Volume 8 Issue 50

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

VOLUME 8 No. 50

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PROJECT TO RESTART Hundreds of jobs to be created and TCIG gets $8million in stamp duty

Hundreds of jobs will be created in the construction and tourism industry and millions of dollars pumped into the Turks and Caicos Islands economy starting from next year, with news that a development agreement has been reached to re-start the Molasses Reef project on West Caicos.

On Friday December 14th, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government announced the completion of the Development Agreement enabling the recommencement of the Molasses Reef development, a luxury hotel and condominium resort on West Caicos, which has been stalled since 2008. The Development Agreement was completed on the 6th of December while the remaining arrangement necessary for recommencing the project will be completed this week.

The original project employed 500 people at its peak and expected to create hundreds of jobs on an on-going basis once the hotel was opened; the Government expects similar levels of employment under the new development. The additional phases of the development include luxury villa and condominium developments, which will create further construction work and hospitality industry employment. The investment group expects that hundreds of millions of dollars will be invested in the island over the lifetime of the project.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

VAT BATTLE LOOMS READ STORY ON PAGE 8

PRECIOUS TREASURES WOWS SCOTIA CUSTOMERS AND STAFF

Students from the Precious Treasures Primary School on Providenciales wowed customers and staff at Cherokee Road branch of Scotiabank on Wednesday, December 12, not only with their cute outfits but with their melodious Christmas Coral singing as well. Michelle Chung, teacher and one of the chaperones for the group, said that the occasion was an extraction from the institution’s grand Christmas concert held a few days earlier. She said that the children would be visiting other establishments during the season, adding that the initiative was an annual happening for the school. She also said that the students were enthused about the event, towards which they looked forward each year.

STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH ON SALMONELLA OUTBREAK - PG 9

LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Hundreds of jobs to be created and TCIG gets $8million in stamp duty from West Caicos Project CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

West Caicos measures 9 square miles and is currently uninhabited.

Development of the island began in 2001, but with the credit crisis in 2008 and the collapse of main creditor to the project, the development came to a standstill in the same year. A group of European investors advised by Kew Capital reached agreement with the previous developers, Logwood Development Company, to buy most of their interest in the project, and with the administrator of the original creditor to buy its interest in the land and other assets including the partially built hotel and associated infrastructure.

The project will re-mobilised as soon as practicable and after the new development team has carried out a detailed review of the existing infrastructure and buildings. Subject to this review, the developer looks to start work in 2013 with a view to opening the hotel as soon as possible.

The Development Agreement, initially signed by Governor Ric Todd on behalf of TCIG , was under negotiation between TCIG, the owners of the development and the new investors for nearly 12 months, and will bring significant benefits to the Government and people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The development is a multiphased development, which will be a source of construction activity and employment on the island for many years to come.

Other benefits include enhanced Government revenues through ongoing duties, license and other fees, as well as a 25% share of proceeds from

The project as it stands today

the sale of leasehold interests of land located in the southern part of West Caicos. Also the agreement reached with the new investors yielded the Government $7.6 million including stamp duty, through the completion of land sales that had previously been agreed but not completed.

The new development team has ambitious plans for making an environmentally sustainable development on West Caicos and will work closely with the various government agencies including the Planning Department and Department of the Environment and Costal Resources among others. A key part of the Development Agreement designates much of the island as a Nature Conservancy, which the project team has undertaken to maintain, preserve and protect.

His Excellency Ric Todd, the Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands, commented: "I am glad that the Government and the various parties involved in this transaction have reached a deal that will enable this project to re-start. The project will add to the range of tourism and hospitality offerings, which already makes these islands such a leading tourism destination. This luxury resort development will deliver considerable economic and employment benefits to TCI, and has been very carefully structured so as to preserve the unique environmental and marine heritage of West Caicos. The re-start of the development is a further vote of confidence in TCI and in the current investment policy of the TCIG.”

A spokesman for the investment adviser, Kew Capital said: “We are very pleased to have advised on this investment in TCI. We have worked hard along with the Government to bring it about, and we look forward to the project recommencing with the new development team. The investment reflects our conviction that TCI has a great tourism base and has enormous further tourism potential.

We know this project comes with a great deal of responsibility; West Caicos is a beautiful island and we are determined to ensure that the new development is sensitive to its environment and to this end we will work closely with the various Government agencies as well as the newly elected Government.”

Don’t rejoice at Mike’s arrest – Premier Ewing

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Premier for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr. Rufus Ewing is calling on Islanders not to rejoice in the wak of the apprehension of former premier Michael Misick last week

by Interpol agents in Reo de Janeiro, Brazil, but rather wish for a fair trial if it comes to that, and pray that justice takes its course.

Dr. Ewing was pressed to weigh in on the matter during a post cabinet news conference in Providenciales on Thursday, December 13. He told media practitioners that his administration could only wish for a fear trial and that the former premier would be treated with respect if and when he is brought back to the Turks and Caicos to face allegation of corruption.

“We do, like a government, as any other citizen, wish him god-speed and may justice prevail that he may have a fair trial and he is treated fairly, and may the justice system prevail. That is what we hope for. It is unfortunate, and this is not a time for any of us within Turks and Caicos to rejoice. Our heart as a government and our hearts as a people

Premier for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr. Rufus Ewing

Former premier Michael Misick

will go out to individuals (in such situations), and at the same time justice has to prevail and let justice run its course,” Premier Ewing urged.

Asked as to whether or not his government was notified of Misick’s arrest, Ewing answered in the negative, but stated that no one had to inform him or his administration of such a matter, since it was out of their purview.

“There is the executive, there is the legislature and there is the judiciary.

And this is out of the hands of the executive arm and the legislative arm of government. This matter is for the judiciary, so there is no need for us to be informed of anything or plan for anything because it is not our intention, as a government, to interfere in any way. It is a matter for the judiciary, and they should always maintain their independence, always,” he emphasized.

Misick, is currently awaiting an extradition hearings after he was

arrested in the Brazilian capital by that country’s Federal Police on the morning of Friday, December 7. Officials said he was attempting to board a domestic flight at the Santos Dumond Airport.

His arrest stemmed from an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol and further warrant issued by Brazilian Supreme Court, according to the TCI Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT).

Misick, who was TCI’s first Premier, faces a number of what deemed to be serious charges relating to corruption and maladministration here.

It has been reported that Misick’s arrest warrant was decreed by the Minister Ricardo Levandowsky, of Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court, on November 22, based on the request made by the UK Government.

Head of Interpol in Rio de Janeiro, Orlando Nunes, told a news conference at the headquarters of the Federal Police in Rio that Interpol in Brazil was following Misick for about six months.

A statement issued by Governor’s spokesman Neil Smith said that the UK authorities are grateful to their Brazilian counterparts for their cooperation are now seeking Misick extradition to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

FULL SPEED AHEAD, IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Royal S. Robinson, MBE Most of us would recognize that the above title is a compression of the campaign slogans of the recent elections of the PNP and PDM. It is not an original thought, because when I would tune in with “Full Speed Ahead”, some of my PDM friends will join I by saying that it must be “In The Right Direction”. I have thought about it more, and in the present scheme of things, it makes perfect sense. The first thing that jumps out is the need for us, as Turks and Caicos Islanders, to be united around a common theme.

The combination of our two themes, if we were to coalesce around it, would send a strong message to the outside world that we are serious about the welfare of our country and that the charting of our destination should be determined by us the people of this country, with little outside influence by detracting forces. In the end, we have to know what is best for us. Of course, because we are not an island unto ourselves, we have to be prepared for others wanting to be part of the shaping and distribution of our pie. However, the main ingredients must come from us. It must reflect what our main characteristics are, nothing more and nothing less.

We have to understand that we were place here for some specific purpose, by some divine intervention. Think about it. We come from a line that started in Africa, through the southern US, interspersed with Bermudians and Jamaicans and Bahamians, but because of our geographical position, we are Turks and Caicos Islanders and nothing else. The shape and face of our country has been changing over time by the influx of people from other places such as Europe, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In the end, we still refer to ourselves as Turks and Caicos Islanders. One aspect of our currently flawed 2011 Constitution that I am proud of is the removal of the reference to us as “Belongers” in favour of Turks and Caicos Islanders.

The word belonger, when it refers to a people is so impersonal and gives the aura of a stateless people.

We have not been that. It was the British way of subjugating us to their way of thinking and making us think less of ourselves as being properly part of the human race and have some standing in and among the nations of the world.

It is my humble belief that we have to come from under this notion of mental slavery and really free

our minds of the infestation that we are less able and capable of moving our own country forward, and yes in the right direction of our own choosing. We cannot be afraid of making choices and even making mistakes. The man that has never made a mistake is the one that has never made a decision! We have people of stature and enlightenment that can help us to chart the course that we should be on. Once you have a boat on the water and the throttle is wide open, you know that you have to have able-bodied seamen and a good captain to navigate us through the treacherous waters, otherwise you would as a friend of mine likes to say “lick reef”! we cannot afford for us not to at this juncture in our political and economic development, not to have a number of fundamental policies and guidelines, that no matter which captain is at the wheel at a particular point in time, the course set would be the one followed.

I fully understand that a different captain might be more comfortable with less speed than the other one, but the port to which we seek to arrive at must be the same. Martin Luther king said that we must get to the promised-land must be there, even if I do not get there with you. Yes, some crew members might be mistrusting of the motives of others, but there must be a sufficient number of crew that would not create a “mutiny on the Bounty” scenario that would prevent our ship from arriving safely to the port of our destination.

It might have begun to sound like a scorched record at times, but I must continue to say that Turks and Caicos Islanders, collectively, know what is best for them, and in their best interest. No one from outside knows better, no matter how well intentioned. So think about those that do not see us as equals, no matter that we are better qualified than they are. Our numbers might be small, but pound for pound, we can shift our weight. We need to grow our numbers, but we must determine how and by which nationals those numbers must be grown. We cannot be shy about it either, because that is in our own best interest, if nothing more that a safety and security obligation to ourselves.

We have a good melting pot going on here. We have to embrace it and ensure that everyone is comfortable in shedding their original nationalities, and on assuming ours, be proud of it! We cannot allow pockets to grow and fester and not feel a part of our community. Our national development and immigration policies must be robust, transparent and embracing. We have to realize that our country

EDITORIAL CARTOON

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LOCAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS

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.

cannot be effectively developed on the backs of our current small population. But we have to be the movers and shakers of our country and not be relegated to its backwaters. That kind of stance can only be effective and efficient, if there is a total buy in by all concerned. This must start at the political directorate level. People are willing to be led if our leaders provide us with clear and unambiguous directions.

Therefore, full speed ahead in the right direction is something can be accomplished. The parties to the table must be committed and use that legal maxim “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands”. In order to see the clean hands, no fists must be balled. All must be on the table, negotiated and agreed. We are dancing around the notion that we have a new breed of young dynamic leadership on both sides of the aisle. Now is the time to test that commitment with respect to true national unity and get our common agenda agreed and acted upon. This must be done before we become a rare and then extinct entity!

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-inChief, who reserves the right to accept or reject submissions and to edit letters and headlines to meet our established standards for grammar, clarity and length.

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LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

VAT battle looms

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

A Value Added Tax (VAT) showdown could be lurking on the horizon if the British Government does not allow the Rufus Ewing-led PNP administration time to present alternative revenue measures to prove that the impending taxation is not necessary in this jurisdiction.

Value Added Tax, which is projected to raise an additional $10 million next year, was passed into law earlier this year during the time of the Interim Administration and to come into effect at the beginning of the new budgetary year April 1, 2013.

However, since been elected to office, the Rufus Ewing regime made representation to the United Kingdom Government for the delaying of the tax’s implementation initially for a year during which time it would formulate the new revenue measure.

However, the UK government was yet to be sold on the offer.

But during a post cabinet news conference on Thursday, December 13, Premier Ewing abbreviated the time lime to October, 2013, during which time his administration would attempt to raise at least $5 million through alternative revenue means for the half year budgetary year period.

He declared that in the event the British Government does not grant such request, he would mount a bill to repeal the tax. He expressed confidence that such a bill would be passed by the House, owing to the consideration that the Opposition was also against VAT. And while conceding that the governor has veto powers to sink the bill in the event that it is passed by the House, Premier Ewing said that his government would then take his campaign globally.

As a result of its campaign to replace VAT, Premier Ewing said that

government has decided to delay its Fiscal and Strategic Policy Statement to January. The Fiscal and Strategic Policy Statement is prepared by governments at the beginning of the financial year to lay out priorities and also the bottom line amounts of its projected revenue and expenditure.

He said that a large chunk of revenue projected to be raised from the 2013/2014 budget was hinged on VAT and captured in the statement, and so, government has decided to delay its while hammering out alternative revenue-raising measures.

Premier Ewing said that he was confidence that the six month period could be granted based on discussions with the UK ministers.

“This is important for us this time around, simply because a lot of the projections included revenues to be derived at from Value Added Tax. And as you know, this is an issue that we have been in discussion with the governor, as well as with Minister Simmons from the UK, that we would have loved the time in order to look at VAT alternatives.

“And so, the Fiscal and Strategic Policy Statement will be delayed until January next year simply because we have to include in that policy statement revenue measures that will replace VAT, during the period which we are asking for VAT, to be delayed.

We will be writing to the Secretary of State and also to Minister Simmons, officially requesting that the VAT implementation date be delayed until October, 2013.

“And during this time of the delay of its implementation, we will take the opportunity to bring to the public VAT, as well as alternatives to VAT, for public consultation and for a decision to be made by the elected government, as what’s the best taxation measures to be implemented, whether its VAT or the other alternatives to VAT,” Ewing said.

Premier Ewing noted that he had

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already pointed out to His Excellency Governor Todd, that if the UK did not grant the elected government time to come up with the alternative revenue streams, then it would exercise its rights to mount the repeal process.

“We are put here to represent the people, and if the people in general don’t feel that VAT, and we, ourselves are not convinced, as a government that it is a god thing; and then if we are not convinced, we can’t sell it to you. If we were convinced, they we would try and sell it. So we would like the opportunity and the time to convince ourselves and the people that VAT is either good or bad whether or not the alternatives are better.

“And if we don’t get that opportunity, then we would exercise our democratic right that the people elect us for, to repeal it. The governor can veto it if he wants to. And if he vetoes it then we will take it to the next set of powers that we know that we will go to, and there is nothing difficult about that for us. We told Minister Simmons that the people elected us, just like the people elected them to represent the people.

“Our relationship with the UK should be one of a horizontal relationship as opposed to a vertical relationship. When we have difficulties with that kind of relationship, then we will stand our ground and represent the people and their best interest. We believe that we should be given the opportunity to select the best taxation method in collaboration with the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Ewing said.

He said that the alternative to VAT would be presented by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Washington Misick in collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer, the Strategic Policy and Planning Unit (SPPU) and other financial departments within government.

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Ewing said that one of the reasons revenues were not being raised the way they should has been due to poor compliance. He therefore called for the strengthening of those bodies responsible for such collection that would enable them to identify the areas of non-compliance and make efforts to address them.

“What we are trying to convince the (UK) administration on is that we note that there are significant losses in revenue because of poor compliance. And so, what we need to do is to strengthen compliance and collection and increase collection of government revenue. And to identify those areas that we are losing significant revenue, like in work permit fees, like in driver’s license, motor vehicle registration and accommodation tax from the vacation villa rentals. We have to increase compliance in those particular areas.

Once we increase compliance you will find that there will be significant revenue that we will be able to get,” Ewing argued.

He declared that his administration would be looking to utilizing the staff that has already been employed to ensure VAT compliance, to assist in the collection of the current non-compliance areas.

He said also that government would be looking to give the revenue control unit some teeth through legislation in order realize its revenue collection plan.

“We also will be looking at the possibility of additional taxation measures, some of them might have been a part of VAT but not necessarily VAT, such as the broadening of the accommodation tax, to include most of the issues surrounding accommodation.

“When VAT was going to come on stream there are other taxation measures that would have been dropped, such as the Telecommunication Tax; such as the Banking Tax; such as the Insurance Tax. So, those would still continue and there are revenues to be gained from those while VAT is being deferred,” Ewing said.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 9

LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Almost $30,000 to repatriate boatload of illegal Haitians

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

The repatriation of illegal Haitian nationals who continue to flood the Turks and Caicos Islands shore continues to burn holes in the pockets of government, which has once again called upon to fork out approximately $30,000 to return 128 of them that were intercepted entering the country before dawn on Sunday, December 9.

The wooden vessel, containing 105 males and 23 females, was spotted shortly after 2a.m. by radar station operators, who alerted the property authorities.

The boat was later intercepted by the Maritime Division of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, whose members successfully brought the sloop ashore without incident.

Up to press time the illegal migrants were being holed up at the detention centre in Five Cays, Providenciales. There were no children among the group.

Simon Excell, Change Manager at

the Immigration Department, expressed the hope that the authorities would complete its processing of the boatload by the end of the week, while cautioning that such deadline could be daunting.

During a news conference on Monday, December 10, involving members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the Immigration Department and Border Control, the representatives outlined to the media events leading up to the migrants’ detention.

This repatriation trip, according to Deputy Director of Immigration, Anthony Swann, could cost local taxpayers up $30,000.

Swann said that it normally costs government $5,716 for a charter trip of 27 people back to Haiti. Swann was, however, unable to come up with the final tabulation as to how much it cost to house and feed a single migrant for a day, while at the detention centre.

And according to Excell, it has been the perennial role of TCIG to fund the return of illegal migrants. “It is the responsibility of the Turks and Caicos Government to support their

repatriation,” he said.

In the meantime, Excell said that the necessary contingency plan that was undertaken some two years ago, to deal with such situations, went like clockwork, as the relevant agencies, including the Radar Station, 911, the Marine Police, Red Cross and Disaster Management, seamlessly assumed their chain of duties.

“The contingency plan is a written document, produced by the Disaster Management Department, which all individual parties have signed up to. It clearly sets out what the responsibilities are by each department, in response to such an event. It is regularly reviewed during the course of these events. And, we will look at it again once this (the repatriation of the migrants) has been dealt with.

Rodney Adams, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation, said that initial search of the vessel did not yield drugs or weapons, but further searches were being conducted. Adams said that on numerous occasions, when Illegal Haitian migrants are held, they told the

authorities, during their interview, that they were either coming here or using the TCI as a transshipment point to the United States.

“Most of the times these vessels are either heading for here or they are trying to get to the United States. They either come here or the Bahamas in order to try and do that,” Adams said.

Meanwhile, Rodman Johnson, Supervisor for the Radar Station, said that since the radar tracking facility was commissioned into service late September, it had assisted the authorities into making major apprehensions of illegal migrants, including a group of Cubans.

“I can confirm that the Radar Station was officially open on the 25th of September, and since that date, today makes three major arrests that we were successful in tracking vessels that were heading to our shores, with use of the equipment that we have at the facility. “I can confirm that radar operators began tracking the vessel at approximately 12 nautical miles south of the Islands,” Johnson said.

Adams said that the wooden vessel would be destroyed as soon as the authorities processed and repatriated the migrants.

Statement from the Ministry of Health on Salmonella outbreak The Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS) has received a number of queries about a possible salmonella outbreak. This has not been confirmed but investigations are continuing into the reasons for an increase in the number of cases of diarrhea and vomiting over the last several weeks.

According to a Government Press release, a response public health team has already begun investigating these reports under guidelines established by the Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC) and Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and is

doing all in our power to ensure that we deal with the matter effectively and timely.

MOHHS is reminding Health practitioners are hereby being reminded of their reporting obligations/activities; to report any unusual or increased health activity to the Ministry of Health as soon as possible and to remind patients about proper food safety and hygiene practices.

The MOHHS wishes to advise the public that all precautions are being taken to ensure the health of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) residents and

NOTICE

Regulation 7 of the Physical Planning (Development Permission) Regulations, 1990

An application, PR11388, by LEEWARD RESORT LTD for A MAINTENACE BUILDING AND A STORAGE BUILDING has been submitted to the Department of Planning for consideration of Detailed Development Permission and Building Permit on 60902/282 LEEWARD GOING THROUGH, Providenciales.

Anyone wishing to make representation(s) may do so in writing to the director of planning, south base, Grand Turk or through the department of planning, downtown, town center mall, Providenciales, within twenty eight (28) days of publication of this notice.

visitors. The Environmental Health Department continues to carry out ongoing assessments and monitoring of all food establishments throughout the TCI to ensure that all premises are operating according to Public and Environmental Health requirements.

Additionally, the MOHHS is working closely with the InterHealth Canada Hospitals and the TCI health care community at large.

The MOHHS is also advising residents and visitors to continue with safe universal hygiene practices such as, covering your cough, frequent hand washing particularly after using the toilet and before preparing and/or eating food. The MOHHS will continue to follow the situation and issue updates as necessary.

The Ministry of Health wishes to

take this opportunity to remind the TCI Community of the importance of minimising opportunities to spread illness-causing germs as we enter the holiday season, as most of our festive celebrations involve food being served.

For the cooks, food-handlers or servers of food; kindly remember to practice proper food safety and personal hygiene measures at all times to prevent the spread of germs that can be the Grinch that ruin the holiday season for everyone. In addition, all persons affiliated with the hotel industry (hoteliers, taxi drivers, etc) and persons at our air and seaports must be proactive and take extra precautions especially in the areas of food safety and personal hygiene practices.

Page 10

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Taxi men protest $25 monthly airport parking access fee Taxi operators based at the Providenciales International Airport are divided amongst themselves as to whether or not to pay a 65 cent per day ($25 per month) levy to access their current parking facility, as charged by the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA).

The levy, which the Airports Authority said was primarily for upkeep of the facility, including cleaning of garbage, is due to come into effect at the end of January 2013.

But the taxi drivers also complaining that the document presented to them promised a 60-day grace period, but it appeared that the TCIAA apparently was foregoing that plan, because when they turned up to the unrestricted entry gate to facility on Tuesday, December 11, they found it barricaded. They said they were now forced to seek access at an electronically-operated gate, which is activated by a swipe card that many of them did not possess.

The taxi operators, who are represented by at least three different associations, met with Minster of Home Affairs, Hon. Porsha StubbsSmith on Tuesday, December 11, as well as Opposition Leader Hon.

Sharlene Carwright-Robinson on Tuesday, at their parking facility at the airport, to have the matter amicably addressed.

Martin Theodore, designated spokesman for the group, told The SUN that they learned of the Airports Authority’s intention to impose the fee, but after lengthy meetings with various stakeholders, including the Tourist Board, all came away with on the general consensus that the taxi operators were opposed to paying the fee.

“I was later informed that the president (George Hinson) and others, who did not enjoy the support of the majority of persons from the association, went into a meeting and agreed to pay a fee, when it seems that the general consensus was that we ought not to be paying for parking.

“What is most troubling, however, was, as early as yesterday (Monday, December 9), taxi drivers returned this morning at 5:30, and discovered that the entry that they had been enjoying from 2006, has been barricaded, and therefore, taxi drivers cannot access the parking lot,” he said.

Theodore added: “We feel like

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• Coordinating with auditors of company and for various Strata Corporations under management

Requirements • Should have at least (ten) 10 years’ experience in a Senior Accounts Position • Must hold a minimum of a Degree in Accountancy.

• Advanced knowledge and skills in MS Office (particularly Excel), Visual One Accounting and Quickbooks • Must have a good understanding of Condo Resort Accounting including RMAs • Must have a good understanding of Strata Corporation Accounting • Must have a good understanding of NIB/NHIP regulations • Work with minimal supervision.

The salary range for this position is $30,000 - $41,000.00 per annum, commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by December 31, 2012 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Position is available immediately. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

this is an inhumane position, we feel like it is a reckless position, we feel like it is an irresponsible position.

Prior to doing such, we should have been met with, and given a notice as to when this was intended to be put in place. All documents reflect that there is a grace period in place for the Airports Authority, of 60 days to allow taxi drivers to pay up.

“So we find it difficult today that we are in a position where my fellow taxi drivers can’t access the parking lot and therefore, would not be in a position to take any monies to their family. We call on the government, we call on the governor, and we call on the Airports Authority to be human, to be sympathetic, and to have a heart.”

However, some taxi operators said that they were not in agreement with Theodore and others. They said that there was a need for upkeep of the facility, since a number of them did not want to clean up after themselves, neither wanted to contribute a meagre sum to a pool to employ someone to clean the area, including the bathroom.

The taxi drivers pointed out that recently some of them decided to pool their funds together for the provision of cable television at the facility, but service was disconnected in a couple of months after some of the drivers refused to pay.

Sidney Stuart is one of the drivers who believed the access fee was just.

“I think it is the right thing to do.

I think the fee is good – 65 cents a day – although it is the slow season, I think we will be able to pay it. I don’t see any problem with us paying,” Stuart said.

Lavern Reynolds, TCIAA Terminal and Marketing Manager, said that the TCIAA decided to manage the facility after representatives from a number of tourism-related bodies – the Turks and Caicos Associated Taxi, Sunshine Taxi, Provo Taxi Company, the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, the Tourist Board, and the Road Safety and Transportation Department, unanimously agreed on the matter.

She said that the TCIAA was given the responsibility as delegated to them by the Director of Road Safety and Transportation which she said was not dissimilar to other jurisdictions within the Caribbean and beyond in the interest of the traveling public, to ensure seamless coordination and operations.

“This coordination is now in effect for better taxi management and whilst we assume the responsibility of the facility being currently occupied, users are expected to make a contribution of $0.65 per day for unlimited and unfettered access to the facility,” Reynolds said.

“This contribution by no means cover the cost that is incurred to facilitate them and, the representatives of their associations agreed that it would be ideal for the TCIAA to manage all aspect of collections. The cost is insignificant in comparison to the past cost of circa $125 per month levied before the TCIAA took management. All additional cost associated with maintenance, the bathrooms and

other facilities to improve their livelihood is a cost borne by TCIAA at no additional cost to the Taxis,” she said.

Hon. Cartwright Robinson, who said she was part of the discussion that arrived at the agreement, said that it was her understanding from the meeting that a grace period that expired at the end of January was to be given. She said that she disturbed that the authorities were planning to backpedal on that agreement.

Cartwright Robinson told the media that she had already met with CEO for the Airports Authority, John Smith, on matters discussed in the meeting and urged him to review its minutes, so that everyone was clear on the issue.

“We had agreed on a grace period until the end of January. So, I, myself am personally disturbed that they are not giving access, especially in the middle of this grace period. The new agreement should have taken effect the first of December, but in the midst of the grace period, they (taxi operators) are supposed to have unfettered access until that date has passed. I had already updated Hon. Washington Misick (Minister of Finance and Tourism), and the Minister Stubbs-Smith is here, so I believe that the taxi drivers will be well represented on this one,” Cartwright-Robinson said.

Stubbs-Smith, told the media that government would do everything in its power to ensure an amicable resolution. She said that they would look into the drivers’ request which called for the grace period to run its course.

“Out next step as a government is to ensure that our public service operators are operating efficiently and operating within the confines of the law, because if you realize and if you check back you would realize that our most important product that we have as a country is tourism.

“And, we have to ensure that the tourists coming to our nation are protected and that we have people acting within the confines of the law and transporting our most important product, which is tourism. I hear the cries and the concerns of the taxi drivers, and hopefully we can resolve this situation shortly,” Stubbs-Smith said.

Stubbs-Smith emphasized that while the drivers were restive, the decision was arrived at with the various stakeholders, including taxi reprsentatives.

“We didn’t come up with a fee by ourselves. We came up with a fee with their representatives at the table discussing with us. They put their needs and concerns, and us coming together and negotiating a price that we can all live with. This fee would allow us to maintain the facility, and will also help us to look at further expanding the parking space,” the minister said.

Minister Stubbs-Smith emphasized that the fee would stand, but government would be willing to see how best the situation can end.

“It is going to stand; we have to put a levy on it. We would like the government to do everything, but the government is not economically able to sustain itself by doing everything for everyone. So, we, as stakeholders, must play a part in our nation’s development,” she said.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 11

LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Five million Euro housing construction for Ike, Hanna victims

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Persons on Grand Turk Salt Cay and South Caicos, whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Hanna in 2008, stand to have those homes rebuilt or repaired, thanks to a 5 million Euros joint venture between the European Union Development Fund and TCIG. The Turks and Caicos Islands Government contributed $750,000 to the fund, the majority of which will be in kind, including people’s time.

Susan Breetzke , the Project Manager for the EU Development Fund in the TCI, said that application to the EU for the funds was made in 2010 under the EU 12 Millennium goals, but while funds were approved that same year, the EU froze their disbursement because it was not satisfied with the Turks and Caicos Islands fiscal house was in order.

She said the two goals under which the projects fall are Reduction of Poverty and Increase of Environmental Awareness. She said that the funds were frozen for three years and were only released this year after it became satisfied that there was sufficient fiscal responsibility in the territory.

“They contacted the Governor’s Office in January of this year, and the grant contract sets out how the money would be spent. They were signed in January, and the first funds were

released in April. They then recruited me; I started at the beginning of October, and now we are moving,” Breetzke said.

Breetzke said that her first task was to audit the claims that were made on the three islands singled out for attention. She said that the priority groups are the elderly, disabled, single mothers and then income level. Only those earning below 35,000 per year would be considered.

She said also that persons who homes were destroyed by either of two natural disasters, but have rebuilt would not qualify under the programme.

“What I established was that although we had application on file, we needed to go right back to the beginning. So by the end of October, I put my proposal to the DRB, and my proposals were, we need to apply for an extension to the period of the contract.

“That has happened; that has gone through to the EU. We need to go right back to the beginning and ask people to reapply. I don’t believe that the process that was followed in 2009 was transparent. A lot of people who should have applied didn’t apply; some of the people who applied shouldn’t have applied, so I said we have got to scrap that and start again,” Breetzke said Considering that the TCI is located within the hurricane belt, Breetzke said that a review of the country’s building code, which is currently underway, would be undertaken before the project begins in earnest. She said that also that

contractors to rebuild and repair the homes were already been secured. She said the new building code would be available for publishing by the end of March, 2013.

“We are asking people, whether they have applied or not to apply. We are asking people who applied in 2009 to reapply. We are asking people, whose homes are in a derelict state after Ike or Hanna to, if they live on Grand Turk to go to the One Stop Shop, and if they live on any of the other islands, to go to the district commissioner’s office, and on Provo to go to the Planning Department.

“There they will be given a form to fill. That form is going to be verified by an official, who needs to see ID, because we are asking people only if they are owners of the property, to apply. We can’t take a form filled in by a relative. The forms would then be reviewed, first by the project team, and then recommendations would go through two levels of governance. It first goes to the steering committee and then to the Disaster Recovery Board for ratification. The criteria for approval are first the general criteria – legal resident, owner of the land and income level,” Breetzke said.

Breetzke said that her audit revealed that unauthorized persons had applied on behalf their relatives, while applications were made for reconstruction of structure on land where no buildings were before.

Persons are asked to apply by

January 25, 2013. She said that approved properties would be completed surveyed before construction begins and the body was prepared to build from one to three bedroom homes.

“If somebody had a five bedroom home (that was destroyed) we are not going to build them a five bedroom home,” Breetzke reiterated.

The projects runs until early November, 2016, according to Breetzke , but all the building should be finished by the end of October 2014. There will a year for shut down, and then the EU would keep a window open until 2016 for audit as to how the project was run and money spent.

The project goes out to tender in the next few weeks, and according to Breetzke, only contractors with the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region would be eligible for consideration, meaning that those from North American would not qualify.

“This means that when we advertise the contract, they (contractors) can’t come from America. The building materials can’t come from American either. That does put a bit of constraint on the project, but it actually does mean that the benefit of the funding goes into the region, it doesn’t go back to America,” she said.

Tender applicants will compete on approach, design and cost. She said also that the contract would specify that local contractors, skilled and unskilled labour must be used through-out the project.

Page 12

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

PROVO WATER COMPANY LTD.

Provo Water Company Ltd is seeking suitable applicants to fill the following positions:

POSITION: SYSTEM DESIGN ENGINEER

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION: • Registered Civil Engineer • At least 5 t years’ experience in civil works with emphasis waterworks and piping networks.

• Have a strong knowledge of hydraulics and piping design calculations.

• Effective organization skills and ability to work effectively both in a team setting and independently • Computer proficient with exposure in Microsoft Word and Excel and hydraulic modeling software.

JOB DESCRIPTION: The System Design Engineer works under the direction of the head of the Engineering Department. This individual provides technical direction and management for the design compliance and construction works leading to the maintenance of the islands waterworks system. This position can be adapted to either primary or construction or facility maintenance functions.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO: • Provide Surveys, Designs and detailed engineering for proposed waterworks, civil works, engineering projects, modifications and maintenance.

• Monitor and Record hydraulics input - output data such as system’s pressures, velocities and flows including pumping stations and water storage facilities for engineering design task.

• Carry out continuous engineering studies, investigations and design calculations for the maintenance of water supply system in the island.

• Provide cost-effective solutions to waterworks requirements/situations and establish review procedures to minimize cost growth.

• Perform Engineering field surveys for establishing boundaries and limits , developing contours and profiles, piping routes and levels.

• Develop company standards for all construction and or facility maintenance works.

• Apply standard practices and techniques in specific engineering assignments, including proficiency in use of engineering/project scheduling tools.

• Provide technical assistance to the Operations and Maintenance Department • Ensure that the integrity of master plans is maintained and maintain and update the general site plans for all waterworks facilities including new connections and facilities.

• Ensure all subcontractors employed to execute engineering-construction tasks conform to applicable company standards for security, safety, environmental controls, hazardous materials and underground utilities.

Salary Range: US$ 36, 000 – 48, 000 per annum POSITION: CONTRACT AND DOCUMENT CONTROLLER

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION: • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or similar discipline.

• At least 5 years experience in contracts and

documents preparation, dissemination and monitoring including the safekeeping thereof particularly acquired from a construction or utility industry.

• Strong analytical skills particularly in the design of work processes, workflow, procedures and operations.

• At least 2 years experience in storekeeping and stock control system.

• Good communications and organization skills • Computer proficient.

JOB DESCRIPTION: A Contract and Document Controller is required to maintain a master contract and document register of all the latest transactions and drawings on every project and purchasing activities of the company and ensure that all recipients are transmitted the documents they require as soon as new revisions are received.

This individual reviews contracts; formulates, designs, revises and finalize documents according to what was required and has been agreed upon by the company and parties concerned such as contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and the likes. This individual is in charge with all the liaison works including the submission and transmittal of contracts/documents to all concerned government and private agencies relative to the on going projects or purchasing activities. This position reports to the Head of Engineering.

The duties of a Contract and Document Controller are: • Reviews and registers internal and external contracts and documents.

• Maintenance of controlled and uncontrolled documents registers.

• Prepares field work orders including attachment of agreements and drawings for approval by management and execution by field staff.

• Prepares reports of investigations, tests, maintenance or other works of the department • Reconciles contractor invoices against work completed to ensure field work invoices are paid accurately • Sending of document transmittals and submittals to all parties concerned.

• Log, reference, distribute, and file all related correspondence, drawings, and documents.

• Ensuring that contracts and document transmittals are acknowledged in case there is a dispute on whether the said papers were transmitted.

• Manage the contracts & document/drawing review process, Internal and External.

• Designs and formulate office forms and control system whenever necessary.

• Inspect, accept, and store delivered materials and equipment including documentation and control thereof.

• Archiving data for historical purposes.

• Maintain an accurate and up to date data base of all engineering documents.

• Performs other task as may be assigned from time to time relative to the day to day operation of the engineering and administrative department such as detailed engineering and inventory management task.

• Assist in leak detection, field investigations, asset maintenance • Performs other duties as instructed by the Head of Engineering Salary Range: US$ 32, 400 – 42, 000 per annum

POSITION: AUTOCAD OPERATOR MINIMUM QUALIFICATION

• Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering • 3 to 5 years AutoCAD experience a must. Must have previous experience in mechanical, electrical and civil drafting, blue print reading and 2 or 3 dimensional work • Must have at least 2 years of experience in a waterworks environment • Strong proficiency in AutoCAD Civil, ArcGIS or equivalent software for piping network design is a must.

• Strong knowledge of Primavera (P3) planning software and Microsoft applications.

• Must be able to work under time pressure to meet strict deadlines while producing accurate work JOB DESCRIPTION: The AutoCAD Operator reports to the Head of Engineering and must be able to prepare design and as built drawings in AutoCAD, generate engineering flow diagrams from engineer’s examples, update and modify building and piping layouts, update and modify piping networks and details in AutoCAD in a water utility environment.

The duties of an AutoCAD Operator include: • Able to prepare plans and exhibits which entail making accurate computer drawings from design sketches, conceptual drawings, field compiled survey data, and verbal instructions.

• Updates mechanical, electrical and civil plans and drawings according to amendments and revisions.

• Produce and compile standard facility and utility drawings.

• Make all required revisions to approved designs and maintains complete and accurate drawings.

• Perform 3D view layout, layer and dimensioning techniques.

• Create new drawings out of survey data and verbal instructions.

• Follow through with all projects to ensure successful fabrication and installation.

• Complete field surveys using manual and modern methods to produce accurate location or as built drawings • Maintain a highly organized and accurate database of the company’s field assets including location and detailed drawings • Assist in leak detection investigations that may require periods of night work • Assist in engineering investigations that may include meter testing and other technical work • Assist in performance of maintenance schedule of the Engineering Department • Other duties as assigned by the Head of Engineering to meet the objectives of the Engineering Department and the Company Salary Range: US$ 32, 400 – 42, 000 per annum All applications must be submitted by December 19th, 2012.

Office Manager PROVO WATER COMPANY LTD. P.O. Box 39, Grace Bay Road Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Fax: (649) 946-5204 Email: K.Clarke@provowater.tc

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 13

LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

No gangs in the TCI says Assistant Commissioner

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Young men on Providenciales who form themselves into violent groups to inflict injuries on each other cannot be classified as gang since they have not met the established criteria, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Rodney Adams.

Fielding questions from the media during a news conference at the Department of Disaster Management and Emergency (DDME) in Providenciales on Monday, December 10, Assistant Commissioner Adams said that the groups parading as gangs were merely copy cats seeking legitimacy, as far as the police were concerned, but had not evolved to gang status.

Adams was responding to an incident last week at the Clement High School, where thugs invaded the institution with weapons, including what some eyewitnesses said were firearms. Eyewitnesses even said that the men fired shots on the compound.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Rodney Adams.

Dozens of children were also so said to be traumatized by the incident.

“From law enforcement’s prospective, there might be some wellestablished groups, and they do not properly meet the criteria of a gang.

Certainly, as far as we are concerned, there will be no gangs in the Turks and

Caicos Islands. Plain and simple,” Adams emphasized.

Outlining the established criteria of a gang, Adams noted: “When you look at a gang from a global perspective, they have leaders, proper networking in place and that sort of thing. In the TCI we have a number of persons that gather together as groups and talk about turfs, be it the ‘Wheeland Boys’, ‘Five Cays’ and so on. And as far as we are concerned, they have not developed to that (gangster) stage.”

He said however, that if these groups are left unattended, they could develop into properly organized networks with chains of command and lines of authority.

“Yes, should we not take the necessary action that is required, it can happen. But from where we sit in law enforcement in this country, it will not happen. We will challenge them and do what needs to happen and make

sure that does not happen in the Turks and Caicos. And, I think the government has also made a statement to that effect, that gangs will not be tolerated in this country. That is the position of law enforcement.

“I want to get a strong message to those young individuals out there that want to classify themselves as gangs; we will deal with you accordingly.

Plain and simple,” Adams reiterated.

In the meantime, the Assistant Commissioner of Police told the media that from reports gathered by detectives, the thugs did not have guns, but machetes, baseball bats and other implements.

“I guess you have heard in some media reports that gunshots have been fired and persons have been stabbed; that was totally far from the truth. And, hopefully, going forward we will continue to build a relationship with the media to ensure that the facts are gathered before it is put out there to the general public.

“The best information that we have gathered based on our investigations to date was that the sort of things (weapons) that would have been used was that persons were armed with machetes and some baseball bat sort of weapons. But we did not get any information that guns were used,” Adams said.

Meanwhile, Adams said that since the incident the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has found it necessary to post police personnel at the school in an effort to thwart any upsurge in violence among students, considering that the semester was coming to an end. He further explained that by the reopening of school in the New Year, structured long term police presence would be at the institution.

THE GRAND TURK INN IS HIRING AN ASSISTANT MANAGER REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE OWNER TO RUN THE LITTLE HUT.

Experience/Education/Responsibilities: At least 6 years’ experience managing a customer restaurant At least 5 years’ supervision experience, of teams of employees.

At least 3 years’ experience in event planning, management and banquet preparation.

Responsible for running the Little Hut Restaurant, accounting, sales, cooking, menu planning, cleaning, purchasing and security. Experience in managing, planning and organizing of special functions including wedding, private parties Responsible for site maintenance and landscaping.

Must display a high level of energy, have an entrepreneurial spirit, be motivational, effective in providing exceptional customer service and ability to run an operation on it own. Salary $18,000 per annum.

Please submit resumes to the Grand Turk Inn – grandturkinn@gmail.com

Page 14

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Immigration bureaucracy to be eliminated Minister for Border Control and Labour, Hon. Don-Hue could soon move to eliminate painstaking bureaucracy in order to foster a clear and easy understanding of immigration laws and policies.

This promise has been made by Minister for Border Control and Labour Hon. Don-Hue Gardiner at a post cabinet press briefing on Providenciales on Thursday, December 13. Among the changes being contemplated by government is the work permit medical policy established earlier this year by the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP), which requires work permit and PRC applicants to undertake costly medical examinations in order to be approved for such immigration statuses.

Applicants, after expending up to $500 for the medical examination, are then forced to wait long periods, sometimes months, before being notified of their results. A number of employers are not in agreement with the regime, citing it as bad for business, since the issuance of the work permit is predicated on the time taken by NIHP to process the application.

But the minister said that efforts were being contemplated to look into those anomalies.

He noted however, that while the government was willing look into reviewing of the work permit medical system, it would do so with the consideration that any adjustment would not compromise the health of the population of the TCI.

ISLAND SUPPLIES SEEKS

1 CASHIER To work 5 days per week Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 242-0388

BUTLER

IMMEDIATE OPENING

The butler will provide the highest of penthouse service to our guests. The Butler’s primary goal is to create an ambiance of superior luxury by anticipating each individual guest’s needs.. This is accomplished through moments of surprise and delight that our guest would never have experienced before. Also ensure guest familiarities to frequent guests visiting the hotel.

Requirements: • Minimum of 3 years experience in food and beverage fine dining as a personal Butler • Must possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written • Strong knowledge of a variety of cuisines and wines/beverages • Must possess local knowledge in order to respond to all inquires from guest, such as restaurants information • Must posses basic computational ability • Must posses basic computer skills • Must be able to follow through all the guest requests and communicate them to the appropriate departments and management in an efficient manner • Must be have attention to details second to none ability, superior interpersonal skills and desire to provide exceptional service to our guest.

• Ensure guests receive prompt, courteous, pro-active and personalized service • Clean and maintain all butler areas including occupied and no-occupied rooms, pantries, stores, equipments, perishable, and stationary.

• Liaise with private dining and check on regular basis to ensure amenities, resident preferences and other such points are taken care of and carried out flawlessly.

• Maintain appearance, discipline and efficiency at all times • Practice tactful up-selling of hotel products and facilities • Ensure repeat guests are met and greeted on a daily basis and profiles are updated.

• Ensure long staying/special attention/occasion –celebrating guests are taken care of exclusively, paying particular attention to their needs and requests.

• Attend daily briefings and note information about guests and function in the hotel • Fully understand the difference in guest levels (VIPs) and room categories • Respect guest privacy and do not discuss guest’s private information with colleagues • Ensure all unattended valuables and belongings inside guest rooms are noted and

“Certainly, one of the things we are keen to do is to make sure that the Immigration laws and policies remain clear as we possibly could have it, and that we eliminate all sorts of bureaucracies that do not necessarily assist us in promoting the TCI and does not assist business in its growth and development.

Having said that, we have had talks with ministry officials and one of the things that we are keen to do is to ensure that we are able, certainly before the end of this financial year, to bring new legislation to the House for consideration, looking at revamping the entire system. And I am hopeful that we are able to do that over the next several months,” Minister Gardiner said.

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Minister Gardiner continued: “As far as the bureaucratic establishments, one of the things that we need to look at is, perhaps, reviewing some of the policies that have been established; some that deal with the issue of medical certificates and the added burden that it has caused. And, if there are ways that we could deal with it without exposing the population of the TCI to anything untoward, that, I believe, is something that we need to do,” Minister Gardiner noted.

He told the media gathering that the PNP administration, as means of priority, will be moving to modernize the border management system itself to make it more efficient in order to better serve the public and allow the authorities to better manage its borders.

“And so, other than those initiatives, the most important one being, really, reviewing the legislation, coming up with a policy of the complete computerization by the introduction of a new and more efficient border management system, there are nothing afoot at this time,” he revealed.

ASSISTANT FRONT DESK OPERATOR SUN AND FUN SEA SPORTS

Must have drivers license Must speak English well Be willing to work weekends Interested applicants please call 946-5724 Ask for Mr. Paul

the supervisor is informed about the same • Provide third service to guests by ensuring rooms are tidied up after guest leaves room • Demonstrate discretion and courtesy when entering into the private space of guests Physical requirements • Must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours in length • Must be able to exert well-paced, ability to reach other departments and locations in a timely manner • Must be able to exert well-paced ability in limited space • Must be able to bend, stoop, squat and stretch to fulfill cleaning tasks.

• Must be able to bend and squat and lift up to 25 lbs • Must be able to push and pull equipment weighing up to 75 lbs • Requires grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, repetitive motions. Bending, climbing, listening and hearing ability and visual acuity.

• Requires manual dexterity to use and operate all necessary equipment • Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Starting salary $6.00 per hour, not including tips.

SECURITY OFFICER

Requirements: • Minimum 2 years experience as a security officer within a resort • Must be able to speak and write English fluently.

Duties: • Must be able to detects potential sources of security problems, safety hazards and fire hazards by maintaining surveillance of resort • Patrols resort on a regular basis • Ensures all resort entrances are locked and unlocked per resort policy • Maintains resort key management procedures and ensures that all keys are accounted for • Closes and secures F & B outlets each night • Ensures that all meeting rooms and exhibit rooms are secured • Completes daily security log, including pertinent information from the shift • Handles complaints, investigates and thoroughly reports on guest or employee injuries, worker’s compensation claims, thefts, assaults, lost property, car accidents, loud parties, vandalism and other guest complaints in accordance resort policy and procedure • Informs supervisor and management immediately.

• Respond to emergencies; coordinates the partial or complete evacuation of the resort such as fire, armed robbery, severe injuries, power failure or bomb threats in accordance with resort policy and procedures.

• Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Salary $6.50 an hour not including service charge

All interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms, Human Resources Department, and bring along an updated resume, or by emailing your resume to marjorie.dorsett@regenthotels.com no later than Friday, December 21, 2012.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 15

LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Asylum-seeking Cubans still in lock-up

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

There has been no word as to the stage of the asylum application by the 16 Cubans, who were found, holed up in a house at Discovery Bay, Providenciales on October 2.

Change Manager for Immigration, Simon Excell, said during a news conference on Monday, December 10, that his office was yet to receive a response from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to which the group made their application for asylum since being found in the country illegally.

Excell was responding to questions regarding the group, 10 of whom remained at the detention centre in Providenciales, while six, comprising four children and their mothers, were being held in domestic setting also on that island.

The 16, including four children, has been identified as Yaenis Charon Milanes, seven months old; Jose

Miguel Camejo Milanes, 10; Ivania Ortiz Garcia, 11; Reylianis Charon Milanes, 17; Mariela Garcia Palma; Estela Milanes Salazar; Ivan Ortiz Melanes; Eutimio Castell Castro; Yosniel Fernandez; Alivska Perez Milanes; Letcia Lopez Chavez Diaz; Dianelys Alverez Perez; Katia Mesa Diaz; Andriana Reyes Fernandez and Narobis Milanes Salazar.

The Supreme Court, in November, heard that the bunch had commenced an application for asylum in the TCI through the UNHCR. Local officials had begun the process of repatriating them. The Cubans initially mounted a defense but relinquished their fight, telling the Supreme Court on their third appearance that they no longer wanted to pursue the defense, citing lack of will.

An official, at the time, told The SUN that the Cubans, suspected to have been fleeing the five-decade-old communist regime in their home country, would remain in their respective places of abode until the

CLIPPERS BARBER SHOP & BEAUTY SALON SEEKS

1 Cosmetologist Salary $5.00 per hour 6 days per week Contact 242-0388

PROVO GOLF CLUB Turks & Caicos Water Company d.b.a. Provo Golf Club is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the following position. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.

HORTICULTURIST

Must be knowledgeable and experience in the areas of Plant Pathology, Plant Propagation, Entomology, Integrated Pest Management, Soil Science and Landscape Design Principles.

REQUIREMENTS • Must have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture.

• Should have at least 10 years or more experience working on a Golf Course.

• Requires knowledge of landscape construction and materials.

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.

• Must be self-motivated and willing to work long hours.

The salary for this position is $55,000.00 per annum commensurate with experience, training and education.

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by December 24, 2012 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

UNHCR either grant or deny their request. The Immigration Department said that it had already made contact with the Cuban Authorities, who promised to get back to them so that the repatriation process could begin. It is not clear what stage that process is at.

Excell, while not preparing to say much on the topic, told the media that the Immigration Department was still working towards their repatriation.

“We are still considering to processing the application with respect to the Cubans. Some are kept at the detention centre; others have been temporarily released but were being monitored. Our intention is to continue to work towards their repatriation.

Pressed as to whether or not government would repatriate the Cuban migrants even before a decision comes from the UNHCR, Excell replied: “That is not a matter that I want to discuss.”

There have been some anomalies as to how the Cubans came to be living in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is

suspected that they were subject of a human-trafficking ring operation between the Turks and Caicos, Cuba and the United states. It was understood that the United States was the final destination for the Cubans, who may have paid a sizable sum to make the trip.

It was also alleged that one of the migrants at the detention centre - Estela Milanes Salazar – has been said to be the mother a rising US Baseball League star for the Oakland Athletics, Yoenis Céspedes Milanés. Reports are that Estela Milanes Salazar was also an Olympian for Cuba in the 1980s.

Yoenis Céspedes Milanés, who defected from Cuba in the summer of 2011 to the Dominican Republic to seek free agency in Major League Baseball, reportedly agreed to a 4year, $36 million contract with the Oakland Athletics on February 13, 2012. The deal became official on March 3, 2012. Online articles said that he may have been the one to bankroll the trip for the 16.

DOMESTIC WORKER AND DOG SITTER

to work 6 days per week at $6.00 per hour Must be available to work holidays and some evenings.

Must also be able to care for 2 dogs including walking them.

Contact 232-1010 TURKS AND CAICOS WATER COMPANY LTD TURKS AND CAICOS WATER COMPANY LIMITED is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the following position. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS Job Description • Responsible for maintaining the general condition of the company’s properties with regards to all aspects of electrical, plumbing and mechanical.

• Complete daily tasks as outlined by Supervisor.

• Complete maintenance request work orders on a timely basis.

• Performs all weekly, monthly and other scheduled preventative maintenance programs.

• Actively pursue new tasks or jobs when assigned work is completed.

• Maintain Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Requirements • Should have eight years experience as a Maintenance Technician or experience working in a similar position.

• Must have strong skills in troubleshooting and repair of electrical, plumbing and general maintenance.

• Work with minimal supervision.

• On standby for 24 hours call out emergencies.

• Should have great oral and written communication skills.

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office.

The salary for this position is $26,000.00 per annum commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by December 24, 2012 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

Page 16

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Police Barracks building now houses TCIPS Comprehensive High The controversial building on Academy Drive (behind Island Pride Supermarket) in Providenciales, which was originally constructed for the purpose of housing a police barracks, but on which government faltered its agreement, has now become the new home for the TCIPS Comprehensive High School.

Wayne Jackson, Principal for the institution, told The SUN that the building was acquired during the mid term break through a deal brokered by the school’s board’s chairman, Pastor Bradley Handfield.

Jackson said that the new location presented an ideal ambiance for the students, and has the potential to foster a greater environment for learning.

“Our previous location only offered eight rooms, which included rooms for office space, rooms for dining activities, computer labs, science lab and teaching facilities, which really, based on our growth wasn’t adequate for our needs. So we moved to this location which gives us twice as much location on one floor than what we had previously. Now we are able to be more specialized and have specialized rooms to accommodate our needs,” he said.

The building is owned by business woman, Judith Simmons, who during the previous PNP administration, entered into an agreement to construct a police barracks. The funds were

The controversial police barracks which was never used for its intended purposes now houses TCIPS Comprehensive High

acquired through the now defunct TCI Bank. Simmons had told The SUN previously that the former Interim Administration, after seizing the reins of the country, had backpedaled on the previous agreement, resulting her losing a great deal of money, which include her personal financial resources.

The building later became a subject for break-ins and home for drug addicts.

Simmons had complained that furniture which was acquired from as far as the orient and

HAB Group wishes to recruit a

PRE CONTRACT QUANTITY SURVEYOR/ESTIMATOR The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate considerable experience in the preparation of all precontract construction documentation including but not limited to; detailed take offs, bills of quantities, specification production, material scheduling. The candidate will also need to be experience in the co-ordination and control of various design consultants employed in the pre contract design process with relevant input to the design process.

The candidate will be required to demonstrate a familiarity with relevant industry standard compute software such as Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Design Review and Collaborative Project management software as well as standard Microsoft Office products. Applicants for this position will possess relevant industry recognized qualifications in addition to 12 years or more practical experience.

The salary for this position is commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by December 24, 2012 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191.

Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

stored at the location were stolen because they were allowed to still idly as a result of government reneging on its agreement.

However, Jackson pointed out the school’s chairman saw the white elephant status of the building and Simmons.

“Our chairman of the board, Pastor Bradley Handfield, approached the owner of the building, and said that it is not being used, and we would love to explore the possibility of us using the facility. We entered into an arrangement, and hence we are now here. We are very grateful for the opportunity provided by the owner of this building,” Jackson said.

Jackson pointed out that whereas the possibility of acquiring the property for ownership existed the institution would be willing to pursue that channel, since it needed a permanent home and that the location and the building were ideal.

“It is my hope that we would acquire the necessary resources that we need to have, to secure this property as our permanent home for this institution, because with any school, you need a permanent home so that

with the issue of money, where you pay for rent would go into mortgage, which leads to ownership.

He said that there are areas on the property where students were able to have lunch while enjoying the cool shades of the number of trees on the property, pointing out also that the foyer entrance areas gave administrators better supervision of the entire property.

“The entrance allows us to really control who enters and leaves the building, which is really good for a school environment. Even at the rear of the classrooms, students are not able to leave unless they climbed over the rails, which is hard to do. So it gives us better control of access of people coming in and out. No longer can persons walk onto the facility and enter the premises without us knowing who is coming in and who is leaving, as a matter or fact,” had he said.

There are three small ponds at the entrance of the property, and Jackson said that those spots would be converted into an eco-system. He said that the ponds were actually fresh water facilities, containing small fish, and so the school was prepared to exploit its proper usage.

“It is not stagnant water or city water; it is actually fresh water. There is a fresh water table there, so we have made it part of our environmental club, and we want to use that area as an area where we work on it on an ongoing basis, to ensure that this area is maintained, the water quality is that of excellent standards and that we can actually put more fish that is not invasive to that system, so that it becomes somewhat unbalance per se,” the principal said.

The population of the school is close to 70 students, encompassing forms one to five. TCIPS, which stands for Turks and Caicos Institution of Professional Studies, began three years ago, but its high school element is just over a year old.

CHERRY LTD (ZEN SPA)

• SPA THERAPIST NEEDED FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING • 4 NAIL TECHNICIANS( manicure ,pedicure ,acrylics, gel all spa nail services.

• 3 MASSAGE THERAPIST /ESTHETICIAN with extensive and through knowledge of numerous types of treatments and spa services.

Depilatory (waxing and threading) (Swedish, sports, aromatherapy, hot stone, deep tissue, shiatsu massage, reflexology ,pregnancy, Ear candling,facials, microdermabrasion, The following will be required that each therapist: - Must be flexible and skilled enough to perform several or all treatments.

- Each candidate must have a minimum of 2years experience as a nail technician / massage therapist - Be on time for shifts, be prompt with each appointment and perform services within the appropriate time allotted for the service.

- Be flexible with the spa schedule. Work on holidays and weekends - Have complete knowledge and understanding of all services and products offered..

- Actively promote the spa, treatments, other services, retail and specials offered.

- Handle guests professionally and courteously.

- Possess the ability to work without direct supervision.

- Applicant must be honest, reliable, hardworking and fluent in English and French or Spanish.

We operate in a very demanding and competitive market, and is seeking to hire the best candidates for the position. Each candidate must have a certificate accompanied with a resume and proof of a clean police record to qualify for this position.

Salary (commission only) dead line December 27th 2012 Email: zenspatci@gmail.com

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 17

LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

LIME Christmas Tree Lighting Close to 700 children turned out to the LIME Christmas Tree lighting and Children’s Treat at the telecoms company corporate office along the Leeward Highway in Providenciales last week. In addition to food and drinks, a number of persons won expensive prizes, including handsets and tablets. Photo shows the massive turnout and also a presentation to a winner

by Country Manager, Drexwell Seymour.

Haitian repatriation begins

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Government has begun the repatriation of the 128 Haitians whose rickety wooden sloop was intercepted in Turks and Caicos Islands waters in the early hours of Sunday Morning, December 9.

It is unlikely though that the total number that came into the country would be sent back to their homeland, at least not with the current batch, since it has been reported that 30 of them overpowered guards at the detention centre in Five Cays, Providenciales, on Tuesday night, December 11, and forced their way from the facility, and remained at large up to press time.

Minister for Border Control and Labour Hon. Don-Hue Gardiner told a post cabinet press briefing in Providenciales on Thursday, December 13 that more than 40 of the illegal immigrants had been sent back to Haiti, and other departures were slated for the remainder of the week.

He did not make clear, however, whether or not all of them would be sent home over the weekend.

“The police and the Immigration Task Force are certainly investigating the incident and we will spare no efforts to ensure that those persons who have escaped are apprehended.

GOOD HANDS AGENCY SEEKS

Manager – Sushi Restaurant Bar Salary negotiable per experience

2 Domestic Workers 2 Labourers

To work 5-6 days per week Salary $5.00 per hour Contact Alden C. Durham 9463437 or 244-0277

ready to ensure that these kinds of incidences will not occur. And, where we have incidences of persons breaching our border of these kinds, that we will deal with them as swiftly as we possibly can,” he reiterated.

Following the news conference, Minister Gardiner told The SUN that the security apparatus at the detention centre was being reviewed, since it was unacceptable for government to be

Minister for Border Control and Labour Hon. Don-Hue Gardiner

And that anyone is known to be harbouring or assisting any of them will be dealt with swift and as severely as the law would allow.

Minister Gardiner said that his government would spare no efforts in making sure that the TCI borders are protected and those who attempt to breach them be dealt with fully within the law.

“Certainly, as much as we are able to influence that, we certainly would like for people to know that, we have, with the establishment and commissioning of the new coastal radar system, and our collaborative effort with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Marine Branch, stand

EXECUTIVE CLEANING SERVICES LTD SEEKS

1 DOMESTIC WORKER $5.00 per hour

1 FLOOR & CARPET TECHNICIAN

Must have at least seven years experience Salary $350.00 Contact 332-0057

paying for security at the facility, which apparently was not able to hold up its end of the bargain.

Minister Gardiner said that several security options at the detention centre were being looked at by his administration, including whether or not it would be viable for government to provide its own security at the facility other than outsourcing such assignments.

InterIsland Aviation Services Group Aircraft Mechanics

is seeking

Experience working on piston and turbo-propeller aircraft.

Responsible for inspecting, servicing, repairing and testing aircraft, engines and related systems as directed. Read, understand and work from aircraft maintenance manuals and specifications. Salary commensurate with experience.

2 PILOTS

To be a commander of the EMB 120-ATC. Must have a valid Airline Transport Pilots license, First class medical and 3,000 hours flight time aero planes, 1,600 pilot command including 500 hours experience on multi crew turbine propeller airplanes and 100 hours on type (jet prop). Salary commensurate with experience

TwO SecurITy GuArdS

• Must have 5 years experience • Must be able to speak at least two languages • Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons entering the premises.

• Write reports of daily activities and irregularities, such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.

Salary commensurate with experience All positions require the following: • Excellent command of the English language.

• Good communication skills and team player • Detail oriented & organized individual • Ability to work shifts, early mornings, late nights, weekends and Holidays.

• Clean police record • Able to work under pressure BeLOnGerS need OnLy APPLy.

Interested person should apply to Hr@flyairtc.com or via fax to Hr department 649-946-4040. no phone call please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interview.

Page 18

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Guest Z Jolly & Deputy Premier Hon. A Missick

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

TCAAF President Dr O'Sullivan with RapPort president Hezron Henry

Grace Bay Club hosts AIDS Awareness Cocktail Party On Saturday 1st December the Turks & Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation (TCAAF) observed World AIDS Day 2012 with a cocktail party hosted by the Grace Bay Club, featuring a runway show by talented local designer Kazz Forbes of Saint George Fashion House.

Over 200 people came out, despite the wintery weather conditions, to drink champagne and nibble tasty hors d'oeuvres while delighting in a special debut presentation of the latest SGFH collection. Mr Forbes certainly didn’t isappoint – the enormously gifted designer once again wowed TCAAF guests this year with gorgeous designs and a perfectly delivered show.

The TCAAF Directors took a few minutes out of the night to honour National HIV Prevention Unit Coordinator Aldora Robinson and Clinical Head of the HIV Programme for TCI & Bahamas Professor Stanley Read in recognition of their invaluable ongoing contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Turks & Caicos. They also paid tribute to the dedicated and tireless work of HIV Nurse Nora Tyndall and Programme Administrator Hezron Henry.

Adding to the evening’s entertainment were DJ Natti and DJ Colours who had guests dancing the night away, MC – TCAAF Patron Galmo Williams - and a silent auction, containing over 20 items donated by Goldsmith, which raised over $3,000 for the event.

CAPTAIN MARVIN WATERSPORTS SEEKS

1 BOAT CAPTAIN

Must have atleast 3 years experience Salary $12.00 per hour Contact 231-0643

The proceeds from the evening will go towards running programmes at the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre. Five years ago the TCAAF began building the Centre in order to provide the young people of the TCI with a safe, fun place to spend their free time, develop hobbies and learn new skills. The Centre recently celebrated its 4th anniversary and currently has over 1000 members and sees more than 50 young people per day.

It offers a number of entertaining and productive activities, such as tutoring, playing basketball, doing research in the Centre’s computer suite, dance classes, various art and crafts, and monthly seminars run by RapPort, the youth arm of the National HIV Prevention Unit. The Centre caters for 12-17 year olds. The Youth Centre relies on funds raised by the TCAAF, and various other donors, in order to keep its doors open. The Centre members do not pay a fee.

“The TCAAF Directors would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to over 200 members of our community who came out to support us this World AIDS Day. Raising awareness through education is the key to stopping the spread of HIV among our young people and we would not be able to provide the variety of important programmes and opportunities at the Centre without the generous and continuous support of so many” said TCAAF President, Dr Dawn O’Sullivan.

“We would also like to thank Kazz Forbes for dazzling our guests with his

WILSON VALBURN

1 LABOURER SEEKS

Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 241-0388

spectacular holiday collection.

He is a superb example of the huge talent and endless potential found among young people in the Turks & Caicos. Our appreciation also goes to Ajay Vyas and Shameka Simmons from The Grace Bay Club, who were both instrumental in making the evening such a success.

Thank you to the Grace Bay Club and staff for a beautiful evening – not only did they provide a stunning venue and delicious hors d’oeuvres, but also generously donated 10% of the proceeds from the bar.

Further gratitude must go those who donated items for our silent auction: Goldsmith, Wine Cellar, FOTTAC, Anacaona Restaurant and Anani Spa at Grace Bay Club, Coyaba, Beach House, Vino Tiempo, and Islandcom; and to the DJs; to Hezron Henry and RapPort volunteers; Lynne Pettman, Jen Rhodes, Precious Memories Forever; and to Vino Tiempo for 15% of their bar from the after-party. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!”

Photographs courtesy of Charles Mathurin and Grace Bay Club.

Job Title: Marketing Executive – 4 month contract Reporting to the Head of Marketing or her designate, you will be an integral part of the Marketing team, ensuring that the Marketing elements of the company are performed efficiently and effectively and in line with Digicel policies and procedures.

Main Duties and Responsibilities: • Assisting with Promotional roll outs • Event planning • Performing Social Media updates • Liasing and organising with media for coverage of events.

• Preparing Press Releases.

• Assisting with retail store marketing collateral outfitting.

• Assisting Marketing Manager in ad hoc duties Academic Qualifications & Functional Skills • Bachelor’s or Associate degree in Marketing, Advertising or Public Relations • Experience in a dynamic fast-paced multinational environment desirable • Excellent command of the English Language • Excellent communication skills • Great at working in teams • Budget conscious • Working knowledge Microsoft Powerpoint • Flexible and adaptable to an ever changing set of responsibilities, constrained by tight deadlines Salary Based on Experience Interested applicants should forward their resume to hrtci@digicelgroup.com

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 19

LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Maskanoo set to be even bigger this year TCHTA and the Cultural and Arts Commission are gearing up once again for another exciting Maskanoo, Providenciales' biggest cultural event.

Maskanoo in its 3rd year, will be held on December 26, 2012 (Boxing Day) from 3:00 p.m., along the Grace Bay road between Salt Mills Plaza and Regent Village.

Persons attending the event will enjoy a street parade directed by David Bowen, showcasing locally-made costumes and instruments; island food and entertainment from a line up of local artistes including Q-Band Linx, Five Cays Ripsaw and Rake & Scrape Band and Breeze Beach dancers.

Maskanoo raffle tickets will be on sale with amazing prizes to be won including a trip for two to New York on Jetblue.

TCHTA's Association Executive

The street parade will be directed by David Bowen

Stacy Cox noted, "TCHTA is delighted with the response from vendors this

1 BEAUTICIAN 2 BARBERS

NEXT BARBER SHOP SALON & SPA SEEKS

Must have at least five years experience Salary based on commission Contact 332-0057

year but reminds persons that illegal vending and the selling of masks will

not be permitted. The Association will be working closely with the Police Force and Dove Security who will be patrolling the stretch. Persons and businesses are reminded that the selling of masks is not permitted and the Maskanoo name and logo are trademarked and permission must be obtained from the TCHTA should persons wish to sell Maskanoobranded items (t-shirts, mugs etc). " Sponsors for this year's event include TCHTA, Cultural and Arts Commission, ScotiaBank, Got U Covered, Sun TCI, Free Press, Dove Security, Fortis TCI, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Adventurescape and HAB Group.

Companies interested in becoming sponsors and persons interested in selling food, arts and craft, toys etc are asked to contact TCHTA at 941-5787.

Handy’ Pro Maintenance Seeks

1 PLUMBER Salary $7.00 Contact 242-0388

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LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Jam Packed

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

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LOCAL NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Provo Primary celebrates Christmas with Aesop’s Funtastic Fables Provo Primary School is renowned in the community for putting on amazing Christmas productions and this year’s shows once again lived up to their great reputation.

On Friday and Saturday night, stories as old as time and as wise as ever were brought together in a magical musical production that enchanted ,educated and entertained our community as they watched the children perform Aesop’s Funtastic Fables.

Thanks to a mysterious, magical storyteller, a children’s picnic in the woods turns into an incredible lesson in life retelling some of Aesop’s famous fables. Learning from nature, they listen to the secret of the ants, take tea with the bees, share honey with a dancing bear and howl with a lonely wolf.

They meet the sly old fox and there is even a mouse that's best friends with a lion. They do battle with the Sun and Wind, watch a tortoise race a hare and meet a wise old owl who just can't stop giving good advice.

Through a collection of catchy songs and wonderful characters, the children learn that in spite of all their differences, there is a spirit of love and caring that makes us all the same.

Of course a Provo Primary production wouldn’t be complete without a bit of humor thrown in.

Lighter moments included some baaaaah baric jokes from the sheep scene and ANT eek jokes from the Ant scene. It included a Benny Hill chase and there was even a Beetle called John Lennon who was a great hit with the crowd singing songs like, “All You

SEE HIGHLIGHTS BELOW

Need Is Love”, “The Hippie Hippie Shake” and “It’s Been A Hard Day’s Night”.

On Wednesday night Provo Primary Early Years department put on their Christmas Extravaganza.

Tots sang Twinkle Twinkle Little star, using their knowledge of sign language to entertain the audience with their cuteness. The Pre-schoolers sang “Christmas All Around” and danced to “Rockin’ Robin”, while the Kindergarten acted out their unique version of The Gingerbread Boy, accompanied by the JK choir.

Well done to all the children and staff of Provo Primary!

For more information about the school please visit www.provoprimary.com or contact the school at 441 5638.

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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DECEMBER 8TH - DECEMBER 15TH, 2012 Page 27

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

COLOUR-

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

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FUN & GAMES LOCAL NEWS

Page 32

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

High fuel cost and maintenance increasing regional air fares READ MORE ON PAGE 34

Cayman Islands Premier says he will not resign Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush said Thursday in a prepared statement that he will not resign as premier.

According to the statement, Mr. Bush said he had done nothing wrong.

“I shall not be resigning as premier,” Mr. Bush said. “I also wish to assure one and all that the government continues to operate as normal. On the advice of my attorney and given the circumstances, I am unable to comment any further at this time. However, I will make further statements in due course.”

Mr. Bush thanked his supporters, friends and family “especially those in the district of West Bay” for their prayers, visits and words of encouragement.

The premier said he would travel to Jamaica, as previously scheduled, to accept conferral of an honourary doctorate from the University College of the Caribbean.

“I feel obligated to honour this commitment and have decided to attend,” Mr. Bush said. “I will be returning to the Island this Friday.”

The Royal Cayman Islands Police officers seized “a considerable amount of property” from the official residence of Premier McKeeva Bush Tuesday, according to a statement sent Wednesday afternoon.

The property includes computer equipment, police said.

“Mr. Bush has been placed on police bail until early February 2013, to allow further investigations to take place both here and abroad in connection with the allegations made against him,” the RCIPS statement said. “The investigations involving Mr. Bush are still very active and the RCIPS will be pursuing all lines of enquiry in consultation with the legal

Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush

department” Premier Bush was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of theft in connection with financial irregularities relating to the alleged misuse of a government credit card, and breach of trust, abuse of office and conflict of interest, contrary to Section 13, Section 17 and Section 19 of the Anti-Corruption Law 2008, in connection with the alleged importation of explosive substances without valid permits on or before February 2012.

He has not been charged with any crimes. A police representative refused to speculate as to whether charges might be filed before the early February bail date.

Police said Mr. Bush had undergone a number of interviews with detectives from the Financial Crime Unit over the past two days and the bail conditions allow officers to conduct further interviews with the premier, if needed.

Questions about whether Mr. Bush’s travel would be restricted during the bail period were not answered. As a general rule, police would have to determine whether an

arrested person was considered a flight risk if a passport was to be seized as a condition of bail.

In a statement to the media Tuesday, Police Commissioner David Baines noted that there had been “two very separate but distinct attempts to undermine the credibility of both the RCIPS and me personally”.

“It is not lost on me that these attacks come at a time when we are in the midst of a very sensitive and high profile investigation,” Mr. Baines said in a prepared statement. “Let me assure the public, and those who would seek to damage both my reputation and that of the RCIPS as a whole, that we will not allow them to detract us from the job at hand.” Legal concerns prevent us from publishing apparently unfounded allegations against the police commissioner in this article.

Still uncertain by press time was whether Mr. Bush would remain as leader of the ruling United Democratic Party and premier of the Cayman Islands.

A statement released by the United Democratic Party Tuesday indicated: “We, the government fully understand the gravity of this matter.” Nothing further had been released by press time.

Cayman Islands Opposition Leader Alden McLaughlin said Thursday evening that he would try to force Premier McKeeva Bush to step down from his position by convening a special meeting of the Legislative Assembly.

In a broadcast statement made Thursday, Mr. McLaughlin urged members of the elected government not to remain quiet in hopes that “this blows over”.

“Arguments about ‘innocent until proven guilty’ are not relevant,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “We are not

prejudging the guilt or innocence of Mr. Bush. That is a matter for a court of law - should he eventually be charged and prosecuted.

Mr. McLaughlin said reputational damage done to the local government, world perceptions of what was occurring here and a “virtual certainty” that Mr. Bush will be distracted by the criminal investigations were of more importance.

“In the interests of the Cayman Islands, I call on the members of the Cabinet: Hon Julianna O’ConnorConnolly; Hon Rolston Anglin, Hon. Mike Adam, Hon. Mark Scotland and the government back-bench, Hon. Cline Glidden, Capt. Eugene Ebanks, Mr. Dwayne Seymour and Mr. Ellio Solomon to take the necessary steps to remove Mr. McKeeva Bush as Premier and a minister of the Cabinet and appoint another of their number as Premier in his stead,’ Mr. McLaughlin said.

“If they do not do so by 3pm [Friday], I intend to immediately petition the Speaker of the House to call a special meeting of the Legislative Assembly early next week to consider the recent arrest of the Premier and his suitability to continue as Premier as a matter of urgent national importance.

“Should the Speaker decline to exercise her discretion to call a Special Meeting, I shall endeavour to obtain the signatures of at least 7 members of the House to compel the Speaker to do so. We will then proceed to file a Lack of Confidence motion to be debated in the Legislative Assembly which will give every member the opportunity to declare publicly where they stand on this critically important issue.”

Venezuela’s Chavez suffers complications after surgery Venezuela's Hugo Chavez suffered bleeding after a sixhour cancer operation in Cuba, the government said on Thursday, adding to a stream of somber news about the ailing president's condition.

Chavez's health has worsened dramatically since he won re-election two months ago, casting doubt on the future of his "21st century socialism" project, which won him huge support among the poor but infuriated adversaries who call him a fledgling dictator.

Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said doctors used "corrective measures" to stop the bleeding that resulted from the 58-year-old Chavez's cancer surgery on Tuesday.

It was his fourth operation since mid-2011. He claimed he was cured earlier this year, and was able to campaign for the election in October, but now appears to be fighting for his life again.

"This process of recovery will take time because of the complexity of the operation," Villegas said in a broadcast on national television, adding that Chavez's

condition had improved.

"The patient is in a progressive and favorable recovery of normal vital signs." He did not provide further details.

The ashen faces of cabinet ministers and somber tone of their terse official statements since Tuesday's surgery appear to suggest top government officials are preparing for the worst.

The president has refused to divulge the details of the cancer diagnosed in June last year. He has had four operations since then.

He won re-election by a big margin in October and is due to start a new six-year term on January 10.

According to the constitution, if he is unable to do so or steps down after starting a new term, an election must be held within 30 days.

On Saturday, Chavez anointed Vice President Nicolas Maduro as his heir apparent in case he had to step down - the first time since he took office in 1999 that he has named a successor.

The 50-year-old Maduro, a former union organizer

and loyal Chavez disciple who is seen as a pragmatic moderate, would be the ruling party's candidate.

Venezuelans held vigils and gathered in plazas to pray for the president's swift return.

State TV launched a spot that opens with Chavez's voice thundering "I am no longer myself, I am the people," followed by Venezuelans of all ages telling the camera: "I am Chavez."

Another shows short clips of him singing folk songs with supporters and reciting poetry. One rally for a "Chavista" candidate at Sunday's regional elections kicked off with a recording of the president singing the national anthem.

Senior government officials have begun cautiously preparing people for the reality that Chavez may not survive.

"At the same time as we pray, we should be ready to turn our sadness and pain into a force that can mobilize the people," Aristobulo Isturiz, a top ally of the president, told a rally of red-clad supporters.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

Fake police steal $11million in gold bars from fishing boat in Curacao WILLEMSTAD, Curacao — Masked men in jackets emblazoned with the word "police" boarded a fishing boat in Curacao and stole 70 gold bars worth an estimated $11.5 million, officials on the southern Caribbean island said.

The boat's captain was struck in the head in the early-morning assault before the thieves made off with the gold in three cars, police spokesman Reggie Huggins said. Authorities believe there were at least six men involved in the heist. No suspects were in custody.

Huggins declined to say who owned the approximately 476 pounds of gold but he said it was a legal shipment that was being trans-shipped through Curacao and officials in the island had been advised in advance

that it was coming as part of normal security protocols. He declined to disclose the eventual destination of the metal.

"Authorities knew of the shipment because the official procedure was followed," the spokesman said.

Curacao, just north of Venezuela, is primarily known as tourist destination, particularly for divers. It is also an offshore financial center, especially for people from South America.

Huggins said that guards to the port area let the assailants inside a restricted area in the mistaken belief that they were customs officials. The men's jackets had the word "police" in English but in Curacao the word would be written in Papiamento, one of the island's three official languages, as

"polis." During the robbery, crew members said they wore hoods and masks and made off with the gold in a matter of minutes.

"The crew said it was like a movie operation, very fast," Huggins said.

The captain and three crew members were from the South American country of Guyana, he said.

The boat, by its appearance, would seem an unlikely place to stash that amount of gold. The "Summer Bliss" is a fishing boat with rust streaks on its white cabin and no visible security.

A crew member who gave his name as Raymond Emmanuel told The Associated Press that they left Guyana four days ago and arrived early Friday in Curacao. Contradicting police, he said they were delivering the gold to a company in Curacao but said he did

not know the name of the business.

He referred questions about the source of the gold to the captain, who was meeting with authorities on the Dutch Caribbean island and not immediately available.

Emmanuel said the gold was locked away when the thieves boarded the vessel. "They took everything," he said.

The crew member said neither he nor anyone else on the vessel was armed. "This is normal," he said. "We never carry arms. Since I started working here, I've transported gold once before, and this is the system."

Colin Sparman, executive secretary of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, said legal shipments are typically made by air under heavy security.

St. Lucia now largest economy in eastern Caribbean, states IMF CASTRIES, St Lucia – The St Lucia government has received a stamp of approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its implementation of the controversial new Value Added Tax (VAT) but this will not be enough to sustain the economic growth of the eastern Caribbean nation cautioned the Washington-based institute.

Following a visit by an IMF staff team to St Lucia during November 27 to December 7 for its annual Article IV consultation with St Lucia public, private sector and trade union officials, a statement issued by the IMF yesterday (December 12) said that it welcomed the introduction of the VAT as this would modernize St Lucia’s tax system, broaden the tax base, and enhance revenue collection.

However, the IMF cautioned that the expected gain from the VAT could only be realized if all sectors contributed, and the base is shielded from the exemptions that have eroded the yield of other taxes.

Even then, it said, a considerable further effort would be needed to strengthen the fiscal position and bring it on track to reach the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union-wide debt target of 60 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020.

To be successful, stated the IMF, this adjustment effort will need to fall predominantly on current spending?especially containing the already large public wage bill and better targeting transfers and subsidies to the most vulnerable?as well as build on

the introduction of the VAT to further widen the tax base. It said these efforts were also necessary to safeguard needed productive investments and enhance the country’s competitiveness through restrained growth in wage costs.

“St. Lucia has weathered the difficult post-crisis environment well, becoming the largest economy in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).

Rising external headwinds, however, have dampened economic activity, with growth estimated to slow to 0.2-0.4 percent in 2012, despite government efforts to revive the economy. Low growth and high unemployment are weighing on financial institutions’ credit quality and their balance sheets.

Fiscal imbalances have also widened, reflecting past expansionary policies and the recent stimulus efforts to boost growth, and are expected to contribute to continued sizeable external current account deficits.

Inflation is projected to edge up in the wake of the introduction of the value added tax (VAT) on October 1, 2012, but the effect will be temporary,” stated the IMF’s St Lucia mission chief Aliona Cebotari in the release.

“Against this backdrop, the discussions with the authorities focused on achieving the appropriate balance between fostering growth and employment, while strengthening economic fundamentals through fiscal adjustment and addressing financial sector vulnerabilities,” she went on to add.

“With unemployment remaining very high,

especially among the youth, growth and job creation are appropriately key priorities for the government.

Addressing these challenges through fiscal policies is no longer an option because of lack of fiscal space.

The mission welcomed efforts under way to improve the efficiency of the public service, streamline the regulatory environment for investments, and establish the institutional underpinnings of competitiveness reforms, in order to boost St. Lucia’s growth potential. Additional structural reforms will be needed to improve the business climate, adapt the education system to the needs of the economy, reduce trading and electricity costs, and eliminate price and non-price impediments to credit availability. Most importantly, restraining growth in public wages will be key to safeguarding the economy’s competitiveness and growth potential going forward,” cautioned Cebotari.

“Restoring the health of the financial system is necessary to support the growth and stability objectives of the government. The mission discussed with the authorities measures to decisively address identified weaknesses in the financial system and its regulatory and supervisory environment, including by working closely with the regional bank supervisor and making the nonbank supervisory body (Financial Sector Regulatory Authority) fully operational. Passing the revamped legislation regulating credit unions and insurance companies will also be important in this respect,” she advised.

Caribbean Court of Justice to hear Shanique Myrie case next March KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will hear the Shanique Myrie lawsuit against the Barbados government on March 4 next year.

It’s the first time the regional court will sit in Jamaica.

The trial date was set at a case management conference Wednesday by video link established between the CCJ Headquarters in Port of Spain and

the Supreme Court of Jamaica in Kingston.

The CCJ judges said the first part of the case will run until March 12 and the second part of the hearing will be held in Barbados from March 18-22.

Following this, lawyers will make oral submissions in Trinidad from April 8-9.

Myrie, a Jamaican national has claimed that she was sexually assaulted

and subjected to derogatory remarks by a Barbadian Immigration officer at the Grantley Adams International Airport on March 14 last year.

Myrie is asking the CCJ to determine the minimum standard of treatment applicable to CARICOM citizens moving around the region.

Back in April, the CCJ granted Myrie special leave to bring her case against Barbados.

Shanique Myrie

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High fuel cost and maintenance increasing regional air fares ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Chairman of the financially strapped regional airline, LIAT, has defended the high cost of airfares charged by the Antigua based airline.

“There are those who argue that all the problems of air transportation in the region will be solved by competition which will lead to lower fares. They point out that when Caribbean Star, Caribbean Sun and REDjet, were operating and offering cheap fares, a great deal more people were travelling,” said LIAT’s chairman Jean Holder.

He told regional journalists that “if indeed, such airlines had decided, instead of offering cheap fares , to offer no fares at all, the number of people travelling would be so great that it could not be contained by the regions’ airports.

“The people, who argue in this manner, seem to take away no lessons from the fact that all the airlines mentioned above, went bankrupt and ceased to operate and the investors lost their money.”

He said currently, the operations of all Caribbean carriers offering fares not covered by their commercial costs,

are subsidized on an annual basis by their governments. He said the situation is also the same in the United States.

“The fact is, that any airline operating on these intra-Caribbean routes, which charges fares that reflect its real costs, cannot offer cheap fares, and any airline, not in receipt of subsidies, offering fares that do not reflect its true costs, will not survive.”

Holder said there seems to be a general belief abroad in the Caribbean that somehow LIAT has been exempt from the pain and suffering caused to all businesses by the poor state of the global economy, especially the economic difficulties in our tourism source markets, including the Caribbean market.

He said LIAT is not exempted from the extremely high cost of fuel, maintenance and manpower.

“Perhaps the reason for this, is that through all these difficult times, LIAT has continued to deliver its extensive services, many of which are not commercially profitable and amount to nothing more than a public service.

This situation cannot continue, especially when only three of the 21

destinations served by LIAT come to its aid when it is in financial difficulties.

“Unlike all the other Caribbean airlines in the region, LIAT does not enjoy the luxury of an annual subsidy in its annual budget up front to cushion annual financial losses. It also does not frequently enjoy the marketing support and flight guarantees that several foreign operators receive.

“As far as its daily operations are concerned, LIAT stays alive by negotiations with its bankers, the skills of it management, and being forced to charge the customer a level of fares that meet its costs. LIAT has no control over the level of taxes charged. It simply collects them.”

Holder told regional journalists that the real barrier to private sector airline competition is not LIAT, which is owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados.

He said it is the realistic fear of failure, urging the private sector to invest in the regional airline “which has stood the test of time.

“I am confident that this would lead to us having an airline which will

Jamaica has earned US$1.7 billion from tourism KINGSTON, Jamaica - Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Dr Wykeham McNeill, has revealed that Jamaica’s tourism earnings posted a 3.2 percent increase over the US$1.6 billion generated for the same period in 2011.

Addressing the recent thanksgiving service to mark the commencement of Tourism Awareness Week 2012, Dr McNeill disclosed that, to date, recorded some US$1.7 billion in earnings from tourism for 2012.

The minister also said stopover visitor arrivals grew this year to stand at 1.7 million between January and October, marking a 2.4 percent increase over the same period in 2011.

McNeill said these figures were evidence of the significant strides that Jamaica has made in efforts to tap into new markets, and expressed optimism that the country is poised for record arrivals next year, consequent on these.

“We anticipate 2013 to be a ground-breaking year for Jamaica, and we will continue to tap new markets for opportunities, while boosting destination marketing efforts in these markets,” the minister said.

He also provided details of new flight arrangements and existing ones that have been expanded, consequent on discussions with airlines serving new and traditional markets.

"For the (current) winter tourist season, we will commence an inaugural non-stop flight from Moscow, Russia, starting January 1, 2013, into Montego Bay. We have also confirmed flight service from the

Czech Republic, starting December 28.

In addition, there will also be non-stop service from Paris, France.

“Out of the United Kingdom, we will add another flight from Gatwick, London, that will become a weekly service starting in May 2013; while British Airways will maintain its three flights to Kingston, and Virgin Atlantic Airways, its three flights to Montego Bay,” McNeill outlined.

The minister said focus is also being placed on Latin America, while announcing that discussions with COPA Airlines have led to their confirming a doubling of their services from four to eight flights weekly flights into Jamaica, beginning the 2012 winter season.

“Approximately 1.1 million seats have already secured for the upcoming winter tourist season. These visitors will come from our traditional markets, including the United States, Canada, and Europe, as well as other markets such as Latin America,” the minister disclosed.

McNeill said the anticipated tourist arrivals result from a sustained advertising programme spearheaded by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), which included year-long destination wedding campaigns; innovative social media initiatives; travel agent specialist programmes; and delving deeper into niche travel markets. He advised that Jamaica will be participating in upcoming trade and consumer shows, as well as other publicity initiatives to further boost the tourism product.

perform successfully both in and outside the region,” he said, as the airline Friday unveiled a new business plan that it said would reverse years of economic problems.

Holder said that for the last six years, LIAT has not gone to its shareholder governments for any financial support for its daily operations.

But it now has no option but to approach its shareholders for some capital investment in a new fleet, he said, adding that the capital investment now needed would be a lot less onerous if it is shared among those for whom LIAT provides services every day.

“It is time, as was suggested by the President of the Caribbean Development Bank, to feed the cow, rather than drinking its milk, using a straw through the fence,’ Holder said, adding that he was “very encouraged by the promises of financial support” made by the Dominica government.

“I hope that others will follow this excellent example,” he said, reminding journalists that the airline faces daily challenges providing network services to 21 countries in the English, Dutch, French, Spanish Caribbean.

S&P downgrades CDB’s rating again BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Six months after Standard & Poor’s (S&P) lowered the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) prized ‘AAA’ rating by one notch to ‘AA+’ the Wall Street ratings agency has downgraded the financial institution again.

According to a statement issued yesterday (December 12) by the S&P, following a review of the CDB under the S&P’s revised criteria for multilateral lending institutions (MLIs), it lowered its long-term foreign currency issuer credit rating on the CDB to 'AA' from 'AA+', while revising the bank’s outlook from stable to negative due to “rising embedded risks in CDB's public-sector loan portfolio.”

While outlining its rationale for the rating given to the CDB, S&P noted that the CDB's "strong" business profile has elements that are weaker than those of higher-rated peers.

Although most borrowing members traditionally have treated CDB as a preferred creditor, one government borrower is more than 180 days in arrears to CDB on interest and principal, while the government has paid its commercial debt. By its policy, the bank has halted disbursements to this borrower in arrears, and a late interest penalty is accruing on the arrears.

S&P stated that preferred creditor treatment is an important element in its assessment because it speaks to CDB's membership support, capital adequacy, and our expectation of loss given default. CDB's exposure to the government borrower more than 180 days past due is 3% of loans and 5% of adjusted common equity (net of receivables from members).

Despite this latest downgrade, the S&P did acknowledge that there have been some improvements in the bank’s operations since its June 2012 downgrade.

In keeping with the pledge made by CDB president Dr Warren Smith to improve the bank’s internal risk management in the wake of the June 2012 downgrade wherein the S&P offered the option that the “CDB’s risk management is not commensurate with other ‘AAA’ rated multilateral lending institutions, particularly given its size and regional economic weakness”, the bank established a risk management unit and formalized a risk committee that will include senior management and the chief risk officer. Efforts are also being made to align the bank's policies of funding, liquidity, and capital adequacy with the board's stated risk appetite. While management has also proposed establishing a longer-term capital planning framework to manage the bank's capital, funding, and liquidity needs over a longer time horizon than the bank's current four-year cycle.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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HIGHLIGHTS

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McAfee released in Guatemala, flies off to Miami READ MORE ON PAGE 36

Embattled Susan Rice bows out of Secretary of State race; John Kerry new frontrunner WASHINGTON — Susan Rice, the embattled U.N. ambassador, abruptly withdrew from consideration to be the next secretary of state on Thursday after a bitter, weekslong standoff with Republican senators who declared they would fight to defeat her nomination.

The reluctant announcement makes Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry the likely choice to be the nation's next top diplomat when Hillary Rodham Clinton departs soon. Rice withdrew when it became clear her political troubles were not going away, and support inside the White House for her potential nomination had been waning in recent days, administration officials said.

In another major part of the upcoming Cabinet shake-up for President Barack Obama's second term, former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska now is seen as the front-runner to be defense secretary, with official word expected as soon as next week.

For the newly re-elected president, Rice's withdrawal was a sharp political setback and a sign of the difficulties Obama faces in a time of divided and divisive government. Already, he had been privately weighing whether picking Rice would cost him political capital he would need on later votes.

When Rice ended the embarrassment by stepping aside, Obama used the occasion to criticize Republicans who were adamantly opposed to her possible nomination.

"While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice

Susan Rice

in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character," he said.

"I am saddened we have reached this point," Rice said.

Obama made clear she would remain in his inner circle, saying he was grateful she would stay as "our ambassador at the United Nations and a key member of my Cabinet and national security team." Rice, too, said in her letter she would be staying.

Clinton, in a brief statement, said that Rice had "been an indispensable partner over the past four years" and that she was confident "that she will continue to represent the United States with strength and skill."

Rice had become the face of the bungled administration account of

what happened in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012, when four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya, were killed in what is now known to have been a terrorist attack.

Obama had defiantly declared he would chose her for secretary of state regardless of the political criticism, if he wanted, but such a choice could have gotten his second term off to a turbulent start with Capitol Hill.

In a letter to Obama, Rice said she was convinced the confirmation process would be "lengthy, disruptive and costly." The letter was part of a media rollout aimed at upholding her reputation. It included an NBC News interview in which she said her withdrawal "was the best thing for our country."

"Those of you who know me know that I'm a fighter, but not at the cost of what's right for our country," she tweeted later.

Rice may end up close to Obama's side in another way, as his national security adviser should Tom Donilon move on to another position, though that is not expected imminently. The security adviser position would not require Senate confirmation.

Rice would have faced strong opposition from Senate Republicans who challenged her much-maligned televised comments about the cause of the deadly raid on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Her efforts to satisfy Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Kelly Ayotte and Susan Collins in unusual, private sessions on Capitol Hill fell

short. The Republicans emerged from the meetings still expressing doubts about her qualifications.

"The position of secretary of state should never be politicized," Rice said.

"As someone who grew up in an era of comparative bipartisanship and as a sitting U.S national security official who has served in two U.S. administrations, I am saddened that we have reached this point."

Attention now shifts to Kerry, who came close to winning the presidency in 2004 and has been seen as desiring the State job. In a statement, he made no mention of his own candidacy but praised Rice, who was an adviser to him in his presidential bid. Kerry was an early backer of Obama and was under consideration to become his first secretary of state. Obama has dispatched Kerry to foreign hot spots on his behalf. Kerry played the role of Republican Mitt Romney during Obama's presidential debate preparations this year.

The longtime senator would be almost certain to be easily confirmed by his colleagues on Capitol Hill.

If Obama taps Kerry for State, the president will create a potential problem for Democrats by opening a Senate seat — one that recently defeated Republican Sen. Scott Brown is eyeing. Brown had been elected as Massachusetts' other senator in January 2010 after Democrat Ted Kennedy died, stunning the political world as he took the seat held by Kennedy for decades. Brown lost that seat in the November election.

Hamas subdued despite Gaza victory claim-Israeli military Israel's offensive on Gaza has deterred Hamas from new hostilities despite its claims of victory and the front is now at its quietest in 20 years, a senior Israeli military officer said.

Vastly lopsided shelling exchanges over eight days killed 170 Palestinians and 6 Israelis before the November 21 truce brokered by Egypt.

The Islamist militant group Hamas, which for the first time managed to fire rockets towards Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during the conflict, says it won in the absence of an Israeli ground invasion that might have toppled its Gaza administration.

The officer said Hamas should be allowed to save face after failing to inflict more pain on the Jewish state.

"Their jubilation was not from victory, it was from their relief at being able to emerge from shelters," said the officer, who could not be identified by name under military regulations.

"They took a major blow and they have to patch up their honor," he said.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians took to the streets of the Gaza Strip last weekend to welcome the first visit by their previously exiled leader Khaled Meshaal. He declared victory at a rally and vowed to seize all of modern-day Israel one day.

The ceasefire brought Palestinians access to border farmland and fishing waters that Israel had previously kept off-limits and truce talks might lead to a further rolling back of Israel's blockade of the coastal strip.

There have been scattered confrontations since, with Israeli troops killing two Palestinians who neared the border fence.

The officer said such incidents were rare and lacked the backing of Hamas and other armed Palestinian factions, which he said were now "thoroughly daunted" by Israel and trying to shore up the calm or at least avoid breaching it.

"A quiet like we had over the past month hasn't happened in 20 years," the officer said.

Palestinians won limited self-rule in 1993. Gaza was a hotbed of a Palestinian revolt that erupted in 2000, leading Israel to pull out five years later. Hamas took over the enclave in a Palestinian war in 2007 and has often fought Israel since.

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US to send troops, Patriot missiles to Turkey The United States gave the go-ahead Friday to deploy Patriot anti-ballistic missiles to Turkey along with enough troops to operate them as the heavily embattled government in neighboring Syria again vehemently denied firing ballistic missiles at rebels.

The United States has accused Damascus of launching Scud-type artillery from the capital at rebels in the country's north. One Washington official said missiles came close to the border of Turkey, a NATO member and staunch U.S. ally.

Syria's government called the accusations "untrue rumors" Friday, according to state news agency SANA. Damascus accused Turkey and its

partners of instigating rumors to make the government look bad internationally.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta signed the order while en route to Turkey to send two Patriot missile batteries and 400 U.S. troops to operate them. The surface-to-air interceptors will help in "dealing with threats that come out of Syria," Panetta said after landing at Incirlik Air Base, a U.S. Air Force installation about 80 miles from Syria's border.

Panetta was unconcerned about possible reactions from Damascus to the Patriot deployment.

"We can't spend a lot of time worrying about

whether that pisses off Syria," he said, adamant that helping Turkey was the priority.

Panetta did say he was worried what Bashar alAssad's government may do if it feels it is near collapse.

Descriptions provided to CNN by U.S. officials familiar with the latest intelligence suggest the Syrian leader's problems have accelerated internally as the opposition continues to capture more territory.

"It's at its lowest point yet," said one senior U.S. official with direct knowledge of the latest assessments. "The trend is moving more rapidly than it has in the past."

The officials agreed to talk on the condition their names not be used because they were not authorized to discuss the information with the media.

When asked what the response might be if Syria deployed chemical weapons, Panetta said that the U.S. military had "drawn up plans" but that "it's not easy" to defend against them.

Russia acknowledges Assad losing control in Syria MOSCOW — Syria's most powerful ally, Russia, said for the first time Thursday that President Bashar Assad is losing control of his country and the rebels might win the civil war, dramatically shifting the diplomatic landscape at a time of enormous momentum for the opposition.

While Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov gave no immediate

signal that Russia would change its stance and agree to impose international sanctions on Assad's regime, his remarks will likely be seen as a betrayal in Damascus and could persuade many Syrians to shift their loyalties and abandon support for the government.

Russia's assessment could also further strengthen the hand of the

DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

rebels, who have made some significant gains in their offensive, capturing two major military bases and mounting a serious challenge to Assad's seat of power, Damascus.

"We must look at the facts: There is a trend for the government to progressively lose control over an increasing part of the territory," Bogdanov, the Foreign Ministry's pointman on Syria, said during hearings at a Kremlin advisory body, the Public Chamber. "An opposition victory can't be excluded."

Bogdanov's statement marks a clear attempt by the Kremlin to begin positioning itself for Assad's eventual defeat. He said that Russia is prepared to evacuate thousands of its citizens from Syria, although

he didn't say when that might happen.

At the same time, Bogdanov reaffirmed Russia's call for a compromise, saying it would take the opposition a long time to defeat the regime and Syria would suffer heavy casualties.

"The fighting will become even more intense, and you will lose tens of thousands and, perhaps, hundreds of thousands of people," he said. "If such a price for the ouster of the president seems acceptable to you, what can we do? We, of course, consider it absolutely unacceptable."

Bogdanov repeated that Russia would stick to an agreement reached in Geneva in June calling for negotiations involving the government and the opposition.

Russia has joined with China at the United Nations Security Council to veto three resolutions that would have imposed sanctions on Assad's regime over its bloody crackdown on the uprising that began in March 2011.

Moscow also has continued to provide the Syrian government with weapons despite strong international protests.

For North Korea, next step is a nuclear test SEOUL - North Korea's next step after rattling the world by putting a satellite into orbit for the first time will likely be a nuclear test, the third conducted by the reclusive and unpredictable state.

A nuclear test would be the logical follow-up to Wednesday's successful rocket launch, analysts said. The North's 2009 test came on May 25, a month after a rocket launch.

For the North and its absolute ruler Kim Jong-un, the costs of the rocket program and its allied nuclear weapons efforts - estimated by South Korea's government at $2.8-$3.2 billion since 1998 - and the risk of additional U.N. or unilateral sanctions are simply not part of the calculation.

"North Korea will insist any sanctions are unjust, and if sanctions get toughened, the likelihood of North Korea carrying out a nuclear test is high," said Baek Seung-joo of the Korea Institute of Defense Analyses.

The United Nations Security Council is to discuss how to respond to the launch, which it says is a breach of sanctions imposed in 2006 and 2009 that banned the isolated and impoverished state from missile and nuclear developments in the wake of its two nuclear weapons tests.

The only surprise is that the Security Council appears to believe it can dissuade Pyongyang, now on its third hereditary ruler since its foundation in 1948, from further nuclear or rocket tests.

Even China, the North's only major diplomatic backer, has limited clout on a state whose policy of self reliance is backed up by an ideology that states: "No matter how precious peace is, we will never beg for peace.

Peace lies at the end of the barrel of our gun."

As recently as August, North Korea showed it was well aware of how a second rocket launch this year, after a failed attempt in April, would be received in Washington.

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WORLD NEWS

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McAfee released in Guatemala, flies off to Miami GUATEMALA CITY -- Anti-virus software founder John McAfee was released from a detention center Wednesday and was escorted by immigration officials and police trucks to the Guatemala City airport, where he was put on a commercial flight bound for Miami.

McAfee sat in a coach-class seat on the flight, which took off at midafternoon.

The escort to the airport, accompanied by a throng of journalists and two police trucks with sirens blaring, marked the last chapter for McAfee's strange, monthlong odyssey to avoid police questioning about the killing of an American expatriate in neighboring Belize.

"McAfee entered the country illegally," immigration service spokesman Fernando Lucero said.

"Guatemala is expelling him. Since his country of origin is the United States, Guatemala is expelling him to the United States."

In one of the most highly publicized flights from police questioning since O.J. Simpson led police on televised low-speed car chase, McAfee constantly blogged and spoke with reporters about his life on the lam.

Bystanders in Guatemala City stopped to stare at the passing police convoy, and people at the airport crowded around the immigration truck carrying McAfee, straining to take

Anti-virus software founder John McAfe

pictures of him with their cellphones.

Dressed in a black suit and white shirt, McAfee said: "I'm free. I'm going to America."

He suggested his weeklong detention in Guatemala for entering the country clandestinely had taken its toll on him.

"All I can tell you is I'm 10 years older, and I don't know what I'm doing.

I'm just going to Miami," he said.

McAfee was detained last week for immigration violations after he sneaked into Guatemala from Belize, where authorities sought to question him about the murder of a neighbor.

He apparently crossed at a rural, unguarded spot along the border, but a

judge this week ruled his detention illegal and ordered him freed.

His 20-year-old Belizean girlfriend, Samantha Vanegas, who has accompanied him since he went on the run, was not with him on the ride to the airport, though she later showed up at the terminal. Known as "Sam," she was seen earlier Wednesday leaving the detention facility crying, after taking breakfast to McAfee.

On the blog he has been posting on for the last two weeks, McAfee wrote that "I have been forcibly separated from Sam," but claimed she would be coming to the United States later.

McAfee said Sunday that he wanted to return to the United States and "settle down to whatever normal life" he can. The 67-year-old said "I simply would like to live comfortably day by day, fish, swim, enjoy my declining years."

Police in Belize want to question McAfee in the fatal shooting of a U.S. expatriate who lived near McAfee's home on a Belizean island in November.

The creator of the McAfee antivirus program has denied involvement in the killing. Belizean authorities have urged him to show up for questioning, but have not lodged any formal charges against him.

McAfee is an acknowledged practical joker who has dabbled in yoga, ultra-light aircraft and the production of herbal medications. He

has said he feared he would be killed if he turned himself in to Belizean authorities.

Belize's prime minister, Dean Barrow, has expressed doubts about McAfee's mental state, saying: "I don't want to be unkind to the gentleman, but I believe he is extremely paranoid, even bonkers."

The British-born McAfee said Sunday that returning to the United States "is my only hope now." But he later added: "I would be happy to go to England. I have dual citizenship."

He was in hiding in Belize for weeks after police pronounced him a person of interest in the killing of Gregory Viant Faull. McAfee acknowledges that his dogs were bothersome and that Faull had complained about them days before some of the dogs were poisoned, but denies killing Faull. Faull's home was a couple of houses down from McAfee's compound on Ambergris Caye, off Belize's Caribbean coast.

McAfee has led an eccentric life since he sold his stake in the software company named after him in the early 1990s and moved to Belize about three years ago to lower his taxes.

He told The New York Times in 2009 that he had lost all but $4 million of his $100 million fortune in the U.S. financial crisis. However, a story on the Gizmodo website quoted him as describing that claim as "not very accurate at all."

Nurse in British royal hoax found hanging LONDON — A nurse was found hanging in her room three days after she had been duped by a hoax call from Australian DJs about the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, a U.K. inquest was told. The case is being treated as an apparent suicide.

Nurse Jacintha Saldanha was discovered hanging by a scarf from a wardrobe in her nurses' quarters Dec. 7 by a colleague and a member of security staff at London's King Edward VII Hospital, coroner's officer Lynda Martindill said Thursday.

Martindill said an attempt to revive Saldanha failed.

Police detective chief inspector James Harman said Saldanha, 46, also had injuries to her wrists.

He told the inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court that two notes were found at the scene and another was found among Saldanha's belongings. He said there were no suspicious circumstances, meaning nobody else was involved in Saldanha's death.

Harman said police were examining the notes, interviewing the nurse's friends, family and colleagues and looking at emails and phone calls to establish what led to her death.

He also said detectives would be contacting police in the Australian state of New South Wales to collect "relevant evidence."

Saldanha answered the phone last week when two Australian disc jockeys called seeking information about the former Kate Middleton, who was being treated for severe morning sickness. The DJs impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, and Saldanha was tricked into transferring the call to another nurse, who revealed private details about the duchess' condition.

The DJs, 2DayFM's Mel Greig and Michael Christian, apologized for the prank in emotional interviews on Australian television, saying they never expected their call would be put through. The show was taken off the air and the DJs have been suspended.

New South Wales state police said Friday that they were investigating a letter sent to the station that made several threats against the DJs. Police declined to release details of the letter.

"The safety of our employees is an absolute priority," 2DayFM's parent company Southern Cross Austereo said in a statement. "We have sensible

measures in place, as we always do, to ensure our people are safe. This is now a matter for the police, and we trust they will investigate any specific threats that emerge."

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is investigating whether radio station 2DayFM breached its broadcasting license conditions and the industry code of practice.

In London, coroner Fiona Wilcox opened and adjourned Saldanha's inquest until March 26.

Wilcox expressed "my sympathies to her family and everybody who has been touched by this tragic death."

In Britain, inquests are held to determine the facts whenever someone dies unexpectedly, violently or in disputed circumstances. Inquests do not determine criminal liability or apportion blame.

Saldanha, who was born in India, lived in Bristol in southwestern England with her husband and two teenage children. Her husband, Benedict Barboza, has said she will be laid to rest in Shirva, India.

The family was not in court. Lawmaker Keith Vaz, who has spoken on their behalf, said the nurse's loved ones "need time to grieve."

Going away for the holidays?

Make your home look like someone is living in it, e.g. don't close your curtains. In daytime this shows your house is empty. Also, use automatic timer-switches to turn your lights and radios on when it goes dark. You can do this even if you are just going out for the evening

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HIGHLIGHTS

iPhone 5 hits China, as Apple market share slips READ MORE ON NEXT PAGE 39

Facebook unveils new privacy controls Facebook Inc began rolling out a variety of new privacy controls on Wednesday, the company's latest effort to address user concerns about who can see their personal information on the world's largest social network.

New tools introduced on Wednesday will make it easier for Facebook's members to quickly determine who can view the photos, comments and other information about them that appears on different parts of the website, and to request that any objectionable photos they're featured in be removed.

A new privacy "shortcut" in the top-right hand corner of the website provides quick access to key controls such as allowing users to manage who can contact them and to block specific people.

The new controls are the latest changes to Facebook's privacy settings, which have been criticized in the past for being too confusing.

Facebook Director of Product Sam Lessin said the changes were designed to increase users' comfort level on the social network, which has roughly one billion users.

"When users don't understand the concepts and controls and hit surprises, they don't build the confidence they need," said Lessin.

Facebook, Google Inc and other online companies have faced increasing scrutiny and enforcement from privacy regulators as consumers entrust ever-increasing amounts of information about their personal lives to Web services.

In April, Facebook settled privacy charges with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that it had deceived consumers and forced them to share more personal information than they intended. Under the settlement, Facebook is required to get user consent for certain changes to its privacy settings and is subject to 20 years of independent audits.

Facebook's Lessin said some users don't understand that the information they post on their Timeline profile page is not the only personal information about them that may be viewable by others. Improvements to Facebook's so-called Activity Log will make it easier for users to see at a glance all the information that involves them across the social network.

Facebook also said it is changing the way that thirdparty apps, such as games and music players, get permission to access user data. An app must now provide separate requests to create a personalized service based on a user's personal information and to post automated messages to the Facebook newsfeed on behalf of a user - previously users agreed to both conditions by approving a single request.

The revamped controls follow proposed changes that Facebook has made to its privacy policy and terms of service. The changes would allow Facebook to integrate user data with that of its recently acquired photo-sharing app Instagram, and would loosen restrictions on how members of the social network can contact other members using the Facebook email system.

Nearly 600,000 Facebook users voted to reject the proposed changes, but the votes fell far short of the roughly 300 million needed for the vote to be binding, under Facebook's existing rules. The proposed changes also would eliminate any such future votes

by Facebook users.

Yahoo CEO Mayer revamps email in first big product move Yahoo Inc rolled out new versions of its popular Web email on Tuesday, the first major product makeover since Chief Executive Marissa Mayer took the helm of the struggling Internet company five months ago.

Yahoo released new versions of its Yahoo Mail product for smartphones and tablets - in keeping with Mayer's focus on mobile devices - and a revamped version of its Web-based mail product for PC users that cuts out ancillary features and that the company said delivers faster performance.

"You've told us loud and clear that you want fewer distractions when it comes to email. You want to quickly login, communicate, and get on with your day," Mayer said in a post on Yahoo's official blog on Tuesday.

Yahoo is the No. 1 Web email product in the United States and No. 3 worldwide, behind Google Inc's Gmail and Microsoft Corp's Hotmail, according to comScore.

But the number of unique users of Yahoo email declined 16 percent in November from a year earlier in the United States and 7 percent worldwide in October, according to comScore.

Gmail's unique users increased 25 percent in the U.S. in November and 20 percent worldwide in October.

Analysts say Yahoo's email decline also owes partly to the broader trend of younger Internet users who prefer to communicate with text messages rather than email.

Mayer, 37, is moving to revitalize Yahoo's various Web products and reverse years of declining revenue. A former Google executive, Mayer is

Yahoo’s Chief Executive Marissa Mayer

widely admired in Silicon Valley for her Web product savvy, though some analysts and investors have expressed caution, noting that Mayer has never before led an entire company as CEO. She has said her top priority is to create a coherent mobile strategy for Yahoo and that she intends for at least half of the company's technical workforce to be working on mobile products.

As part of Tuesday's announcement, Yahoo unveiled an update to its mobile email app for smartphones based on the Android operating system, as well as Yahoo's first stand-alone app for Apple's iPhone.

Yahoo also released a version designed for tablets and PCs based on Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system.

Vivek Sharma, General Manager of Yahoo Mail & Messenger, said the

group of new mobile apps was part of Yahoo's goal of ensuring that its products are available across all major mobile platforms -- a move that he said should help Yahoo's email stay popular with the younger generation of users.

"Most of the new users, especially young ones, are using mobile Internet devices. So the first order of things is to make sure there are native experiences for them," said Sharma referring to mobile apps that are specially designed for smartphones.

The new PC version of Yahoo Mail features fewer ads, primarily by doing away with pass-through Web pages that users previously encountered before they could access their inbox and which appeared after a user sent an email.

Eliminating those pages, and improvements to the way Yahoo displays its email Web pages, means that users can now reach their inboxes 40 percent faster, Sharma told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

Yahoo's email product is an important piece of Yahoo's overall online business, serving as a conduit to bring in users which Yahoo then tries to redirect to its other websites, such as news articles, stock quotes and videos.

By simplifying the product's look, Yahoo could increase the amount of time that users spend visiting its online properties, said RBC Capital Markets analyst Andre Sequin.

"A website can be incredibly useful, but if a user interface is annoying or has too many flashing ads, it can drive a person away," said Sequin.

Honda to recall 871,000 vehicles for roll-away problem Motor Co will recall 871,000 vehicles that could roll away after the ignition key has been removed, including 807,000 in the United States, the company said on Wednesday.

The automaker said a part in the ignition interlock could become damaged or worn, enabling the key to be removed even if the vehicle's transmission lever has not been shifted into park.

"If the transmission is not in park and the parking brake is not set, the vehicle could roll away and a crash could occur," the company said in a statement.

Honda said the recall affects 318,000 Odyssey minivans and 259,000 Pilot crossovers from model years 2003-2004, and 230,000 Acura MDX crossovers from model years 2003-2006. The recall also includes 64,000 Honda vehicles outside the United States.

U.S. safety investigators in October opened a probe into the 2003-2004 Odyssey and Pilot after receiving 43 consumer complaints, including several reports of injuries, related to the ignition switch.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had received complaints alleging some Honda vehicles had rolled away and stopped only after hitting objects such as parked cars, fences, a tree and a mailbox.

One consumer reported being knocked down and run over, sustaining a fractured fibula, while trying to stop a 2003 Odyssey from rolling away, NHTSA said in its initial notice of the defect investigation.

American Honda said it will begin sending recall notices to owners in February

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

UBS faces $1bn fine over Libor allegations UBS faces a record fine of more than $1bn to settle allegations that it manipulated Libor as the worldwide probe into rigging of the benchmark rate gathers pace.

The bank and various authorities around the world are locked in lastminute negotiations that are likely to see UBS publicly settle as early as Mo Such a fine would more than double the $450m Barclays paid in a then-record settlement over Libor this summer – despite UBS partially winning leniency for co-operating with authorities.

A hefty fine over Libor-rigging would cap a terrible year for the Swiss-

based bank that has seen a rogue trader go to jail, a SFr349m ($377m) loss on the botched Facebook IPO, and a curtailing of its once-mighty investment bank.

Its long chain of mishaps threatened to undermine the reputation of UBS’s core wealth-management business, and has contributed to the decision by chief executive Sergio Ermotti, and his new chairman, Axel Weber, two months ago to cut 10,000 jobs and wind down a sizeable part of the investment bank.

“After such high losses from operational and credit problems such as structured credit, rogue trading and

Libor, investors applaud them closing a significant chunk of the investment bank and refocusing on wealth management,” said Huw van Steenis, an analyst at Morgan Stanley.

UBS’s share price dropped slightly Thursday after the FT revealed the size of the Libor fine, ending the day 1 per cent down at SFr15.08. Even by September the bank had set aside SFr897m in legal provisions.

UBS’s compliance failures were underscored last month when a former trader was sentenced to seven years in prison for the biggest banking fraud in British history – a scandal that cost the bank $2.3bn in rogue trades, its chief

executive, and a £29.7m fine levied by the UK’s Financial Services Authority.

That will be a fraction of the fine demanded by the FSA, along with the US Department of Justice and US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and by Finma, UBS’s main Swiss supervisor, to settle Libormanipulation allegations.

All four are expected to extract some sort of monetary settlement; Finma cannot impose fines but can demand that companies give up illgotten gains.

Libor is the umbrella term for benchmark rates that underpin the terms of $350tn of contracts from mortgages to the cost of corporate lending. The probe, which has embroiled about 20 of the world’s biggest banks and interdealer brokers, has accelerated with the first arrests taking place this week in the UK. UBS, the FSA, Finma and the US authorities all declined to comment.

iPhone 5 hits China, as Mercedes sees record Apple market share slips US sales, won't win luxury race Mercedes-Benz expects to lose its lead in the U.S. luxury market to German rival BMW, which is expected to be aggressive in its incentive strategy this month.

The automakers have been in a tight race for the top spot in the competitive U.S. luxury market, with Mercedes slightly ahead of BMW by about 2,000 vehicles through November.

But a top Mercedes executive said on Thursday that the luxury nameplate will likely fall back, even as it posts record U.S. sales of more than 270,000 for the year.

"I don't think we're going to win the sales race this year," Steve Cannon, the head of Mercedes-Benz USA, told reporters during a luncheon in Detroit.

Cannon, who was promoted to his position a year ago, said that there was no pressure from top executives in Germany to reach the No. 1 spot. Mercedes' expanded and refreshed lineup drove U.S. sales to their highest level yet, he said.

Both automakers are expected to use incentives and special financing offers to drum up sales during the holiday season. But BMW, in particular, "pulls some very large numbers" in December, Mercedes spokeswoman Donna Boland said.

In December, BMW tends to "slather on incentives like butter on toast," IHS Automotive analyst Rebecca Linland said, adding that BMW also markets its deals more aggressively than Mercedes.

BMW was the best-selling luxury brand in the United States last year, ending the 11-year reign of Toyota Motor Corp's Lexus brand, which was hurt by vehicle shortages after the earthquake in Japan in March 2011.

Through November of this year, Mercedes has sold about 246,000 vehicles, slightly ahead of BMW, which has sold about 244,000 vehicles.

The China release of its iPhone 5 on Friday should win Apple Inc some respite from a recent slide in its share of what is likely already the world's biggest smartphone market, but its longer-term hopes may depend on new technology being tested by China's top telecoms carrier.

Cupertino, California-based Apple has been in talks about a tie-up with China Mobile for four years. A deal with China's biggest carrier is seen as crucial to improve Apple's distribution in a market of 290 million users - which is forecast to double this year.

China is Apple's second-largest and fastest-growing market - it brings in Security guards stand at the entrance of an Apple Store in China after the iPhone released there on December 14th, 2012 around 15 percent of total revenue - but the company's failure to strike a deal with China Mobile means it is missing out on a large number of phone users. As the China pie grows, Apple's sales increase, but without China Mobile, it's losing ground at a faster rate compared to other brands.

"In absolute terms, this (iPhone 5) launch will certainly result in strong sales for Apple in China.

However, in relative terms, I don't believe it will move the needle enough in market share," said Shiv Putcha, a Mumbai-based analyst at Ovum, a global technology consultant.

On Friday, just one person was waiting outside the Apple store in Shanghai's financial district when its doors opened at 9 a.m., a contrast to the launch of the iPhone 4 earlier this year when rowdy crowds pelted a Beijing store with eggs.

China Mobile and Apple initially said they were separated only by a technical issue - as the Chinese carrier runs a different 3G network from most of the world - but that has evolved into a broader and more complex issue of revenue-sharing.

Samsungs Galaxy S3 to get Premium Suite upgrade Samsung's Galaxy S3 is getting the company's Premium Suite upgrade pack.

Samsung launched a video showing just some of the features coming to its flagship handset. The upgrade, which was previously announced for theGalaxy Note 10.1, adds a new featured called Page Buddy that predicts what the users want to do based on their actions. So, if the Galaxy S3 owner plugs in earphones, the software will load the music player.

A contextual menu feature is also available in the Premium Suite upgrade, allowing users to see their most frequently used apps, rather than an entire list. The Reader Mode lets users change text size and share Web pages, and a Facebook Lock Ticker addition displays a person's social news feed on the handset's lock screen. The upgrade will

also support multiple windows.

Samsung's Galaxy S3 is widely considered one of the bestAndroid-based smartphones on the market, and has sold exceptionally well. In the third quarter alone, Samsung shipped 18 million Galaxy S3 units, up from 5.4 million in the second quarter.

In its review of the Galaxy S3, CNET editors awarded the device four stars out of five for its "high-performing hardware and creative software features."

Samsung hasn't said when it'll start rolling out its upgrade. The company says that "availability and timing" of the update will "vary depending on country and mobile carrier." Samsung says that the updates outlined in its blog post are just part one, and it will deliver more news of updates soon.

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Jaguars destroys KB Homes

A record unbeaten boundary filled 150 runs by Nuwan Bhodinayake enabled Jaguars to beat KB Homes as the Turks and Caicos Islands T20 Cricket Competition continued on Sunday December 9th at the Downtown Ball Park in Providenciales.

Batting first after winning the toss, KB Homes rattled up an impressive 189 runs for 9 wickets from 18.1 overs.

Gareth Butler topscored with 85 runs which was decorated with 15x4 and 1x6 and Paul McKenzie contributed 32 runs, 2x6 and 3x4.

Bowling for Jaguars, Mark Henry claimed 3 wickets for 12 runs from 3.1 overs and Winick Caleb took 3 wickets for 55 runs from 4 overs. In reply, Jaguars raced to the target reaching 190 runs from 1 wicket, from 17 overs. Top scorer was Nuwan Bhodinayake with 150 runs not out which was punctuated, 13x4 and 8x6.

Chrisopher McFarlene added 34 runs and George Niles 18.

Bowling for KB Homes, Paul Slattery had 1 wicket for 30 runs from 4 overs.

Man of the Match Nuwan Bhodinayake

Clement Howell, Wesley Methodist win in High School Basketball

In High school basketball competition played Bethel registered 4 points. on December 8, Clement Howell High (team B) In game two, CHHS (team A) defeated. E.G defeated TCIPS 46 – 11. CHHS’s (B) Edwin Youth Center – 37 – 28. CHHS’s (A) Peterson Elsie shot 11 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist. D. Sylvain registered 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, Duncan registered 5 points and 2 rebounds. 1 block and 3 steals. Youth center’s R. Arisnord TCIPS’s Handy shot 5 points and 4 rebounds. I. shot 9 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist.

In game three, Wesley Methodist def. BWIC 34 – 29. Wesley’s Kemal Smith ended with 21 points, 1 rebound and 3 steals. BWIC Q. Higgs finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals.

Basketball heats up

In the Provo Basketball Association League night games, played on December 6, Steelers defeated Top Shottas 66 -47 in game one. Steelers Eventz Missick shot 17points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 block and two 2 steals. C. Henry sank 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. Shottas’ C. Dean scored 17 points and 5 rebounds. S. Smith scored 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assist, 1 steal.

In game two Police defeated. North Caicos (Spartans) 60 – 56. Police’s Sandro Germain ended with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. D. Smith shot 17 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Spartans A. Forbes scored 12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. E. Williams ended with 9 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assist and 5 steals. R. Robinson grabbed 15 rebounds.

In game three G.T Stallions turned back Predators 79 – 47. Stallions’ Ira Taylor shot 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assist, 3 blocks, and 2steals.

M. Lightbourne shot 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists. Predators’ K. Handfield ended with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 3 steals.

L. Outten finished with 9 points, 4 assists, 1 block, sank 11 points, 9 rebounds and 1 block.

2 steals.

Another round of games, saw Knights defeating 7th December 2012 Top Shottas 63 – 49 in game one. Knights’ Tori In another round of night games, Predators Dean sank 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assist and 1 steal. defeated. Cobras 48 – 45 in game one. Predators’ A. Gardiner shot 15 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assist, Troy Saunders 13 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 blocks, 3 steals. Shottas’ C. Dean registered 14 2 steals. E. Johnson shot 7 pointts, 8 rebounds, points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 2 steals. S. 2 blocks, 1 steal. Cobras’ S. Bien-Aime shot 12 Smith shot 10 points, 3 rebounds and 4 steals.

In game two, South Caicos (Habour Boys) points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. G. Aigeno finished defeated. Customs 54 – 50. Habours’ Jonathan Paul with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assist and 4 steals.

In game two Police defeated. Customs 46 shot 13 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assist and 2 steals.

– 41. Police’s Sandro Germain shot 22 points, 11 A. Parker shot 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists rebounds and 1 steal. D. Smith ended with 7points, and 2 steals. Customs D. Hanna shot 16 points, 4 2 rebounds and 2 assist. Customs’ D. Hanna ended rebounds and 2 steals. E. Johnson shot 10 points, 2 with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. S. Hilaire rebounds, 1 steal.

In game three, Police defeated. Steelers 59 registered 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3steals. M. Forbes – 52. Police’s Sandro Germain shot 20 points, 9 grabbed 19 rebounds.

In game three Flyers defeated. Knights 91 – rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. K. Doughty shot 18 56. Flyers’ Steve Brass ended with 16 points, 3 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals. Steelers rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block. E. Seymour registered C. Henry registered 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assist 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Knights’ T. Dean and 3 steals. E. Missick ended with 10 points, 5 shot 14 points, 1 rebound and 1 steal. D. Weydens rebounds, 7 assist, 6 steals.

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

Jamaica out of 2013 Gold Cup as Caribbean qualifers set READ STORY BELOW

West Indies captain disappointed despite T20 win The West Indies captain Darren Sammy admitted that their goal ahead of the Bangladesh tour had not been fulfilled after they won two out of the three formats. Their win in the one-off Twenty20 international ensured they left in good spirits, but the ODI series loss was still hurting the visitors.

"We won the same amount of series as we did last year so we haven't achieved what we set out to do," Sammy said. "Bangladesh played really well, especially in the ODIs. We are disappointed losing the ODI series."

However, Sammy was pleased to win the Twenty20 match, West Indies' first game as World Twenty20 champions after their back-from-thehead victory against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Marlon Samuels played a stellar hand in that game, with a superbly crafted 78, and he did a similar job in Mirpur as he held the innings together with an unbeaten 85 off 43 balls.

"The way Marlon was playing that innings, it surely reminded me the game against Sri Lanka," Sammy said.

cost 17 followed by 26 from the next two.

"We expected them to come hard at us. You have to go hard all the time when the run-rate is ten an over.

Although they only lost one wicket, they were short by 18 runs. I wanted to win and end the year in a good note."

Sammy pinpointed Bangladesh's achievement of keeping Chris Gayle quiet for ten innings in a row as a notable part of the tour. Gayle made 166 runs across all formats over the last four weeks, an aspect of the contests which the Bangladesh captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, called a "big achievement" for the hosts.

"They managed to keep Gayle quiet throughout the series, something Captain Darren Sammy said Monday the West Indies were pleased to have finished the Bangladesh that not many teams have done in his career," Sammy said. "They executed tour on a winning note but disappointed at failing to win all formats during the series. well against him. Every player goes "This was our first game after the of international cricket. He has been out there to do their best. I know victory and we won. We won, that's all brilliant for us." because I try and it doesn't happen all we had to do.

Bangladesh started their pursuit of the time. It is up to the individual to go "We have guys who can be match- 198 in strong style, but Sammy said he back and think about his game. Chris winners for us every day. It is good to was not too concerned when Tamim will come back as he is a world-class see Marlon do well after two years out Iqbal cut loose in the first over which player."

Jamaica out of 2013 Gold Cup as Caribbean qualifers set The US may be seeing Jamaica in next year's CONCACAF Hexagonal final round World Cup qualifying, but one place they won't see the Reggae Boyz is next summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup. A Jamaican side boasting plenty of MLS talent finished bottom of its Caribbean Cup group, which also contained Cuba, French Guyana and Martinique, picking up only one point and scoring just one goal.

The team suffered an early shock, falling 2-1 to French Guyana in the opening match of the tournament, before grinding out a 0-0 draw against Martinique to keep their hopes alive. Needing a win against Cuba though, Jamaica couldn't muster enough offense and fell 1-0 on Wednesday.

The result saw the Cubans through to the semifinals of the Caribbean Cup along with Martinique, with the two sides joining remaining semifinalists Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago in the 2013 Gold Cup. The Jamaican squad included Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps), Ryan Johnson (Portland Timbers) and Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids), as well as recently released MLS vets Dicoy Williams, Lovel Palmer and Shavar Thomas.

Three MLS players did find some joy in Antigua & Barbuda, though, as Vancouver Whitecaps defender Carlyle Mitchell helped T&T to a Gold Cup berth, and Sporting KC's Peterson Joseph and San Jose's Jean-Marc Alexandre did the same with Haiti.

With the United States, Mexico and Canada holding automatic qualification berths, the final five Gold Cup places will be decided at the Copa Centroamericana, to be held in January.

Bolt wins French award

Usain Bolt doing his lightening bolt and Michael Johnson doing MJ, in a lighter moment after the awards.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt has chalked up yet another award to his already impressive collection.

The latest is from French daily L'Equipe which Wednesday named the Olympian Sportsman-of-the-Year.

“It has been a great season. I worked a lot to win again. It has been a real pleasure and an honour to defend my titles,” Bolt told the L'Equipe 21 TV channel.

“Now I look forward to Rio to break some records,” he said about the 2016 Olympics.

Tennis player Serena Williams took the women’s prize.

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DECEMBER 15TH - DECEMBER 22ND, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

Page 43

Juan Marquez knocks out Manny Pacquiao in 6th round READ ON PAGE 44

D’Antoni hopes Lakers start playing like Knicks NEW YORK -- Mike D'Antoni never built the team he wanted in New York.

Now he looks at the Knicks and sees what he would like his Lakers to become.

D'Antoni returns to Madison Square Garden on Thursday for the first time since resigning as Knicks coach last March, hoping to see the type of performance his new team hasn't demonstrated nearly enough.

The Knicks were a disappointment last season, with D'Antoni saying things went ''sideways'' right from the start. Things haven't been much better in Los Angeles, where the Lakers are playing without injured starters Steve Nash and Pau Gasol.

While they struggle, the Knicks have surged to the top of the Eastern Conference, with Carmelo Anthony playing at a level he never reached under D'Antoni. ''They're playing the way I would like for us to play,'' D'Antoni said after the Lakers' morning workout. ''They're spreading the floor and one of the best things they do is they're not turning it

over and they shoot 3s, and those are two big stats for winning and they do it the best in the league.''

The Knicks, still using some aspects of D'Antoni's offense under Mike Woodson, lead the NBA with 12 3-pointers per game while committing a league-low average of 10.5 turnovers.

Anthony is playing at an MVP level after struggling last season in D'Antoni's offense, which was baffling because of how well he's performed in it with the U.S. Olympic team.

D'Antoni stepped down in March when it became clear he and Anthony weren't going to be able to find a way to make it work and save the season.

The Knicks then went 18-6 under Woodson before racing to a 16-5 start this season.

D'Antoni said he doesn't regret his time in New York and doesn't hold any resentment toward the Knicks, even after Anthony admitted he played harder under Woodson than he did under D'Antoni. ''Things got sideways,'' D'Antoni

Jayawardene to step down as Sri Lanka skipper HOBART - Mahela Jayawardene will step down as captain of the Sri Lanka test and oneday teams after the current tour of Australia and Mahela Jayawardene has backed Angelo Mathews to replace him. The 35-year-old Jayawardene told a news conference on the eve of the first test against Australia that he thought next year would be a good year to make the transition to a younger leader as there were few high-profile series scheduled.

Jayawardene, who led Sri Lanka to the 50-overs World Cup final in 2007, agreed to take over the captaincy for a second spell in place of opener Tillakaratne Dilshan earlier this year.

"I don't want to continue to captain after this tour so this will be my last. I hope I don't get any more SOS calls from them," Jayawardene told reporters in Hobart.

"It's been great, I've enjoyed the last year and what I've achieved but we need to move on to a younger leader. It's best that we get a new player in while the senior guys are still around so we can help him out in building a team."

Jayawardene said his choice to succeed him as skipper would be 25-year-old Mathews, who has matured into a world class all-rounder over the last couple of years.

"Angelo is the one everyone has earmarked, and I think he is good enough," Jayawardene added.

"Maybe the first few years will be tough for him but they'll grow into the job.

If Angelo gets the opportunity, I think it will be easier for him if he has (the senior players) around him and we can build him through those tough periods."

said. ''It was a shortened season and people were hurt and we were trying to battle through stuff and I was probably getting a little anxious and we didn't get there quick enough. But you learn from it, you move on, and what they're doing now is good.''

What the Lakers are doing isn't so good.

They entered Thursday's game with three straight losses and a 9-13 record. Though D'Antoni concedes sometimes the team's focus and spirit are down, the bigger problem is its health. Gasol was set to miss his sixth straight game Thursday with tendinitis in his knees and Nash still isn't back after breaking his leg in the second game of the season.

But the two-time MVP point guard under D'Antoni in Phoenix has been running and getting closer to a return, giving D'Antoni hope of a turnaround that never came once things went bad last season. ''We thought it was going to a marriage made in heaven because Nash was here,'' D'Antoni said. ''Well, I haven't seen him yet.''

D'Antoni has said he regretted rushing into a decision to leave Phoenix in 2008, rather than realize what he had with Nash. He took the Knicks job for four years and $24 million, but never had a great shot at winning. His first two seasons were spent shedding high-salary players so they could be far under the salary cap in the summer of 2010, when LeBron James led the free agency class.

The Knicks seemed on the rise in 2010-11, his third season, until trading a huge portion of the team to Denver in the Anthony deal. They were swept in the first round of the playoffs, then got off to a dismal start last season when Anthony and Amare Stoudemire were both hurt and unable to get comfortable playing together.

And though it didn't work out, D'Antoni said he loves New York, where his wife and son have remained since he took the Lakers job last month. ''Met some great people. Had good times, didn't end up exactly the way I would story book it, but I definitely don't regret it,'' he said. ''There's no bitterness at all.''

Nadal to Return in Abu Dhabi MADRID — Rafael Nadal is ready to return to tennis, confirming Tuesday that he'll play in an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month following a six-month break to recover from a knee injury. Can't wait to get back on court in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month," the 11-time Grand Slam champion said on his Facebook page and Twitter account. "I won the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in 2010 and 2011 — would love to get my hands on the trophy again this year!"

The 26-year-old Nadal began practicing on a court in his hometown of Manacor on the island of Mallorca on Nov. 20 under the Rafael Nadal supervision of his uncle and coach Tony Nadal and a physiotherapist.

The Abu Dhabi tournament starts Dec. 27 and will feature a six-man field that includes top-ranked Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Andy Murray of Britain.

While Nadal had long been scheduled to play in the event, he was cautious in a radio interview last week about how quickly he could return to full fitness after such a long layoff. Nadal has not played since a stunning second-round loss to 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June due to the partial tear of a tendon in his left knee.

The injury denied Nadal an opportunity to defend the Olympic singles gold at the London Games and forced him to pull out of the U.S. Open and Spain's Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic, which his teammates lost without him last month.

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Juan Marquez knocks out Manny Pacquiao in 6th round LAS VEGAS -- No need for Juan Manuel Marquez to impress the judges. No need for the referee to count to 10.

Marquez took care of all of his business Saturday night with a thunderous right hand that left Manny Pacquiao face first on the canvas with his remarkable career in question.

Unable to win a decision in their first three fights, Marquez won the oldfashioned way with a huge right hand that put Pacquiao down for the second time in the fight at 2:59 of the sixth round.

Referee Kenny Bayless never bothered to count as Marquez leaped into his handlers' arms in celebration and Pacquiao's wife broke into tears at Juan Manuel Marquez knocked out Manny Pacquiao with a powerful right hand to the face at the end ringside. of the sixth round of their fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night. The knockout gave "I threw a perfect punch," Marquez his first victory in four fights against Pacquiao.

Marquez said. "I knew Manny could knock me out at any time." to get him up as Marquez celebrated relentless. Both were landing big It was a stunning end to a thrilling and the sold-out crowd at the MGM punches and both were brawling when fight, the fourth one in the last eight erupted. suddenly as the round came to close years between the two men. It could After being helped to his corner, Marquez shot out a right hand that also be the end of the Filipino's career, Pacquiao sat on a stool, blew his nose landed flush to the jaw of Pacquiao, though he said in the ring afterward he and stared vacantly ahead as his who crumpled to the canvas in a heap. would like to fight Marquez for a fifth handlers cut his gloves off. It was a "I felt he was coming to knock me time. stunning end to a furious fight, and out the last three rounds and I knew he "If you give us a chance, we'll Pacquiao was later taken to a hospital was going to be wide open," Marquez fight again," Pacquiao said. "I was just for precautionary examination. said. starting to feel confident and then I got "We always worked on that It was the second loss in a row for careless." punch," Marquez said. "We knew he Pacquiao, who dropped a decision to Pacquiao had been down in the was going to come out aggressive so Timothy Bradley in June and who had third round but knocked Marquez we had a fight plan that was more vowed to regain his prominence in the down in the fifth and the two were technical. We were able to capitalize ring. exchanging heavy blows in the sixth on it."

Pacquiao was aggressive from the round before Marquez threw a right Marquez had vowed to finally beat opening bell, but paid the price in the hand that flattened Pacquiao face Pacquiao after losing two close fights third round when he got caught by a down on the canvas. and settling for a draw in the first fight. Marquez right hand that put him down.

"I thought I was getting him in the But after Pacquiao knocked him down Pacquiao got back up and seemingly last couple of rounds but I got hit by a in the fifth round and was landing big took control of the fight, dropping strong punch," Pacquiao said. "I never left hands, it looked like it would be Marquez in the fifth round and landing expected that punch."

Pacquiao's night. the bigger punches until he was Pacquiao was down for about two The two came out for the sixth dropped. minutes before his handlers managed round and the pace was just as "I got hit by a punch I didn't see,"

Disney no longer part of PGA Tour PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.-- The PGA Tour's event in Mexico will anchor a sixtournament schedule next fall that will not include Disney for the first time in more than 40 years.

The tour next year goes to a wraparound season and will offer FedEx Cup points for the six tournaments that will kick off the 2013-14 season. That season will start with the Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club in northern California on Oct. 10-13 and conclude with the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico on Nov. 1417.

After about a two-month break, the 2013-14 schedule will resume at Kapalua with the Tournamsent of Champions.

Disney has been part of the PGA Tour landscape since Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural event in 1971. That it was dropped from the new schedule was not a surprise. Disney lost its title sponsor when the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals did not renew, and Disney did not

aggressively pursue a replacement. ''We've had a wonderful 40-year relationship with the tour,'' Disney tournament spokesman Tony Morreale said Monday.

Mexico had been played opposite the Match Play Championship in February. It now moves to the end of the calendar year, hopeful of drawing a stronger field.

The fall portion of the schedule includes two tournaments in Asia. After the new season starts in California with the Frys.com Open, it goes to Las Vegas the following week and then heads across the Pacific to the CIMB Classic in Malaysia and the HSBC Champions, a World Golf Championship event in Shanghai. For the first time, both Asia events will count as official tournaments.

Without taking a week off, the tour returns to America for the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island, hosted by Davis Love III, on Nov. 7-10, followed by the Mexico tournament.

All tournaments will be broadcast by Golf Channel. The amount of prize money for each tournament was not announced.

Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao, who earned more than $20 million for the fight, was ahead 47-46 on all three scorecards after the fifth round.

There was no title at stake in the 147-pound fight, but that didn't stop 16,348 fans from filling the MGM Grand Arena and roaring in unison from the opening bell as the two fighters went after each other.

Ringside punching stats underscored the ferocity of the bout, showing Pacquiao landing 94 of 256 punches to 52 of 246 for Marquez. But it was the one big right hand from Marquez that counted more than anything, knocking Pacquiao out for the first time in a career that goes back 17 years.

"He was in charge," Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach said. "He just got a little too careless and got hit with a punch he didn't see."

Promoter Bob Arum immediately said he could see a fifth fight between the two boxers, and a dazed Pacquiao seemed to agree.

"Why not?" he said.

Pacquiao weighed the class limit of 147 pounds, but it was Marquez who looked like the stronger fighter entering the ring after having bulked up with the help of a strength conditioner, though he weighed in at 143 pounds. In their earlier fights, Pacquiao had been the bigger puncher, knocking Marquez down a total of four times, but on this night it was Marquez who had the biggest punch.

The stunning knockout was the first real loss by Pacquiao in seven years. He lost a close decision to Bradley in his last fight, but most ringside observers believed he had won it fairly convincingly.

Marquez improved to 55-6-1 with 40 knockouts, while Pacquiao fell to 54-5-2.

Red Sox to send Dodgers $11.7 million in cash LOS ANGELES-- The blockbuster trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford from Boston to the Dodgers last August will wrap up with the Red Sox paying $11.7 million to Los Angeles over the next three years.

The Red Sox will make identical payments of $3.9 million in 2013, 2014 and 2015 as part of the cash component of the trade.

Boston also sent infielder Nick Punto to Los Angeles in the nine-player trade that was the biggest in Dodgers history. In return, the Red Sox got first baseman James Loney, pitcher Allen Webster, infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. and two other players while shedding more than $250 million in salaries through 2018.

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