Volume Issue 43

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

VOLUME 8 No. 43

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37 CANDIDATES

NOMINATED Website: www.suntci.com

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Leaders of the two major political party, the PNP and the PDM were in a celebratory mood as they were escorted by supporters to the candidate nomination on October 25th.

Photo 1: (L-R) Deputy Leader of the PNP , Carlos Simons stand shoulder to shoulder with Leader of the Party, Dr. Rufus Ewing who is tightly embraced by an eager young supporter.

Photo 2: (L-R) Leader of the PDM, Oswald Skippings and his Deputy Charlene Cartwright-Robinson

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Thirty seven political candidates are now officially in the November 9th election race, as the Turks and Caicos Islands Treasury received close to $18,500 when they paid their mandatory $500 deposits, along with filing their documents in what was a pumped-up Nomination Day, on October 25th.

AKEIRRA MISICK RENOUNCES US CITIZENSHIP STORY ON PAGE 2

Fifteen candidates from the Progressive National Party (PNP), 15 from the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), five from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and two independents, made up the list of registered candidates who are contesting the elections which will return the Turks and Caicos Islands to self-rule.

It was a festive mood throughout the island of Providenciales on Thursday, as the two main political

VAT COULD HURT REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY STORY ON PAGE 10

parties, the PNP and the PDM, had motorcades accompanying their candidates to their nomination stations.

Honking horns, waving flags and blaring music were the order of the day as lines of vehicles snaked through the streets of Provo, while jubilant supporters waved, shouted and cheered from buildings and sidewalks.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

GOVERNOR LOOKING GOVERNMENT TO RESTORE 10 GETS $8M ROM PERCENT CIVIL EMERALD CAY SERVANT WAGES SALE STORY ON PAGE 5

STORY ON PAGE 15

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

37 candidates nominated -Cont’d CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

All three parties were upbeat after Nomination Day. Leader of the PNP Dr. Rufus Ewing, who The SUN caught up with just after being nominated at the Clement Howell High School in Providenciales, expressed confidence in his party’s ability to win at the polls.

He said that support had been growing and would be reflected when the final ballot is tallied.

“Now that everybody is nominated, we will be going full speed ahead for November 9th. We have stepped up our campaign and going house to house, door to door in people’s faces trying to get their votes and solicit their votes for us to win the election.

We are very confident going into the election. When you see the love and the support in this party right now, it is tremendous. I am encouraged and looking to victory on November 9,” Ewing said.

The PNP Leader said that he was happy with the cohesion of core party supporters, some of whom were disaffected after the party’s leadership and candidate races. He said that many of those were supporters were now playing key roles in the general party campaign machinery and in constituencies as well, to shore up support for the respective candidates.

In the meantime, Deputy Leader of the PDM Sharlene CartwrightRobinson told The SUN that party

Leader of the PPP, Harold Charles

hierarchy was especially pleased with the groundswell of support received during nomination throughout the county. She said that as the process went on the support grew bigger and more resounding.

“We were pleased with the support that we got at all the polling station as we nominated our candidates here (Grand Turk) and Providenciales. As we moved from station to station as a group, it was overwhelming support for each of the stations. All of our candidates have been nominated. There were fanfares as well; in Grand Turk there was a large motorcade. Our youngest candidate (Edwin Astwood) has the second largest seat in the Turks and Caicos, and there was great excitement with him,” she said.

Robinson expressed confidence

that all the nominees would satisfy the provisions set out by the Interim Administration, and declared fit to run.

She stressed that her party would now up the political ante from now to Election Day. Going forward, Cartwright-Robinson pointed out that the media would play a pivotal role in getting out the party’s message.

“We detected that social media has been used to spread a lot of negativity.

We will absolutely try to counter that by putting out positive stuff. We are not endorsing any personal or nasty attacks; we are going to be putting out positive stuff as much as possible on social media and everywhere else, because at the end of the day we believe that it would be difficult as a people to heal if we continue to be so divided.

“And it is going to waste a lot of time when we should be coming together and put everything back in place to move the country in the right direction. So our ground game is to touch as many people as much as we can, and to counter the negative campaign that is going on out there,” Cartwright-Robinson said.

Meanwhile, Charles told The SUN that of all the candidates his track record on private sector job creation has been the most sterling. He said that he would translate his private sector successes into government, so as to putting the unemployed back to work.

“The PPP cares. We are the party of doers, and then again, the people of this country know my track record in business. I have done it before. One of my priorities is to put my people back to work, and they know I can do that because I have a track record of creating jobs and opportunities for our people,” Charles said.

He said that his ground game would include house-to-house campaigning in the communities in order to sell the message of his party, while penning the concerns of the people with a view to working with those communities to address them going forward.

“We will spend time in our districts, speak with our people, listen to their concerns and let them know what plans we have in place to fix all those problems,” Charles said.

Akierra Misick renounces US citizenship Progressive National Party standard-bearer for the Leeward Constituency Akierra Misick said that she has cut all ties with her birth place the United States of America, a move that enables her eligible to run in the Turks and Caicos Islands general election slated for November 9.

Misick is only candidate to have been born in the US but among several from all three parties affected by a new interpretation in the law.

Other candidates had ties to the Bahamas, most of them by birth. She had to travel to the US Embassy in Nassau, Bahamas to renounce her citizenship of that country, and expressed that she was happy to do so.

Misick spoke with The SUN shortly after nomination and was elated that she had cleared all the hurdles to meet the nomination standards.

“This is a momentous day in my life, October 25, I would never forget it. I had a lot of speed bumps along the road but they have all been dealt with, and I am hoping that the days ahead I get to work hard, represent my party, represent my constituency and move us on to victory on November 9,” she said.

Misick said that her decision to renounce her US citizenship was easy, even though the process was a bit complicated.

“Right now I can say that I have my certificate (of renunciation). I am no longer a United States citizen; I am a full-fledged Turks and Caicos Islander. I was able to get the renouncement last week, and I will now be working to secure more votes for the constituency,” she said.

She noted that the feedback in

Akierra Misick

the Leeward constituency was tremendous and as a result her confidence of securing victory at the polls has spiked.

“It’s (feedback in the constituency) been excellent, that is why I am so confident. Because everyone wants a change; they are tired of the last three years; they are ready for the ‘dawn of a new day (which is the party slogan). I am the dawn of a new day for the Leeward constituency; my party is the dawn of a new day for the Turks and Caicos. So, of course, I feel confident,” she said.

Revealing some of the plans that she and the PNP have for the constituency leading up to the November 9 polls, Misick said: “We will be very busy. We will be having a week full of rallies, culminating with my big rally on November 7. If you think my first rally was big, wait until you see this one. We will be inviting everyone to come out and support the PNP. We are the party that is going to tackle women’s issues, constituency issues, health care, employment, jobs, and we are the party to take us forward,” noted.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

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LOCAL NEWS

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LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Teachers, Police could soon see pay cut reinstated

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

The long wait by teachers and police officers to have their 10 percent paycut returned to them could be on the cards soon, this according to Governor Ric Todd, during an interview with The SUN. However, he Governor Todd pointed out that the reinstatement of the 10 percent to civil servants rested with him and the next elected government, meaning that the party that forms the new government after the November 9 elections would need to get the green light from the Governor’s Office in order to proceed with the pay reinstatement.

Two year ago, the Interim Administration chopped 10 percent from the salaries of civil servants in what many argued was a reaction by

government to members of that sector participating in an anti-government march two days earlier.

The government explained however, that the pay cut was necessary because the public sector was experiencing cash-flow problems. It pointed out at the time that the next available option was to downsize the sector, but since the country was experiencing a tough time, it did not want to jeopardize anyone’s job.

As a result of the pay-cut, a number of civil servants became restive; causing several disruptions in the service, including the shutting down of the Providenciales International Airport after aviation firefighters went on strike.

As a result of the pay-cut and other unpleasant working conditions experienced, a number of civil servants jumped to the idea when government announced that it would institute a

UK appoints Elections Adviser to Turks and Caicos Islands The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has funded a number of projects to support this. These include the appointment in March of The chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators has been appointed since March as Elections Adviser to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, it was revealed in the House of Commons on October 19th.

Minister for Overseas Territories Mark Simmonds told the House that the adviser, who is being funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is working closely with government officials to ensure that election preparations are carried out in good time for elections to take place in November.

Simmonds was responding to MP Andrew Rosindell who asked what steps his Department plans to take to help ensure a free and fair election in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Simmonds said the interim government, led by the Governor, is driving forward preparations for free and fair elections on November 9th. He said that visits by delegations from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the latest of which look place in July and was led by MP Andrew Percy, to assist political parties in the preparation and implementation of the new Political Activities Ordinance.

In addition, an observer mission, including UK and regional monitors, which has been organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (UK), at the invitation of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.

The FCO also made a contribution towards equipment and IT for the issuance of cards confirming the Belongership status of voters.

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Voluntary Severance Scheme to chop the public sector workforce by a sizable margin.

But responding to questions posed

by The SUN on Monday, October 22, as to when government was prepared to reinstate the 10 percent salary, Governor Todd said that would only happen when government was fiscally able, which he hoped would not be too far in the future.

“I have noticed the professionalism of teachers across the Islands. I do know that teachers, like all public servants, have felt very keenly about the 10 percent pay reduction and the subsequent freeze on salaries, and I always said that it is something that I would reinstate as soon as possible. In the budget this year we did set out a number of capital projects for the improvement of schools.

“The police are also public servants who were affected by the 10 percent pay cut. I have worked a lot with the police, and I think there are many reasons for the people of the TCI to feel some pride in their police force and satisfaction in what the police achieved. I think about the conversations I have with my fellow British of the Overseas Territories, almost all of them have high on their agenda organized crime, murders and gang crime. The TCI, compared to other

OTs, compared to the rest of the Caribbean is very safe, low crime country, and the police have played a major role in getting us here” Governor Todd said.

Speaking specifically to the state of education in the TCI, Governor Todd said: “Education is clearly important, it was one of the themes that is in the debate with our political leaders, but the choice which Interim Government made, I think it was the right one – others can disagree – was that, insofar as resources for education, they should focus more on schools than on university scholarships.

That is not saying that scholarships don’t matter or they are not a good thing to do, but absolutely vital is education in schools.

And what we are looking at with the director of education is how you can get the best use of money in schools. How can we work with teachers to make sure that they are effective and well-trained as possible? And also, of course, we resolved this year the problem of the past which is some children in Providenciales not having school place. We have set aside extra money to make sure that every child in Provo, who is entitled to school place, should get one.”

Governor Todd noted also that the archipelagic nature of the TCI makes some things, including education challenging. He said that while Providenciales was experiencing chronic shortage of public school space, schools on other islands were experiencing dwindling class sizes.

According to him, the school conditions represented the economic and demographic situations of the respective islands.

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LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

We need to move forward Turks and Caicos Islanders

BY ROYAL S. ROBINSON, MBE

confident in the skills and abilities of our team now assembled, and we will get the job done.

My fellow Turks and Let us not allow the Caicos Islanders! Yesterday “naysayers”, who are cheering marked a significant stop on from the sidelines, detract us from our calendar of events as we our purpose and goal. We can see move forward towards the light at the end of the complete nationhood! The proverbial tunnel and come hell or nomination process for all of high water, we will reach the our candidates went well. The promised-land!

My age motorcade to each of the notwithstanding, it is my hope and nomination stations showed desire that I get there with you. It how committed people are to is my duty to do what I can, while our cause. We have been laying I can to ensure that the Turks and out the plans that we have for Caicos Islands that I leave behind, the development of our people my Grandchildren can be proud of and our country for some time what I did to preserve it for them. now. When we held the Policy I do not want them to look through Forum a few weeks ago, we ROYAL ROBINSON the eyes of history and say that my demonstrated that we have CONTRIBUTER Grandfather had an opportunity to capable hands on board the ship make a difference and he reneged that is captained by Dr. Rufus Ewing to steer us clear any reefs that might be out from that responsibility. That is why in the last few years I have been fighting the British and the Interim there.

On the campaign trail, we have been enunciating Administration for the atrocities that they have been our vision at every rally so that those that did not hear metering on our people. I will not stop until I can see our presentation at Brayton Hall could be made aware the backs of these oppressors and we can truly masters of our plans and programmes. It is coming down now of our fate and directors of our destiny.

The Audit Report for the period ending 31 March to crunch time. We need all our people to focused on the issues facing our country and not be fooled by the 2008 to March 31 2011 has now been released by the empty rhetoric of some people. They have over the Governor. Even though I think that it is a bit of many years that they can talk big, but there is little mischief making on his part to release it at this point evidence from the record, they can match it by and time, if you read it carefully, the bombshell that performance on the ground. There is little of a tangible would wreck the PNP is not there. The Report clearly showed that senior staff in various departments did not nature that they can point to.

So, as I have continued to say, don’t listen to the live up to their responsibilities, which resulted in noise in the market, just stick to the price of the beef. systems failure. Some corrective measure needed to We know for sure that there are still many among us arrest those trends, but the Interim Administration has that would like to see the demise of our Party. That is gone the route of over-kill in some of the Legislation not going to happen! We are too resilient for that. We that it has moved through its two puppet organs, the have been able to attract new talent from persons that Advisory Council and Consultative Forum.

If you look at page 7 of the Report, you will find have traditionally supported the other political party, and they can be assimilated into our mix. That could that between 2009 and 2010, that there was a reduction only happen because we always have an open door are in the deficit/shortfall by some 20 million dollars, not afraid to embrace new views and ideas. We can whereas, between 2010 and 2011, the imperious bring back senior persons to the forefront of our party intervention ballooned that same segment by 14 million dollars or so. The reduction in 09/10 was due without missing a beat.

We can, adjust to the changing of time and mainly to the policy and administrative adjustments circumstances, while continuing on our message of self that I had made as Minister of Finance ably aided by determination for our people once the time is right. As Premier Galmo Williams. The focus was changed in I see it now, the Dawn of a New Day will usher in a 10/11 by the Interim Administration.

On page 8 of the Report, 09/10 shows a surplus of new momentum that would propel further and faster towards that goal. Make no mistake about, we are nearly 10 million dollars, while 10/11 a deficit of over

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.

16 million dollars. The above clearly tells me that under Galmo and I, we had started on the road to recovery before our tenure was unceremoniously terminated by the British. The evidence, based on the numbers produced in a report that we had nothing to do with, clearly showed that with men of wisdom, integrity and determination, we can blaze a path forward for our country. This report gives a fat lie to the notion that the PNP is a totally corrupt Party, devoid of the intestinal fortitude to do the necessary heavy lifting that would do our country proud. So in the foregoing instance alone, the case has been made positively for us. No amount of fluff and spin can change the facts. The numbers are not telling untruths.

So Neil Smith and Ric Todd, take that in you pipe and smoke it.

The report deemed fit to publish the names and salaries of the advisors to the previous PNP administration. I hope that clarity is brought to light when the comparative list of those advising the Interim administration is also published!

So my people, it is FULL SPEED AHEAD TO THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY in our beloved country, Turks and Caicos Islands. So vote PNP and make no apologies about that!

Royal Robinson was a former Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance and Health in the Progressive National Party (PNP) Administration.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN’S LETTERS POLICY

The Turks and Caicos SUN welcomes Letters to the Editor.

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

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

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

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Bishop Boyd calls for peaceful elections in Turks and Caicos Islands

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Laish Boyd, Bishop of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands Anglican Diocese is urging Islanders to make this election peaceful and civil so that democracy would prevail when the political dust is settled.

In recent weeks some candidates have lodged complaints that signs erected by them in various constituencies have either been defaced or totally destroyed. All three parties – the Progressive National Parties (PNP); the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and the People Progressive Party (PPP) said that they had been affected by the wave of sign destruction.

Speaking at a news conference at the St. Monica’s Anglican Church in Providenciales on Monday, October 22, Bishop Boyd urged the people of the country to be peaceful in their election discourse, since they would have to live with the consequence of whatever seed is sown during the period.

“Let us have fair, peaceful, smoothrunning, respectful, cooperative elections, with a full turn-out of voters.

Many persons have been lamenting the interim status of the country over the last few years. Many have complained about a variety of issues – some of which complaints have been legitimate, and some not. However, all of that is behind us. Let us move forward.

“My challenge is to the governor and his team, the voters registration mechanism, the leadership and members of all political parties, the independent candidates, the election workers and to citizens in general: make this election everything that it can be,” Bishop Boyd urged.

Looking beyond this election,

Bishop Laish Boyd

Bishop Boyd also cautioned the successful party that would form the next administration against endeavoring to erode the progress made by past administrations, but rather, to build on those achievements so that prosperity would return to the TCI sooner.

“Sometimes, elected officials or even parties style themselves as ‘undoing’ what the opposition party or what their predecessors in office have done, rather than seeking to collaborate on a sustained, broader and seamless vision for the real well-being and advancement of a country. It takes immense political will and political maturity on the part of all concerned to rise above party and to think country.

“Too often political leaders or political parties have not displayed enough of this maturity. It is of particular importance when we think of a number of critical issues that we now face, and for which there are no simple solutions. I trust that, whatever the outcome of the General Elections, a

Shooting victim hospitalised Police say a suspect who was wearing mask and a bullet proof vest fired a shot at one of their officers on Monday morning and a struggle ensued, which resulted in a round being discharged from the suspect’s firearm and the suspect being shot.

“Neither of the officers was armed at the time of this incident,” said Police spokesman Kevin Clarke, who added that the officer who was involved in the struggle suffered injuries which required medical attention.

Clarke said the suspect who was shot suffered non-life threatening injuries and is still hospitalised. The second suspect was arrested earlier Tuesday morning and investigations are continuing, he added.

The incident occurred around 9:30 am on Monday October 22nd, when officers attached to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Street Crime Unit observed a person who was wanted for questioning in relation to an ongoing investigation. While attempting to apprehend the man, he escaped into a wooded area off the Leeward Highway, across from Fortis and next to the Wine Cellar. During the chase one of the officers came upon a second subject who pulled a gun.

Commenting on the incident, Commissioner of Police Colin Farquhar said: “Policing is a high-risk activity and police officers are often in harm’s way.

Incidents like these reinforce the need for officers to be appropriately equipped, trained, and paid. I commend the actions of the two officers and I am extremely thankful for the outcome. The officers’ actions no doubt prevented another crime or crimes that could have ended tragically.”

non-partisan spirit of unanimity and working across party lines for the longterm good of country would prevail and be evident for all to see,” Bishop Boyd noted.

In the meantime, the Anglican bishop has defended the idea of intertwining of the church and the electoral process, pointing out that in order for the Gospel to imbue that particular sphere, Christians must get involved. He therefore urged churches of all persuasions to play a leading role in educating the populace on the importance of voting.

“Some people say that a “Christian” should not be involved in these kinds of things. However, I

disagree.

If “Christians” are not involved in this process, how will the Gospel be able to influence the process?

How can we expect to help to bring morals, ethics, right behaviours, right procedure and an elevated standard if we absent ourselves? The Gospel cannot influence the society unless Christ’s followers seek to Christianize their environment by taking Christ into the ‘highways and byways’, he argued.

Bishop Boyd continued: “Let your decisions and behaviour result from an honest look at the issues rather than from what someone paid you or promised to you. Too often in our electioneering, money, goods and favours influence voter choice.

“Some people are simply not interested in or inclined toward being involved in the “nuts and bolts” of the political process, and that is fine.

However, I encourage lay persons who are so inclined: (a) to be involved in political parties; (b) to be involved in local branch activities; (c) to get involved in planning, organising, campaigning, working the polls on Election Day, and all other related activities.”

Bishop Boyd also urged the populace to contribute sensibly and positively to the political discussions, while focusing on what builds up the process and the country rather than discourses that are destructive. He also recommended that persons should endeavor to discuss issues rather than personalities.

Price of quarry and marl increased The Turks and Caicos Islands, Airports Authority has issued a reminder that Government has increased the levy or royalties on Minerals Exploration and Exploitation from $1 to the $10 per cubic yard, effective September 30th, 2012.

The public is hereby advised that with immediate effect all quarry or marl discharged or sold from the Providenciales International Airport stock pile, will attract a Government levy of $10 per cubic yard, which is around $350 per normal truck load.

This levy is to be paid directly to TCIG and is in addition to the existing trucking and loading cost.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

Governor says government doesn’t have any cash-flow problems

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Governor for the Turks and Caicos Islands His Excellency Ric Todd has rubbished arguments that the budget surplus recorded by the government so far this fiscal year was concoction of superficial figures, which will not hold and his administration was now beginning to face with cash-flow hurdles.

At the end of June this year – which is the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year - government recorded an $8.2 million surplus.

The Interim Administration said at the time that $49.2 million in revenue was collected, while expenditure accounted for 35.3 million. Non-recurrent expenditure, according to government, was $4.2 million; capital contribution was $1.8 million, while debt-servicing payment was $0.3 million.

However, some social and political pundits in the community cast doubt on those claims on the basis that a heap of those funds did not come about as a result of policies implemented by Government, but was a direct result of Civil Recovery and sale of state assets.

They further argued that those windfall funds were not recurrent, and so, the

His Excellency Ric Todd

government may have problems increasing on its claimed budgetary surplus recorded so far this year.

However, during an interview with Governor Todd on Monday, October 22, at the Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales, he defended the growth, while dismissing suggestions in the public’s sphere that the public sector was experiencing a cash-flow problem.

“The position the budget is quite straightforward. When we announced the budget in May of this year we explained that we would set for a small fiscal surplus. And we had set out our priorities for spending, including

school, health, roads maintenance, capital and social development, and we are going to hit those targets.

“So that means we are going to produce a small surplus at the end of the fiscal year. We also explained that in the course of the year we would expect a number of windfall or extraordinary receipts, for example, so far this year, we have had the receipt for the sale of Provo Water, transfer from the NIB (National Insurance Board), we have received some money from a civil recovery case, and also we are hoping to recover some money from stamp duty, which wasn’t paid properly.

“So all those sums taken together are in addition to the budget surplus, and that money would be used mainly for the pay down of debt, but also for some sensible capital spending. We believe that the fiscal surplus is sustainable provided that TCIG continues to follow sensible priorities and to focus spending on what matters,” Governor Todd said.

He said that while the country has to recognize that there was limitation on what it could spend, the hazard of any government was that there were always useful projects that it would love to tackle but may need to exercise restraint.

“They have to recognize that there are limitations on how much it could spend and how much it can raise in taxation, and therefore, have to think very carefully and prioritize their spending and also to be honest with the voters. It isn’t possible every year to spend all the money you would like on everything you would like.

“Government isn’t having a cashflow problem. If you look at the pattern of receipts for the TCI you would see that because a certain amount of income is from the tourism sector, clearly the months where you have fewer tourists, which is the September/October time, you have lower government receipts than you do in the peak periods. But Government is aware of that; from the start of the year we know how income can be seasonal.

“We also know that while revenue is seasonal, government has long-term commitments, and one of the reasons why we are moving to VAT (Value Added Tax) is precisely so we can have a steady, stable, reliable flow of revenue, which isn’t subject to that sort of swings and bounces that we have seen in the past, when your revenue is based entirely on customs and accommodation tax,” Governor Todd argued.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Airport terminal expansion could start in December The country should know by early December which construction company is to undertake the $10 million expansion of the Providenciales International Airport terminal to accommodate the ever swelling airlifts into the country.

On July 31, Government announced that the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority would expend $10 million to modernize the terminal building as part of the second phase of the facility’s overhauling exercise.

Phase one was a $40 million expansion of the runway by 1600 feet, which now enables the facility to accommodate larger jets. That undertaking was done by Canadian construction firm – Dexter International.

In an interview with The SUN this week, Chief Executive Officer for the Airports Authority, John Smith said that the project went to tender after the completion of a short-listing exercise. He said that the applicants should return their bidding documents by the end of November, and by the end of the firs

t week in December, an award should be made.

“We intend to do it (make the announcement of the successful candidate) as quickly as possible, but you never know what can happen,” Smith said.

He said that process may have fallen behind by a week but said it had to do with situations beyond their control.

“We slipped by a week or so because of an illness with one of the designers, but I think we were able to regain that lost ground and now we are pretty much back on course, and we could make the award by December. We would like to have it done by then, and then we would be able to break some ground and start the work,” Smith said.

The planned expansions, which will increase space at the facility from 51,462 square feet to 92,321 square feet, will nearly double the size of the terminal to better accommodate the average 500,000 passengers that pass through the Airport each year.

Once completed, passengers will be able to enjoy expanded

check in counter areas and self check in facilities, additional bathroom facilities, larger retail space for shops and restaurants, and improved medical amenities.

Phase two of the project would be done in three segments. The first part will include the construction of a new traffic circulation system and extensions to the existing west car park and departure Lounge. The second stage will be an extension to the international check in area, security check point as well as the arrivals hall, while the third stage would be an expansion of the domestic departures and arrivals area, completion of the car park and aesthetics, including water features.

The existing car park at the front of the airport is to incorporate into the terminal expansion.

Smith said that over the past few years, the facility had seen double digit growth in passenger arrivals, resulting in serious visitor, airline counter space and car-parking challenges. The expansion of the terminal and the car park should reduce such problems to a more suitable level.

The project is to be funded by the Airports Authority’s operational budget through development charges collected for that purpose.

Smith said that a significant portion of the funds was already available to kick-start the project.

H & C CONSTRUCTION Seeking

2 LABOURERS To work from 7am -5pm Salary $5.00 per hour Please contact Henley

TCI Services ltdSALES CLERK NEEDED starting wage $6.00 an hour Job requirement: Food handlers permit.

Experience in food prep.

Must have own vehicle.

Computer skills-word perfect and Excel. Excellent interpersonal skills 3 character reference required. Must be available day times, evenings, weekend and holidays.

Belonger need only apply.

Send resume to msimmons@tciway.tc.

SALES CLERK WANTED

Applicant must be honest, reliable hardworking Contact 242-2407

One Supervisor WINKEY’S CATERING SEEKS

To work Mondays to Saturdays Salary: $9 per hours Interested persons please contact: 345-1247

Page 10

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

VAT could cripple real estate industry

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Value Added Tax (VAT), which is to come on stream on April 1, 2013, could have a debilitating effect on the Turks and Caicos Islands real estate market according to players in the sector.

The Interim Administration said that the Turks and Caicos Islands was in need of a steady revenue stream and so, the most viable option at this time was the implementation of VAT, which many, including the business community and the local political movers and shakers oppose.

Kathryn Brown, President of the TCI Real Estate Association and Manager of Sales at ERA Coralie Properties, believe that the implementation of the tax could have a negative impact on the TCI. She said that one of the drawing cards for the TCI luring visitors was the country’s no tax system, reiterating that VAT could change all that.

“People like to come here with the belief that we are a no tax country; no property tax, no income tax. When they see VAT, and they see we have tax – stamp duty is a different verbiage. VAT is value added tax, and it is a user tax, so, is it going to discourage people from going into stores and purchase? Is it going to discourage them because we are a service industry? Even the real estate industry, our commissions are going to be taxed.

“The appraisers – the banks – their sectors are going to be charged; their attorneys are going to be charged. So, every one of those professional sectors is going to be adding that (VAT) to the end bill, to the consumers. So, what image is that going to create to people

coming here? It’s going to take us down; it (country) may recover, I don’t know. After the economic downturn we’ve had, we just don’t need to take a chance of having another, because it would be even harder for us to recover if that happens. So, I believe that it would have a negative impact, and so do most of our members,” Brown stated.

Brown told The SUN that the Real Estate Association made representation to the Interim Administration via emails and in meetings that the government staged to talk about the impending taxation. “(The response was) ‘thank you for your communications’. We haven’t had a real response. The Real Estate (Association) - and this is not a criticism (of the Interim Administration) – feels a little ignored, because we send out communications all the times. (Former) Governor (Gordon) Wetherell was always in touch with us and asking us what we thought, with meetings,” Brown pointed out.

However, Governor Todd told The SUN that he was never contacted by the Real Estate Association on any topic, and if contacted would not hesitate to convene a meeting with them to iron out any kinks its members might have.

“The Real Estate Association, as far as I know, has never asked for a meeting with me. If people don’t ask to meet me they can’t then complain that I haven’t answered their invitation. I understand that people want to know what VAT would mean; the answer is the VAT Ordinance is published and the regulations are published, and anyone who wants to discuss that is very welcome to contact that unit. The Idea

Quality Supermarket Ltd Is seeking an

INVENTORY SUPERVISOR Candidate must have 3-4 years of experience in the related area of field Must have through knowledge of the following: -Must have degree in Business Management -Advanced knowledge and skills in computer systems, most specifically Quick Books Pro 2007, Warehouse Management System Pro 2010(WMS) -Expertise in using Inventory Control Management System -Extensive knowledge of NCR 7456 POS system -Candidate must be Multilingual Interested applicants should email resume to qualityfs@alliedcaribbean.com Belongers Preferred

1 BABY SITTER NEEDED:

wages $5.00 per hour.

Belonger need only apply Contact: 331-6702

that VAT was introduced in a rush – that is just nonsense.

“VAT is talked about for years.

There were several studies done, options were looked at before the decision as taken back in 2011 and announced in 2011 that VAT would take effect in 2013. We have had public consultations which lasted for many weeks and had literally dozens of public and private meetings. The idea that there was some lack of consultation was just nonsense,” Governor Todd said.

In the meantime, Brown believed that a more lengthy study should have been carried out on VAT before it was introduced to the TCI, since that would give everyone a better picture as to its pros and cons.

“Things don’t always go as we want them to, and every law that’s introduced here there is someone that doesn’t like it. But we are hoping that there would be a setback so that there is more study done and more preparation for people to get prepared for it, and maybe reassess the amount that it is going to start at. If it is coming, the eight or nine months (preparation) that we are going to have, is really not enough time. It should take a two or three year process,” she said.

On the matter of property tax that could be introduced soon, Brown said that was also a bad idea. She noted that during the Gordon Wetherell administration, after the idea was

floated, the association – comprising 15 members - conducted a survey with its buyers, and 99 percent objected to the idea.

“The reason is that stamp duty is a one-time payment. So, if its four percent or whatever, they pay that upfront. They don’t have to worry about next April, sending money down or worrying about their property tax coming out of their income or management, (and) if it is a condo or a house, to find funds to send down every year.

“If it’s paid, it’s done, and the amount that is paid (on stamp duty) – I may be not correct on this – but could be at least 10 years taxes anywhere else. So, that’s taken care of, it’s done; there is nothing to worry about. I believe it is not a good idea to have property tax here,” Brown said.

Brown’s sentiments were shared by Nina Siegenthaler, Vice President and Sales Executive for Sotheby’s International Realty. Siegenthaler believed that the introduction of property tax could have a telling effect in an already high-cost environment, where people who buy second, third and fourth homes are mostly trying to cover their bases when they rent them out in their absence.

“Those that don’t rent still factor in the cost of ownership into their decision-making process. The addition of property tax could really break the balance to the point that it would not be viable any longer for people to buy property here,” Siegenthaler said.

PORTS OF CALL RESORT – GRACE BAY Resumes only please. No direct calls excepted.

Seeking candidates that have the requirements listed:

GENERAL MANAGER:

A proven track record in the Caribbean, 10 years resort / International experience with a minimum of 2-3 years of direct related experience as a General Manager.

Additional experience in Commercial Plaza management and Event Planning are a pre-requisite’s for this position.

A Hospitality Degree is preferable as well as a strong background in rooms division.

Full responsibility for the operation and cost control of the resort.

Energetic, positive leadership needed to continue the ongoing development of employees.

Qualified Turks & Caicos Islanders need only apply.

HOUSEKEEPERS

Job Description: Responsible to clean guest rooms as assigned. 2-3 years in a hotel as a Housekeeper a must.

Must have knowledge of proper cleaning techniques.

Must be able to read and write English and understand verbal and written instructions.

Willing to work weekends and holidays.

Houseman Must have one year experience in an hotel / resort environment.

Must be physically fit and assist the Housekeeping team with the daily housekeeping duties.

Clean and maintain housekeeping equipment as required.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 11

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Some Islanders against Dolphin Cove

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

A number of environmentally conscious individuals in the TCI are not warming to the idea that the world-famous Dolphin Cove attraction is to open here soon, also citing moral issues.

Dolphin Cove, at the World Travel Awards held in the Turks and Caicos Islands in September, captured the title of Caribbean’s Leading Excursion Operators, about two weeks following the event, the Governor’s Office announced that the entity was desirous of setting up shop here.

Since then, there has been mixed reactions to the attraction’s introduction in the TCI. Initially, the argument was that the Turks and Caicos Islanders would not benefit from the establishment of the enterprise, since they did not have expertise in such area, and so, only expatriates would benefit. But

lately, morality has been attached to the list of grouses.

Philip Shearer, owner of Big Blue Unlimited – a water sports tour operating entity - is the latest to join the chorus of detractors against Dolphin Cove. But his stance, he said, was more moral than environmental. Shearer pointed out that it was paradoxical for the Turks and Caicos Islands to open a facility of caged mammals, while at the same time, having a free-spirited aquatic ambassador in Jojo the Dolphin entertaining tourists while on their excursion.

“I certainly do not agree with a ‘dolphinarium’, not for a country that has branded itself ‘Beautiful by Nature’, and also has an amazing ambassador, which is a wild freeswimming dolphin which interacts with humans, right here in Grace Bay, and has done so for 20 – 25 years, which is among an amazing population of wild dolphins. It is a contentious issue world-wide – ‘dolphinarium’ – it is a very strong

MAINTENANCE MAN/HANDY MAN

Needed to maintain properties & buildings Salary $5.00 per hour Please contact 649-246-8895

argument not to have free-running animals, such as dolphins inside a pen, which are essentially prisons,” Shearer argued.

While some would see the construction of Dolphin Cove as an economic fillip for the country, Shearer believed it was a mere band aid approach to demonstrate that progress was being made.

“This seems to be like a quick fix just to kind of show that some economic progress has been made when very little economic progress has occurred in the last four years; now suddenly you want to present something that is ‘good for the people’ and dangle a carrot, so to speak. There is pretty strong evidence that a ‘dolphinarium’ is not likely going to employ local people. How many Turks and Caicos Islanders do you know are dolphin trainers? I certainly don’t know any.

“I do believe that the company is coming from Jamaica, and to use Beaches (Resorts) for example; Beaches has come in from Jamaica, obviously most of their workforce are probably from Jamaica, and I think the precedence on that level has been set. It is unlikely that Turks Islanders would benefit hugely; certainly tourists would benefit and they would bring us money.

“But at the end of the day, this country along with huge amount of the people who work in the tourism industry from hotel to water sports

have contributed to the brand, which is beautiful by nature, so I think the ‘dolphinarium is a complete hypocrisy and contradicts what you have been selling over the last 25 years,” he said.

Shearer also warned that the dolphins would have to be fed what he described as a huge amounts of fish on a constant basis, stressing that those food may well have to be imported, since fish caught in the TCI was already not enough for local consumption, hence importation by hotel and supermarkets.

“In the 1980s the Turks and Caicos became famous for releasing three captive dolphins. And guess where they were shipped from – the UK – because the UK has an antistance against ‘dolphinariums’. So, why would the UK promote it in one of their overseas territories? It seems bizarre,” he said.

Shearer said too, that boat operators stood to lose out with the opening of Dolphin Cove, since some tourists who would normally patronize them, would now be going to the attraction to play with the mammals.

“The the other question is, how many tour operators would lose out by people not bothering to go on the boat because it’s cheaper to spend $50 bucks to sit there and clap with a bunch of dolphins, as opposed to jumping on a boat with Silver Deep or Catch the Wave or Island Tours or Island Vibes or Big Blue or Dive Provo?” Shearer said.

• Research, evaluate and recommend new technology solutions to address emerging business and technical needs • Prepare annual budgets for on-going operational and support activities and appropriate sparing for professional 24/7/365 operation of the digital head end offers support by providing expert assistance and knowledge to the management and diagnostics of proprietary software systems.

Caicos Television Holding Ltd DIGITAL VIDEO ENGINEER

Primary Duties: The Digital Video Engineer (DVE) is responsible for the day to day operations of all head end equipment providing digital video service to all cable and IPTV customers on Providenciales and Grand Turk.

Main Duties and Responsibilities: • The DVE will work under the technical leadership of the CTO to design, develop, deploy, configure and maintain the master IP digital video network and all supporting equipment to ensure consistent, high quality digital video signals are delivered to the outside plant.

• The DVE will be responsible for apprenticing and providing leadership to junior technical staff in support of head end operations.

• The DVE will be responsible for budgeting for and administering expenses related to spare parts and equipment, software and annual maintenance contracts for all equipment deployed in the head end.

• The DVE will work with and support members of the management team in marketing, selling and supporting the overall video and data operations of the company.

• Monitoring and performance tuning of Application, and DHCP servers, Bacchus 150 Mpeg 2 Encoder, ASI turnaround units, 3200dt units, ZeeVee prolSO,Stream Cache, Arris D5 Universal Edge Qam switches, and Set Top Boxes.

• Work with the CTO to develop a detailed business continuity plan for digital video operations, taking in to considerations risks such as hurricanes, fire, loss of critical employees, network security breaches etc.

Technical Skills • Knowledge of an operational experience with MPEG-2 transport streams • Knowledge of an operational experience with SD & HD digital video equipment • Wide knowledge of Operating Systems • Extensive knowledge of Set Top Boxes (Evolution, Amino, Xavi, ADB) • Video Technology and Multimedia • IPTV feature testing

Qualification • Associate Degree or equivalent certificates • Minimum of five – ten years experience • Thorough knowledge and expertise in performance tuning • Extensive knowledge of emerging technologies • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to manage vendor relationships • Skill in conducting tests to newly installed/upgraded software • Skill in effectively communicating orally and in writing • Skill in isolating and resolving complex problems and utilizing appropriate diagnostic tools • Ability to analyze information and formulate conclusions and recommendations • Ability to plan and execute a platform change with minimal disruption in service to clients

Salary: $35,000.00 - $45,000.00 per annum Contact: No phone calls please WIV Cable P.O. Box 679 Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands administrator@wiv.tc

Page 12

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

Governor upbeat about economic prospects despite 8 percent unemployment

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Despite reports that unemployment in the Turks and Caicos Islands currently standing at eight percent, the Interim Administration is upbeat that the rate could fall, since the economic position of the country is now stable and real growth has taken off.

In an interview The SUN on Monday, October 22, at the Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales, His Excellency Governor Ric Todd explained that while the unemployment rate was high, there were encouraging signs coming from the economic scale, pointing out that the majority of the fundamentals which makes up the economy were showing signs of strength.

“We can see that when you compare the situation now economically, say, about the progress, it really has been considerable, and I think that all across the Islands many people have put in a great deal of work to get us to where we are now. If you think back to 2009, the economy fell by some nineteen and a half percent; the country was effectively bankrupt. But since then, we now have a growing economy – growth returned in 2010. Growth was 14 percent last year; it is going to grow again this year. We have a fiscal surplus; we have started to pay down the debt, which was run-up by the action set out in the old report.

“So, while unemployment, in a

sense, is too high, if you looked together at the totality of the economic data here on the TCI, you have many politicians, many countries around the world that would be delighted to be growing, to have stable unemployment, to have a fiscal surplus and paying down their debt,” Governor Todd argued.

Governor Todd further explained that the method used to gauge the employment rate of the country was the set-up of a registry system at the Labour Department, where persons searching for work were asked to sign up.

“The Ministry of Immigration and Border Control are the department who collect data, so people who are unemployed go to the ministry and register, and that is the list of unemployed people,” Governor Todd said.

And while conceding that the current figure may not represent the correct state of unemployment in the country in general, Governor Todd has recommended that those without a job and needed one, to visit the department and make the necessary application.

“Now, I recognized that there may be people who are unemployed, who haven’t registered, in which case I would urge them, please register, because if you don’t, the Ministry can’t help you find a job,” Governor Todd pleaded.

In the meantime, Governor Todd said that the recently-concluded national census has given the government a clearer picture of how it should craft its decisions going forward.

“We now know how many people

Caicos Television Holding Ltd

Installation and Repair Supervisor This position is responsible for the field technical and customer service results. This position is responsible for coordinating the daily duties of all technical personnel assigned, ensuring daily completion of assigned work and verifying the quality of work performed.

The position is responsible for coordinating all departmental engineering activities; provide guidance and supervision to direct reports, generally ensuring the maintenance of tools and equipment and the integrity of the entire external network. This position assists higher-level technicians and managers in fiber splicing and restoration.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 1) Plan and coordinate all signal transmission works 2) Ensure that the finished work of the technicians conforms to company standards of quality and reliability, and is completed within the time allotted.

3) Ensure that all external signal faults are cleared within the stipulated fault clearing standard, from the time of notice to the Operations Department 4) Arrange and carry out quarterly tool audits within the Operations Department 5) Assist in the development of technicians within the career path.

6) Work with the technicians to develop and improve field knowledge, quality and quantity levels.

7) Ensure all technicians are working in a productive, efficient, safe manner and are following all company processes and procedures.

8) Complete performance appraisals of direct reports monthly for probationers and casuals and quarterly and annually for established staff, 9) Complete various reports and forms, including the weekly progress reports on the number of new installations, quantity of cable dropped, number of faults reported and cleared and drop leads replaced and the monthly technical reports to the Manager of Operations by the second working day of each month 10) Ensure that his/her area is completely driven and measured for signal leakage and all reported leaks are repaired.

11) Effectively balance return and forward plant using the correct pad and equalizer. May be required to perform system sweep 12) Effectively set up and troubleshoot/trunk amplifiers, bridges and line extenders both forward and return. Understand the functions of all active and passive devises in the hard-line and replace when necessary.

13) Perform voltage checks of amplifiers, check and maintain all types of system power

live on the Islands and where they are. We understands some demographics, we have some good data about GD (gross domestic product), which showed the economy grew by 14 percent last year and it is growing again this year. Those are fundamentals of effective and good government.

“And I would like to point out that there is a responsibility on businesses to corporate with the statistics office, and if people want the Ministry of Labour to help them find a job, you need to tell them who you are, where you live and what you can do,” Governor Todd argued.

UK committed to proper marine management in the British Overseas Territories Junior Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Simmonds said the UK Government is committed to working with Territories governments to preserve their rich environmental heritage and have been developing with them a strategic approach to large-scale marine management.

Speaking in the House of Commons on October 18th 2012, Simmonds noted that two of the largest marine protected areas (MPAs) in the world have been established in British Overseas Territories; in the British Indian Ocean Territory a no-fishing MPA has been declared, while in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands a sustainable use MPA has been declared that allows fishing activity, subject to tight controls, that has led to Marine Stewardship Council certification.

He added: “These, and other marine protection measures across the Territories, have been based on

scientific research and evidence, and further work is under way to input into their future management. We will continue to work closely with the Territories to guide the sustainable management of their marine areas, whether this be through the use of MPAs, or other appropriate management tools, and where a Territory permits fishing or other economic activities to take place as part of their management approach we will encourage this to happen in the most sustainable manner.”

Simmonds was responding to MP Zac Goldsmith who asked what was his policy is on the establishment of marine protected areas in the Overseas Territories.

Simmonds said the Government's recent White Paper on the Overseas Territories set out our approach to develop a shared agenda for sustainable environmental management with the Territories.

supplies. Install and replace power supplies when required.

14) Effectively troubleshoot optical transition nodes (hub) and distribution nodes.

15) Read and record signal levels with the use of field meters including RE meter and Volt/OHM meter.

16) Routinely detect and correct signal leakage.

17) Use the return tester and interpret the results to effectively troubleshoot plant problems.

18) Read and understand all plant blueprints.

19) Design plant extensions, including actives, passives and powering.

Understand and effectively perform underground cable location.

Check, maintain and use proper safety equipment in conformance with Company safety rules and regulations.

20) Become familiar with the safe operation of the work vehicle and ensures vehicle is properly maintained and in proper running condition.

21) Demonstrate and ensure compliance with National Cable Telecommunications Association (NCTA) Customer Service Standards.

22) Safely gaff poles, climb ladders, towers and other structures as needed.

23) Assist in the repair of broken lashing wire, strand and construction of plant extensions.

24) Know specifications perform pole transfers and hard line construction work.

25) Use the Optical Time Domain Reflect Meter and interpret the results to effectively troubleshoot plant problems.

26) Effectively troubleshoot high-speed data problems.

27) Perform other duties in keeping with the position 28) Knowledgeable on National Electrical Code (NEC) and National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) cable clearance specifications 29) Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIREMENTS & EXPERIENCE: Minimum of Associate Degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering or related field Customer Service Essentials Program or equivalent course and or experience. Tap to Home Program or equivalent course and or experience.

Quality Broadband Services or equivalent course and/or experience Valid Driver’s License is essential At least five years job and industry related experience Salary: $37,000.00 - $45,000.00 per annum Plus Benefits not limited to: Cable and Internet discount Company saving plan Contact: WIV Cable P.O. Box 679 Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands administrator@wiv.tc or fax 649-946-2896 No telephone calls please

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 13

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Only 1 piece of ID needed for voting

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Only one piece of identification will be required for voting in the November 9th general elections.

This was stated by spokesman in the Governor’s office Neil Smith, who said he received inquiries yesterday relating to what is acceptable proof of identity at the forthcoming election to ensure clear advice is available.

Smith pointed to Section 44(10) of the Elections Ordinance which states: "(c) the voter must produce his passport, drivers licence or such other official form of picture identification as will enable the presiding officer to confirm the voter’s identity."

This, Smith said, will be taken to include one of the following: Turks and Caicos Islander Status Card, passport, NIB card, NHIP card or Driver’s Licence. US and Bahamian Driver’s Licence will be accepted also.

He added: “A view was expressed today that two forms of photo ID were required. This is not the case - one of the above will normally be sufficient. However, this is at the discretion the Presiding Officer on the day. If the presented form of identity is unclear or believed to be unsatisfactory to

establish the voter’s identity, the Presiding Officer is at liberty to request a second piece of picture identification by way of corroboration. A birth certificate cannot be presented as a form of identification as it does not meet the requirement of being “picture identification”.

Election Supervisor Dudley Lewis had earlier warned that persons who failed to comply with this requirement would not be allowed to exercise their franchise, stressing that they would be strictly keeping with the procedure of the mandatory elector’s and another piece of government-issued ID. He stated then: “On Election Day, the voter is required to bring two pieces of identification – the voter’s card and another piece of identification. One form of identification can be their passport, NIB card or driver’s ’license. Birth certificates would not be used as a piece of identification, according to law.”

In the meantime, Lewis said that persons who received their elector’s cards after the supplementary register is published would not be able to vote, since their names would not appear on the register, and so, they would be forced to sit out this election.

“Those persons who have been approved after we have produced

the supplementary register; their names would not get onto the regular register. They would get their cards but wouldn’t be able to vote in this election. Only persons that are on the register would be allowed to vote.

Meanwhile, the Elections Office has completed its training for more than 70 Election Day workers, including returning officers, poll clerks and presiding officers, who would be required to work at the various locations through-out the country on Election Day. “The presiding officer is responsible for the activities that go on in the polling station, but there is an overall responsibility for the returning officer. We have to train all the poll day workers, because we have to make sure that they understand the procedures and what to expect on polling day. This was done in Grand Turk to cover Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos, and we are here today (Thursday, October 25 in Providenciales) to cover Providenciales, Middle and North Caicos, ” Lewis said.

Lewis explained that the workshop was held to equip poll workers to effectively assist voters on the procedures of voting, including correctly marking their ballots.

“We went through all the aspects of the electoral process. We

even had a mock poll day station set up (at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Centre, where the training was held), where the voters would have come in and they would see exactly what to expect on polling day. Our main function is to ensure that voters, when they go to the polls, they mark their ‘Xs’ correctly, because we are trying to avoid spoilt ballots,” Lewis reiterated.

He said that the Elections Office secured services of Leo Missick, a specialist in electoral procedures, to conduct the training exercise.

“It (training exercise) went great. Everybody left here knowing what is expected of them on that day, and knowing exactly what to do on that day, and if they encounter any problems, how they should go about solving them. I am quite happy that they left with the understanding knowing that on polling day what to do,” Lewis said.

Providenciales, by virtue of having the most electoral districts, would get the lion’s share of Election Day workers, even though the figure was not finalized. About 50 persons that would be working on the islands of Providenciales, North Caicos and South Caicos underwent training, while on Grand Turk about 20 persons, who would be covering that island, South Caicos and Salt Cay participated, according to Lewis.

TURQUOISE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Ltd

is looking for qualified and experienced applicants for the following positions .All interested applicants should send their resumes by email. Only short listed individuals will be notified by phone. Tel: 941-7396/ 941-7376 E-MAIL: tccltc@gmail.com 1. Civil Engineers

Required, an individual with knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering. The ability to apply them to the planning, design, construction and maintenance of facilities. The individual should be able to prepare correspondence and reports, analyze facts and exercise independent judgment; establish and maintain effective working relations. Deal effectively with representatives of other organizations and the public.

Experience: 10 – 15 years experience dealing with large portfolios in the Caribbean area • Past cold calling would be an asset Academic qualifications: Bsc civil Engineering, business administration.

Salary: $36,000.00 per annum

2. Foremen:

• Requires the individual to direct lead people and projects and meeting standards set out by the management.

• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision • Ability to work in cooperation with other crews and contractors.

• Ability to read and layout construction and drawing to site conditions.

• Assist the manager of construction in producing purchasing documents, assisting in study of spreadsheets such as fuel usage ,hours etc Experience: 5-10 years Salary: $24000.00

3. Office Administrator/ Marketing:

Daily duties include (but are not limited to): • Act as support to all managers ( Engineers, CFO ,General manager and all other staff ) • To deal with general and customer enquiries via phone and email • Willing to take on additional tasks as required and learn new skills • Support staff in assigned project based work.

• Setup accommodation and entertainment arrangements for company visitors.

• Carry out general administrative and office managerial tasks including

filing, telephone answering, data entry, record keeping, printing, binding etc.

• Undertake of market research and analysis • Generating new business leads and providing sales and marketing for the firm.

Special requirements: • The ability and confidence to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing • Possess good interpersonal skills, e.g. tact, sensitivity, ability to listen, to be assertive at times.

• Ability to work to deadlines and targets can prioritise tasks under pressure.

• The ability to work quickly, flexibly, effectively and positively in response to requests made at short notice.

• Flexible and adaptable, comfortable with juggling a range of tasks in a fast-moving, dynamic start-up environment • Pro-active, ability to work under own initiative without direction • The ability to prioritise and organise own workload in an effective and accurate manner, whilst working within broad guidelines.

• Reliable and trustworthy • Good organisational skills and able to pay attention to detail EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 10 years experience of working in Human Resource Customer Service oriented offices and Marketing.

Previous experience in a Construction company is a plus.

Academic: Business Administration & Marketing Degree.

Salary: $22,000 PER ANNUM

All applicants should be prepared to work on weekends and overtime. A detailed job description will be provided at the office to qualified individuals.

Page 14

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

Turks and Caicos Islands invited to join Caribbean Basin Initiative The UK Embassy in Washington has confirmed that their ongoing trade discussions with their US counterparts have secured an invitation for the Turks and Caicos Island to join the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).

The CBI is an initiative that allows members to enter into tariff concession agreements with the United States.

This follows on from the situation this summer where it was thought incorrectly that the TCI would lose its import waivers to the US for conch and other fish products, following an announcement by President Obama.

These discussions between TCIG officials, the Governor’s Office and British embassy in Washington with US trade officials revealed the opportunity to TCI of joining the CBI. At the end of July the Governor conveyed a letter to the US Trade Representative to request the TCI to join.

The CBI tariff concession mechanism is applicable to a wider range of goods than the existing Most Favoured Nation (MFN) mechanism, and includes access for manufactured items. In joining this second mechanism TCI would be seen as

putting in place a further building block to stimulate a wider range of business activity in the territory, when the largest trading partner is inevitably going to be North America. Over half of the other Caribbean countries are already in the CBI. The MFN mechanism would also continue and still give existing TCI products, such as conch and lobster, tariff concessions into the USA. The process to enter the CBI is now underway. On 11 October the US trade authorities gazetted a notice in the US Federal Register requesting public comments on the granting of CBI benefits to the TCI. Additionally, the US has asked the TCI to undertake a contributing public consultation to gather the views of businesses, stakeholders and the public here in TCI as to their views on the benefits of joining.

“We have written to the Chambers of Commerce on Providenciales and Grand Turk and other business bodies inviting their comments,” said Philip Rushbrook of the Governor’s Office.

“I am also inviting the views of the political parties and the general public.

Please could we receive all views via GovernorGT@fco.gov.uk by Monday,

5th November. Thereafter, we will prepare with TCIG colleagues a portfolio of the comments received and send them, via the British embassy in Washington, back to the US trade authorities by the US Government deadline of 9th November.”

The trade programs known collectively as the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) remain vital elements in U.S. economic relations with our neighbors in Central America and in the Caribbean. The CBI is intended to facilitate the economic development and export diversification of the Caribbean Basin economies.

Initially launched in 1983, through the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), and substantially expanded in 2000 through the U.S.-Caribbean Basin

Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), the CBI currently provides beneficiary countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for most goods.

The CBTPA entered into force on October 1, 2000, and continues in effect until September 30, 2020, or the date, if sooner, on which a free trade agreement as described in legislation enters into force between the United States and a CBTPA beneficiary country.

There are currently 17 CBERA beneficiary countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago

HOLIDAY VILLAGE Is seeking

A LABOURER

Weekly salary: $225 Working hours: 6 days per week Contact 946-5500

POSITION: HOSPITAL CATERING MANAGER/ CHEF MANAGER

ICC&SCo are currently recruiting for an experienced Hospital Catering Manager to manage catering services at TCI Hospitals at Providenciales and Grand Turk

Main responsibilities • Managing the patient meal service in conjunction with the dietician ensuring patient dietary needs are met with specific reference to Dietary Analysis & Special Diet Menu Planning.

• Organising and overseeing all activities of the Café & Hospitality, maintaining brand standard, optimising margins through marketing, promotions, and presentation.

• Controlling and monitoring the financial performance and to maintain costs within pre-budgeted targets • Recruiting, training, and development of the catering team to deliver a high quality service at all times and continuously improve standards.

• Ensuring all food are prepared to a high standard as per service level agreement, HACCP, company policy and current legislation; maintaining all compliance records.

• Establishing and maintaining satisfactory relationships with individuals at all levels within the Company and the Client organisation.

• Implementing and maintaining the Statutory and Company standards of hygiene, health and safety, and take actions as necessary • Generating monthly management report & KPI compliance data The ideal candidate • Minimum of 10 years previous experience in multi-unit operations, ideally within Hospital environment • Good Financial and commercial acumen, and strong management skills • Excellent knowledge of computer applications • Excellent communication skills • Minimum of three years degree/ diploma in Catering; further qualification in Business administration/ Finance would be advantageous.

• Certification in Nutrition, Food Hygiene, and Health & Safety is essential Salary is based on qualifications and experience

Please forward CV‘s with email and telephone contact to llawrence@interhealthcanada.tc the closing date for application is Friday 26th October 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 15

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Government gets $8million from Emerald Cay sale The Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) received over $8 million in settlement of its civil recovery claim arising out of the underpayment of Stamp Duty on the 2006 sale of Emerald Cay. In June 2011 the civil recovery team obtained a judgment against Emerald Cay Limited and Worldwide Commercial Properties Limited, subsequently quantified at just under $9.3m by the Court earlier this year, with interest and costs, following the discovery of substantially underpaid stamp duty on the 2006 sale of Emerald Cay. Since that date the Government has been seeking to enforce that judgment by forcing a

sale of Emerald Cay. The five-acre property was sold

by Emerald Cay Limited, and the Government has received the total sum of $8.13m by way of a cash payment and a payment of stamp duty on the sale in satisfaction of the judgment.

The payment brings to a conclusion one of the most significant cases of the Government's civil recovery programme and represents a substantial recovery for the Government.

Attorney General Huw Shepheard, said: “We are delighted that the judgment handed down earlier this year has been satisfied.

Whistle-blower legislation needed in the Turks and Caicos Islands A call has been made for whistle-blowing legislation in the Turks and Caicos Islands The report from the Internal audit Office recommended that appropriate legislation be developed to offer absolute protection to anyone who raises a genuine suspicion inside the civil service.

Whistle-blowing can be defined as a disclosure of information by an individual who alleges willful misconduct carried out by an individual or group of individuals.

According to the report, it is therefore vitally important that there is adequate legislation in place to protect whistle-blowers.

The document noted that history is replete with stories of people who blew the whistle and effectively ended their own careers, therefore public servants will be more willing to provide information on suspicious activity if they know that they will be protected.

The report added that there should also be policies and procedures in place to handle, respond, investigate, report and disclose information on behaviours or conduct which may appear to be of concern, and that consideration should be given to introducing anonymous and confidential whistle-blower hotlines, perhaps provided by an outside party that can be trusted.

It was also stated that potential weaknesses in control processes should be addressed so that opportunities for inappropriate or unethical behaviour can be minimised.

LOGISTICS COORDINATOR Candidate must have 3-4 years of experience in the related area of field Must have through knowledge of the following: -Must have degree in Business Management -Advanced knowledge and skills in computer systems, most specifically Quick Books Pro 2007, Warehouse Management System Pro 2010(WMS) -Expertise in using Inventory Control Management System -Extensive knowledge of NCR 7456 POS system -Assist in developing strategies to improve the service -Ensure the goods are received in good condition -Verifies inventory locations and availability for shipment against requirements specified in purchase orders -Candidate must be Multilingual Salary commensurate with experience Interested applicants should email resume to qualityfs@alliedcaribbean.com Belongers Preferred

Whilst obtaining judgments such as this is highly important and demonstrates the Government's determination to deal with Stamp Duty evasion, the receipt of such a large sum represents another significant recovery to the benefit of the Islands. It also represents another very good result for the civil recovery team and their ongoing efforts�

In accordance with the approach set out in the 2012/13 budget speech in May, this windfall receipt will be used to pay down TCIG debt.

The civil recovery team, led by London law firm Edwards Wildman, was engaged in December 2009 following the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry Report by Sir Robin Auld. To date, the team has recovered over $15.5m in cash and nearly 2,500 acres of land for the Government in over 40 separate claims with more significant recoveries expected. The Emerald Cay payment follows the earlier summer settlement of the Salt Cay litigation with the return of a large part of that Island to the Government's hands and a payment of $7m in cash.

This 10-bedroom, 30,000 sq. ft.

luxury mansion is ideally situated on a private island paradise, adjoined to the mainland by its own private swing bridge.

U.S. real estate developer Tim Blixseth had bought the island in 2005, and government officials at the time accused him of conspiring with other defendants to pay only $975,000 out of a combined $2.73 million in taxes. Officials also had accused Blixseth of hiding Emerald Cay's true value when reporting that that he paid $28 million for the island. Land transfer documents recorded the purchase at $10 million.

Blixseth's attorney, Philip Stillman, said his client did not hide the island's true value and that the island was bought through the company Emerald Cay Ltd. Stillman also said that Emerald Cay Ltd. was created by Worldwide Commercial Properties Limited, run by U.S. citizen Gary Di Silvestri.

Stillman said that both Emerald Cay Ltd. and Blixseth have filed a $10 million lawsuit against Di Silvestri to recover funds including money related to the alleged underreporting of the stamp duty. Stillman said the trial is scheduled for next year.

Page 16

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

Voters switch allegiance after National Conversation debate, says Father Been

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Following the National Conversation debate, a number of voters who had earlier committed to voting for a particular party have changed their convictions and will now instead be voting otherwise, The SUN has learned.

The switch in voting allegiance came about after some electors thought to have found more substance in the candidates for whom they had not considered to vote earlier.

The National Conversations, which was held to give the political aspirants a wider platform to tell the country of their plans to make the lives of the people better, catered to all three political parties – Progressive National Party (PNP) the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), and the fledgling People Progressive Party (PPP), as well as those running independent. The event was held over two days – Monday, October 22 and Tuesday, October 23 – to accommodate the leaders, their deputies and other candidates.

Rector for the St. Monica’s Anglican Church, Father Bernard Been, who also spearheaded the debate through the organization – Country At Heart – told this newspaper that a number of attendees to the event, as well as those who watched on television, the internet and listened via radio, told him that the debates had changed their minds and that they

would now be voting for a different candidate or party.

“We have had persons calling to say that they have changed their minds as to who they are voting for now, after the Conversation. They were set in their minds, especially the At – Large (candidates); they said they think that they would be voting for someone else or other persons, now, because of what was said or what wasn’t said,” Fr. Been Revealed.

Ft. Been stressed that the National Conversation debate had met its objective of getting the politicians to flesh out their ideas and to inform the populace as to the direction they intend to take the country.

“I think it has achieved its purpose, just to creating that kind of environment. The focus was to create an environment or a platform where these questions from the people of the country will be posed to the leaders. Now, how they respond to it is totally up to them.

I think that (objective) was achieved.

People took note of what they said and what they didn’t say.

“The playing field was leveled and the politicians got to express their ideas and ideologies, and the people got to voice their concerns. We have had very good feedback and good criticisms as well. It was much needed. Persons really appreciated the fact that they could stay home and hear the politicians discussing the issues. There was a lot of pressure being placed on the moderator to get them to stick to the issues. In some cases they did not deal with the

THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS NATIONAL INSURNACE BOARD

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

A vacancy exists at the Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board for a

TEMPORARY FILING CLERK

for an initial period of three months at its Providenciales Branch Office. Applications are invited from qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders to fill the post.

ROLE AND CORE FUNCTIONS OF JOB

• Assists with the filing of: • Monthly Contribution Statements; • Registration forms, • Termination and cessation forms.

• Benefit Forms • Assists with maintaining a positive image of the NIB. EDUCATIONAL REQUIRMENTS

This position requires a minimum of five (5) CXC/ GCE passes inclusive of Mathematics and English Language, or an Associate Degree in Business.

Salary will be paid at the rate of $7.50 per hour.

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to the Deputy Director Corporate Services, National Insurance Board, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands to reach no later than Wednesday October 31st, 2012.

issues as presented.

“The politicians were grateful for the platform, being able to talk to the people, and of course, at no expense to them either; they only had to show up.

And they were grateful for the opportunity, especially the independent (Oswald Simons). He really appreciated the fact that the playing field was leveled at the national level, and he was able to capitalize on that. I think all were grateful for the opportunity to speak to the country,” Ft. Been said.

He noted, too, that a number of

persons were disappointed that they did not hear their questions asked. However, he said it was almost not humanly possible to field the over 300 questions that Country At Heart received from the public in such a short time slot.

“To ask those questions in that short space of time was just not possible. But it goes to show that there are a lot of concerns in the minds of people, and they want them to be addressed. We will share the questions with the country at a later date, because they still want their questions answered,” he said.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 17

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

PDM launches country’s ‘Blueprint’

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has launched its manifesto on a six-pillar principle which it said is aimed at ultimately returning prosperity to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Entitled ‘2012 Blue Print for the Peoples Democratic Movement’ and themed: ‘Empowering our people; One People – One Turks and Caicos; A passion a Promise, the manifesto promised that the PDM would be guided by six ‘Good Governance Principle’ - Inclusiveness, Meritocracy, Care for the Environment, Clean Government, The Rule of Law and Financial Management.

Under the banner of Inclusiveness, the PDM said that it would bat for social equity. “If the economy prospers but the median economy is low and the disparity of wealth is large, the society will not be cohesive and social harmony will be threatened,” the manifesto said.

On the matter of Meritocracy, the

PDM Leader, Oswald Skippings displays a copy of his party’s manifesto during the news conference on Monday

PDM said that it would remove the barriers of upward mobility, which are class, religion and family background and replace it with ability and performance. “In order to encourage meritocracy the PDM will ensure that everyone has an equal chance and this is done by approving every Turks and Caicos Islander with a good education

WEST BAY CLUB SEEKS

1 BUTLER Salary $6.00 per hour Contact 946-8550

Bartender

THE WEST BAY CLUB is seeking a To work 6 days per week Must have at least 1 year experience in this area Salary: $6.00 per hour. (Only Belongers need apply) Contact: 247-1554

CAFÉ MANGO RESTAURANT SEEKS 1 BARTENDER Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 341-2793

Ricardo Fulford Consultant Services on behalf of his clients:

RICARDO FULFORD CONTRACTING is seeking employment for the following: 2) Green Keeper Salary is $5.00 per hours. Interested candidate may submit their application through fulfordricardo@yahoo.com for further details.

ESTEL PLUMBING LTD is seeking employment for the following: 1) Green Keeper Salary is $5.00 per hours. Interested candidate may submit their application through fulfordricardo@yahoo.com for further details.

Please note that the deadline for all applicants who is interested in these position is November 9th, 2012.

Interested candidate may also apply through fulfordricardo@yahoo.com. Good luck to all interested applicant.

and an opportunity to pursue their dreams,” the document said.

Addressing the Care for the Environment, the PDM said that, while focusing on economic growth, it would ensure that the environment does not serve as a sacrificial lamb for such purpose, but rather preserve it for generations to come. “We want economic growth, but not at a price.”

Addressing the issue of Clean Government, the party outlined that it would institute what it described as a zero-tolerance mechanism to tackle corruption. “The policy is absolute and applies without exception,” the document said.

Under the Rule of Law banner, the PDM said that it would “take steps to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and expect the bar association

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

COSMETOLOGIST

Minimum five years experience working as an aesthetician /cosmetologist.

The applicant must have pleasant personality and excellent customer service skills.

Be able to work independently.

Be willing to work flexible hours Kindly respond to: The Manager Lelieth’s Ltd Town Center Mall Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands Telephone (649) 231-1729

to take on a greater role in educating the disciplining members.”

Its sixth pillar – Financial Management – the PDM said that it would strengthen financial management to ensure that the country does not again lose its “financial and political independence”.

Speaking at the event, leader for the PDM, Oswald Skippings, pointed out that the image of the country, over the past three years, had taken a battering. He said that the TCI’s image was battered externally, while its people suffered greatly as a result of the dented economy. However, he promised that his party would solder the problem and return the country to prosperity.

“While faith and trust have been unconscionably violated and destroyed in the recent past by both the PNP and the British Interim Administration, there is still profound confidence and expectation that the PDM would do good for these islands. We have the ability, the courage and the commitment to rise to the occasion and erase the tarnished image of our country once again.

“The PDM will ensure that good governance, prosperity and pride be restored; we did it before in 1988’ we did it in 1995 and by the grace of God, we shall do it again in 2012. These are the expectation of our people; these are the expectation of our regional counterparts. They are depending on us to lead the way again, because we have shown that where there is no way we will carve a way,” Skippings said.

DJ

SAMMY’S BAR is Seeking

To play music.

Must be able to play long hours and public holiday.

Salary $5.00 per hour. Contact 3325365

WANTED

1 CARETAKER

Applicant must be honest, reliable, gentle hardworking and fluent in English & French Contact 241-2831

Page 18

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

Jobs and the economy

BY OSWALD M. SIMONS - INDEPENDENT ALL ISLAND CANDIDATE

Over the past few weeks I’ve heard a lot of the catch phrase “our plan my party’s plan to grow the economy”, “growing the economy” from many of our aspiring Leaders.

I’ve never once heard, however, any specifics on their plans to “grow the economy”!

Do you think it might be because they do not know what the first step in growing the economy entails or might it be because they do not want their opponents to steal their ideas?

Well, whatever the reason, I think they should be telling us what specific steps they plan to employ to “Grow this economy”.

The economy is not a tree or plant that you stick in the ground and water and hope that it takes root and sprout and grow! That process my dear friends is called “Farming” and that is something we need a lot more of too, and while it will help grow the economy in the long run, we should be thinking about “revving-up” our current economy now to provide jobs and some of the necessities we so desperately lack.

One way to do that is, in my opinion to put more money into our economy. You might ask “whose money or where will we get the

money” and my answer will be “Our money” or “from us” More about that later as you digest that idea!

The second stimulant to economic growth and providing jobs though only in the medium term will be meaningful Inward investment; however the USA, our main trading partner and source of inward investment as well as most of Europe is presently in deep recession; when economic conditions ease sooner rather than later we hope investment funds will flow in again.

In the interim however we have a job and a responsibility to prepare for such a time by making our country as open and inviting as we possibly can to investors, being able to assure would be investors that they can safely invest in our economy without fear of losing their investment or their profits and that at the end of the day when they sell their investments they are free to take the proceeds of their investments and their profits out of this country if they so desire.

By doing this we will not only attract new investments, existing investors will want to re-invest and expand their current investments due to their new found confidence in our country.

We must prepare our people to take up the jobs that new investment will bring rather than importing

wholesale labour on an ad-hoc basis, this does not help our economy as these migrant workers are committed to their economies back home by way of family support, savings etc. and the wages paid to them leave our shores as soon as they receive it.

To prepare our people to take up the jobs that new investment will bring, we need at least two or three trade schools strategically placed within our country to teach our youth the now lucrative trades and crafts required for building and repairs, the hotel industry, computer building and repairs, scuba divers and dive masters, etc.

When our able-bodied young men and women are educated in such trades they will become self- efficient, helping to build and repair their own homes and those of their families while at the same time earning a decent wage. The results: (1) we build “sweat equity” the best and cheapest form of equity contribution one could want for any project. (2) Money stays in the country and improves our economy.

We will reap the benefits of this investment in the medium term and thereafter.

Back to the idea of putting our own money into our own economy to improve it: Here are my thoughts: I know that some of us do not have two

dimes to rub together, but I also know that some of us have substantial cash reserves and assets that are not earning reasonable returns and some actually incur a carrying cost.

Example, bank deposits earn approximately 1% P.A. Interest while bank loans attract an average of 10% P.A interest and the $125M loan for our Hospitals reportedly attracts more like 12% P.A. interest. We should be angry enough or sensible enough to want to pay off that loan. (Not suggesting that we give up trying to recover any portion of that sum which did not go toward the purpose for which it was originally intended).

Assuming TCIG (The people and residents of TCI) repay a loan of $125M @12% p.a. over a period of 25 years, the final tally is approximately $395M. If TCIG borrows $125M @5% for 25 years from us the citizens and residents of this country for the purpose of buying out this usurious loan the final tally would be more like $220M a savings of $175M. Interest @ 4% earned by TC Islanders in this transaction (4 times that currently earned from banks) over the same time period would cost TCIG (Citizens and residents of TCI) approximately $198M leaving TCIG approximately $22M to manage the transaction over the 25 year time frame.

BUTTERFIELD GOLD GROUP OF COMPANIES

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

One (1) Security Guard

Must be of sound and mature mind, physically fit, honest, disciplined and be capable of working with very little or no supervision.

Applicant must have at least 5 years experience as an expolice/soldier/security officer or of similar combined experience with impeccable service record and hold a clean police record.

Must be responsive to surveillance and undercover duties, have experience in writing reports, and have the ability to present same in court.

Must be vigilant, conscientious, alert and observant thus having the ability to detect and prevent criminal activities/offences for the protection of the company, its’ employees and customers as appropriate.

Skills in fire prevention and first aid training an asset Must be prepared to work night shift Applicant must have drivers license with clean record.

Wages $6.50 per hour

One (1) Electrician

Minimum seven years experience in the installation, maintenance and repair of electrical equipment and general labour work pertaining to the business.

Wages: $8.00 per hour

Two (2) Labourers Physical, able-bodied individuals capable of lifting heavy loads Wages: starting from $6.00 per hour

One (1) Domestic Worker For general cleaning & other domestic duties Applicant must be of excellent character and work ethics.

Be able to work independently Be willing to work flexible hours Wages: starting from $5.50 per hour

One (1) Labourer

Dispatching and pick up guest and keeping the vehicles clean and tidy.

Wages: starting from $6.00 per hour

One (1) Mason Applicant must have experience in general masonry work with at least 10 years experience.

Wages: from $7.00 per hour

ISLAND PRIDE FUEL

ThrEE (3) GAS ATTENDANTS

Good oral and written skills, no experience necessary.

Knowledge of basic mechanically skills would be an asset.

Knowledge to maintain gas pump machines would be an asset.

Wages: $6.50 per hour

Application forms available from Butterfield Gold human resource Department. Only applicants selected for interview will be notified.

Submit applications to by November 9, 2012 to: Butterfield Gold Ltd., human resource Department Town Center Mall Providenciales Tel: 649-946-4211

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Thank You for your Partnership

DJ Cliff

NOVEMBER 1 - 3/12

2nd ANNUAL

CULINARYEXTRAVAGANZA

THE FIRST

ISLAND

ST. FOOD

FAIR

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FEATURING CELEBRITY CHEFS & RENOWNED WINEMAKERS AS WELL AS OUR SPECIAL GUESTS, HONOREE AMBASSADORS OF FOOD & WINE, IRON CHEF-SUPER CHEF BEAU MACMILLAN, WESLEY CLERVEUX, JOHN DELUCIE, HEIDI BARRET, TUCK BECKSTOFFER & DUCKPOND CELLARS

THIS YEAR’S CARIBBEAN FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL ITINERARY:

PART OF THE CARIBBEAN FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL

NOV 1st WELCOME DINNER : $125 NET

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE

NOV 2nd GOURMET SAFARI DINNER : $250 NET

NOVEMBER 3rd, 3PM - 8PM

NOV 3rd FOOD & WINE TASTING: $45 NET / ISLAND FOOD FAIR: Children*: $10 NET Adults**: $25 NET

Children $10 Adults $25 *Children - 3-11yrs **Adults - 12yrs and above

Grilled Food Tasting featuring local restaurants - 3PM - 6PM Cook-Off Competition featuring local Chef Smokey & Guest Chef 5:15PM Junkanoo - 6:00PM Presentation of winners for Grill Competition and Cook-Off 6:15PM DJ Cliff playing throughout the night

Exclusive 5 course meal prepared by Celebrity Chef John Delucie paired with master sommelier wines.

A culinary adventure travelling to some of the finest hotels and restaurants in Providenciales.

Gourmet chocolate, cheese, seafoods, meat and local favorites; Offered with a selection of vintage international wines.

PACKAGE PRICE: $399 NET For reservations and inquiries kindly email info@caribbeanfoodandwinefestivaltci.com *Children: 3 to 11yrs **Adults: 12yrs and above

WWW.CARIBBEANFOODANDWINEFESTIVALTCI.COM In partnership with Turks & Caicos Tourist Board

WELCOME DINNER, GOURMET SAFARI, FOOD & WINE TASTING

SOLD OUT

ISLAND FOOD FAIR TICKETS AVAILABLE

WWW.CARIBBEANFOODANDWINEFESTIVALTCI.COM

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

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OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

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Skinny Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck draws huge controversy In a time when the world is trying to make people realize that image isn't everything, fashion retailer Barney's of New York may have just set all efforts back a couple decades. Movie Talk reported on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 that Barney's had released a new holiday ad campaign featuring an almost anorexic looking Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck.

The two famous Disney characters actually look like fragile sticks dressed in stylish clothes.

Barney's calls the promotion their "Electric Holiday" and it centers around a dream sequence that Minnie Mouse has in which she fantasizes about her and her friends being highend fashion models. It's not bad to be so ambitious, but it would be better if the characters didn't look like they were starving themselves.

Minnie and Daisy are to be joined on a Paris runway by Snow White, Princess Tiana, and Cruella de Vil. The decision to make Minnie and her friends so skinny was seen as "necessary" by executives at Barney'saccording to Women's Daily Wear.

"When we got to the moment when all Disneycharacters walk on the runway, there was a discussion.

The standard Minnie Mouse will not look so good in a Lanvin dress.

There was a real moment of silence, because these characters don't change. I said, 'If we're going to make this work, we have to have a 5-foot-11 Minnie,' and they agreed.

When you see Goofy, Minnie and Mickey, they are runway models."

Celebrities such as Virginia Madsen and Abigail Disney (Disney heiress) have spoken out againstBarney's for the campaign. A petition has been started and currently has over 125,000 signatures to demand that Barney's not go through with the their holiday window display and "return Minnie Mouse to her normal figure."

A spokesperson for Disney named Nidia Tatalovich sent a joint statement out on behalf of both The Walt Disney Company and Barney's New York: "We are saddened that activists have repeatedly tried to distort a light hearted holiday promotion in order to draw media attention to

themselves. They have deliberately ignored previously released information which clearly states this one-time promotion focuses on a three minute 'moving art' video showcasing traditional Minnie Mouse in a dreamlike sequence where she goes to Paris, dreams of briefly walking the runway as a model, and then awakens as her normal self happily wearing the same designer dress from the fashion show."

Tatalovich also explained that the thin Minnie appears only as part of video clip and not part of the window display. "The only place these interpretive versions of the Disney characters make an appearance is in the 3-minute moving art video and only briefly in a 7-second sequence." Tatalovich added, "At the end of the video, Minnie appears in her regular classic form wearing the same designer Lanvin dress that was in the dream sequence."

The Disney display is set to adorn the window of Barney's main store in New York City on Nov. 14, 2012.

Pippa Middleton publishes book on how to party

Rep: Sean 'Diddy' Combs being treated after crash LOS ANGELES- Sean "Diddy" Combs is being treated for injuries he sustained during a minor car accident in Beverly Hills, Calif.

A spokeswoman for the 42-year-old rapperproducer says he hurt his neck, ribs and collarbone in the crash Wednesday on Sunset Boulevard near the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Combs was a passenger in a Cadillac Escalade when a Lexus sedan made a left turn and collided with it. A police lieutenant said Combs complained of pain but he was not taken to a hospital at the time.

Publicist Keesha Johnson said Thursday that doctors are now treating Combs, and he is grateful for the outpouring of fan support following the accident.

LONDON - One thing everyone in Britain can agree on: Pippa Middleton knows how to party.

So Middleton — the sister of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge — was marking the release of her new book, "Celebrate," with a private launch party Thursday night, posing outside Daunt Books in west London.

"Celebrate" is Middleton's guide to home entertaining. It draws on her experiences working with her parents' business, Party Pieces, and a London-based events company. It has tips on entertaining for different celebrations throughout the year as well as recipes, crafts and games.

Middleton said she hopes to give readers ideas without breaking the bank.

Penguin published 'Celebrate' on Thursday in the U.K., priced at >25 ($40).

Viking is publishing a U.S. edition on Oct. 30.

Barney's of New York will showcase skinny Disney characters for the holidays.

Lindsay Lohan's Publicist Steve Honig Quits Amid Endless String of LiLo Debacles Even loyal supporters have their breaking point.

And Lindsay Lohan's besieged publicist, apparently, has finally reached his.

Steve Honig, who's steered his beleaguered client through one scandalafter another after another, has quit as LiLo's trusty flack, E! News has exclusively learned.

"He's resigned as Lindsay's publicist Wednesday night," a source tells E! News exclusively.

Honig, however, declined to elaborate on why he's decided throw in the towel, telling E! News, "I'm not discussing this out of respect for my client."

Co-Hosts “GMA” No doubt the publicist, who's been employed by LiLo for about a year and a half, has had his work cut out for him. During his time under LiLo's dime, he's racked up enough crisis-management victories to fill up a bushel's worth of resumes.

Let us try to count the ways, shall we? (Bear with us if we miss something here.)

Under Honig's watch, the star passed out in a hotel room, landed in the hospital after a frightening car crash, allegedly trashed her trailer, got tangled up in a jewelry heist, was reportedly banned from a hotel for unpaid bills, got arrested for an alleged hit-and-run, was embroiled in a 911-worthy spat with mom Dina Lohan, unleashed a war of words with pop Michael Lohan and, most recently, was faced with a failed interventionattempt by Michael, supposedly with the support of her handlers.

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LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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FUN and GAMES

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

JUNE 23RD -JUNE 30TH 2012

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JUNE 23RD - JUNE 30TH, 2012 OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

FUN and GAMES FUN & GAMES LOCAL NEWS

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OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

• Brazilian man appears very much alive at his own funeral READ MORE ON PAGE 33

Uncertainty surrounds impact of Cuba migration reforms on US and other countries MIAMI – The top United States diplomat for the region says Washington is unclear how Cuba’s newly-announced migration reforms will affect the United States or many other countries.

“We don’t yet know how those changes that were announced are going to be implemented,” Roberta Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, told the Foreign Press Center here.

“It is, of course, of great interest to policy makers at the State Department and elsewhere throughout the US Government what the change means, how it will be implemented, and what we may need to do to respond to that,” he added.

Last week, Cuba announced that, effective January 14, it would no longer require exit permits for citizens travelling abroad. But the decree, published in the official Communist Party newspaper, Granma, made it clear that the Raúl Castro

Jamaican identified as shooter in mass murder at a spa WISCONSIN, United States – The lone suspect in a mass shooting at a spa in suburban Milwaukee on Sunday has been identified as a Jamaican born national.

The authorities said that 45-year-old Radcliffe Haughton, a resident of Brown Deer, Wisconsin, was found dead at the scene with what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The shooting incident at the Azana Salon & Spa in Brookfield left at least three people dead and four others injured but it was not immediately clear whether Haughton was being counted as among the victims.

Brookfield Police Chief Dan Tushaus said Haughton died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was found in the spa.

Authorities said they believed the shooting was related to a domestic dispute.

The man had a restraining order against him.

Police released little about Haughton other than a physical description and a photo, but media reports said that Haughton had described himself as being divorced and a graduate of Wheeling High School in 1985 in Illinois. He had named his employer as Haughton International Fairs and claimed that his hometown was Kingston, Jamaica.

The carnage marked the second mass shooting at a US beauty spa in recent days.

Last Thursday, a gunman killed three women and wounded another at a beauty salon in suburban Orlando, Florida. He later committed suicide.

administration will continue to decide who can leave the Spanish-speaking Caribbean island, as it has since January 9, 1959.

The announcement stressed that any Cuban could be kept from travelling “when the proper authorities so decide.”

The changes also extend from 11 to 24 months the amount of time that Cubans can spend abroad before they are ruled to have officially migrated and lose benefits, such as health care.

The Cuban government said it retains the final say on who gets passports, claiming that US migration policies that favor Cuban migrants “take away from us the human resources that are indispensable to the economic, social and scientific development of the country.”

The announcement said supervisors must approve the issuance of passports to government and military officials, professionals, physicians and other medical

personnel, top sports figures and others whose work is deemed “vital” to the state.

It also said that passports also can be denied to any Cuban “when it is so determined by the appropriate authorities for other reasons of public interest,” or when “reasons of defence and national security suggest it.”

In addition, the decree said that those who are subject to the military draft or have other unspecified “obligations” to the government are prohibited from obtaining passports.

The decree abolishes the reentry permit required for Cubans who live abroad and wish to visit the island, and extends the time they can visit from one month to at least three months per visit.

“If you remove the exit permit, but you require Cuban citizens to revalidate their passports, the question is: Will everyone get a passport back and, therefore, be free to travel, or will there still be controls?” Jacobson said.

She said it was too early to determine whether the US diplomatic mission in Havana might need additional personnel to handle any increases in visa applications, adding that the migration reforms might impact many countries.

“I want to stress, this is certainly not something that impacts only the United States; there are lots of other countries that will be impacted by this,” Jacobson said. Russia and Belarus, for instance, do not currently require entry visas for Cuban tourists.

The top diplomat noted that the Universal Declaration on Human Rights requires governments to recognize their citizens’ right to travel freely, a right “that we have certainly long sought for Cuban citizens along with all others in the world.

“So it is a good thing that it is being announced, that some of the restrictions on Cubans to travel hopefully will be reduced, if not done away with,” she said.

Senior minister worried at impact of crime on St. Lucia CASTRIES, St Lucia – National Security Minister Phillip La Corbiniere says he is extremely concerned and almost frightened about the path on which the island’s future appears to be headed given the level of criminal activities in St Lucia.

La Corbiniere, who is also the Minister for Legal Affairs and Home Affairs, has been commenting on an upsurge in criminal activities that left police with an uphill task in dealing with the situation.

Last week gang violence at the accident and emergency department at the Victoria Hospital forced nurses to abandon their posts and run for safety.

La Corbiniere blamed the increase in criminal activity and gang violence on the illegal drug trade which he said the authorities would spare no effort in dismantling. He said the efforts’ would go beyond capturing the proverbial small fish.

“In a business you might start as a cleaner and end up as owner of the business, and so it is the same in an unlawful enterprise, people start at the bottom and move up become stronger and stronger, and eventually become a king-pin in the trade.

“So the point I have been making is that at all levels we have to dismantle the drug trade,’ he noted.

La Corbiniere, a former attorney general and minister of justice, warned of the impact of the illegal drugs trade on St. Lucia.

“Sometimes I am almost bowled over by the things that reach my desk in terms of the kind of corruption that is ongoing, of the kind of involvement that we see in the drug trade.

“I am almost frightened about where St. Lucia is heading and going to be if we do not begin to get some control over this situation,” he added.

US authorities seize marijuana from Jamaican vessel KINGSTON,Jamaica -A massive marijuana haul valued at over US$6 million was made by United States authorities following a search of a Jamaican-flagged fishing vessel which was found near the Florida coast.

The US Coast Guard reported that the drug was found on the “Captain Richard” which ran out of fuel and was adrift more than 200 miles from the nearest port in Key West.

They off loaded 6,500 pounds marijuana that was wrapped in plastic and tape. On making the discovery the officials detained the ship’s crew

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

CARIBBEAN NEWS

Clintons land in Haiti to Showcase Industrial Park Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton encouraged foreigners to invest in Haiti as she and her husband Bill led a star-studded delegation gathered Monday to inaugurate a new industrial park at the center of U.S. efforts to help the country rebuild after the 2010 earthquake.

Actors Sean Penn and Ben Stiller, fashion designer Donna Karan and British business magnate Richard Branson were among the luminaries at the opening of the new Caracol Industrial Park, which is projected to create thousands of jobs more than 100 miles from the quake-ravaged capital of Port-au-Prince.

Hillary Rodham Clinton told a roomful of investors gathered for a luncheon that she had made Haiti a priority when she became secretary of state.

"We had learned that supporting long-term prosperity in Haiti meant more than providing aid," she said. "It required investments in infrastructure and the economy that would help the Haitian people achieve their own dreams.

"So we shifted our assistance to investments to address some of the

Former president Bill Clinton and his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, sign a T-shirt during their visit to Caracol Industrial Park's garment factory in Caracol, Haiti on Oct. 22, 2012

biggest challenges facing this country: creating jobs and sustainable economic growth," she added. to wave at her motorcade as it wound its way from the newly renovated airport in the seaside city of Cap-Haitien. Clinton and other U.S. officials, including Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, toured a housing development for industrial park workers supported by the U.S.

MAINTENANCE ASSISTANT NEEDED For a private home in Providenciales.

A hardworking person needed to work six days a week.

Must speak English. Must be Fit and able.

Required to work 6 days a week.

Salary is $1,250.00 a month. Required to work six days a week. Required to live on property.

Applicants must be able to do the following: • Assist with general maintenance • Assist with general custodial needs • Assist with general maintenance emergencies as needed • Contribute to verbal and written evaluations and communication as requested.

• Ability to use basic hand tools • Possess valid driver’s license with clean record • Safely operate tools and machines common to the building trades • Understand and follow written and oral instructions If you fit the above qualifications please send via facsimile your resume to:- 649- 946-4474.

An experienced Belonger required for this position.

Deadline for Resumes is November 1, 2012

Agency for International Development.

The secretary of state noted there were three presidents gathered in one room to celebrate the opening: her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, current Haitian President Michel Martelly and his predecessor, Rene Preval.

Bill Clinton, now a U.N. special envoy for Haiti, arrived in Caracol separately from his wife.

The Clintons and their allies hope that the $300 million industrial facility will transform the northern part of this impoverished country by providing thousands of desperately needed jobs.

But some Haitians say the industrial park does little more than replicate failed efforts from the past and will benefit outsiders more than Haitians. They also worry it will harm some of the few pieces of undamaged environment that still exist in Haiti.

"It's really all-in on this project, and there's a high bar to deliver," said Laurent Dubois, a historian who teaches at Duke University and is author of "Haiti: The Aftershocks of History." ''It really needs to deliver in a big way so that people will think, yeah, this was the right thing to do."

The stakes are high in large part because the Clintons have been so heavily involved.

The Caracol project was in the works before the earthquake but it became a top priority for the Obama administration soon after the disaster under Preval. Hillary Rodham Clinton's chief of staff, Cheryl Mills, has made almost monthly visits to the site on Haiti's northern coast.

Brazilian man appears very much alive at his own funeral SAO PAULO - A 41-year-old car washer shocked his family when he interrupted a funeral being held for him at his mother's home in the town of Alagoinhas in northeastern Brazil, police said Tuesday.

Police inspector Roberto Lima said by telephone that on Sunday Jose Marcos Araujo identified a body at the city morgue as being that of his brother, Gilberto.

Lima said that Jose Marcos took the body to his mother's home where a wake was held.

"The confusion started when news started circulating that a car washer had been shot dead," Jose Marcos' wife, Ana Paula, told the UOL Internet news portal. "Police called my husband and told him that his brother had been killed and his body was at the morgue."

Lima said the confusion was "understandable."

"The two men closely resembled each

other and both worked as car washers," Lima said adding that the man whose body was in the morgue was named Genivaldo Santos Gama. He said further information on Gama was not immediately available.

A few hours before the Monday burial "a friend of Gilberto's saw him walking down the street and told him that his family was mourning him," he said.

"So he went to his mother's home to let everyone know he was very much alive."

When Araujo showed up at his wake "some people fainted and others were so scared they ran away. It was a big shock," family friend Maria Menezes told the G1 online news site.

Gilberto's mother Marina Santana told reporters "I am overjoyed. What mother wouldn't be after being told that her son is dead and then sees him alive."

Government to help repatriate 163 stranded Asian seamen PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The Trinidad and Tobago government is exploring the feasibility of paying the airfare for 163 Asians who have been stranded here since the companies which employed them went into liquidation.

“As of now, the issue is escalating into one of a humanitarian concern, so that the Government of (TT) will consider payment of their airfare back to Asia,” said acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Roodal Moonilal.

The Asians, including 147 Indonesians and 16 Vietnamese nationals, have been on five boats anchored here and on Monday were given water and other basic food items after their plight had been highlighted on a local television newscast.

Moonilal said that the government, which is working with the Indonesian embassy in Venezuela, will also be seeking reimbursement from the respective countries “for any

expenditure to return the seamen”.

He said the government hopes to have the matter resolved “in a matter of two or three days.

“We have resolved to work with the Maritime Services Division, the Coast Guard, and the Embassy of Indonesia in Caracas, Venezuela to resolve the matter quickly.”

Moonilal said the men who were fishing in international waters came into local waters and abandoned when the companies that hired them went into liquidation.

“Certain agents on the scene in Trinidad fled leaving the workmen on the boats, without fuel and water, and in a terrible condition.”

Under maritime law, Moonilal said, “the host country, and in this case (Trinidad and Tobago), has certain obligations to intervene in the context of a humanitarian concern. That we intend to do”.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

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OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

Solaris Energy Limited opens most modern renewable energy factory in the Caribbean Solaris Energy Limited opened the Caribbean’s newest and most modern renewable energy manufacturing facility.

With this new 8,000 square-foot factory in St. Phillip, Barbados, Solaris Energy enhances its 30-year history of providing solar powered products by increasing its production of solar water heaters, expanding its portfolio of products, and reaching out to new international markets.

At its new address at Building 7, Six Roads Industrial Estate, St. Phillip, Barbados, Solaris Energy’s subsidiary Solaris Global Energy Limited will continue to produce flat plate solar water heaters, including the popular Solaris 500; and add to its product line new vacuum tube solar water heaters and photovoltaic (PV) electricity products and systems.

The factory opening was celebrated with an opening gala attended by Senator the Honourable Darcy Boyce, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados, who also was the featured speaker.

Minister Boyce, who has responsibility for Telecommunications and Energy, Immigration and Invest Barbados, said, “This expanded and upgraded facility [is] helping this country get a little bit closer to realizing the vision of this administration for a dynamic and strong renewable energy sector.”

Citing the need to get solar water heaters into the homes of income groups that generally do not have them now, Minister Boyce spoke about encouraging research and development, marketing and

At its new address in Barbados, Solaris Energy’s subsidiary Solaris Global Energy Limited will continue to produce flat plate solar water heaters, including the popular Solaris 500

financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency systems made in the region.

“Solaris has already begun this work in research and development as attested by their introduction of new materials, new technology for heat conversion and more flexible sizing of systems,” he added.

Solaris Energy’s efforts fit directly within Caricom’s Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme to remove the barriers to the use of renewable energy and to foster its development and commercialization within the region.

Keith Scotland, Chairman of Solaris

Energy’s Board of Directors said the vision of the company is to provide affordable, renewable energy choices, and to show how collaboration between nations is drives greater success.

“We at Solaris Energy are a combination of Bajan innovation and Trini drive and entrepreneurial skill. This is a collaboration to which our group Chairman George Nicholas remains committed to developing in order to be model for CARICOM countries in how co-operation between entities of different Caribbean countries is essential to achieve a common goal.”

Studies conducted by consultants

through the Inter American Development Bank estimate that Caribbean economies could save approximately 20 percent of electricity needs through energy efficiency. Such savings only may be realized by the adoption of renewable and efficient energy practices.

Solaris Energy’s dedication to energy efficiency will be further evident with the installation of a 50kW system at its new factory before the end of this year.

Solaris Energy’s leaders are committed to its mission of alleviating global warming by lessening reliance on fossil fuels for electricity; by increasing the availability of affordable renewable energy products to reduce household electricity expenses; and by developing a competitive and sustainable industry, thereby creating jobs and regional income. All this is aimed at creating a better quality of life and future for all people.

Solaris Energy Limited is based in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing solar energy products, mainly solar water heaters and photovoltaic systems, using superior materials at an attractive price. Its subsidiary, Solaris Global Energy, Ltd. is based in Barbados and is the successor company to Aqua Sol Components Limited, one of the three leading renewable energy manufacturing pioneers in the region. Visit www.solarisenergy.co for more information.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

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• New York cop planned to cook and eat 100 women • Romney raised $111.8 million in first half of October READ MORE ON PAGE 37

US Presidential election hits $2B fundraising mark WASHINGTON — The 2012 presidential campaign passed the $2 billion mark in fundraising Thursday, fueled by an outpouring of cash from both ordinary citizens and the wealthiest Americans hoping to influence the selection of the country's next leader.

The eye-popping figure puts the election on track to be the costliest in modern U.S. history. It comes amid a campaign finance system vastly altered by the proliferation of outside groups and "super" political committees that are bankrolling a barrage of TV ads in battleground states.

President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney have brought in about $1.7 billion so far this election, according to fundraising reports submitted Thursday night.

Added to that: nearly $300 million in donations involving super PACs since early 2011, as well as tens of millions more in donations to nonprofit groups that run election-related ads but don't have to disclose their donors.

Obama, the Democratic Party and related fundraising committees raised a combined $88.8 million for the first 15 days of October, reports showed, while Romney's fundraising apparatus reaped $111.8 million during the same period.

The largest of those were two proRomney groups. American Crossroads, a Republican-leaning super PAC with ties to former President George W. Bush's longtime political counselor Karl Rove, reported raising at least $79.6 million through Oct. 15. Restore Our Future, founded by former Romney aides, reported pulling in $130.6 million so far. And Priorities USA, a pro-Obama group founded by two former aides to the president, reported $62.8 million in contributions.

Added to that: nearly $300 million in donations involving super PACs since early 2011, as well as tens of millions more in donations to nonprofit groups — often affiliated with super PACs — that run election-related ads but don't have to disclose their donors.

Presidential candidates in 2008 raised more than $1.8 billion in inflation-adjusted figures. This time, new factors have contributed to the escalation in the campaign money chase.

This year marked the first time that both major party candidates opted out from the public financing system established to set limits on how much a presidential candidate can raise and spend. Both Obama and Romney would have been eligible for about $100 million in taxpayer money to support their campaigns through the general election, but both gambled — correctly — that they could raise and spend far more.

In 2008, Obama became the first

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney gestures as he speaks at a campaign rally at Worthington Steel, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, in Worthington, Ohio.

presidential contender to refuse all public financing while his Republican rival, Arizona Sen. John McCain, accepted the government funds. The lopsided result — Obama outspent McCain by more than 2-to-1 in the general election — effectively ended public funding as an option for serious candidates.

With the 2012 election so tight, both Obama and Romney have spent considerable time at high-dollar fundraising events courting wealthy donors. Romney last month lamented the time spent fundraising rather than speaking to larger groups of voters, saying that "fundraising is a part of politics when your opponent decides not to live by the federal spending limits."

Both Obama and Romney have raised considerable cash from small donors, too, especially the president. His campaign has reported that more than 4 million donors have contributed.

Obama spokesman Adam Fetcher acknowledged Thursday that Romney and his supportive super PACs were outspending the president on the airwaves. He said the Obama campaign was making efforts to expand its donor base as it headed into the remaining days before the election.

Federal election regulators have raised the limit on individual contributions to candidates, which means campaigns can solicit more money from donors than they have in the past. Individual donors can now give a total of $5,000 in the primary and general elections to a candidate, compared to just $2,000 in 2000.

Michael Toner, a Republican campaign finance lawyer and former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, said the close race between Obama and Romney and the sharply polarized electorate have also played a role in accelerating the dash for dollars.

"I don't know any campaign

manager who thinks they have too much money. In this political 50-50 environment you can't ever have enough," Toner said. "Every last million could make the difference in who is

elected."

But the emergence of super PACs and other outside groups, emboldened partly by the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court in 2010, has done more than anything else to reshape the contours of presidential campaign fundraising. A handful of federal court cases have broadly eased campaign finance regulations, allowing donors to give unlimited sums. That kind of money has largely been funneled to super PACs, which can raise and spend money on behalf of candidates as long as they don't coordinate expenditures or strategy with the campaign.

"The distinctive factor in this election is the outside money being spent and the corrupting money financing it," said Fred Wertheimer, a longtime campaign finance reform advocate. "It's a symbol of the disastrous campaign finance system we have and the undue influence relatively few wellfinanced individuals and interest groups now have over government decisions.

Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson is the top super PAC donor this year. Adelson, a billionaire, has contributed more than $40 million to Republican super PACs, including those backing Romney and former candidate and House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WORLD NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

Colin Powell endorses President Obama Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has backed President Obama for a second term in the White House.

“I voted for him in 2008, and I plan to stick with him in 2012,” Powell said this morning on CBS. The Republican crossed party lines four years ago to support Obama in his race with Sen. John McCain.

Thursday he did the same, casting himself as part of a “dying breed,” a “Republican of a more moderate mold.”

Powell set the blame for much of the recent gridlock in Washington at the foot of of a divided Congress, though he also pressed Obama to show “greater leadership potential.”

A retired four-star general, Powell criticized Mitt Romney’s foreign policy plans, calling them “a moving target.”

Powell cited the president’s handling of the economy and foreign policy successes in explaining his decision.

“When he took over the country was in very, very difficult straits, we were in one of the worst recessions we had seen in recent times, close to a

Former US Secretary of State General Colin Powell (L) is seen with President Barack Obama in 2010

depression,” Powell said of the economy Obama inherited from his former boss George W. Bush. “We were in real trouble.”

“I saw over the next several years stabilization come back in the financial community, housing is now starting to pick up after four years, it’s starting to pick up. Consumer confidence is rising. So I think generally we’ve

Meningitis outbreak spreads to 18 states with South Carolina case The deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis tied to tainted steroid medications from a Massachusetts company expanded to 18 states on Thursday with South Carolina reporting its first probable case of the disease.

New England Compounding Center of Framingham, Massachusetts, shipped the steroid to 23 states and all but five of those states now have reported cases of rare fungal meningitis.

The five states which have not reported cases are California, Nevada, West Virginia, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

"The patient is being treated with antifungal medications based on treatment guidelines recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," said Dr. Linda Bell, M.D. and Interim South Carolina State Epidemiologist.

Some 312 people have been stricken with meningitis and 24 have died since the outbreak was discovered last month, according to CDC figures as of Wednesday.

Most received steroid injections for back pain.

Health officials have confirmed that some of the medication from NECC was contaminated with a fungus that they believe was injected directly into the spinal fluid of the patients.

Another five patients have been diagnosed with infections of the joints after receiving injections from the medication.

These could include infections in the knee, hip, shoulder or elbow. No deaths have been reported from joint infections.

Health authorities have said they found unsterile conditions at the NECC facility, and the company faces multiple investigations.

The steroid has been recalled and authorities are pulling all NECC products from the shelves nationwide

come out of the dive and we’re starting to gain altitude,” Powell explained. “It doesn’t mean we are problem solved, there are lots of problems still out there. The unemployment rate is too high. People are still hurting in housing. But I see that we are starting to rise up.”

Powell, who served as secretary of state from 2001 to 2005, praised

Obama for ending the war in Iraq and winding down the war in Afghanistan, adding that he “did not get us into any new wars.”

The retired four-star general went on to call Obama’s actions to protect the U.S. from terrorist threats “very, very solid.”

Powell said he has the “utmost respect” for Mitt Romney but was concerned about his shifting foreign policies. “The governor who was speaking on Monday night at the debate was saying things that were quite different from what he’s said earlier, so I’m not quite sure what Governor Romney we would be getting with respect to foreign policy,” he said.

He also took issue with Romney’s economic proposals. “As I listen to what his proposals are especially with respect to dealing with our most significant issue, the economy, it’s essentially let’s cut taxes and compensate for that with other things.

But that compensation does not cover all of the cuts intended or the new expenses associated with defense,” he said.

Romney raised $111.8 million in first half of October Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his allies raised $111.8 million October 1-17, his campaign said on Thursday, a high-profile period that included two of the three televised presidential debates.

Romney's strong performance in the first debate with President Barack Obama on October 3 notably ticked up donations, the campaign said. The two candidates have been locked in a dead-heat race since then.

As of the end of October 17 - just weeks before the November 6 election - Romney, the Republican National Committee and state parties had $169 million left in cash on hand, they said.

"There are less than two weeks left, but we still have much hard work to do to ensure that Mitt Romney and (running mate) Paul Ryan win in November and bring real change to Washington," said Spencer Zwick, Romney's national financial chairman.

The 2012 election is on track to being the most

expensive race in U.S. history thanks to massive spending on advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts by the campaigns and unlimited-funding outside groups.

The Romney campaign said on Thursday that just under 92 percent of all donations to Romney and the Republican Party in the first half of October were $250 or less, and that the team had raised $38.2 million through donations under $250.

Romney has held a cash-on-hand advantage over Obama thanks to strong fundraising by the RNC, while Obama's campaign on its own has dwarfed Romney's in the money stakes in recent months.

With all parties put together, Obama and his Democratic allies in September raised $181 million, while Romney and RNC's haul in September totaled $170.5 million. Obama's campaign has not yet released its October haul.

Financial disclosures for the first half of October are due to the Federal Election Commission by campaigns and "Super PACs" by the end of Thursday.

Teen confesses in death of Colorado girl GOLDEN, Colo. — A Colorado District Attorney Scott Storey said the teenager has confessed in the law prevents prosecutors from seeking the abduction and killing of a 10-yeardeath penalty because Sigg is a juvenile, old girl and in a separate attack on a even though he is being prosecuted as an runner, prosecutors said Thursday. adult.

The suspect, 17-year-old Austin Police in the Denver suburb of Reed Sigg, made his first court Westminster said they took Sigg into appearance Thursday in the death of custody Tuesday night after receiving a Jessica Ridgeway and an assault on phone call, apparently from his mother, a 22-year-old female runner in May. that led them to Sigg.

Authorities said Thursday they Reached by phone, Sigg's mother told Austin Reed Sigg have "overwhelming" DNA The Associated Press he turned himself in. evidence against Sigg.

"I made the phone call, and he turned Sigg lived about a mile from Jessica Ridgeway, himself in. That's all I have to say," said Mindy Sigg, who disappeared Oct. 5. before she broke down in tears and hung up.

He kept head bowed for much of the time, talking Authorities said Sigg also will face charges in the with his attorney but otherwise saying little.

May 28 attempted kidnapping of the 22-year-old He made eye contact at one point with relatives runner at the Ketner Lake Open Space. Police have of Ridgeway, who were in the courtroom wearing said the two crimes are connected, but they haven't purple ribbons in the girl's memory. elaborated.

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OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

WORLD NEWS

men and women should avoid the inevitable brushes of physical contact.

Ignoring their calls, many pilgrims were uploading their pictures online from the hilltop to share instantly with friends and family, while others used touch screens to read the Quran, rather than carrying it in printed form.

A sea of millions dressed in white, some waving their national flags, stretched for miles in the area of Mount Arafat, many chanting in unison, their prayers echoing.

Mount Arafat, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Mecca, is a required stop for Muslims during the hajj.

By sunset, pilgrims head to Muzdalifa, where Muslims believe prophets before Muhammad once prayed. They collect pebbles there and then walk or drive to nearby Mina for a symbolic stoning of the devil that begins Friday and marks the start of Eid al-Adha, or feast of the sacrifice, when Muslims slaughter lambs to feed the hungry.

Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy on the Plain of Arafat near the holy Hajj rules — based on centuries of city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Saudi authorities say around 3.4 million pilgrims interpretation of the Sunna, the — some 1.7 million of them from abroad — have arrived in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina for this traditions of Muhammad — are year's pilgrimage. extremely elaborate. Pilgrims must all Muslims chanted in unison, "Labayk have changed the atmosphere gather at certain sites at specific times.

Some rites are repeated, others are Allahuma Labayk," or "Here I am, surrounding the hajj.

God, answering your call. Here I am."

For centuries, the rocky mountain partially repeated and some performed Muslims believe the hajj traces the was a quiet place for contemplation only once.

Many pilgrims being their journey paths of the Prophets Abraham, and serene prayers. Now it is crowded Ishmael and Muhammad. The hajj with pilgrims pushing and shoving to in the Saudi Arabian city of Medina typically concludes as it began, with a take pictures with their iPads and with a visit to Muhammad's mosque, where he is buried. They then head to set of rituals at the Kaaba, the cube- mobile phones. shaped structure in Mecca's Grand Adding to the tumult, Mecca and perform a set of pre-hajj Mosque that observant Muslims ultraconservative men with rituals, including circling the Kaaba around the world face in prayer five loudspeakers yelled at pilgrims to stop counterclockwise with their hearts times a day. crowding the hill, saying the whole tilted toward it — the same rituals that Technology and the modern world area of Mount Arafat is sacred and that conclude the hajj for many

Muslims begin hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia — Hours before sunrise Thursday, thousands of Muslims from around the world stood in the dark on a rocky desert hill, preparing for prayers on the first day of the annual hajj pilgrimage, a central pillar of their faith.

Muslims believe that prayer on Mount Arafat is their best chance to erase past sins and start anew.

The four-day hajj features millions packed shoulder to shoulder in prayer and supplication. According to Islam, each able-bodied believer must make the pilgrimage once.

"Let all your feuds be abolished," the Prophet Muhammad said in his last sermon on the hill called Jabal alRahman, Mountain of Mercy, in the area of Mount Arafat. "You must know that every Muslim is the brother of every Muslim...between Muslims there are no races and no tribes...do not oppress and do not be oppressed."

Some 1,400 years later, Muslims believe on this day and at this place, the gates of heaven are open for prayers to be answered and sins to be forgiven.

"I have feelings that cannot be described in words. We thank God for the chance to perform the hajj here and visit God's house in Mecca," said Mustafa Daama, 27, from Mauritania.

On other parts of the mountain,

Why the world wants New York cop planned to cook and eat 100 women Obama to win People surveyed in 21 countries overwhelmingly favor President Obama over Mitt Romney. What's behind that landslide?

U.S. President Obama and Mitt Romney are locked in an incredibly tight race at home, but overseas, the vote isn't even close. A BBC World Service opinion poll found that residents of 21 foreign countries overwhelmingly support Obama, with an average of 50 percent hoping that he wins a second term and only 9 percent favoring Romney. France is Obama's biggest booster — 72 percent of respondents support him.

The only country where Romney enjoyed greater support than Obama?

Pakistan. So why are foreigners in the bag for Obama? Here, three theories: 1. Obama's foreign policy works Overseas, the president has an undeniably strong record, says Jeffrey Simpson at Canada's Globe and Mail. Obama has shown he's capable of "mixing muscularity with restraint," extricating the U.S. from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, avoiding direct intervention in Syria, and resisting "the push to recklessly attack Iran" — all while relentlessly going after terrorists and playing a limited but key role in forcing regime change in Libya. Meanwhile, the world sees Romney displaying "the hubris of the powerful and the ignorance of the uninformed," thumping his chest and scaring folks overseas.

2. The world is associating Romney with Bush In many ways, this isn't really a reflection on Romney, says Max Fisher at The Washington Post. In Pakistan, for example, people aren't embracing Romney so much as protesting Obama's drone program in areas near the Afghan border. And more broadly, Romney's overseas poll numbers "are consistent with [Sen. John] McCain's in 2008, suggesting the possibility that many foreign publics associate Republicans with George W. Bush, whose administration was deeply unpopular abroad."

3. Soaking the rich is popular overseas The fact that France is more pro-Obama than anyone else says it all, says Matthew Balan at News Busters. France is a leftist nanny state, and socialist President Francois Hollande is trying to slap a 75 percent marginal income tax on people earning more than 1 million euros a year, a move the Heritage Foundation's Nile Gardiner called "economic suicide." Such proposals "line up nicely with the president's platform."

No wonder he polls so well there.

A New York City police officer who allegedly planned to kidnap, cook and eat as many 100 women has been arrested following a joint NYPD and FBI investigation.

Gilberto Valle III, of Forest Hills, Queens, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, according to a federal criminal complaint, as well was using the National Crime Information Center database to access unauthorized data.

The complaint alleges that Valle, 28, exchanged electronic messages with an unnamed coconspirator "about kidnapping, cooking and eating body parts of [Victim 1]."

The complaint alleges that in addition to conspiring to kidnap "Victim 1," he had discussed plans to "kidnap, rape, torture, kill, cook and eat body parts of a number of women."

He had allegedly created computer files pertaining to "at least 100 women and containing at least one photograph of each woman." According to the complaint, he used law enforcement databases to conduct surveillance on potential victims.

In an alleged on-line exchange between Valle and a coconspirator included in the complaint, Valle is quoted saying, "I was thinking of tying her body onto some kind of apparatus . . . cook her over a low heat, keep her alive as long as possible."

"I love that she is asleep right now not have the slightest clue of what we

Gilberto Valle III

have planned," Valle allegedly wrote.

"Her days are numbered . . . She does look tasty, doesn't she?"

"You do know if we don't waste any of her, there is nearly 75 lbs of food there," replied the alleged coconspirator, who also allegedly asked Valle, "How big is your oven?" and "What's your favorite cut of meat?"

"The allegations in the complaint really need no description from us," said FBI Acting Assistant Director Mary E. Galligan. "They speak for themselves. It would be an understatement merely to say Valle's own words and actions were shocking."

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HIGHLIGHTS

• Google Shares fall on premature earnings

iPad mini won’t upset low-end market Apple Inc's "iPad mini" will attract new customers but the higher-thanexpected price is unlikely to make it a threat to low-cost tablets such as Amazon.com Inc's Kindle, analysts said, in a muted reaction to the new tablet.

Only a few analysts revise their price targets for Apple's shares ahead of the company's quarterly results announcement on Thursday. The shares were flat at $615 in morning trade on the Nasdaq.

Canaccord Genuity raised its target on the stock to $800 from $797, while Barclays Capital cut its to $800 from $810.

The 7.9-inch mini version of the iPad has most of the functions and features of the full-size $499 iPad but is cheaper by $170.

However, the $329 price for the Wi-Fi only model was higher than many analysts had expected and some said the gadget might struggle to compete with the cheaper Amazon Kindle Fire and Google Inc's Nexus 7, which have prices starting in the $159$199 range.

The device may also lure buyers away from Apple's flagship 10-inch

tablet, they said.

"We were hoping the price would be at least a little lower given its competition is situated as low as $99, with many starting in the $199-$249 range," Barclays Capital analyst Ben Reitzes said.

His new price target of $800 is more in line with those of other analysts, although most targets are still well above Apple's current share price.

Demand for Google's Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire is unlikely to be much affected by the launch of the mini given the significant price gap, Nomura Equity Research said.

On a positive note, the high price made it less likely that the device would eat into Apple's margins, the brokerage said.

Barclays estimated iPad mini sales at more than 5 million units in the December quarter, while Canaccord Genuity forecast sales of 9.25 million units during the three months. Apple sold about 17 million iPads in the quarter ended June.

The iPad mini will help Apple

Top Facebook executive quits to join Londons Tech City LONDON - Joanna Shields, head of social media group Facebook's operations in Europe, is leaving to join a British government-sponsored venture to create London's answer to Silicon Valley.

Tech City Investment Organisation was set up in April 2011 to attract inward investment focused on an area in London's east End, dubbed "silicon roundabout" and supporting start-ups looking to expand.

Joanna Shields It has signed up companies including Cisco, Google and Intel.

"The success of Tech City shows just what can happen when we back some of our most innovative and aspiring companies to grow," Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement on Sunday.

Shields, will join TCIO in January, said she would lead a drive that hopes to make London the number one location for tech in the world.

Her departure will be a blow to Facebook, the world's biggest social network, as the U.S. group seeks to reassure shareholders after a rough reception on Wall Street since its high profile listing in May. Concern about its slowing revenue growth rate has seen its market valuation halve - Facebook shares closed at $19.00 on Friday, compared with a $38.00 issue price in May. "Facebook supports the UK Government's vision for building a stronger technology-based economy and start-up ecosystem, and we wish Joanna every success," a company spokesman said.

Earlier this week, Facebook opened an engineering centre in London, its first outside the United States.

iPad Mini and iPad size comparison

The new iPad Mini

reach a new customer base that may not have been able to afford the higherend version, Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley said.

"While we believe these strong

sales will come largely at the expense of Apple's competition, we concede iPad Mini will likely cannibalize iPad and iPod Touch sales," Walkley wrote in a research note.

Despite the cannibalization, the mini should greatly expand the market for iPads, whose sales have exceeded 100 million units in just two-and-a-half years after the tablet was introduced, Needham & Co analyst Charlie Wolf said.

Apple will enjoy a very happy holiday season on its refreshed product line and because of the "hopelessly backlogged" iPhone 5 orderbook, he said.

Raytheon wins U.S. army contract potentially worth $131 million NEW YORK - Raytheon Co has won a new contract to supply the U.S. army with thermal weapon sights in a deal potentially worth $131 million, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

This contract is a modification of an existing agreement. Under the new contract, Raytheon could potentially supply more than 24,000 sights.

The thermal weapon sights will be built in McKinney, Texas, the headquarters of Raytheon's network centric systems (NCS) business, the statement said. The thermal sights allow a soldier to spot targets at long distances through haze, dust, and fog.

Dish Network settles lawsuit with Cablevision, AMC NEW YORK - Dish Network, the nation's third largest pay-TV provider, has settled its four-year old lawsuit filed by Cablevision and AMC Networks over a high-definition programming agreement, according to statements from the companies released on Sunday.

As a result of the settlement, Dish will resume broadcasting AMC's channels.

Voom HD Holdings, then a unit of Cablevision, had sued Dish Network for $2.4 billion in damages alleging it violated a 15-year contract to carry a suite of highdefinition channels, including those devoted to Kung Fu and video games. Dish pulled out these channels in 2008.

Voom is now a part of AMC Networks, which Cablevision spun off last year.

Under the deal, Dish will pay a cash settlement of $700 million to Cablevision and AMC, according to a statement from Cablevision. Some $80 million of that cash settlement would be intended for the purchase of Cablevision's wireless

spectrum licenses in 45 cities in the United States. Dish said that covers a population of 150 million in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia.

As part of the settlement, Dish will also enter into a long-term distribution agreement with AMC Networks to carry AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv, and with The Madison Square Garden Company to carry Fuse on its satellite service.

Dish in July blacked out AMC's networks for its 14 million subscribers, saying the channels did not generate ratings large enough to justify the licensing fee increases AMC was seeking in a new contract. Dish customers account for 13 percent of AMC's subscriber base.

AMC maintained, however, that Dish dropped its channels to gain negotiating leverage in the Voom case and said the two companies had never discussed a new carriage agreement.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

BUSINESS & TEchNology

Microsoft unveils Windows 8, Surface tablet Microsoft Corp launched its new Windows 8 operating system and Surface tablet on Thursday in a bid to revive interest in its flagship product and regain ground lost to Apple Inc and Google Inc in mobile computing.

"We've reimagined Windows and we've reimagined the whole PC industry," Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told Reuters Television early Thursday ahead of the launch.

Windows 8 devices and the company's new Surface tablet, which aims to challenge Apple's popular iPad head on, go on sale at midnight on Thursday.

Steven Sinofsky, head of Microsoft's Windows unit and the driving force behind Windows 8, opened the launch event in New York in front about 1,000 media and PC industry partners.

He showed off Windows 8's new look, but stressed that the system was built upon the base of Windows 7, Microsoft's best-selling software that recently passed 670 million license sales.

The new Windows 8

The new design of Windows, which dispenses with the Start button and features square tiles for apps, may surprise some users. Initial demand appeared solid, but customers were wary.

Early reviews of the Surface tablet were mixed, with praise for its slick

Firings reach highest since 2010 as Ford to Dow face sales slump Ford Motor Co. (F) and Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) joined a growing number of companies firing thousands of workers as sluggish U.S. growth and Europe's deepening recession lead to a persisting slump in sales. North American companies have announced plans to eliminate 62,600 positions at home and abroad since Sept.

1, the biggest two-month drop since the start of 2010, according to data compiled

by Bloomberg. Firings total 158,100 so far this year, more than the 129,000 job cuts in the same period in 2011.

Ford is closing its first European carassembly factories in 10 years, adding to more than 5,500 cuts announced by Dow Chemical, DuPont Co. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) in the past week. The reductions coincide with a majority of U.S. companies missing analysts' third-quarter revenue estimates and a focus on jobs in the final weeks of the U.S. presidential campaign.

"Companies are saying, ‘Let's not build up inventories, let's be lean and mean until we know until we have a better idea of what 2013 is going to look like,'" said Janna Sampson, who helps manage more than $3 billion for Oakbrook Investments in Lisle, Illinois. "There is a fear now as companies see that the economic recovery is not picking up."

So far, out of 204 S&P 500 companies that have released third-quarter earnings, 120 have reported sales that trailed analysts' estimates, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. T

hardware, but concerns about battery life and limited software and applications available.

"We've seen steady pre-order sales on Windows 8 devices from early adopters," said Merle McIntosh, senior vice president of product management at online electronics retailer Newegg.

"However, we expect that most average consumers are waiting until after launch to make a purchase decision."

Investors were uncertain about the prospects for success of Windows 8, but many feel a solid launch could help Microsoft's stock, which has languished between $20 and $30 for much of the last decade.

Apple's shares have significantly outperformed Microsoft's over the past 10 years, and its market value is now more than double Microsoft's.

Microsoft was little changed at $27.87; Apple fell 0.7 percent at $612.73.

This really is about debunking the notion that Microsoft is a dinosaur and they are relevant in a new climate of tablets and mobile," said Todd Lowenstein, portfolio manager at HighMark Capital Management, which holds Microsoft shares.

"Extreme pessimism and almost utter failure is priced into the shares, so any kind of positive delivery on units, customer perception, would be really beneficial to the stock."

Random House and Penguin in merger talks Pearson has confirmed that it is in talks with Bertelsmann regarding a potential merger between Penguin and Random House. It would be the first major structural shift in the global publishing industry since 2006 when French media firm Lagardère acquired Time Warner Book Group, creating Hachette.

In a statement, the UK-listed group said: "Pearson confirms that it is discussing with Bertelsmann a possible combination of Penguin and Random House.

The two companies have not reached agreement and there is no certainty that the discussions will lead to a transaction. A further announcement will be made if and when appropriate."

The news follows speculation that the Pearson would seek to dispose of Penguin and focus on its education division, with head of international education John Fallon becoming c.e.o. In the new year when

Marjorie Scardino steps down.

Many analysts have predicted possible consolidation among the leading trade publishers, thanks to the changing industry and a greater focus on digital and interaction with large players such as Apple and Google.

Collectively, Penguin and Random House would take up around a quarter of the UK market for physical books, a figure which may spark scrutiny from competition authorities. Random has recently overtaken Hachette in the UK thanks to the sucess of Fifty Shades, with Nielsen BookScan reporting that it took a 16.2% market share in the period to 8th September, compared with Penguin's 10.9% share.

Combined the duo would have taken 27.1% of all physical sales through Nielsen's Total Consumer Market, with sales of £241m.

Yahoo to exit South Korea in first Asian pullout SEOUL - Yahoo Inc's South Korean operation said on Friday it will quit the country, underscoring its struggle against Google Inc and local competitors expanding aggressively into mobile advertising and online services.

South Korea is the first Asian country Yahoo is leaving, the firm said. An industry pioneer and household Internet brand, it has been overshadowed by global rivals including Facebook Inc and Google in recent years.

"Yahoo has faced several challenges in the past couple of years and decided to pull out of the (Korean) business to put more resources on global business and become more powerful and successful," Yahoo said in a statement.

Yahoo Korea, which started business in 1997 and is wholly owned by the U.S. search company, has around 200-250 employees in South Korea. It will

terminate Korean online portal services in December, the company said.

In the South Korean market, it has failed to beat local rivals such as NHN Corp, Daum Communications Corp and SK Communications Co. Yahoo appointed Google veteran Marissa Mayer as its chief executive in July, its third CEO in less than a year.

Former CEO Scott Thompson resigned after less than 6 months in the job over a controversy over his academic credentials.

Before that, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang had stepped down as CEO, and an internal reorganization cut thousands of jobs.

Yahoo remains one of the world's most powerful websites, with more than 700 million monthly visitors who use products like its email service and read its news pages.

Page 40

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TCIFA host FIFA hosts International Women’s Coaching Clinic In continuing its efforts to develop Women’s football in the country, the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) hosted a coaching clinic involving almost 30 women at its headquarters last week.

The four day course was aimed at developing methods to coach female players both technically and tactically as well as understanding the specific physiological and psychological characteristics of female players.

This is the second FIFA course that the TCIFA has held for Women’s Football in the past 12 months and it follows on the back of FIFA’s donation of equipment to teams in the Women’s Football League. The association is fully committed to developing the female side of the game and the world’s governing body clearly is impressed with what is being done in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The four day course was divided

into theory and practical sessions which used players from the TCIFA Youth Academies and Centers of Excellence. The coaches were given plenty of opportunities to learn more about the game so that they can improve the levels of coaching in their schools, club teams and regional academies.

The course was conducted by FIFA Instructor Andrea Rodebaugh who captained the Mexican national team in the 1999 World Cup and also coached the U20 National team. This was her second visit to the islands and was impressed with the TCIFA’s Women’s Programme.

Course participants included many players from the WFL as well as the TCIFA’s Development Officers from Grand Turk and South Caicos, Clifford Blake and Cadriene James.

There were also several players from the TCIFA girls Center of Excellence.

Sailrock Boys U12 produced talent

At the end of last Saturday’s round of matches in the Sailrock Under 12 competition, the Green Dragons are atop of the standings, but only 3 points separate the top from the bottom teams.

The Green Dragons eked out a 1-0 win over the All Stars courtesy of Jack Small, whose corner was carried over the line by the All Stars keeper. Jamie Gray was in inspiring form in midfield urging his team forward at every opportunity.

Charlie McKnight fired 7 shots on goal without netting, something he has to make up for in game 3. Dragons captain Jerry, Evance Joseph and the ever reliable Dave Simmons all made outstanding contributions.

It was not one way traffic though as All Stars fought all the way. Sebastian Turbyfield was magnificent when he took over in goal, big Johnny Kolas (Man of the Match) drove his team forward in search of the equalizer but thre Dragons held on for the win..

Game 2 was one way traffic for the Red Devils, who carved out a 3-1 win over the Blue Sharks. The organized back 3 allowed the front 5 to rip the Blue Sharks apart. For the blue’s who are laced with talent it was a game to forget.

They only showed up in the last 5 minutes of the 30 but by then it was all over.

Their goal however, scored by Neri Williams, is a goal of the season contender! A peach of a shot, lofted from 25 yards over the keeper from the left touch line.

In the final game of the

Yarileny De La Cruz, Kadine Delphin and Shinaydine Pluviose clearly benefited from this experience as they are also active in the associations youth programmes assisting the senior coaches during Academy sessions. The course also attracted participants from overseas as Daria Adderley, Lashane Dean (Bahamas) and Melessa Bruno (Grenada) accepted the association’s invitation to attend the course.

Candace Hanchell, who is a TCIFA Executive Director and WFL President attended the course and thoroughly enjoyed the event. “I was proud to see that there was such a large number of participants who were eager to learn and to take on new challenges. It is a clear indication that Women’s Football is growing rapidly in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Ms. Andrea Rodebaugh was an excellent instructor and exceeded

morning, Shadown Sainjour’s Devils trounced the Dragons 3 -1. Beautiful fast free flowing football from both sides made for a highly entertaining contest. Red Devils s took the lead through top goal scorer Shadown ( only to be cancelled out by a fine opportunist strike from Charlie McKnight.

In a game overflowing in abundance with non stop attacking play, both sides ran themselves into the ground in an effort to give their ever growing sets of supporters much to cheer for.

The sublime skill of young Thierry Henry lookalike Orrin Campbell netted a beautiful second for the Devils with energetic Javaughn Jackson piling in the third shortly afterwards.

However, this match will be remembered for the ‘never say die’ attitude of both teams.

Dragons never gave up going forward at every opportunity.

Devils held on and broke forward whenever they could. Man of the Match Dave Simmons.

Game 4, the Blue Sharks remembered how to play. They put the Yellow All Stars to the sword and could have scored 5- or 6 but for some excellent last ditch tackling, goal keeping by skipper Johny Kolas.

The midfield trio of Javed Shearer, Joovens Joseph and Neri Williams spread the ball here and there while Junior Paul looked menacing in and around the area. The pressure mounted and the goals came through some excellent interchange play.

our expectations”.

Technical Director Matthew Green was delighted with the event.

“This is another feather in the cap for the TCIFA, we continue to be one of the most active associations in the region with regards to youth and female development. Improve their self-esteem and give them a chance to perhaps go to college and or have football help them in their careers”.

TCIFA General Secretary Sonia Bien-Aime was equally pleased with the proceedings. ”Our women’s programmes continue to develop at an impressive rate. We are able to provide our female players, both young and old a chance to play football in a variety of formats throughout the year. This course will go a long way to consolidating what we have achieved in recent years as well as laying the foundation for further success in the future.”

Golden Retrievers atop Sailrock U14 Boys The U14 Sailrock Boys league completed its second week of games with the Golden Retrievers hanging on to top place under pressure from the Eagles. Both opening games were scoreless draws between the Eagles and the Golden Retrievers as well as the Tigers and the Grasshoppers.

However, goals cam thick and fast in the remaining games as the Eagles defeated the Grasshoppers 3-0 and the Golden retrievers drew 2-2 with the Tigers.

Jackson Pierre rounded off an excellent days performace as he scored twice in the Eagles win with Gabriel Diotte adding a third goal. Ras Diamond and Rodrigo Vasquez scored a goal apiece in their tied game with the Golden Retrievers who had Idlin Beloni to thank for keeping them in the game with an outstanding performance scoring both goals.

The league positions are quite close and with four weeks left to play no team appears to have a cutting edge over the competition at the moment.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Page 41

LOCAL SPORTS LOCAL NEWS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

Sizzling start to PABA League

Grand Turk Stallions have sent early warning that that they will be a strong force to be reckoned with in the Provo Basketball Association League, with a lopsided 107 to 51 win over the Knights in the opening season curtain raiser of the competition on Friday night, October 19.

Ira Taylor led the scoring for the Stallions with 18 points, and 10 rebounds. Peterson Sylvain of the knights scored 15 points, and 7 rebounds. The Stallions are one of the two new teams of this year’s tournament.

The big game of the night was a rematch of the 2011 finals between Flyers and South Caicos Harbour Boys.

The Habour Boys won that one 79-74. Alvardo Parker was the MVP of that game with 16 pts, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 7 blocks.

On Saturday, Shottas, another new entry of the tournament, defeated North Caicos Spartans 65-56. Steelers stopped the Cobras and Predators defeated Police 72-55. Games continue this weekend.

In the meantime, The P.A.B.A high school development league starts on Saturday 27th, at 3 pm with 7 school teams participating. The teams are: Clement Howell A and B team, Maranatha High School, Edward Gartland Youth Center, TCIPS, British West Indies Collegiate and Wesley Methodist School. All teams are asked to be present on Saturday at 3 pm for the opening.

JAMTURK turn back Quality Kings The JAMTURK prevailed over the Quality Supermarket Kings in a nail-biting finish as the TCICA T20 Cricket Competition continued on Sunday 21th October, at the Down Town Ball Park, Providenciales.

Quality kings won the toss and opted to take first strike and posted a respectable 173 runs for 8 wickets from their allotted 20 overs. The principal contributors were Earl Henry with 52 runs, knocking six 4s and a 6. Jeremy Jones was also in good form, stroking 50 runs, which included eight 4s and a 6.

Bowling for JAMTURK Delano Hall captured 3 wickets for 33 runs from 4 overs. In reply, JAMTURK reached 174 runs for 9 wickets from 19.1 overs. The top scorers were Douglas Brown with a belligerent 71 runs, which included three 4s and seven 6s. Dane Ritchie scored 28 runs, hitting two 4s and two 6s in the process, while Glen Campbell chipped in with 17 runs Bowling for Quality Kings, Anish Thomas bagged 4 wickets for 20 runs from 3.1 overs and Robert Johnson and Colin Williams took two wickets apiece. Douglas Brown was named Man of the Match

Vix Warriors Outlast BCQS Bears Backing up from last weekend’s season opening 15 – 15 draw at Meridian Field, the Vix Warriors and the BCQS Bears were equally determined to be the first side to record a win in the TCIRFU under 19 rugby season. With the excitement of ‘ProvoFest’ to follow later in the afternoon, bragging rights were seriously sought after.

Due to the impending festivities, parts of Meridian Field had already been allocated for tents, tables and food stalls which meant that the Vix Warriors and BCQS Bears battled out their match on a slightly smaller field than normal. This limited the amount of side to side, free-flowing action, instead encouraging a more physical and direct style. To see these young players with the ability to adapt and play more than one type of style is very pleasing for the coaches.

One player who certainly thrives on these confrontational situations is the BCQS Bears captain, Franco Mompremier. Highly skilled, Mompremier is also hugely difficult to stop with ball in hand and so this proved, as he committed several defenders on a powerful surge and created space out wide for Lincoln Outten to sprint in at the left corner for try number one.

The Vix Warriors were quick to strike back, with Dean Eyma – impressive in his debut match – slicing through a handful of tacklers with a powerful surge of his own and then accelerating away to

score. Eyma struck again just before the interval, with the Vix Warriors setting up a maul from which he tore away down the blind side untouched for the try and a 10 – 5 lead. The Warriors were worthy of this score line that they took to half-time, having generated most of the momentum in the first half.

The BCQS Bears were clearly a little rattled and looked anxious to be the first ones to score in the second stanza.

This led to a panicked forward pass that was coolly collected on the bounce by Vix Warriors captain Jaebets Jean. The powerful forward set off on an angled run at high speed and shook off Outten with a mighty fend, and he was able to afford himself a proud smile as he slammed the ball down over the line.

Mompremier and Outten had been struggling to combine effectively throughout most of the match, but they showed their class as Outten, well tackled

by Edwardson Jean, flicked out a skilful offload to Mompremier who resembled a raging bull down the right touchline en route to a try for the BCQS Bears which brought them to within one score.

That score arrived soon after as a big BCQS Bears effort pushed the Vix Warriors off their own ball at a scrum and Outten again had enough room out wide to stretch the legs and level the scores.

The BCQS Bears players had done superbly well to fight their way back into the match, but the

Vix Warriors had been the better side throughout and deservedly found themselves back in the lead when Frankie Forbes, another debutant, strolled through some weak defence to score. Shortly after that the BCQS Bears were pushing the passes again in an effort to conjure up a try against a well organised defensive line, but another dropped ball was gratefully swooped upon by Eyma and the newcomer streaked away for his hat-trick try.

The Vix Warriors’ territory was bombarded time and again in the final minutes by the BCQS Bears, but the young men in green were not to be denied and they repelled each challenge, until a knock on brought about the end of the match. The 25 – 15 final score was good reward for an excellent team performance by the Vix Warriors. Their new star Dean Eyma was named Man of the Match for his never-say-die attitude and he certainly deserved his three tries.

The Junior Rugby Programme continues this coming Saturday at Meridian Field as follows: • 9am – 10am: Junior Girls (all ages) • 10am – 11am: Under 8 Boys, Under 11 Boys (1), Under 15 Boys • 11am – 12pm: Under 11 Boys (2), Under 19 Boys. All interested parties are invited and encouraged to attend. Enquiries are welcome to Jamie Tait, Rugby Development Officer, at rdo@ rugby.tc

Page 42

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

Caribbean Twenty20 gets format change READ STORY BELOW

100 million worth of vintage racing cars and iconic DeLorean traveling to Bahamas Speed Week NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Classic racing cars that once made the circuit at Le Mans or Sebring will make their way through the streets of Nassau’s Paradise Island for Bahamas Speed Week, November 24 thru December 2, 2012.

A popular racing event in the 1950s and 1960s and revived in 2011, the second annual Bahamas Speed Week features an expanded schedule of events that will again restore the glamour and competition of openwheel racing in the destination's capital.

Vintage race cars with track records that include victories in some of the world's most celebrated races and venues will once again make the circuit in Nassau. One of the more unusual cars coming to 2012 Bahamas Speed Week is an original, mint condition 1981 DeLorean, made famous in the Back to the Future trilogy.

Racers arrive for second annual Bahamas Speed Week

Cars scheduled to race include: • 375MM Pininfarina Spyder – The only remaining 1953 375MM Pininfarina Spyder still in original, unrestored condition will make its

return to Nassau from the USA after a 57 year absence.

• Cooper Monaco – Raced by Jack Brabham in 1957 with glass splinters in his eye after his goggles shattered.

• Maserati Tipo 63 (Birdcage) – A screaming sports car powered by a V12 behind the driver.

• Jaguar C-Type – An old 'mount' of Speed Week Patron Sir Stirling Moss • Ferrari 365 GTC – The elegant Ferrari 365 GTC sports a V12 power plant and is considered by many to be one of the favorite sports cars of all time.

• Mercedes 190 SL – A classic luxury racer scoring many victories in the 1950s.

• Mini Cooper 1275 S – Efficient engineering led to the Mini beating more powerful racers both at the track and on road-rallies in the 1960s.

Led by International Motor Sports Hall-of-Famer and three-time Formula 5000 champion Brian Redman as Grand Marshal, the featured event of Bahamas Speed Week will be the official race on the Arawak Cay Circuit.

Caribbean Twenty20 gets format change ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- Next year’s Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament, to be staged from Sunday, January 6 to Sunday, January 20 in Trinidad and St Lucia, will be played under a new format.

The marquee, annual West Indies Cricket Board tournament will feature the seven regional teams – Barbados, Combined Campuses & Colleges, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, reigning champions Trinidad & Tobago, and Windward Islands – in 23 matches.

The seven regional teams will contest a non-elimination, preliminary

competition, with a new route for the teams to reach the Grand Final on Sunday, January 20 at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia.

Each team will play each other once. The team which finishes with the highest number of points after all of the preliminary matches will automatically qualify for the Grand Final.

The teams which finish second and third will qualify for the Playoff.

The winner of the Playoff will be the other side to play in the Grand Final.

The winner of the tournament will qualify for a place in next year’s

Champions League Twenty20.

“This format will allow the regional teams to increase the number of matches in a form of the game, which has become very popular around the World, and of which we are now World champions,” said WICB Manager, Cricket Operations Roland Holder.

“It was previously four, but now there are six matches each. This is in keeping with the WICB’s mandate to increase the amount of matches that teams are play at the regional level.”

Reigning champions T&T will face long-standing rivals Jamaica in

the opening match of next year’s CT20 on home soil at the Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday, January 6, following the official opening ceremony.

There will be two matches played on the succeeding days of the tournament before the Playoff on Saturday, January 19, and the Grand Final on Sunday, January 20. All matches will be broadcast live on ESPN. The Playoff and the Grand Final will be preceded by Twenty20 Internationals between West Indies Women and South Africa Women.

DONT BE A VICTIM OF CRIME 1. Stay alert: Keep your mind on your surroundings, who's in front of you and who's behind you.

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

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

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Lakers target extraordinary season with Howard and Nash READ MORE ON PAGE 44

Cycling’s governing body agrees to strip Lance Armstrong of his 7 Tour de France titles GENEVA — Forget the seven Tour de France victories. Forget the yellow jersey celebrations on the Champs Elysees. Forget the name that dominated the sport of cycling for so many years.

As far as cycling’s governing body is concerned, Lance Armstrong is out of the record books.

Once considered the greatest rider in Tour history, the American was cast out Monday by his sport, formally stripped of his seven titles and banned for life for his involvement in what U.S. sports authorities describe as a massive doping program that tainted all of his greatest triumphs.

“Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling and he deserves to be forgotten in cycling,” said Pat McQuaid, the president said of the International Cycling Union. “This is a landmark day for cycling.”

McQuaid announced that his group, known as UCI, accepted sanctions imposed by the U.S. AntiDoping Agency and would not appeal

them to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. McQuaid said he was “sickened” by some of the evidence detailed by USADA in its 200-page report and hundreds of pages of supporting testimony and documents.

The condemnation by cycling’s most senior official confirmed Armstrong’s pariah status, after the UCI had backed Armstrong at times in trying to seize of the doping investigation from USADA. McQuaid said the UCI endorsed a life ban for Armstrong after almost two weeks studying the American agency’s evidence, and will meet Friday to discuss going after his 2000 Olympic bronze medal.

Tour director Christian Prudhomme said he no longer considers Armstrong to be a champion from 1999-2005 and wants him to pay back his prize money.

“We wish that there is no winner for this period,” he said in Paris. “For us, very clearly, the titles should remain blank. Effectively, we wish for

these years to remain without winners.”

Armstrong’s representatives had no immediate comment, but the rider was defiant in August as he chose not to fight USADA in one of the agency’s arbitration hearings. He argued the process was rigged against him.

“I know who won those seven Tours, my teammates know who won those seven Tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven Tours,” Armstrong said then. “The toughest event in the world where the strongest man wins. Nobody can ever change that.”

USADA said Armstrong should be banned and stripped of his Tour titles for “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen” within his U.S. Postal Service and Discovery Channel teams. He will lose all his race results since August 1998.

The agency welcomed the decision by UCI, following months of sparring between the two

Lance Armstrong

organizations.

“Today, the UCI made the right decision in the Lance Armstrong case,” USADA CEO Travis Tygart said in a statement, which called on cycling to continue to fight doping. “There are many more details of doping that are hidden, many more doping doctors, and corrupt team directors and the omerta has not yet been fully broken.”

The USADA report said Armstrong and his teams used steroids, the blood booster EPO and blood transfusions. The report included statements from 11 former teammates who testified against Armstrong, including that he pressured them to take banned drugs.

Croft cleared after racism allegation

LeBrons quest for second title among many juicy plotlines

Oldham winger Lee Croft, who was accused of racially abusing a ballboy during his side's 1-1 draw at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane, will not face police action.The allegation was made after a stormy finish to the match, played on October 13. Former Norwich and Derby player Croft vehemently denied any wrongdoing and was backed by his manager, Paul Dickov.

A statement released on Oldham's official website on Thursday read: "South Yorkshire Police have found Oldham winger Lee Croft no evidence to support such allegations, and they do not intend to take any further action in relation to this matter.

"It has been an extremely difficult time for Lee, who has received the full support of the club and all his team-mates while these totally unfounded allegations have been investigated.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks to South Yorkshire Police for the thorough and expeditious manner in which it has completed its enquiry."

Speaking at the pre-match press conference for Oldham's npower League One trip to Crawley this weekend - the press conference was held shortly before the news was announced - Croft thanked his team-mates and Dickov for their support over the past two weeks.

"It's been hard, obviously, but I've just tried to get on with it," he said. "The lads have been brilliant. The gaffer has been good with me and the club as well, so it's been OK."

LeBron chasing the ghost and start a run to approach the six of Michael, Superman claimed by Michael taking his talents Jordan, the Charlotte westward, and a softspoken teenager ready to Bobcats owner widely seen as the game's bestrevitalize Big Easy ever player. basketball are just three Hall of Famer Jerry of the provocative West believes James plotlines ready to play out in the upcoming NBA should not worry about his place in history and season. Throw in a new team in Brooklyn, Steve just play the game.

"He's the best player Nash wearing purple and gold, and a new setting in the game, everyone for Linsanity, and you knows that," West told Reuters. "So he has no have the most anticipated LeBron James legacy to live up to.

NBA campaign in years.

The eight-month What he has to do is grind to coronate a new champion begins continue the way he's playing and stay on October 30 when LeBron James and healthy.

"Obviously his team looks like it's the Miami Heat face the Boston Celtics in South Beach. going to be there at the end."

James exorcized the label of the Best While the Heat are odds-on favorites Player Never to Win a Title with last to claim the East, predicting the lastseason's five-game demolition of scoring team-standing in the talent-laden West is champion Kevin Durant and the more problematic. The Thunder, the Oklahoma City Thunder in the finals. new-look Los Angeles Lakers and San He is determined to add another ring Antonio could emerge in the finals.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WORLD SPORTS

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

Lakers target extraordinary season with Howard and Nash LOS ANGELES - With 16 NBA Championship banners hanging proudly from the rafters at their Staples Center home, Los Angeles Lakers players and their fans have become well accustomed to glittering success and lofty expectations. Going into their 2012-13 campaign, however, there is a much greater sense of excitement and anticipation than usual given the offseason acquisitions of six-time AllStar Dwight Howard and twice former Most Valuable Player Steve Nash.

Howard and Nash will join Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace in a potent starting five bristling with experience, talent and virtually every award and accolade available in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Add to that intoxicating mix the Lakers' new Princeton offense which emphasizes constant motion, passing and back-door cuts and you have the recipe for what could well be an extraordinary season for the Los Angeles franchise.

"I've been on some very good teams but to have a front line like this and have Kobe Bryant on the roster as well is phenomenal," said former Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns point guard Nash, who was the league MVP in 2005 and 2006.

"This is probably the best chance I've ever had at an NBA title. The beauty of this team is that we have a lot of guys that can make the defense pay if we play together and we space the floor and read and react."

Steve Nash

Dwight Howard

Nash, who moved to Los Angeles in a trade with the Suns in July, is relishing the opportunity to trigger the Lakers offense, especially with the towering figures of the seven-foot Gasol and the six-foot, 11-inch Howard on the floor.

"I'm going to stand my butt out there outside the three-point line and give them space to operate," smiled Nash, who has established himself as one of the top players of all time in the NBA for three-point shooting, free throws and total assists.

Though Nash and Bryant have been fierce rivals in the Western Conference over the years, both players are excited by what is possible now that they share the purple and gold colors of the Lakers.

"He made no qualms about the fact that he thought we'd be a great fit together and could really help each

other," said the 38-year-old Nash.

PICK-AND-ROLL GENIUS Five-time NBA champion Bryant, widely regarded as one of the best closers in the game, has long respected the creative talents and pick-and-roll genius of Nash.

"He just makes the game easy," said shooting guard Bryant, an All-Star selection on 14 occasions. "It's a joy for me. I've had to facilitate and score my entire career. I don't have to do that now and I'm pretty happy about it."

"He's a great all-around player. He just picks his spots. He can still score no matter what the defense is going to give him. If (the defense) is not going to be honest, he's going to make them pay."

The only question mark hovering over the Lakers as they approach their first game of the regular season, at home against the Mavericks on

October 30, is the fitness of center Howard, who is popularly known as Superman because of his athletic prowess.

A three-time defensive player of the year who moved to Los Angeles from the Orlando Magic in a blockbuster 12-player trade including the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers, Howard had surgery in April to repair a herniated disk in his back.

"I don't want to go out there fatigued and injure something else, because most of the time that's when you have injuries," said Howard, who has been carefully increasing his workload during Lakers practices.

"I don't want to take a step back.

I've come too far from where I was at."

Bryant is already drooling over the prospect of a fully fit Howard, Orlando's top scorer and rebounder for each of the last six seasons, feasting on a regular diet of passes from Nash.

"Dwight is going to be eating all day," Bryant said. "(Nash) is going to put defenses in a really tough position."

The Lakers have already scaled giddy heights, most notably during the "Showtime" era from 1979-1989 with Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and under the shrewd coaching of Phil Jackson from 1999-2004 and from 2005-2011.

Their fans now expect more of the same this season with Nash pulling the strings and the All-Star trio of Bryant, Howard and Gasol taking full advantage.

Nadal pulls out of England cricket team Paris and London seeking new shirt sponsor PARIS - World tennis number four Rafa Nadal has pulled out of the Paris Masters and the ATP World Tour finals in London as he is still recovering from his left knee injury, the ATP said on Thursday. The 11-times grand-slam singles champion has not played since he suffered a shock second-round loss to Czech Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June.

"It's disappointing for me to miss the last two tournaments of the season in Paris and London but it doesn't come as a surprise," the 26-year-old Spaniard was quoted as saying in a statement on the ATP website (www.atpworldtour.com).

"I will hopefully resume my tennis practice soon since I am making good progress with my recovery from injury. I am not ready to compete in time for these events so I will continue my recovery in Mallorca and work hard to be back as soon as possible."

Nadal, who has been battling knee problems for years, could also miss the Davis Cup final between his country, who are the defending champions, and Czech Republic in Prague from November 16 to 18.

With the Spaniard unable to play in the London finals, which will reunite the year's eight best players from November 5 to 12, the player ranked ninth in the world will get a berth. Serbian Janko Tipsarevic currently occupies the spot.

Nadal told Reuters in an interview last month that he would not rush back into playing before his injury had healed completely.

The Paris Masters begins on Monday.

LONDON - England's cricket team, deposed by South Africa as the world's top test side, has begun the search for a new shirt sponsor after Brit Insurance said it would not renew its contract when it expires in early 2014. The company's name appears on all England playing and training kit under a fouryear agreement signed in 2010. The contract is due to expire at the end of the 2013-14 Ashes series in Australia.

"We hope to find someone before spring 2014," England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) commercial director John Perera told Reuters.

"If the logistics work and someone came in early we could do something in time for the (2013-14) Ashes down under," he added, estimating the existing deal was worth up to 18 million pounds ($29 million).

Brit Insurance said the decision to end the sponsorship was because of changes to its business. It sold many of its British domestic operations this year and is focusing on global underwriting.

There is growing evidence that companies are looking closely at what

they are getting from their sponsorship agreements when corporate budgets are tight.

UK Athletics is yet to announce a new sponsor after insurer Aviva said it was ending a 13-year partnership.

Cycling fears more teams will follow the example of Dutch lender Rabobank and drop out of the sport as it struggles to limit the damage from the Lance Armstrong doping scandal.

English cricket will enjoy a high profile next year after this season's test series with South Africa, a battle for world number one status, was overshadowed by the London Olympics.

The England team host Australia in a five-test Ashes series in the middle of next year before the two teams clash again down under in 2013-14.

Investec sponsors England's home tests under a 10-year deal signed last November that gives the specialist bank and asset managing company naming rights to matches and allows it to advertise its brand on the outfield and stumps.

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OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

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LOCAL NEWS

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

OCTOBER 27TH - NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

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LOCAL NEWS

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