court on Wednesday to answer charges under the Corruption Prevention Act following reports that they tried to offer a police sergeant money to drop a driving offence against the businessman who is alleged to have close ties to the main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). The former Information Minister has categorically denied any involvement in perverting the course of justice and is promising to “vigorously” contest the matter when it comes up for hearing in court today. In a statement, Vaz, who served as a senior government minister in the last administration here, said he had been “formally advised that arising from an investigation into a traffic violation involving my close personal friend, the DPP Office has ruled that I be charged under section 14 -2 of
the Corruption Prevention Act”. The Act states that a “person commits an act of corruption if he offers or grants, directly or indirectly, to a public servant any article, money or other benefit, being a gift, favour, promise of advantage to the public servant or another person, for doing any act or omitting to do any act in the performance of the public servant’s public function”. “I categorically deny doing any of the above and will be vigorously contesting this charge,” Vaz said, adding “my involvement in this matter is of a personal nature and as such I would never compromise myself or any public officer. “My enquiries into this matter concerning my close friend were made out of concern and done openly and with no ill intent,” he said. Media reports say the businessman was apparently taking family members to the Norman Manley International Airport when he was stopped
and asked for the motor vehicle documents. The businessman handed them to the sergeant who, on examining them, found two $1,000 notes among the papers. Its understood that the sergeant, believed that the money was an attempt to bribe him. The businessman was subsequently accused of trying to bribe a police officer and was taken to a police station where he was arrested, then offered station bail. The police sergeant said he received phone calls from a number of persons, including Vaz and other senior police officers enquiring about the arrest. The businessman, reports say explained in a written statement that the $1,000 notes were inadvertently left among the vehicle documents and were not intended to bribe the cop. The businessman also apologised to the police for what he described as a misunderstanding.
Domestic violence groups criticize Rihanna’s Oprah interview in Barbados BRIDGETOWN, Barbados Rihanna’s tearful revelations to Oprah Winfrey, taped in Barbados and aired on “Oprah’s Next Chapter” on Sunday, may have won the hearts of sympathetic fans and captivated others with a rare view of the Barbadian international recording star’s softer, more sensitive side. But while Rihanna's candid disclosures about her private life were considered admirable by some, her opinions of Brown, considering the abuse she suffered at his hand over the Grammy weekend in 2009, have sparked fires of controversy. The interview already has domestic violence groups and charities criticizing Rihanna's comments and claiming that they could serve to reduce the seriousness of abusive relationships. Erin Pizzey, the founder of the Refuge in the United Kingdom, told Britain’s Independent newspaper: "This sends out a very dangerous message to teenagers that roller-coaster relationships with violence-prone personalities are edgy and exciting. They're not. The relationship is toxic and unhealthy. Both are in need of help and that is the message that young people should be receiving." So what exactly did the “You Da One” songstress say to provoke the proliferating outpourings of concern? Reflecting on her relationship with Brown, after they had started dating as up-and-coming teen stars, she told
Rihanna told Oprah she has forgiven Chris Brown and still loves him
Oprah: "I think he was the love of my life. He was my first love, and I see that he loved me the same way. We ran free, we ran wild. We were going at a really rapid pace that we forgot about ourselves as individuals. We needed something to completely shut that off. "The couple split in the wake of Brown's assault, but Rihanna disclosed that the two are still friends. "We've been working on our friendship again. We have maintained a very close friendship ever since the restraining order was dropped. ... We're very, very close friends," she said. "We built a trust again and that's it. We love each other and we probably always will, and that's not anything that we're going to try to change. It's not something you can shut off.” Brown is now in another relationship while Rihanna remains
unattached. Sometimes they have runins with one another, such as a highly publicized encounter at a party in France earlier this summer. "Yes I did [see him],” she told Oprah. “We went to a mutual friend's party on a yacht. It's awkward because I still love him ... my stomach drops, and I have to maintain this poker face and not let it get to the outer part of me. I have to maintain that and suppress it. When you don't understand those feelings you can make a lot of mistakes." "I truly love him - the main thing for me is he's at peace," she explained. "I'm not at peace if he's not happy or he's still lonely. I care. It actually matters that he finds that peace." The “Talk That Talk” star explained during the interview that her anger for Brown was a mirror image of
the feelings she held for her father. After she "repaired" her relationship with her dad she could then forgive Brown. "I have forgiven [Brown]. It took me a long time. I was angry for a long time. I was resentful. I was dark. It was coming out in my music. It was coming out in my attitude. It was heavy," she said, explaining that she would push men away before she let go of all the negative events from her childhood, including watching the abusive relationship her father had toward her mother. "I thought I hated Chris and I realized it was love that was tarnished. It looked like hate because it was ugly, it was angry, it was inflamed, it was tainted,” she said. "And the minute I let go of that, I started living again." Rihanna says Brown "made a mistake" and "needed help." She also admitted that she had "felt protective" of Brown following the 2009 beating. "I lost my best friend. Like, everything I knew switched - switched overnight," she said. Three years after Rihanna was beaten by then-boyfriend Chris Brown, the singer says she still "truly" loves him. She stressed that she is still concerned about Brown's welfare. "I truly love him," she said. “And the main thing for me is that he is at peace. I'm not at peace if he is unhappy or he is still lonely. I care. It actually matters that he finds peace."
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
Sean Penn’s charity to demolish Haiti's Palace PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The nonprofit aid group founded by Hollywood star Sean Penn in the aftermath of Haiti's deadly 2010 earthquake will oversee demolition of the wrecked National Palace, the Haitian government said. Government spokesman Lucien Jura said that Penn's J/P HRO group will begin the demolition in the next 10 days. The group is not charging for the work, which is expected to take about two months, Jura said in an email. "Amb. Penn mentioned that his organization (J/P HRO) could provide the engineers and equipment to do the demolition at no cost to the government," Jura wrote in an email, referring to the position that Penn holds as ambassador-at-large for Haiti. The earthquake toppled hundreds of buildings in the capital of Port-auPrince and in other cities to the south. The National Palace was among them, its white dome and the rest of the structure slowly falling into itself. The collapse forced government officials to work from a tiny police station near the international airport after the earthquake, coordinating the arrival of aid. Authorities now conduct day-to-day operations from a cluster of
The the wrecked National Palace
pre-fabricated buildings on the grounds of the National Palace. The crumbled National Palace has come to symbolize the level of devastation caused by the quake as well as government inertia. But Penn's group hopes the demolition will mark a turning point for Haiti as it works with the government and a department in charge of preserving historical monuments. The effort will include both construction machines along with workers using their hands, said Ron
New LIME call centres coming to Barbados, Jamaica and St Lucia Telecommunications giant LIME is to return a call centre to Barbados and establish new centres in Montego Bay and St Lucia to serve the region, according to reports out of Jamaica. This follows a decision by LIME to take its call centre contract from Xerox and give it to Canada-based TELUS International in an effort to better manage its relationship with customers. The re-establishment of a customer care centre in Barbados was also a direct response to customer needs, LIME said, since customers on that island had repeatedly asked to talk with people “who sounded more like them”. Formerly known as ACS eServices, Xerox handled the telecommunication company's call centre operations for the past three years but LIME said TELUS is a better fit to take it through to the next step in managing customer issues. "ACS has served us well and has helped us to achieve a lot of our customer care objectives," Managing Director Garry Sinclair said. "TELUS has demonstrated that it can leverage the wealth of experience that aligns with our plans for the next few years."
The transition to the Canadian telecommunications company will happen over the next three months, LIME said, with "immediate service improvements to customers" expected on completion. TELUS customer service will include people who are able to handle a wider set of enquiries, for example, resulting in faster responses and fewer transfers. LIME was not able to say if this meant fewer people would be hired under the new model. "Just under 300 people worked on our account at ACS," said an employee who did not want to be named. "TELUS has their own model so the number of agents needed would vary." Although reluctant to say exactly what would happen to those agents who worked on its account through Xerox, LIME said "adequate provisions" had been made for those affected. In addition, "all agents in Kingston would have an opportunity to apply [for a job] at the MoBay centre. It would be up to them, however, to relocate," the company said.
Baldwin, the group's executive director. It's still not clear what will follow the demolition. Government spokesman Jura said officials had not decided on how to replace the government building, which has had to be rebuilt before. While still under construction, the Beaux Arts structure was burned by a mob that assassinated Haiti's president, Vilbrun Guillaume Sam. It was completed during the 1915-34 occupation by U.S. Marines that
followed his death. In the days, months and years that followed Haiti's powerful earthquake, the condemned National Palace slowly sunk upon itself. The white presidential building became a twin symbol — of the disaster's devastation and of the government's dysfunction. Some of the surviving pieces of the palace will be carried away by hand by local preservationists. The rest will be destroyed with a backhoe and other heavy machinery. Inside the crumbled National Palace, spiral staircases, catwalks and floors creak and groan. Heavy shards of concrete dangle by flimsy rebar. Ferns climb deeply cracked walls. An exercise machine sits outside next to dusty piles of plaques that inaugurated projects built by former President Rene Preval, the only Haitian leader to complete two terms. Next to the presidential office a Jacuzzi-like bathtub holds a pile of rebar. In another office, a cardboard box contains a handwritten letter to Mildred Toussaint Aristide, wife of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was elected Haiti's president twice and ousted from office both times. For many the remains are a metaphor for Haiti's ruling elite — an opulent realm alien to the Caribbean nation's poor, but also vulnerable and fleeting. Few of the palace's occupants have finished their presidential terms since Haitians won independence from France in 1804, the leaders' time cut short by natural deaths but also coups, popular uprisings and, in at least one case, an angry mob.
Caribbean Airlines fleet expansion continues PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago –Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) has received its third Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet expansion. The new plane ATR 72-600 is configured with 68 seats and is said to be equipped with a higher standard of comfort, including in-flight entertainment. Commenting on the arrival, CAL’s acting chief executive officer Robert Corbie said, “The arrival of this third ATR is a significant milestone, as CAL moves toward a streamlined fleet of turbo-prop, narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. With this eventual streamlining, we will see increased efficiency in the utilisation of flight crew and maintenance resources.” Chairman Rabindra Moonan underscored the value of the investment: “While any aircraft acquisition is not a simple process, this represents the deep commitment to viable connectivity for Tobago and the many citizens that rely on the air bridge for their inter-island transport.” The new airline is expected to increase capacity and offer customers more travel options and flexibility on the air bridge between Trinidad and Tobago. “Additionally, the efficiency of the air bridge is a major factor in growing local and international tourism airlift into the sister isle. CAL continues to work closely with our industry partners to build the tourism plant and generate revenues for local reinvestment,” Moonan added. This aircraft joins the other two ATRs already on the domestic route. In November and December of 2011 CAL received its first and second ATR aircraft. In all, nine ATR aircraft are to be received by the airline. The airline said that it chose the ATR 600 series to replace its ageing Dash-8 fleet and is expected to see reduced fuel consumption and operating costs, whilst increasing passenger capacity and flight frequency. Caribbean Airlines currently operates the ATR fleet on its inter-regional routes.
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Baha Mar, the $3.5billion hotel project in e Bahamas, celebrates significant milestone as casino tower reaches 100-foot mark Baha Mar, the largest single-phase resort development in the history of the Caribbean, welcomed on site The Prime Minister of The Bahamas, The Honourable Perry Christie, to celebrate reaching the 100-foot mark on its iconic casino tower construction, a significant milestone that shows Baha Mar is firmly on its way to becoming the most anticipated new destination in the Western Hemisphere. Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar Chairman and CEO said: "I am incredibly proud that we have reached this pivotal point in the development of Baha Mar and am grateful for the hard work and dedication of everyone who has touched this project. We've made amazing progress on and off the construction site during the past year and a half. This 100-foot milestone is the visible manifestation that Baha Mar is credible and that all promises made at the project's beginning are being delivered. Today we celebrate that the vision of Baha Mar is a giant step closer to reality." Reaching 100 feet in elevation -the ninth floor level -- in its largest and important casino tower demonstrates meaningful and sustained progress in the construction of Baha Mar and puts the resort on pace for its scheduled December 2014 opening. The casino hotel, the centerpiece of Baha Mar, will host the largest casino floor in the Caribbean, with over 100,000 square feet (9,000 square meters) of gaming area and is expected to compete with the most sophisticated casinos in Las Vegas or Macau. Since its February 2011 groundbreaking, Baha Mar has begun to rise both in The Bahamas and in the eyes of the world's travel elite. Early in 2012, the Baha Mar brand began to emerge with the introduction of a new logo, website and brand identity. In June, Baha Mar partnered with
An artist’s impression of the resort
Harrods Estates to launch preconstruction sales for The Residences at Baha Mar, showcasing the Baha Mar project in the world-renowned Harrods department store in London. Confident of the strong international appeal of The Bahamas, Baha Mar also hosted successful media and sales events throughout Asia and the Middle East, including in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore. To date, residential sales efforts are off to a strong start, with results well exceeding expectations in their first month. During the same timeframe, China Construction America, Baha Mar's general contractor, along with numerous local Bahamian contracting companies continued to make impressive progress on Baha Mar's innovative design footprint and physical plant. In March, the last of the 6,100 piling cages was installed, completing the resort's foundation. By June, The Baha Mar Casino & Hotel
tower had reached eight floors, The Grand Hyatt was at three levels and the Mondrian and Rosewood structures were beginning to take shape. In addition, a 15-month restoration of a one-kilometer stretch of Cable Beach is underway and phase one of work is complete on revitalizing Hobby Horse Lake and 70 surrounding acres into a wildlife preserve. Along with the infrastructure improvements, progress made to-date reaffirms that Baha Mar is on course to create a total of 8,000 permanent jobs for Bahamians with a corresponding contribution of more than US$305 million in annual wages. Currently, Baha Mar has invited Bahamian contractors to bid on over US$165 million of projects and awarded more than US$117 million of contracts to Bahamian firms, all in the first 17 months. When complete, it is estimated that Baha Mar will contribute US$1 billion to the local economy and generate a GDP
contribution of US$11.2 billion (ten per cent) over a 20-year period. Baha Mar, the 400-hectare, US$3.5 billion resort, gaming and entertainment complex slated to open in late 2014, will boast some of the world's most famous luxury hotel brands, including Rosewood Hotels & Resorts®, Mondrian, and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, as well as the new dazzling Baha Mar Casino & Hotel, creating more than 2,200 new rooms. Within the hotels, Baha Mar plans to develop 307 highly exclusive, ultraluxurious residential condominiums and villas, available for private ownership. Baha Mar's stunning, new 9,000 square-meter casino will be the largest in the Caribbean and one of the most compelling and exciting gaming experiences in North America, comparable only to the best in Las Vegas. Baha Mar will also feature one of the most advanced and versatile convention facilities in The Bahamas, with a combined 19,000 square meters of space, portions of which can also double as an entertainment and sports venue. Other amenities will include 19,000 square meters of retail and entertainment experiences, combining upscale shopping boutiques with authentic Bahamian arts and crafts galleries, chef-branded restaurants, and exciting nightclub and entertainment offerings. An Eco Water Park, extraordinary pools and two unique spas, including one of the most complete spa experiences in the Caribbean, will be set along one kilometer of one of the most pristine beaches in the world. The planned 18hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will be one of a select few such top-tier Nicklaus courses in the world, bringing a new, true championship course to The Bahamas.
Jamaican entrepreneurs to get millions in funding KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaican government has doubled its allocation of grants available to entrepreneurs through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Steps-to-Work programme. The ministry now has some JAM$42 million available in entrepreneurial grants this year to disburse in assisting people across the island to establish small businesses. This amount represents a 100 per cent increase over last year’s allocation, and will see participants in Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) households, who are engaged in the Steps-toWork project, receiving up to JAM$100,000.00 in grant funding. Addressing participants at the closing ceremony of the PATH/Steps-to-Work
programme, at the Cambridge High School recently, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier, said that investing in a person’s education; and improving his or her skills, are sure ways of improving productivity. “Providing training and educational opportunities for the unemployed to re-skill and up-skill will enhance their chances of securing employment. It is also crucial if we expect to improve the productivity culture in Jamaica as a priority strategy for growth and development,” the Minister pointed out. He informed that the Ministry, in keeping with that objective, has plans to increase the number of beneficiaries under the Steps- toWork programme by an additional 2,000, in addition to the over 4,000 already making use of referral services.
Citing the visible successes in the entrepreneurial grant funded projects, the Minister reported that several projects established last year are still up and running, and are even providing employment for other young persons in need. “Reports received indicate that of the total number awarded, 60 per cent are still in business after six months and approximately 45 per cent are making profits and contributing to the overall household income. It is interesting to note that some of these persons were able to employ others out of the businesses,” Kellier said. “Eligible persons must be willing to participate in the rigorous training that is provided by the Jamaica Business Development Corporation,” the minister emphasised.
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HIGHLIGHTS
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• Obama asks NASA for alien update • Boy or girl? Mothers can control outcome
Mysterious AIDS-like disease discovered Researchers have identified a mysterious new disease that has left scores of people in Asia and some in the United States with AIDS-like symptoms even though they are not infected with HIV. The patients' immune systems become damaged, leaving them unable to fend off germs as healthy people do. What triggers this isn't known, but the disease does not seem to be contagious. This is another kind of acquired immune deficiency that is not inherited and occurs in adults, but doesn't spread the way AIDS does through a virus, said Dr. Sarah Browne, a scientist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. She helped lead the study with researchers in Thailand and Taiwan, where most of the cases have been found since 2004. Their report is in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. "This is absolutely fascinating. I've seen probably at least three patients in the last 10 years or so" who might have had this, said Dr. Dennis Maki, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. It's still possible that an infection of some sort could trigger the disease,
even though the disease itself doesn't seem to spread person-to-person, he said. The disease develops around age 50 on average, but does not run in families, which makes it unlikely that a single gene is responsible, Browne said. Some patients have died of overwhelming infections, including some Asians now living in the U.S., although Browne could not estimate how many. Kim Nguyen, 62, a seamstress from Vietnam who has lived in Tennessee since 1975, was gravely ill when she sought help for a persistent fever, infections throughout her bones and other bizarre symptoms in 2009. She had been sick off and on for several years and had visited Vietnam in 1995 and again in early 2009. "She was wasting away from this systemic infection" that at first seemed like tuberculosis but wasn't, said Dr. Carlton Hays Jr., a family physician at the Jackson Clinic in Jackson, Tenn. "She's a small woman to begin with, but when I first saw her, her weight was 91 pounds, and she lost down to 69 pounds." Nguyen was referred to specialists at the National Institutes of Health
who had been tracking similar cases. She spent nearly a year at an NIH hospital in Bethesda, Md., and is there now for monitoring and further treatment. "I feel great now," she said Wednesday. But when she was sick, "I felt dizzy, headaches, almost fell down," she said. "I could not eat anything." AIDS is a specific disease, and it stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. That means the immune system becomes impaired during someone's lifetime, rather than from inherited gene defects like the "bubble babies" who are born unable to fight off germs. The virus that causes AIDS — HIV — destroys T-cells, key soldiers of the immune system that fight germs. The new disease doesn't affect those cells, but causes a different kind of damage. Browne's study of more than 200 people in Taiwan and Thailand found that most of those with the disease make substances called autoantibodies that block interferongamma, a chemical signal that helps the body clear infections. Blocking that signal leaves people like those with AIDS — vulnerable to
viruses, fungal infections and parasites, but especially microbacteria, a group of germs similar to tuberculosis that can cause severe lung damage. Researchers are calling this new disease an "adult-onset" immunodeficiency syndrome because it develops later in life and they don't know why or how. "Fundamentally, we do not know what's causing them to make these antibodies," Browne said. Antibiotics aren't always effective, so doctors have tried a variety of other approaches, including a cancer drug that helps suppress production of antibodies. The disease quiets in some patients once the infections are tamed, but the faulty immune system is likely a chronic condition, researchers believe. The fact that nearly all the patients so far have been Asian or Asian-born people living elsewhere suggests that genetic factors and something in the environment such as an infection may trigger the disease, researchers conclude. The first cases turned up in 2004 and Browne's study enrolled about 100 people in six months. "We know there are many others out there," including many cases mistaken as tuberculosis in some countries, she said.
At least two people South Africa mourns mine violence victims killed in Empire State shooting NEW YORK - Two people were killed and at least eight were wounded in a shooting outside the landmark Empire State Building in New York City on Friday, according to a police source. One of the dead was the shooter, the source said, adding that there was no apparent link to terrorism. "I heard the gunshots," said Dahlia Anister, 33, who works at an office near the 102-story Empire State Building. "It was like pop, pop, pop. It was definitely in a bunch." The victims were shot shortly after 9 a.m. on the sidewalk on Fifth Avenue outside the building in Midtown Manhattan. The shooting broke out at the height of the tourist season outside one of New York City's most popular attractions, startling tourists and commuters in one of the busiest areas of the city. The building is two blocks from Pennsylvania Station, one of New York City's main transportation hubs. The United States has had two other mass shooting cases this summer. On July 20, James Holmes, 24, allegedly opened fire at a midnight screening of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 people and wounding 58. On August 5, a gunman killed six people and critically wounded three at a Sikh temple outside Milwaukee before police shot him dead in an attack authorities treated as an act of domestic terrorism. The Empire State Building was the world's tallest building for 40 years from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center. Following the September 11, 2001, attacks, it was again the tallest building in the city.
Family and friends of the 34 workers killed at a platinum mine north of Johannesburg have gathered for an emotional memorial service. Christian hymns sung in Zulu and Xhosa rang out from a tent near the site of South Africa's bloodiest police action since apartheid, as thousands gathered to mourn the dead. Police gunned down the miners one week ago during a strike that had already left eight other workers and two policemen dead. "We are shocked as a nation about what happened. None of us ever thought it would happen again," Anglican bishop Johannes Seoka told the thousands of people gathered near Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine. After the bishop's remarks, the crowd burst into an apartheid-era Zulu funeral song, "Senzeni na", which means "What have we done?" Police kept their distance as tensions still ran high among workers, with security remarkably lighter than the heavy forces deployed in the area for more than a week. "We don't want to see police today, they must stay far away," said Nkosinathi, a Lonmin miner who declined to give his last name for fear
of reprisal. "They bring back very ugly, very painful memories, they must move away." Lonmin and the nearby Impala Platinum mine closed to allow workers to attend the memorial, the centrepiece of ceremonies held across the country, as many of the victims were migrant workers whose bodies have already returned to their home villages. Politicians were notably absent from the memorials, staying away to allow religious leaders to control proceedings. President Jacob Zuma, who met with miners on Wednesday, did not attend any of the memorials. But later in the day he announced the terms of reference for a judicial inquiry into the killings. Mining company Lonmin, the police, unions and government will all be scrutinised. A four-month deadline to report has been set. Police are also investigating the killings, while the independent police watchdog is looking into the conduct of the officers who opened fire at miners who were armed mainly with spears, clubs and machetes.
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SUN newspaper in UK publishes pictures of naked Prince Harry The Sun has become the first British newspaper to publish images of a naked Prince Harry at a Las Vegas party despite a request from St James' Palace. Newspapers in Britain did not publish the images of Prince Harry frolicking nude with an unnamed woman in Las Vegas following a request from St James' Palace through the Press Complaints Commission to respect his privacy. But media organisations outside the UK did feature them after they first appeared on US-based celebrity gossip website TMZ. The Sun said it was now carrying the pictures so the millions of people who get their news in print or have no internet access could "take a full part in that national conversation". On its website, a video explaining the move from Managing Editor David Dinsmore said the decision was not taken lightly.
The Sun’s front page
He said: "The Sun is a responsible paper and it works closely with the Royal Family and we take heed of their wishes. "We are also a big fans of Prince Harry. He does a huge amount of work for this country and the military and
Indian PM pressured to resign The Indian Prime Minister has come under pressure to resign over of his involvement in the allocation of coal reserves to private companies. The calls from India's main opposition party, the BJP, come after the country's Auditor General released a report saying the so called "coalgate" scandal had cost the country an estimated $US31 billion in revenue. Ravi Shankar Prasad, the deputy leader of the BJP in the upper house, has accused Manmohan Singh of presiding over one of the biggest corruption scandals in Indian history and says he has to resign. "The PM is culpable for the delay in introducing transparent auctions," said the opposition's deputy leader. Between 2005 and 2009, 57 coal licences were issued to private companies. They were given out on a nomination basis and not through a competitive auction. The Auditor General's report says private companies had made windfall gains of about $US33.4 billion since 2004 after being given mining rights via a process that "lacked transparency and objectivity". The government had known of the huge profits for private operators, but had failed to introduce an open bidding process that would have brought in revenue for the national exchequer, the report said. The government, led by the left-leaning Congress party, maintains it was simply following established policy and the prime minister had denied wrongdoing before the report's release. "They [the opposition in parliament] are pleasing themselves with all kinds of preposterous demands," said the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal. "Their stand is not backed by any facts that is why they are causing a ruckus." Dr Singh's coalition government has been beset by corruption scandals since re-election in 2009, most notably stemming from the sale of mobile phone spectrum which has led to the arrest and trial of then-telecom minister A. Raja.
the image of both those institutions. "We are not against him letting his hair down once in a while. For us, this is about the freedom of the press. "This is about the ludicrious situation where a picture can be seen by hundreds of millions of people round the world on the internet but can't be seen in the nation's favourite paper." One of the two pictures is splashed across the front page with the headline "Heir it is!" and an editorial explaining the reasons behind printing it. Prior to Friday's edition, the public were able to read about the antics in a hotel suite during a "strip pool" party that left him covering his genitals while standing in front of a naked woman. But to see the pictures, they had to access them through the internet. It was widely believed that editors had shied away frmo publishing the photos in respect of past rulings on
privacy, the PCC and the ongoing Leveson Inquiry into media ethics. Although the incident is embarrassing for Harry, who is due to embark on the next phase of his military career, there are unlikely to be any serious consequences. But the episode raises security concerns as the Prince was in a potentially vulnerable position when he was photographed. A spokesman for St James' Palace said: "We have made our views on Prince Harry's privacy known. "Newspapers regulate themselves, so the publication of the photographs is ultimately a decision for editors to make." TMZ said the photos were taken last Friday after Harry and his entourage met some women in a hotel bar and invited them up to the suite. The group played a stripping game and someone in the party is thought to have taken the images on a camera phone.
Body found in jet’s landing gear at Heathrow LONDON - British Airways says a body has been found in a passenger plane that landed at London's Heathrow Airport after a flight from South Africa. The airline says a man's body was found Thursday inside the landing gear bay of a Boeing 747 at the end of a flight from Cape Town. BA says it is working with South African authorities and Cape Town's airport and investigating how the incident took place. London police said the dead man was not a crew member or passenger on the flight and the death is not being treated as suspicious. It said it is working to determine the man's identity.
Sri Lankan universities closed indefinitely The Sri Lankan Government has shutdown most of the nation's universities indefinitely, amid a strike by academics. Thirteen of the country's 15 state-funded universities were closed after academics accused the government of meddling in university life and underfunding the sector. They say it will be further weakened if a plan to privatise the tertiary education system goes ahead.
The academics, who have been on strike since June, are also opposed to the government forcing students to undertake military training. There has been no indication as to when the universities will reopen. Sri Lanka's universities have a long history of civil disobedience. Student protests helped trigger the Tamil insurgency as well as equally violent Marxist uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s.
Prince Philip leaves hospital after health scare Prince Philip has been discharged from hospital after spending five nights being treated for a recurrence of a bladder infection. The 91-year-old Duke of Edinburgh shook hands and joked with staff as he left Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland, following a recurrence of the infection that laid him low during the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations in June. The Prince needed no assistance as he got into the passenger seat of a car and waved as he left. Senior staff nurse Denise Webster was among those who shook hands with the royal patriarch. "The duke was a very good patient, and as he left the hospital he told staff to behave themselves and he said he was going back to enjoy the rest of his holiday," she said. Britain's longest-serving consort was taken
to hospital by ambulance last Wednesday from the Queen's private Balmoral estate, about 65 kilometres west of Aberdeen. The royals traditionally spend their annual summer break at the castle by the River Dee. It was the prince's third health scare in the space of nine months, after he suffered a blocked coronary artery over Christmas which required the insertion of a stent. He spent five nights in hospital with a bladder infection in June, forcing him to miss the end of the huge diamond jubilee celebrations marking the Queen's 60th year on the throne. Prince Philip missed the royals' visit to the local village church on Sunday, where prayers were offered wishing him a speedy recovery and quick return to his holidays. Queen Elizabeth is due to attend the opening of the London 2012 Paralympic Games on August 29.
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Race for the White House tightens Less than a week before the Republican convention begins, the race for the White House is a virtual tie. According to a Fox News poll of likely voters, the Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan ticket receives the backing of 45 percent, while the Barack Obama-Joe Biden ticket garners 44 percent. The poll, released Thursday, is the first Fox has conducted among likely voters this year, which means an apples-to-apples comparison can’t be made to previous polls. Likely voters are eligible/registered voters who will most likely cast a ballot in this year’s presidential election. This is also the first Fox poll to ask about the top and bottom of the major party tickets: Democrats Obama and Vice President Joe Biden against Republicans Romney and Paul Ryan. Romney announced his vice presidential pick of Wisconsin Rep. Ryan on August 11. Both tickets have already gained the support of many of their key voting blocs. Romney has the edge among white Evangelical Christians (70-18 percent), white voters (53-36 percent), married voters (51-38 percent), men (48-40 percent) and seniors (50-41 percent).
Dictator’s daughter to run for South Korean presidency South Korea's ruling conservative party has selected the daughter of the country's slain former dictator Park Chung-hee, as the candidate for the December presidential election. Given her huge lead in the polls, Park Geun-hye is on track to become the country's first female leader. She received more than 80 per cent of the vote in the primary and is the first woman to be nominated by a major South Korean political party for the presidency. Park, the daughter of Park Chung-hee who ruled the country from 1961 to 1979, says she'll be pushing for greater economic equality. "We will make sure that small and medium companies and big corporations can coexist...We'll make sure the economically weak are given a fair chance," the 60-year old told cheering party members in her acceptance speech. The gap between rich and poor in South Korea has widened in recent years, and opinion polls show younger voters have become disillusioned by the lack of permanent job opportunities. Polls show Park is ahead of any of the declared liberal opponents by double digits and looks likely to return to the presidential Blue House 33 years after she left it in mourning for her assassinated father.
Obama has the advantage among black voters (86-6 percent), women (48-42 percent), lower income households (53-35 percent), young voters (48-39 percent) and unmarried voters (55-34 percent). Independents back Romney by 4232 percent (one in four is undecided). Independents were vital to Obama’s 2008 victory, backing him over Republican John McCain by 52-44 percent (Fox News exit poll). About one voter in ten is undecided or says they’ll vote for someone other than Obama and Romney. Among just those voters, 55 percent disapprove of the job Obama is doing and only 17 percent think the country has changed for the better in the last four years. Among undecided voters Romney is viewed more negatively than positively by 28 percentage points, while Obama is viewed more negatively by 12 points. The poll shows Romney supporters are more enthusiastic. By an 11 percentage-point margin the challenger’s backers are more likely to be “extremely” interested in the election, and by 10 points they’re more likely to think it’s “extremely”
important their candidate wins. Meanwhile, voters think neither candidate is sticking to the high road. Small majorities say Romney (58 percent) and Obama (57 percent) will say and do just about anything to win in November. On the big issue of last week, slightly more voters trust the Democratic ticket (by three points) to do a better job protecting Medicare and ensuring it’s there for future generations. When asked who they trust to improve the economy and create jobs, voters favor the Republican ticket by two points -- a surprisingly slim margin in light of President Obama’s negative ratings on the issue. By 54-42 percent, more voters disapprove than approve of Obama’s handling of the economy. His overall job performance stands at 46 percent approve and 50 percent disapprove. In addition, by a 17-point margin voters say the country has changed for the worse in the last four years rather than for the better (46-29 percent). One in four says it hasn’t changed much either way. A slightly larger number of voters say they will be more confident their
financial situation will improve if Romney (38 percent) is elected than if Obama is re-elected (33 percent). Still, majorities don’t have confidence things will get better for their family either way. All in all, 51 percent of likely voters view Obama favorably and 46 percent unfavorably. For Romney it’s 49 percent favorable and 44 percent unfavorable. The vice presidential running mates are on roughly equal footing with each other. Some 46 percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Biden, while 45 percent view Ryan positively. One in five likely voters isn’t familiar enough with Ryan yet to have an opinion. By a 10-point margin, voters are more likely to say Ryan than Biden is the “stronger” vice presidential candidate. Even so, voters are just as likely to say they would feel “comfortable” with Biden (45 percent) as with Ryan (46 percent) if they had to step in as president Obama’s favorable rating is down six points and Biden’s is down nine points from the favorable ratings they had when elected in November 2008.
Boy or girl? Mothers can control outcome Mothers can adjust the sex of their unborn children in response to the environment where they live, according to new research. The study, published in the latest Proceedings of the Royal Society B, finds that mothers exert far more control than fathers do over whether or not the couple has a son or daughter. The goal is to improve the child’s survival. “It seems likely that when there are large and predictable costs associated with producing and/or rearing either sons or daughters in a given environment, females should bias offspring sex ratios to produce the sex that will perform best in the given environment,” co-author Sarah Pryke told Discovery News. “Altering offspring sex ratios in response to the quality of the local environment is likely to be highly advantageous to any species, as it should allow mothers to best match the phenotype of their offspring to the prevailing condition, and thus maximize their own fitness,” added Pryke, a researcher in Australian National University’s Research School of Biology. Prior studies on birds, reptiles and mammals -including humans -- has long suggested that this was the case, but scientists were unclear on what factors triggered the son or daughter outcome. Some researchers, for example, speculated that the overall body condition and health of the mother affected the outcome of her child’s sex. To help eliminate that possibility, Pryke and colleague Lee Rollins studied a bird, the blue-faced parrot finch, whose body condition appears largely insensitive to changes in nutritional quality. The researchers randomly assigned 56 of the female birds either a high-quality or low-quality diet. The former contained 20 percent protein, with egg, wheat germ, a seed mixture and more, while the latter contained only 8 percent protein. After 12 weeks on the diet, the birds were weighed and underwent blood tests to measure various aspects of their health. Based on these tests, all of the females were in comparably good and equivalent shape both before and after the 3-month
study period. Mother birds fed the lower quality diet, however, later produced far more sons than daughters. “In this case, it is adaptive for mothers to produce more sons when conditions are poor because sons are much less vulnerable to nutritional stress than daughters,” Pryke explained. “For example, sons reared on poor quality diets grew faster, were healthier, fledged earlier and were much more likely to survive than daughters. Indeed, more than 51.5 percent of daughters reared on low quality diets died before reaching parental independence compared to only 7.3 percent of sons.” It is unclear whether or not human moms would produce more sons or daughters when environmental conditions are poor. That will probably remain a mystery for quite a while, since, as Pryke said, “researchers can’t do experimental manipulations, like in the current study” on humans. The sex of an individual is also at least partially determined by genes, giving dads some level of indirect control over the sex outcome of their progeny. Yet another mystery concerns how mothers -throughout the animal kingdom -- adjust the sex of their unborn offspring. Pryke said it’s possible that hormones are involved. Earlier research suggests that circulating levels of a potent stress hormone, corticosterone, in the female before conception or egg laying is a dominant factor. Tim Fawcett, a research fellow at the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences, has studied how maternal control over the sex ratio of offspring impacts female selection of mates. “When mothers choose the sex of their offspring, sexual selection collapses and male courtship displays disappear,” Fawcett said. “This is because females no longer find the displays attractive.” Climate change, loss of habitat and other stressors might therefore not only change sex ratios among various species, but these factors might also later subdue male sexual displays and affect female choosiness of mates.
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Obama asks NASA for alien update US president Barack Obama has congratulated NASA scientists for landing a rover on Mars - and asked for an update if they find Martians. Mr Obama's comments, during a conference call to NASA mission headquarters, came as the US space agency released a stunning new colour 360-degree panorama of the surface of the Red Planet. The Curiosity rover touched down on Mars last week at the start of a twoyear mission to hunt for signs of life and send back data to prepare for a future human mission. It will also haul a Mars Science Laboratory as far as halfway up Mount Sharp, a towering five-kilometre Martian mountain with sediment layers that may be up to a billion years
old. In a phone call from Air Force One, Mr Obama told NASA scientists that Curiosity's landing "captured the attention and imagination of millions of people, not just across our country, but people all around the world". "You've made NASA proud," he added. "You guys are examples of American know-how and ingenuity, and it's really an amazing accomplishment." And he had a personal request. "If in fact you do make contact with Martians, please let me know right away," he said. "I've got a lot of other things on my plate but I suspect that will also go to the top of the list. Even if they're just microbes, it will be pretty exciting."
Mr Obama also joked about a NASA flight engineer who has a Mohawk hairdo, saying "You guys are a little cooler than you used to be". The latest images beamed back by Curiosity showed a red desert surface with mountain ranges - the rim of the giant Gale Crater - looming in the distance. Curiosity has taken a 16-minute drive, its first since reaching the Red Planet to search for habitats that could have supported microbial life. The $US2.5 billion, two-year mission, NASA's first astrobiology initiative since the 1970s-era Viking probes, kicked off on August 6 with a risky but successful landing at a site NASA has named "Bradbury Landing," a nod to the late science
Philippines losing out on black market gold Philippines government officials believe up to 90 per cent of the country's gold production is being smuggled out of the country, causing the central bank considerable losses in revenue. The Philippines is the world's 18th largest gold miner and last year imposed new taxes on gold sales. A central bank official told the Reuters news agency those taxes appear to be the reason for a rise in gold smuggling. Under Philippines law, all gold produced by miners in the Philippines should be sold to the central bank at around world market prices. In the second quarter of 2012, according to official figures, sales of gold to the Philippines central bank by small scale miners and traders dropped 98 per cent from the same time a year earlier.
UK Joins US in chemical weapon warning David Cameron has joined with the US president in warning Syria that the use of chemical weapons in Syria or even a threat to deploy them would be " c o m p l e t e l y unacceptable". In a phone call the two leaders said if President Bashar al Assad made such a move it "would force them to revisit their approach so far", Downing Street said. Fierce fighting is continuing in the northern city of Aleppo The Prime Minister and Barack Obama said Mr Cameron and Mr Obama agreed that there was "much more to do" to stop the brutal more should be done by the international killing of civilians in the Middle East state. community to channel humanitarian aid to Earlier this week Mr Obama warned that Syrian refugees through the UN appeal. any movement of Syria's stockpile of chemical Meanwhile, Russia has accused Western weapons would be a "red line" which would powers of "openly instigating" Syrian have "enormous consequences". opposition groups to take up arms in their fight Mr Cameron also discussed the situation to unseat Mr Assad. with French president Francois Hollande and Russia's foreign ministry said the West the two European nations agreed to "work "has done nothing" to urge the Syrian more closely to identify how they could bolster opposition to start a dialogue with the the opposition and help a potential transitional government. Syrian government after the inevitable fall of "Instead, they are engaged in openly Assad". instigating it to continue their armed struggle," The leaders said they hoped a meeting of it said in a statement. opposition groups in Cairo would show "real Russia and China, both veto-wielding UN unity of purpose and coherence in working Security Council members, have blocked towards transition". proposals to call on Mr Assad to step down.
fiction author and space aficionado Ray Bradbury. Aside from a quick steering test earlier in the week, the one-ton rover had stood firmly on its six wheels since touching down inside an ancient impact basin called Gale Crater, located in the planet's southern hemisphere near the equator. Overnight the Curiosity became a rover, trudging out a total of 4.5 metres, turning 120 degrees and then backing up 2.5m to position itself beside its first science target - a scour mark left behind by the rover's descent engine. Most of Curiosity's drive time was spent taking pictures, including the first images of the rover's tread marks in the Martian soil.
Janet Napolitano Accused of Sexual Harassment Secretary of US Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has been accused of sexual harassment and discrimination against male employees. In the complaint, Napolitano is accused of turning her female-run department into a "frat house" where male staffers were routinely humiliated, reports Forbes. Along with the culture against men, of US Homeland Security Napolitano is also SecretaryJanet Napolitano accused of providing unequal opportunities for men and women, promoting women to the highest positions while equally qualified men were bypassed. The lawsuit against Janet Napolitano serves as a stark reminder for employers that discrimination goes both ways, and that you have to be on the lookout for much more than men harassing women. The complaint against Napolitano is instructive to employers as it not only involves a role reversal of men suing women, but also includes both complaints of verbal sexual harassment and discriminatory treatment. Verbal sexual harassment is the much more recognizable violation. An employer can usually spot verbal harassment as as soon as they hear it. In Napolitano's case, a female manager in the Department allegedly screamed at male employees and used sexually humiliating language against them; including, telling one male worker that she wanted his "c-k in the back of [her] throat," reports Forbes. If true, it's pretty clear such language could constitute illegal harassment. On the other hand, discriminatory treatment can be much harder to recognize. For example, the lawsuit alleges that male staffers were frequently bypassed for top positions. To prove discrimination, a judge would have to look at the intent of the employer -- if in fact the employer actually considered sex, and decided to promote based on this characteristic. This is usually much more difficult to prove than simply reviewing foul language. For her part, Janet Napolitano has denied the harassment complaint. In the meantime, employers should take this case as a reminder to be sensitive to discrimination and harassment by men against women, and women against men.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Facebook’s Instagram deal cleared at a price READ MORE ON PAGE 40
Apple suing Samsung for $2.5billion over iPhone and iPad Apple is demanding Samsung pay it $2.5 billion for allegedly stealing the design technology of the iPad and iPhone to create illegal knockoffs. Samsung counters that Apple stole its technology and is demanding $399 million. During closing arguments Tuesday, a lawyer for Apple said that Samsung was having a "crisis of design" after the launch of the iPhone, and executives with the South Korean company were determined to illegally cash in on the success of the revolutionary device Samsung's lawyer countered that the technology giant was simply and legally giving consumers what they want: Smart phones with big screens. Lawyers finished their closing arguments late Tuesday. The competing claims came after last-minute talks between chief executives failed to resolve the dispute. Apple Corp. argues that Samsung Electronics Co. should pay the Cupertino-based company $2.5 billion for ripping off its iPhone and iPad technology when it marketed competing devices. Samsung has sold 22.7 million smartphones and tablets using stolen — "infringed" in legalese — Apple technology since June 2010 on sales of $8.16 billion, Apple's lead attorney, Harold McElhinny told jurors Tuesday. "The damages in this case should be large because the infringement has been massive," he said. McElhinny said Apple confronted Samsung about the alleged copying and sought a resolution before filing its lawsuit last year. "Instead of doing the right thing, Samsung decided to gin up claims of its
own," McElhinny said of Samsung's counter claim seeking $399 million from Apple for allegedly using Samsung technology in making the iconic iPhone and iPad. Apple and Samsung combined account for more than half of global smartphone sales. Apple is also demanding that Samsung pull its most popular cellphones and computer tablets from the U.S. market. "Apple is asking what it is not entitled to," Samsung's lawyer Charles Verhoeven said during his closing arguments. "Rather than competing in the marketplace, Apple is seeking an edge in the courtroom." Verhoeven argued that the state of technology has led most phone makers to design simple-to-use products with large, rounded rectangular faces. He conceded that Apple makes great products but said
it does not have a monopoly on the design it claims it created. "There is nothing nefarious about this, it's the way technology has evolved," he said, showing jurors a slide of a Best Buy advertisement with photos of similar looking phones made by several different companies. "It's not against the law in this country to be inspired by your competition." Verhoeven implored jurors to reject Apple's claims as a way to preserve competition in the United States for smartphones and computer tabs. He said a verdict in Apple's favour could reverberate throughout the marketplace. "Consumers deserve a choice," the lawyer argued. Apple's damage demands, if awarded, would represent the largest patent verdict in the U.S. In June, U.S. District Judge Lucy
E-Crime costing UK retailers £200m a year Retailers have called on the Government and police to take e-crime more seriously as a new survey showed the problem costs UK firms £205.4m a year. The figure includes £77.3m in losses in 2011-12 from fraud itself, £111.6m due to legitimate business being rejected because of crimeprevention measures and £16.5m spent providing better security. The UK is seen as a world leader in online retailing - it has the biggest internet spend per-capita of any
country and 11% of global internet retail sales. But many retailers lack confidence in the official response to e-crime, which is the biggest emerging threat to the retail sector, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Of those questioned in the BRC's first e-crime survey, 60% of firms said it was unlikely they would report any more than 10% of e-crimes to police. In proportion to the total value of sales, e-crime is twice as costly as overall retail crime.
At £205.4m, e-crime represents 0.75% of the £28bn of online retail sales in 2011. The £1.4bn cost of retail crime as a whole is 0.36% of the £303bn value of all retail sales. The most expensive type of ecrime for retailers was personal identification-related frauds. These produced £20m of losses in 2011-12. Card fraud was in second place, with £15m losses to retailers during the same period. Refund frauds were responsible for £1.2m in losses. Other categories of e-crime which
Koh called Samsung's Galaxy 10.1 tablet computer "virtually indistinguishable" from Apple's iPad and banned its sale in the United States until the resolution of the case. "There was some evidence that Samsung altered its design to make its product look more like Apple's," Koh found two months before the trial started. To overcome that hurdle, Samsung's battalion of lawyers has been arguing that many of Apple's claims of innovation are either obvious ideas or were actually stolen ideas from Sony Corp. and others. Experts called that line of argument a high-risk strategy because of Apple's reputation as an innovator. "Saying Apple is a copyist is going to be a hard sell," said Ellen Brickman, a New York-based jury and trial consultant. "Apple changed the world when it came to computers. Apple changed the world when it came to phones." Apple lawyers argue there is almost no difference between Samsung's products and those of Apple, and presented Samsung's internal documents they say show it copied Apple's designs. Samsung lawyers countered that several other companies and inventors had previously developed much of the Apple technology at issue. The U.S. trial is just the latest skirmish between the two over product designs. The two companies have been fighting in courts in Australia, Britain and Germany. The case is one of some 50 lawsuits among myriad telecommunications companies jockeying for position in the burgeoning $219 billion market for smartphones and computer tablets.
are a particular problem for UK retailers, but harder to quantify, include phishing (bogus websites). After the US, UK brands and companies are the second most targeted in the world. The BRC is calling for consistency on reporting, recording and investigating e-crime across the country and more police resourcing to be directed to e-crime. BRC director general Stephen Robertson, said: "The rapid growth of e-commerce in the UK shows it offers great benefits for customers but also new opportunities for criminals. "Online retailing has the potential for huge future commercial expansion but Government and police need to take e-crime more seriously if the sector is to maximise its contribution to national economic growth."
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Qantas declares the worst is over after suffering $244million loss AFTER a year of turbulence capped by a historic $244 million net loss, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce believes the airline has reached an "inflexion point" and put the worst behind it. The airline announced its first annual net loss since privatisation while also cancelling 35 firm orders for Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners worth $US8.5 billion ($8bn) at list price. The airline's preferred measure of underlying pre-tax profit of $95m was at the top end of its $50m-$100m May guidance and the market responded to the fact there were no big shocks with a modest share rise that resulted in Qantas's stock close up 3c at $1.20. But Qantas unions attacked the loss, with the Transport Workers Union and the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association both calling for top management to stand down and the pilots association accusing Qantas of reducing its fullservice international operation to "a husk". The statutory loss was driven by record fuel costs of $4.3bn, up $645m on last year, the $194m cost of industrial action and one-off restructuring
Apple supplier Foxconn improves conditions at Chinese factories Foxconn Technology Group, Apple's largest supplier, has made significant progress in improving labour standards at its Chinese factories, according to the Fair Labor Association. Apple joined the coalition of universities, nongovernmental organizations and businesses in January, after suicides by at least 10 Foxconn employees in 2010 highlighted conditions at the supplier's plant. The watchdog launched one of the largest investigations ever conducted of an American company's operations outside the US and found multiple violations of labor law including extreme hours at Foxconn campuses in Chengdu, Guanlan and Longhua. Apple and Foxconn accepted the group's recommendations earlier this year, and created a 15month action plan. In its latest status report, the Fair Labor Association said Foxconn had completed each of the 195 items required of it by the end of June and more than half the tasks due by July 2013. The company, which has about 178,000 workers making Apple devices in China, cut working hours and improved safety conditions by adding health and safety breaks and upgrading equipment to guard against repetitive stress injuries. "Our verification shows that the necessary changes, including immediate health and safety measures, have been made," Auret van Heerden, head of the Fair Labor Association is quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. "The next phase of improvements will be challenging for Foxconn because they involve major changes in the working environment that will inevitably cause uncertainty and anxiety among workers." Foxconn has already reduced hours to under 60 per week including overtime, and is working to bring its factories into compliance with Chinese legal limits of 40 hours per week plus an average of nine hours of overtime per week by July 2013.
costs of almost $400m. While the airline gave no profit guidance, Mr Joyce said the transformation of Qantas International, which lost $450m in 2011-12, remained on track after cutting loss-making routes, extending alliances and the previously announced maintenance changes resulting in the loss of an estimated 2800 jobs. He said the benefits of the program were starting to come through and would realise $300m in savings when fully implemented. "Going forward, those benefits that we've got from that restructuring should start coming through from international, so we do believe the worst is behind us and there is an inflexion point," Mr Joyce told The Australian. Shareholders again missed out on a dividend, despite cash reserves of $3.4bn, and there was no
indication of when this would change. Mr Joyce said the airline would use the cash to pay down debt. "We do need liquidity and we think that using that cash to pay back debt and strengthen the balance sheet is the right thing for the organisation now," he said. "When the timing's right and the environment's right, we will be looking at the appropriate capital return to our shareholders." The decision to cancel the Boeing Dreamliner order and bring forward options and purchase rights means a reduction in capital expenditure as well as a total cash inflow of $US433m, $355m in 2012-13 and a $US140m benefit to be booked to the first half. The airline still has the option to take planes with defined delivery slots at the same price but from 2016 rather than 2014.
S&P warns of rising US recession risk The ratings agency Standard & Poor's is warning that the odds of the United States slipping back into recession are on the rise. The American firm has raised the chance of a double-dip recession in the US to 25 per cent, up from 20 per cent in February, as the world's largest economy struggles to recover from a severe 2008-2009 slump. S&P says the European debt crisis has added greater uncertainty to US economic prospects next year. It also pointed to the looming possibility of the government being forced by existing law to severely cut spending and increase taxes on January 1, the socalled fiscal cliff that would crunch the economy. "Economic activity has downshifted sharply from earlier this year," S&P said in the report on North American credit conditions. "At the same time, possible contagion from the European debt crisis, the potential so-called fiscal cliff, and the risk of a hard landing for China's economy have added greater uncertainty to US economic prospects."
In the second quarter, the world's largest economy grew at a 1.5 per cent annual rate, a sharp slowdown from late last year as unemployment remained stuck above 8 per cent. S&P underscored concern about the impact of a recession in the 17-nation eurozone, whose economy contracted 0.2 per cent in the second quarter, forecasting a 0.6 per cent contraction this year. "A double-dip recession in Europe that transmits financial turmoil to the US could push it into recession," the agency said. However, S&P said its baseline scenario for the US economy remained "modest growth," projecting a gross domestic product expansion of about 2.1 per cent for this year. S&P also said it expected that politicians would agree before year-end to change the current severe budget cut and tax hike mandates to avoid the fiscal cliff fate. However, it added, "we do not believe the US and European economies will improve substantially in the next year."
Facebook’s Instagram deal cleared at a price US regulators have cleared Facebook's purchase of Instagram in a deal now worth three quarters of its original value to the mobile photo application firm. The Federal Trade Commission confirmed late Wednesday it had closed its competition investigation into the acquisition, without taking any action. The move paves the way for the social networking site to buy Instagram in a cash and shares deal that was initially valued at $1bn (£620m) - made up of $300m (£190m) in cash and roughly 23 million Facebook shares. But the deal is currently valued on paper at $747.1m (£470m), based on the $19.44 closing price of Facebook's shares on Wednesday. Shares of the world's biggest online social
network have declined roughly 50% since the company's initial public offering (IPO) in May, partly over investor concerns about slowing revenue growth. Facebook's purchase of the Instagram application is aimed at bolstering its mobile offering - making it more attractive to advertisers - and ensuring it does not fall into the hands of a rival such as Twitter. The app allows users to add filters and effects to pictures taken on their devices. When Facebook announced its intention to buy Instagram, analysts were stunned by the price it was prepared to pay for a vehicle that produced no revenue. In reaction to the regulatory development, Facebook would not comment on when it expected to complete the deal but said it was pleased it had been cleared.
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LOCAL NEWS
TCI Under 14 Boys match their US counterparts The TCIFA U14 Center of Excellence Boys rounded off a week of exciting and competitive football with a 2-2 draw against MSC Boca of New York. The previous games were both close affairs with the home team winning the first encounter 2-1 before Boca responding by winning the second game by similar margin of three-game fixture. The final game therefore lived up to all expectations. TCI started strongly and had all the early pressure. They deservedly took the lead when Wilkins Sylvain dribbled into the penalty box and shot into the lower left corner of the goal. The lead was doubled ten minutes later when Jackson Pierre’s long range effort sailed over the head of the Boca goalkeeper into the net. MSC fought back valiantly, and before the half time interval cut the deficit when forward Shipley dismissed three defenders before slotting past the goalkeeper. Both teams dashed a number Two players challenge for the aerial ball of chances before the break did not trouble the scorersMSC Boca started strongly in the second very pleased with the performance of his team. half and created several goal-scoring opportunities. “The boys did a great job this week, they have They were justly rewarded when a long range freelearned a lot in a short space of time. They were kick by Alfred Crooks pulled them level. The goal up against more experienced players, yet for the woke up the TCI boys, who fought hard to get the most part we were the stronger team. We just need winning goal and were probably unlucky not to to tighten up defensively and be more proficient find the back of the net more than once. in front of goal. This will come in time and I am Oliver Smith, the U14 Boys head coach was
confident the boys will continue to improve.” The week long event was the third in a series of youth international games for the TCIFA. In July the U17/U20 Boys had hosted a team from Florida and the U15 and U20 Girls had faced stiff opposition against two teams from the USA . In addition to the three competitive games there was a Beach Soccer Tournament which included the TCI U14 Girls team (who managed a shock 2-1 win against MSC Boca). Technical Director Matthew Green was pleased with the activities this summer and was very optimistic about the future. “All the games have shown us how strong our programmes are and how good how players have become. This is due to the hard work and commitment of the players involved and also their coaches”. Next year promises to be even busier for the TCIFA. “We will make sure that our development teams and Center of Excellence players will get more opportunities to test themselves against stronger opposition as we prepare for future World Cup Qualifying games.” At the closing ceremony TCIFA president Chris Bryan thanked MSC Boca and everyone involved in the event. Several awards were presented. TCIFA U14 Boys MVP – Wilkins Sylvain. TCIFA U14 Boys Player of the Tournament – Mackenson Cadet.
An MSC Boca player (white) tries to get past a couple of TCI U14 Players
A TCI player (with ball) attempts to elude his MSC Boca counterpart
A TCI U14 player (left) and a MSC Boca player challenge each other for the ball
An MSC Boca tries to get past a second TCI Under 14 player during one of the games
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As Bolt’s fame soared, his paycheck took off as well. Bolt earned an estimated $20.3 million over the last 12-months from prize money, bonuses, appearance fees and sponsors. He ranks No. 63 among the world’s highest-paid athletes. READ MORE BELOW
How Usain Bolt earns $20 Million a year Usain Bolt entered the 2008 Summer Olympics as somewhat of a curiosity. Yes, he had recently set the world record in the 100-meter dash, but few people outside the track and field world knew much about the 6foot-5 Jamaican. He had excelled at the 200-meter distance, but was relatively new to the 100-meter event. His only sponsors before Beijing were Puma, which signed Bolt to a small deal in 2003, and Digicel, a Jamaican mobile phone company. Three gold medals and three world records later, Bolt left Beijing as one of the most famous athletes on the planet. He set records in the 100 and 200, becoming the first man to capture Olympic gold in both events since Carl Lewis in 1984. He was part of the 4×100 meter Jamaican relay team that shattered the world record on the way to another gold. Life has never been the same for the world’s fastest man. As Bolt’s fame soared, his paycheck took off as well. Bolt earned an estimated $20.3 million over the last 12-months from prize money, bonuses, appearance fees and sponsors. He ranks No. 63 among the world’s highest-paid athletes. Bolt has a ways to go to challenge LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in terms of earnings, but his income is more than 20 times what other elite sprinters typically make in a year and more than any other athlete in the history of track and field. Bolt inked endorsement deals with Gatorade, Swiss watchmaker Hublot and Virgin Media after Beijing. Visa signed him to an agreement and splashed Bolt’s image on billboards across Europe, where track and field remains a popular sport. Visa is in position to use Bolt in ads during London as an official sponsor of the Olympic Games. Soul Electronics signed a deal with Bolt this year and he will develop his own line of headphones for the company. He added a multimillion dollar pact in June with Nissan Motor, which plans to use Bolt in a global ad campaign. He released his autobiography, “9:58: Being the World’s Fastest Man,” in 2010, and another book is in the works for after London. Bolt’s biggest paycheck comes courtesy of Puma, where he is the global face of the German sportswear company. Puma resigned Bolt in 2010 to a deal worth $9 million annually. It is an astronomical sum for a track athlete and on par with what only a handful of the most marketable basketball, soccer and tennis stars receive from shoe and apparel contracts. In
Usain Bolt
contrast, a massive Nike deal for a football or baseball player is $1 million. Prize money in track and field is relatively paltry. Athletes compete each year in the Samsung Diamond League which is made up of 14 events around the world. Winners of
individual races receive $10,000 with the year-end winner earning an additional $40,000. First place in the biennial World Championships is worth $60,000 and world records carry bonuses of $100,000 in that event. Bolt typically competes in 7 to 9 Diamond League events and earns additional sponsor bonuses based on his performances. While prize money is small, Bolt’s ultimate running payday is often huge thanks to appearance fees. His fee starts at $200,000 and can reach $350,000 for a big meet. Bolt commands the huge sums because he guarantees a sellout when competing. “Bolt is the highest-paid athlete in the history of track and field, but he’s also probably the most underpaid athlete in the history of track and field,” says Paul Doyle, a veteran track and field agent, in a Bolt story published last week in Sports Illustrated. His appearance at the Penn Relays in 2010 resulted in the highest single day attendance (54,310) in the event’s 118-year history. Regarding the crowd’s reaction when Bolt started warming up, U.S. sprinter Mike Barber said, “It was so loud, I
thought, ‘Is the President here?’” Bolt can command these massive sums of money because he has transcended the world of track and field the way Tiger Woods did in golf during his peak and Michael Jordan did in basketball. The 100-meter final was the hottest ticket going into the Olympics. London 2012 organizers received more than one million requests for tickets for the event with prices set at $1,130, which is more than any other event. Bolt faced stiff competition from countryman Yohan Blake, who is the current 100-meter world champion after Bolt was disqualified from the race last year for a false start. Blake also beat Bolt at the Jamaican Olympic trials. Bolt held off Blake and the field Sunday night to capture the gold in an Olympic record 9.63 seconds. He joins Carl Lewis as the only men to win consecutive gold medals in the 100-meter event. Maintaining his role as the world’s fastest man will allow Bolt to continue to command huge premiums in regards to his race appearance fees and endorsement contracts.
Bolt cruises and Blake storms to landmark 100m win Usain Bolt eased to victory in the 200m at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting on Thursday as Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake became the second fastest 100m performer of all time. Bolt, fresh from his second successive triple gold haul at the Olympics, took victory in 19.58sec, ahead of Dutch runner Churandy Martina and compatriot Nickel Ashmeade. "I am definitely very pleased. It was a good run for the end of the season. I just wanted to have fun," said Bolt. Earlier, Blake became the second fastest man over 100m when he clocked 9.69sec. World champion Blake, who was silver medallist behind Bolt at the London Olympics, finished ahead of America's Tyson Gay in 9.83sec with Nesta Carter of Jamaica in 9.95sec. Blake, 22, improved his previous personal best of 9.75sec to move into second place on the all-time performers list which he now shares with Gay who has also run 9.69sec. Only Bolt -- with 9.58sec and 9.63sec -- has run faster. "I am delighted," said Blake. "I have been sick all week with flu but I am glad I recovered. My coach (Glen Mills) had told me that I could run faster than 9.75sec, a lot faster." Bolt said he always knew Blake would dominate Thursday's 100m. "I saw him in training and I could tell he was going
to run fast," said Bolt America's Carmelita Jeter edged the women's 100m, thrillingly turning the tables on Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica. Fraser-Pryce had defeated Jeter in the final at the Games earlier this month, but she took victory on Thursday, dipping just at the right time at the line with both runners clocking 10.86sec. "I always want to win and when you do it feels pretty good," said Jeter. "It was just like the Olympic final, I had to fight to the finish because Shelly-Ann has had such a great season. She's a great starter and fantastic competitor. "She always brings her A-game so you have to bring yours." Jeter also reflected on the United States women's 4x100 metres relay win at the Olympics which shattered one of the longest-standing and most controversial world records. The American quartet, anchored with a stunning final leg by Jeter, sliced more than half a second off the 27-year-old record set by the former East Germany in 1985. "It was an epic moment. Everyone said it could not be done," said Jeter. America's Jason Richardson won the 110m hurdles in 13.08sec in a race devalued by the disqualification of Olympic champion Aries Merritt for a false start. Qatar's Moutaz Essa Barshim Ahmed, a bronze medallist at the Olympics, won the high jump, getting the better of Games gold medallist Ivan Ukhov.
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
HIGHLIGHTS
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Outside of Howard, Miami has a huge speed advantage that could wear the Lakers down in a seven-game championship series... Meanwhile, Miami has more reliable outside shooters in Ray Allen, Shane Battier and Chalmers that could make it hard for the Lakers to shrink the floor. LAKERS VS MIAMI- READ MORE BELOW
Augusta National Golf Club admits first female members Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters golf tournament, has finally ended an all-male policy that has endured for 80 years by announcing two women will be admitted as members. The club was under growing pressure to admit women, with both president Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney adding to calls for the doors to be opened. Former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina businesswoman Darla Moore are the first to be offered membership. "This is a joyous occasion as we enthusiastically welcome secretary Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as members of Augusta National Golf Club," club chairman Billy Payne said in a statement. Mr Payne, who has refused in the past to speak publicly about membership matters, did not directly
Darla Moore
address the gender bar issue, saying only that it was a "significant and positive time" for the club and that Ms Rice and Ms Moore were subjected to the same review as other candidates. "Consideration with regard to any candidate is deliberate, held in strict
Jordan trio out of Paralympics over sex scandal Three members of the Jordanian Paralympic squad who are charged with sex offences have been pulled out of the Games and have returned to their country. Two power-lifters and a trainer appeared in court on Wednesday accused of committing a string of offences while training in Northern Ireland. Omar Sami Qaradhi and Motaz Al Junaidi, both wheelchair users, and Faisal Hammash face charges, including sexual assault and voyeurism, following complaints by two girls and two women in Antrim. Qaradhi, 31, faces three charges of sexual assault, two against a child, and one of voyeurism after allegedly entering a women's changing room at the Antrim Forum leisure centre. Al Junaidi, 45, who won bronze at the last Paralympics in Beijing, is accused of sexual assault. Trainer Hammash, 35, is accused of inciting two girls to engage in sexual activity. The three were released on
combined bail and sureties of £5,500 each after appearing at Coleraine Magistrates' Court in Co Londonderry. The trio, who were pulled out of the Games by their Paralympic committee, have to make weekly contact with the Jordanian embassy in London before their next appearance in court which is scheduled for October 18. The Jordanian team has been training in Antrim, about 22 miles from Belfast, in advance of the Paralympic Games that start next week. The three were detained on Monday for questioning by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The court heard the king of Jordan is taking a personal interest in the case. A representative of the Jordanian government, counsellor Rulan Samara from the London embassy, told the court: "His majesty the king of Jordan (King Abdullah the Second) was inquiring about the matter and was asking about all the details."
Condoleezza Rice
confidence and always takes place over an extended period of time," he said. "The process for Condoleezza and Darla was no different." Mr Obama had increased the pressure on Augusta National to drop
its restrictive policy when he said in April that women should be allowed to join the all-male club. "He welcomes this development, thinks it was too long in coming but obviously believes it's the right thing to do," White House spokesman Jay Carney told a news briefing. Tim Finchem, commissioner of the US PGA Tour, also applauded the announcement. "At a time when women represent one of the fastest growing segments in both playing and following the game of golf, this sends a positive and inclusive message for our sport," he said in a statement. Ms Rice, recently appointed to the US Golf Association's nominating committee, said in a statement: "I have visited Augusta National on several occasions and look forward to playing golf, renewing friendships and forming new ones through this very special opportunity."
Andy Murray must beat Roger Federer again to win US Open Andy Murray could meet Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the US Open after being placed in the same side of the draw for the tournament, which begins at Flushing Meadows on Monday. Federer, the new world No1, is seeded first while Murray, the world No4, is seeded third due to the absence of Rafael Nadal, who has a knee injury. The other half of the draw creates a likely semi-final between Novak Djokovic, the reigning US Open champion, and David Ferrer the world No5 who is seeded fourth in the absence of Nadal. Murray, who beat Federer in straight sets in the London 2012 goldmedal match after losing to the Swiss in four sets in the final of Wimbledon, will start the tournament against Alex Bogomolov Jnr, a Russian who used to represent the USA – the first seed he is scheduled to meet is Feliciano López of Spain, the No30, in the third round. Another Spaniard, Marcel Granollers, could be the Murray's opponent in the fourth round and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, whom Murray defeated in four sets in the Wimbledon semi-final in July, is his scheduled quarter-final opponent. Federer starts the tournament against Donald Young of the USA; Djokovic faces Paolo Lorenzi of Italy and Ferrer will play Kevin Anderson of South Africa. Murray has reached four finals at grand slam events. He has lost three of them (at the 2008 US Open, the 2010 Australian Open and Wimbledon this year) to Federer and the other, at the 2011 Australian Open, was won by Djokovic. Nonetheless, Murray's Olympic success and good form this year has prompted eminently-qualified judges to suggest that the 2012 US Open could prove to be his breakthrough event. The Swede Mats Wilander, a seven-time grand slam winner, said this week that Murray, who has thrived under the coaching of the eight-time grand slam champion Ivan Lendl, could win in New York because "he's more even-keeled, he's more positive, and there's not as much pressure for him at the US Open as there is at Wimbledon".
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WORLD SPORTS
AUGUST 25TH - SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2012
South Africa top of Test cricket world South Africa celebrated Graeme Smith's world record-equalling 93rd test as captain with a 51-run victory over England at Lords on Monday, which secured the number one ranking in test cricket for the Proteas. "South Africa were the better side, not just in this test match, but over the course of the series and they thoroughly deserve their victory," England captain Andrew Strauss said in a post-match interview. Former England captain Michael Atherton, at the post-match presentations, asked Smith about where he thought the difference was between the teams. "I think we were able to post totals in this series," Smith said. "We were able to build partnerships and get scores on the board that were substantial and allowed our bowlers to bowl with maybe a bit more freedom, and allowed them to attack and get the rewards." Looking back on the tour of England, he added: "It's a long two months here for this test series – three test matches – it's a long time to stay mentally focused and to deal with the pressure of playing England in England, and to have won the series 20 is a great feeling." Just before the post-match presentations, Smith had written a message on his shirt for Mark Boucher, who had been forced out of the series by a career-ending eye injury. He explained it to Atherton. "I know that he is watching," he said to cheers from the crowd. "It's a message from all of us. He's been an integral part of the Proteas for
147 games. This was meant to be his 150th test match, so we really wanted to let him know that he's here with us today and this series victory was for him and everything he's done for the Proteas." Hashim Amla was named man of the series. Not only was his total of 482 runs over 200 runs more than any other batsman on either side managed in the series, his 311 in the first test was better than any other batsman managed in the entire series. His 121 in the second innings at Lords, the highest score in the match, was crucial to South Africa's 51-run victory. "Moments like this make cricket what it is. It's a great advert for test cricket, the way the game unfolded. It's just a fantastic day for us," Amla said in his post-match interview. Atherton pointed out that Amla is now number two in the test batting rankings and number one in the oneday international rankings. "You've come a long way," he suggested. "Yeah, I'm not even the second best batsman in my team, so I don't think the rankings really matter too much, but I'm just glad to be doing well for the team," the ever-modest Amla replied. The man of the match at Lords, though, was Vernon Philander, who showed his all-round ability at test level for the first time. In South Africa's first innings of 309 all out, he and JP Duminy shared the top score of 61, and he followed that up with 35, which was the third-highest score in the Proteas' second knock. On top of that, he was the toughest
bowler to get away throughout the match, and the game's most successful bowler, claiming 2 for 48 in 24 overs in the first innings and 5 for 30 in the second off 14.5 overs. England, who led by six runs on the first innings, had been set a challenging 346 for victory after South Africa posted 351 in their second innings. After Philander had reduced them to 16 for 2 on Sunday, that task looked as if it would be beyond them. When
he added the wicket of Ian Bell for four, with the total on 34 on Monday, it appeared the game wouldn't become much of a contest. England, though, fought back terrifically, with Jonny Bairstow, called up in place of the controversial Kevin Pietersen, following up his first innings' top score of 95 with a sparkling 54 off only 47 balls. Jonathan Trott also showed attacking intent, making 63, before Dale Steyn removed him.
Armstrong suit against USADA thrown out A federal judge has dismissed Lance Armstrong's lawsuit against the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), opening the way for the agency's drug case against the seven-time Tour de France winner to proceed. US District Judge Sam Sparks noted "troubling aspects" of USADA's case against Armstrong and a "perplexing" battle between USADA and the International Cycling Union over jurisdiction in the case, but despite his criticism of those bodies he was firm in his view that the US courts were not the place to decide the issue. Armstrong, who has vehemently denied doping during his cycling career, had argued USADA lacked Lance Armstrong jurisdiction to pursue a case against him and claimed the agency's arbitration process violated his rights under the US constitution. Sparks dismissed the lawsuit, filed in Armstrong's hometown of Austin, Texas. Armstrong can appeal to a higher court, move on to arbitration with USADA - and perhaps eventually to the Court of Arbitration for Sport or accept sanctions from the agency, which has charged Armstrong with doping during the years he won his Tour de France titles from 1999-2005. Penalties could include a lifetime ban from cycling and the loss of his Tour de France titles. "We are pleased that the federal court in Austin, Texas, has dismissed Lance Armstrong's lawsuit and upheld the established rules which provide congressionally mandated due process for all athletes," USADA chief executive Travis Tygart said in a statement. "The rules in place have protected the rights of athletes for over a decade in every case USADA has adjudicated and we look forward to a timely, public arbitration hearing in this case, should Mr Armstrong choose, where the evidence can be presented, witness testimony will be given under oath and subject to cross examination, and an independent panel of arbitrators will determine the outcome of the case." Armstrong has called USADA's pursuit of the case a "vendetta" and his attorney, Tim Herman, welcomed Sparks's comment calling USADA's motives "mystifying". "UCI has asserted that it has exclusive authority to decide whether charges should be brought in this case and has directed USADA not to proceed further," Herman said in a statement. "We are reviewing the court's lengthy opinion and considering Mr Armstrong's options at this point." Sparks found Armstrong's claim that USADA's procedures denied him his constitutional right to due process was "without merit". Otherwise, the judge said, the matter would be "best resolved through the well-established system of international arbitration, by those with expertise in the field, rather than by the unilateral edict of a single nation's courts."
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