Volume 9 Issue 1

Page 1

JANUARY 12TH - JANUARY 19TH, 2013

VOLUME 9 - No. 1

$1.00

CHESHIRE HALL Website: www.suntci.com

Email: sun@suntci.com

Tel: (649) 946-8542

Fax: (649) 941-3281

www.twitter.com/suntci

BY-ELECTION LIKELY By Hayden Boyce and Vivian Tyson

After three days of trial in the Cheshire Hall/Richmond Hills elections petition before Acting Chief Justice Madame Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale, there is every indication that there will be a by-election in that constituency. Although the judge said she will give her ruling in open court at a later date, legal and political analysts said that based on the evidence which emerged during the trial, there will have to be a by-election, which could possibly change the balance of power and the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. As it now stands, the Progressive National Party (PNP) has 8 seats and the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) has seven. The constituency is now held by the PNP’s Amanda Misick, Minister of Health and Human Services, who defeated the PDM’s Oral Selver by 30 votes. Dr. Ed Smith of the People Progressive Party (PPP) got 58 votes. If there is a by-election and the PNP loses, the PDM will have eight seats and the PNP, meaning that their leader Sharlene CartwrightRobinson will replace the PNP’s Dr. Rufus Ewing as Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Last year, commenting on the election petition, Attorney General Huw Shepheard said the basic allegation is that Dr Edward Smith stood as a candidate when he was disqualified under s.49(1)(a) of the Constitution. Shepheard said then, “If that is true, the election may be declared void and, if it is, a by-election must be held.” He went on to say that the challenge would not affect the Government until the Court made

ILLEGAL CUBANS RELEASED FROM DETENTION CENTRE – PAGE 7

ALVERNA DUNCOMBE IS DIGICEL’S GRAND PRIZE CHRISTMAS PROMOTION WINNER Alverna Duncombe could not contain her excitement after she was declared the Digicel TCI $10,000 grand prize winner in that telecoms company’s Christmas promotion. She emerged the winner from a group of three after the strip of paper that she picked from a raffle bag contained the sum. Duncombe(left) is seen here receiving the carbon cheque from General Manager for Digicel TCI, E. Jay Saunders (right). The drawing took place on Friday, December 22. Other finalists received valuable gifts, including Blackberry Playbooks, Samsung Galaxy SIII handets and Ipad Mini. The obviously overjoyed Duncombe told the gathering before winning that she wanted the money to commence work on her house. Looking on centre is the TCI Top Model winner for 2012, Washandra Registre. Washandra was the Digicel’s poster girl for its Christmas promotion. Saunders told the media that the 2012 Christmas promotion surpassed that of 2011 in customer participation.

its ruling. “The legal position is that a Member of the House of Assembly continues to be a Member until the petition has been heard and determined. The Government therefore continues

IMMIGRATION MINISTER CLARIFIES STATEMENTS ON HAITIANS – PAGE 8

on its existing basis. If the petition is successful, the Member will cease to be a Member of the House of Assembly and there will be a by-election…

LEGAL AID LAWYERS ON STRIKE – PAGE 10

Continued on PG2

MIKE MISICK’S FAMILY CALLS FOR JUSTICE – PAGE 15


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