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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
Real estate blooming again ...Cont’d CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
She said also that the number of sales above $3 million improved dramatically over the past 18 months. She said that the average condominium price was $750,000; about $950,000 for homes; and $550,000 for land. “Demographic follows our tourism - demographic which is majority US - we put it at 70 to 75, with the balance 30 percent coming from Canada and Europe,” Seigenthaler said. Kathryn Brown, President of the TCI Real Estate Association and Manager of Sales at ERA Coralie Properties, told The SUN that, while the sales prices are rocketing, new listings are down, which she said was good for the market since the shorter the listings for sales the higher prices can become. “Our single family dwelling sales from year-to-date – from last October – are up 54 percent, listings are down 5 percent; condominium sales are up 36 percent and new listings are down 5 percent; town homes, like the Golf Course – that sort of place – sales are up 11 percent and new listings are down 33 percent; land sales are up 61 percent and new listings are down 14 percent. “That is a good sign for the market; when we are getting less listings and more sales, that’s narrowing down the gap between listings and sales, which would recreate more demand for product therefore, prices would start to increase even more. Also list prices -
Nina Siegenthaler
Kathryn Brown
meaning sellers listing their properties for sale – have increased about three percent,” Brown said. Asked as to what were the contributing factors for the robust sales, Brown said that from all indications the lull in sales experience over the past three and half years had bottomed out and confidence was beginning to return to the market. Siegenthaler added that the drop in prices over the last several years had also contributed to the sales boom. “We have also seen great price reductions over the last several years from the peak of the market, which has afforded a more favourable environment for purchasing; much more attractive price points for incoming purchasers. We have also seen a boost in confidence in the TCI market and the industry as well as the rental programme on the island (of
Providenciales),” Siegenthaler said. Brown pointed out that while other ERA franchises in many other countries were also experiencing rebounds in their respective markets, among the advantage that the TCI has over its regional neighbors in terms of real estate offering are the minimum flight time from major United Cities and Canada; its low density physical infrastructural planning; no traffic jams; fabulous and tranquil beaches; low crime rate; and the use of the United States money, which limits the hassle of conversion from one currency to the next. “We are a unique situation, in that, we are still a Caribbean island and we are friendly and (have) low crime and that sort of thing. I think that is very important going forward; we are going to attract thousands of people going forward for that reason,” Brown said.
Siegenthaler said that the TCI was leading the trend in dollar value even though its numbers may not even be at the top of the list in terms of visitor arrivals. This, she said, was as a result of the destination being exclusive, ranks higher than many other destinations in the high-end market. The local real estate market remains a valuable contributor to the national economy, as according to Siegenthaler, last year, stamp duty alone accounted about $7.7 million. However, Brown indicated that the impressive figures may not even paint the true picture of yearly contributions of real estate market to the economy, since there were private sales involved. “I can’t really give you figures on that because that is Government; that is something that you may have to get from the stamp duty office or the financial department of Government because there are some private sales,” Brown said.
Police investigating hit and run accident after car show The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police responded to a complaint of a Hit and Run Accident in Providenciales, on Saturday October 13th 2012. According to police spokesman Kevin Clarke, during a car show in the parking lot of Automotive Art located on the Leeward Highway a vehicle entered the parking and began driving in what was reported to be an aggressive, dangerous manner. The vehicle struck a vehicle participating in the Car show and then in attempt to flee the area struck three bystanders who sustained serious injuries. The suspect vehicle is described as a white Nissan 300 Z car. According to Police Sergeant Glinton, “A person who drives their vehicle in a such a manner, where members of the public are gathered, is expressing a don’t care attitude in regards to how dangerous this type of driving is. It is a serious offence and imagine how tragic the scene could have been as a result of this person’s reckless driving.” Three of the bystanders hit during the incident were taken to the hospital where two were later released. The third person remains in hospital in stable condition. The driver of the said vehicle remains at large and the police are seeking the assistance of the public to find him.
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
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LOCAL NEWS
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LOCAL LOCAL NEWS NEWS
TURKS & CAICOS SUN TURKS & CAICOS SUN
AUGUST 5TH - AUGUST 2011 JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012 12TH,TURKS OCTOBER 20TH OCTOBER 27TH, 2012 TURKS&&&CAICOS CAICOS SUN SUN FEBRUARY 17TH - -FEBRUARY 24TH, 2012 TURKS CAICOS SUN AUGUST 5TH - AUGUST 12TH, 2011
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
Page 5
LOCAL NEWS
DOMINO tournament OCT 5-27, 2012
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FINAL ROUND Grand Turk Qualifying Round & Championship Saturday, October 27th @ Local Village 2:00pm to 9:00pm Music from V6 sponsored by
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Saturday, October 20th @ Cactus Bar & Grill 5:00pm to 9:00pm Music from Qband Linkz
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Page 6
LOCAL NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
PATRICK BOYLE, MAKE USE OF YOUR RETURN TICKET
BY ROYAL S. ROBINSON, MBE
We are definitely going to right the wrongs that have The Governor has finally decided been meted out to our people that he will appoint the Deputy during the last three years of Governor, a position that need this uncaring imposition of a not to have waited the coming government, that has into force of the Constitution destroyed every moral, social Order 2011. The suspended and economic fiber that have version of the 2006 Constitution kept us together as a people still retained the provision for the and a nation. We will power appointment of the Deputy out of this. There is no way Governor. that we can allow these people The Interim Administration, in to both literally and its wisdom - determined that it figuratively get away with could not afford a bonafide Turks “murder” and don’t pay a and Caicos Islander to what it saw price! Every day we are as a sensitive position because it paying dearly for their was not comfortable to have a atrocities. We have all now Turks and Caicos Islander really reached our elastic limit and ROYAL ROBINSON and truly “up in their business”! the line has been drawn in the CONTRIBUTER Knowing full well that it would sand. We have said “so far and have been an intolerable position no further”! That is indeed not when an elected government came into power, the any empty rhetoric. Neither is it a threat! It is just a position was filled. statement of fact. Whoever has a problem with that I can say that given the final make up of the final should start make a beeline for the exit! field, Mrs. Anya Williams was the best choice for the We have to put policies in place to ensure the position. But all is not what it is made up to be. The viability of Turks and Caicos Islanders and make sure Interim administration fully knows that Mrs. Williams’ that they get the necessary training and experience that strength is with the numbers. would enable them to compete in the global village that It saddens me that they are retaining Patrick Mr. Derek Taylor likes to talk about. We cannot let our Boyce as her advisor, when for all intents and purpose small size deter us from providing adequately for our he should be on his way out. In doing so, they have people and affording them the best educational shown their hand - in that it is just a shell game they opportunities that money can provide. are playing with the budget and the supposedly surplus So having moved Mr. Anya Williams into the that they generated is just a figment of their Deputy Governor’s position, Patrick Boyle should get imagination! The proof of this came out in that leaked it through his head that his days in this country must document a few days ago. We now see how they intend be numbered. He does not bring any wealth of putting a stranglehold on an elected government. knowledge and experience on the job to fit him to be These people are living up to their mantra of being an advisor to Mrs. Williams. The only place that he has devious and deceptive in the face of impending reality gained any relevant experience is here in Turks and on the ground. They know for sure that they will be in Caicos. for a fight, come November 10. Make no mistake We understand that he was on the dole before one about it; they are fully aware that our team would not of his friends in that rainbow circle reached out to him brook some of the foolishness that they have been and offered him a job here. That era is now over. Even engaged in. They know that we are not going to be led though they have tried to engrained themselves and around by a ring in our noses. They have been trying their lifestyles on us through the enactment of the all types of shenanigans to derail us. However, it must Equality Ordinance under the guise of trying to rectify be clear now to them that we are determined and would things like wheelchair access to public building for the not be denied. disabled; we are not buying that and we have been So they have gone to the playbook, “if at once you calling them out on that from the very beginning. So don’t succeed, try, try, and try again”! We too have read when an elected government takes office after the script and are more than ready to counter attack November 10, those things that need to be rolled back their barrage of foolishness, parading in the name of would just need to be done! transparency and good governance. We are not taking Of course, we as a people are tolerant to those who any “pig in a poke”, under no circumstances. are engaged in an alternate lifestyle. However, there is
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Turks and Caicos Sun Suite # 5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 946-8542/ (649) 241-1510 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com Read us online at www.suntci.com
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Senior Editor: Vivian Tyson Journalist/Web Designer: Patrina Moore-Pierre Graphics Editor: Joleen Grant Office Manager: Dominique Rigby Distribution Manger: Kelano Howell Advertising and Marketing ManagerPatrina Moore-Pierre The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd. We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
no need for it to be rubbed into our faces or hammered into our heads. We have our own problem and we are prepared to deal with them. There is no need for any further corrupting influences here and at the head of “the ticket” there cannot be any value added to the continued presence of Patrick Boyle living and working among us, especially if we are paying his freight. We already have two albatrosses about our necks in the persons of the CFO and the Governor and we have been advocating for their departure. There should not be less of a vociferous cry and agitation for Patrick to leave, particularly that his office has been made redundant! He oversaw the letting go of a number of qualified public servants from the civil service. I do not see how in any good consciousness, we can allow him to stay on at our expense, when he is definitely surplus to requirement. So please, Sir, make good use of your return ticket while it is still valid! Royal Robinson was a former Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance and Health in the Progressive National Party (PNP) Administration.
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN’S LETTERS POLICY
The Turks and Caicos SUN welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters containing libelous or defamatory charges, personal attacks or abusive language will not be considered for publication. We would prefer letters of 500 words or less, and we will not print anonymous letters or letters tagged with initials. All letters are subject to the final approval of the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, who reserves the right to accept or reject submissions and to edit letters and headlines to meet our established standards for grammar, clarity and length.
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
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OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
Dredging at Leeward Marina will destroy TCI’s reefs, operators say BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR
A proposed maintenance dredging by the operators of the Leeward Marina to facilitate docking yachts could worsen the already ailing ecological condition in that vicinity, according to tour operators, who ply their trade in that general area. The Leeward Marina, which is located inside the national park, was dredged about five years ago to facilitate the floating dock in the area to complement the hotel development there, which was later branded by popular hotel chain Nikki Beach. The developers said at the time that for the dock to be built, it was necessary for the area to be dredged. However, aqua excursion operators in the area opposed the project from its inception, on the basis that it would damage the habitat of dozens of marine life in the channel such as conch and turtle. But despite their protest, the developers prevailed. Now, the tour operators in the area are having another fight on their hands, as the developers are once again seeking permission from government to conduct what is referred to as maintenance dredging to a depth of 12 feet. But Philip Shearer, operators of Big Blue Unlimited, pointed out that the proposed project would not be a
Philip Shearer points to a section of a map of Providenciales that has already been affected by dredging of the Leeward Marina
one-off event, since sand tend to back up from the beach areas into the channel whenever there is a winter storm or extra rough seas, making it necessary for constant maintenance dredging for as long as the marina is operational. Explaining the effects that the first round of dredging had on the coral reef, Shearer said: “Leeward Marina or whatever entity it was called put in this dock system illegally at the time, and also started to dredge Leeward Point/ Leeward Cut, also illegally inside the
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National Park. The consequences of that was huge amount of sedimentation lying over the Grace Bay Reef and Leeward Reef, essentially killing huge sections of it. We’re still seeing the aftermath of that dredging, and a lot of what some people are not thinking about is that, while the dredging took place four years ago a lot of fine sediment has been moved, and sediment sits in places that it wasn’t before. Every time we get a winter storm or any kind of weather, the sediment is getting stirred up and spreading over the reef. In the past that sediment wouldn’t have been stirred up and certainly, the fine sediment that the dredging brought up wouldn’t be where it is now. “So the threat that the new maintenance project is proposing is to dredge inside the National Park again, to maintain a depth here of 12 foot, which is somewhat unrealistic, because they would have to do continual dredging over the next five, 10, 15 years, for as long as they want
to keep this marina open. So it is not just a maintenance project for today, it is a maintenance project that has to keep happening year in year out as storms come and go and move sands from the beach and back into the channel that they want to keep open,” Shearer explained. Shearer warned that the issuing of the green light for dredging in the area could sound the death knell for marine life and ultimately businesses that depend on marine tourism to survive. “If you looked at Trip Advisor, all my competitors and partners on the water get rave reviews because our reefs are essentially in good condition. Truth be told, the reefs are not as good as they were 20 years ago. They are not certainly good as they were five years ago – no one wants to hear that, but that’s the reality, and it is not just the reality in the Turks and Caicos, it’s a world-wide problem. “We have the third largest barrier reef in the world, and if we are going to dredge or allow dredging to occur inside the National Park and clog-up the reef system, then essentially, there might be one less reason for someone to come and visit the Turks and Caicos. So, there is a good chance that this is going to affect our tourism negatively,” Shearer lamented. Shearer said that in the past, tour operators voiced their disgust to the authorities on the damaging effect that certain level of development would have on the environment in the area, and was in the process of penning another letter to warn of further potential damage if the latest proposal is given the all clear sign. He believed that the Physical Planning Department, before issuing its stamp of approval, seek to educate the populace on the fragility of the environment, then gather wide consensus across the country, and act in accordance to the feedbacks.
TCI Financial Services Commission and the Bahamas Institute of Financial Services to hold Compliance Seminar in TCI The Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission in collaboration with The Bahamas Institute of Financial Services will host their 3rd Annual Compliance Seminar on Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Providenciales. The one day training seminar will focus on the fundamentals of Know Your Customer/ Compliance rules and regulations and will be geared towards equipping professionals in the TCI Financial Services Industry with tools needed to create an effective compliance culture within their respective organisations. Mr Hubert Edwards, a known expert with the technical expertise and practical know how in the field of compliance and with over fifteen years experience in public accounting and consulting, will conduct the seminar. During the interactive session, Mr. Edwards will discuss overall regulatory compliance requirements and procedures as well as examine Risk Management and Corporate Governance. Participants will also learn methods by which Compliance Officers participate to Investigation, Enforcement and Productions Orders. Mrs Coalbrooke, Head of Company Management and Investment for the TCIFSC said: “The TCI Financial Services Commission is pleased to partner for the third time with The Bahamas Institute of Financial Services to provide training to Compliance Officers in the Financial Services sector in the TCI.” She added: ”The session will be informative and it is the Commission’s hope that it will provide the impetus for continued training and development as compliance professionals.” The seminar will take place on Wednesday October 24 2012 from 9 am to 3.15pm in the Messel ballroom at the Regent’s Palms in Providenciales. The Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission (TCIFSC) is the sole regulator for the financial services sector in the Turks and Caicos Islands; its function is established in law, under the Financial Services Commission Ordinance.
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
Low conch catches lead to quota system
With the past two conch seasons resulting in lower-than-anticipated catches over the past two years, the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) and Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs have introduced a quota for the landing and export of conch. A Government press release stated that the Scientific Authority Committee (SAC) and the Fisheries Advisory Committee (FAC) lowered the conch quota for 2012-2013 to 800,000 pounds of landed conch, with 500,000 pounds going to export and 300,000 pounds for local consumption. DEMA estimates that a total quota of 800,000 is equal to the approximate value of conch that was landed last year. “DEMA recognises that this quota will cause some economic strain on fishermen and plant owners, but the measures have been put in place to ensure sustainability and the long-term viability of the industry. The Department is however cognisant of its responsibility to protect the natural resources of TCI including the queen conch fishery,” the press release added. Although not yet a signatory to the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the TCI is required to report all catches and implement a management plan if it intends to continue trading conch. DEMA has been charged with establishing a quota for harvest in accordance with CITES rules. Director of DEMA Kathleen Wood,
said: “TCI has an obligation to report our catch and to establish management plans if we intend to engage with CITES signatory countries such as the US, our primary queen conch export market. The past two conch seasons have resulted in lower-than-anticipated catches. In 20102011, the catch was only approximately 25% of previous years’ catch levels at 395,433 pounds. Last season, the situation
had only marginally improved with a catch of 500,239 pounds”. DEMA has therefore taken a precautionary approach to conservation of the Queen Conch stock due to the unavailability of stock studies in the form of a visual survey since 2001. The Department is currently seeking funding to carry out the annual study which is critical to maintaining the conch fishery.
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
Given the absence of critical data indications are that conch stocks in the TCI are in serious jeopardy. CITES is an international treaty drawn up in 1973 to protect wildlife against over- exploitation, and to prevent international trade from threatening species DEMA has met with various stakeholders, including the Scientific Authority Committee (SAC - charged with making recommendations to DEMA regarding the conch quota and other CITES-related issues), the Fisheries Advisory Committee (FAC), fishers and plant owners. On Tuesday, October 9th DEMA held a town hall meeting on South Caicos.
Illegal fishing vessel intercepted The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Marine Branch working in conjunction with the Police Airwing intercepted an illegal fishing Vessel name “Aguila Blanco” (White Eagle) of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in Grand Turk, on Saturday 13 October 13th 2012. The Fishing vessel was within the Fisheries limit of the Turks and Caicos Islands and had a quantity of fish on board. The vessel had a crew of 12 along with a captain. The vessel along with crew members were escorted to South Dock on Grand Turk, where members of the crew were taken to the Grand Turk Police station for questioning and detention while further investigation can be carried out. Assistant Superintendant Pascal Bacchus, Officer in Charge of the
Marine Branch, said poaching is illegal, and persons must have the relevant licence to fish in the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This licence, he said, can be obtained from the Department of
Environmental and Martime Affairs (DEMA).” Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police investigators are working in concert with officers from DEMA in furthering this investigation.
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Page 9
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
Attorney General clarifies position on politicians with dual citizenship With Nomination Day fastapproaching on October 25th, Attorney General of the Turks and Caicos Islands Huw Shepheard has shed more light on the controversial is issue of dual citizenship which has affected a number of politicians who are contesting the November 9th elections. Shepheard said if an Islander obtains a passport from a foreign state after he or she attains the age of eighteen, whether by application for the first time or by renewing a passport from that country issued when the Islander was under eighteen, he or she is disqualified for election to the House of Assembly until he or she cancels his or her allegiance to that foreign country. The Attorney General also noted that an additional problem affecting some Commonwealth citizens is that Her Majesty the Queen, in right of the Turks and Caicos Islands is not, in law, the same person as the Queen in right of a Commonwealth country. This means that, for example, Canada and
Attorney General of the Turks and Caicos Islands Huw Shepheard
The Bahamas are foreign countries as far as the laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands are concerned. Shepheard said it must be remembered that the new Turks and Caicos Constitution was very much a joint product of both then Turks and Caicos political leaders, representatives civic society here and the UK Government in the summer of
2011. He said that what appears to have been forgotten amongst all the views being expressed, is that this particular provision was also in the 2006 Constitution, so therefore it is not entirely new, neither is it being imposed. The AG said he can see that this prohibition regarding dual citizenship potentially gives rise to difficulties in a small country like the Turks and Caicos Islands, where significant numbers of Islanders are born elsewhere for purely practical reasons, such as the availability of specialised medical care. He said he understands that these individuals may, without their choosing, find themselves to be citizens of the country that they were born in as well as being a Turks and Caicos Islander. He added: “In today's international environment, they are very likely to have to be issued a passport by the country in which they were born to enable them, even as babies, to return home to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Does this have any effect on the operation of this clause of the Constitution?
“The clause is written so that an Islander born in another country is not automatically disqualified for standing for election in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The important words, however, are ‘...by virtue of his or her own act’. They can only mean that the clause applies where they have been fully legally responsible for their own actions after the age of 18 when they become adults in law. “Difficulties arise because, as a matter of Common Law, getting a passport from another country constitutes an acknowledgement of allegiance to a foreign state. This was decided by the House of Lords in the case of Joyce in 1946.” The AG continued: “How one cancels, or renounces, one's allegiance to a foreign country depends on what the law of that other country says. Generally speaking, to be effective, a renunciation ought to be a public record and in a form acceptable to the laws of the country concerned; it is impossible to advise on individual cases without assistance from a lawyer qualified in the foreign country concerned."
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
PNP Leader Rufus Ewing and Deputy Leader Carlos Simons demonstrate leadership, experience and vision at TCI National Debate
BY JUSTIN MISICK
On Thursday night at the first National Debate in the TCI, the PNP Leadership team of Dr. Rufus Ewing and Mr. Carlos Simons QC demonstrated why the PNP is the right choice on Election Day, November 09, 2012. Those in attendance, those watching online and listening in across the country saw and heard from a strong and confident PNP team as the key issues were discussed. The first hour of the debate Mr. Simons spoke confidently and directly when asked about how the PNP would stimulate the economy and bring more jobs to TCI. “We are open for business , we want to encourage foreign investment. You don’t say “Bar The Gates” like the other party!” Mr. Simons also responded to an question on what the PNP education plan was. In his response, Mr. Simons was clear and concise. “Under the PNP no child will be left behind. Every child has the right to an education. We will increase classrooms where needed which is right here on Providenciales. We will build a primary school and a high school. With regard to tertiary education, we will
PNP Leader, Dr. Rufus Ewing
PNP Deputy Leader, Carlos Simons
develop of a full technical faculty to train our people for the trades our economy needs and will need such as electricians, plumbers, millworkers, welders, auto mechanics and such.” Mr. Simons also noted that “teachers are the guardians of our future, and we will compensate them accordingly”. Throughout the Deputy Leaders Debate, Mr Simons showed an understanding of the key issues and his passion and belief in the PNP plan to bring prosperity and progress to the country.
In the second hour of the debate, leaders of the national parties squared off to discuss the key issues. PNP Leader Dr. Rufus Ewing provided those in attendance and those at home the PNP plans and clearly demonstrated his knowledge of the most important issues facing the country. He passionately detailed the PNP plan with regard to education and pointed out that “the PNP will design and support an education system that looks to the future” When asked about how to improve
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Primary Objective of the Job: The IP/VAS Manager will be responsible for the real-time management of all VAS and IP based networks which support the technical operations and services of Digicel TCI. They will assist in the design and implementation of all new Packet Core, Charging System and IP based systems, ensuring adherence to Group IP network security standards and policies. They will provide first-line identification and resolution of faults, and ensure that all required documentation is maintained in a timely basis. Main Duties & Responsibilities: • Responsible for the design, installation and support of all Packet Core and IP based systems to support the technical operations of the business. • Design IP Numbering an addressing schemes, Development, Configuration and Implementation of IP based systems • Perform dimensioning and capacity planning of IP network • Responsible for the operation and maintenance of all Packet Core systems which include, Ericsson SGSN-MME, Ericsson Mobile Packet Backbone Network (MPBN). • Responsible for operation and maintenance of all VAS Ericsson Charging Systems including Ericsson Charging Control Node (CCN), Service Data Point (SDP), Account Information and Refill (AIR) • Responsible for all IP based systems, which include Cisco network devices (Routers and Switches), SUN Solaris/Linux servers, Checkpoint Firewalls and Above Security IDS to ensure their high availability. • Responsible for the operation and maintenance of all IP based services, including Checkpoint firewall policy management, IP traffic management utilising VLANs and routing protocols (MPLS, BGP, RIP, OSPF, EIGRP), also DNS, Microsoft Forefront 2010 and NTP applications. • Perform all required software and hardware upgrades for above mentioned systems and services • Provide on-call support for after hour outages & planned works, including creation and submission of required forms • Develop and schedule preventative and corrective maintenance policies and
health care in the TCI Dr. Ewing responded that: “ A PNP Government will ensure our Primary Care Clinics are functioning well and able to deliver primary services for our people....we will make sure that persons who have lost their jobs still have access to health care. We will monitor Interhealth Canada and ensure that they meet all of the obligations under the contract and they will pay the penalty if those obligations are not being met.” Dr. Ewing talked about creating jobs and explained the PNP plan to grow the economy by diversification, expanding the agricultural industry, and providing more support for tourism. He reiterated that under a PNP administration the word would go out that TCI is “Open For Business!” Consistently and repeatedly Dr. Ewing demonstrated his knowledge of all the issues and presented the PNP platform with passion and conviction. In his closing statement Dr. Ewing addressed the country saying: “On November 09 we have an important decision to make...you need to elect a government that knows how to grow the economy, one that has a vision for the future and that team is the PNP”
procedures, such as regular backups, spares inventory, to ensure high availability of all VAS and IP based systems. • Manage and Support Veraz I-Gate equipment. • Ensure that Digicel TCI continue to operate on secure local and wide area networks with the implementation of VPN technologies and firewall policy management • Provide proactive support of WAN data and voice links (VSAT, leased lines) to provide 100% availability of all IP services, including VoIP, ITP (SS7 over IP) and internet, and to ensure continued connectivity to other Digicel locations and external parties • Ensure adherence with IP Security Group (Jamaica) standards and policies as they relate to new and existing LAN and WAN network infrastructure, IP traffic, and network configuration procedures • Ensure that network metrics are closely monitored and captured so as to provide proactive network management, as well as regular feedback on network performance in the form of reports to management • Provide IP Support to other departments and external parties as required Academic qualifications and experience required for the job • 4-5 years’ experience in VAS administration and IP based network design, implementation and administration • CCNA and Microsoft MCSE certification and Solid hands on experience with Cisco devices • In-depth knowledge of switching, routing, LAN and WAN technologies • Hands on experience with UNIX and/or Linux systems to support applications Splat and Solaris. • Design, implementation and operational knowledge of network security (VPN, firewall management, intrusion detection) • Minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Computer Sciences or equivalent field • Knowledge of Intelligent network setup and operation. • Knowledge of CAMEL and roaming configuration
Functional Skills: • Ability to work unsupervised and handle multiple priority assignments simultaneously • Good team player with excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills. • Excellent troubleshooting and analytical skills • Possess first rate organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage responsibilities in a high pressure environment • Demonstrated ability to work in cross-functional teams • Ability to meet deadlines while paying attention to detail • High degree of initiative and creativity Interested Applicants should forward their resumes to hrtci@digicelgroup.com before September 30, 2012
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
Page 11
LOCAL NEWS
New Constitution insulting, says PDM BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR
Insulting and untenable – that is how Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, Deputy Leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) sums up the newly-enacted Constitution, which was proclaimed into effect by His Excellency Governor Ric Todd on Monday, October 15, after three and a half years of suspension. Speaking at a news conference to launch its manifesto the same day the Constitution was launched; Cartwright Robinson claimed that, for the most part, the document was designed to rob elected politicians of their conventional right to serve the people who elected them. She argued that, while the new Constitution contained a number of beneficial clauses, conversely it contained a great deal of features designed to peg the advancement of the country. She argued that the document has given too much power to the governor, who has the authority to arbitrarily denied ordinances and proposals put forward by the elected politicians, by making a determination as to whether or not those bills or proposals were in the best interest of the country. “This new Constitution sets the stage for the continuance of we, as a people, to be dismissed. Though advanced in many respects, it is regressive for an elected Government confrontational type of governance. Whilst we recognize that there are positive things to celebrate, like the Equality Bill, the British have slipped in one or two things that make the entire document seems taboo. “The personalities with the new Constitution will make it more difficult than it has to be. We have, under this Constitution, given wide discretionary powers to a Governor that has no good working relationship with the Civil
Service, political leaders, the private sector or the Clergy, having at one time or another publicly disregarded them. Speaking specifically on some of the clauses, Cartwright Robinson declared: “We highlight the following sections in the Privy Council Order: “We are concerned by Section 5(2) where the governor, by regulations, may change any law within 12 months to update any laws to bring them in line with Constitution. It is important that he does this with an elected government and not on his own. The Constitution makes provision for the continuance of the CFO in Section (7) and empowers the Governor to alter his role and to maintain his post until the governor seems fit to end it. So from today, the role of CFO is protected in the Constitution.” Addressing a clause in Section 36 (5) regarding the powers of the governor over elected members, Cartwright Robinson argued: “It cannot be accepted that a Governor may demand a minister’s official papers while the minister is performing the functions of his office. This in a large way enables the Governor to: (a) attempt to interfere with ministerial initiative; (b) micro-manage the process; and (c) make ministers a part of his extended staff. “There are now instances where the governor may not consult cabinet and in the case of section 37(5) (a), he may decline to do so in the “public interest”. What is the public interest? Who is the custodian and provider of the public interest? Can the Governor define or the Constitution define what the public interest is? Can he invoke any principle and call it the “public interest” in an effort to thwart the role of the elected Government and the will of the people?” Cartwright Robinson said she welcomed parts of the Constitution that served the interest of the people, even some required some tweaking to make them more relevant to needs and heritage
T & C MINIATURE GOLF 2 KITCHEN HELPERS 1 WAITRESS 1 LABOURER WORKER Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 941-4653
expect that the Governor will abide by this Constitution. “We welcome Section 19, which states that all actions of the Governor must be lawful, rational, proportionate and procedurally fair. We will hold him into account. We welcome the retention of our Turks and Caicos Islander Deputy Governor and the real function now given to the office holder. We wish to advise HMG that in determining now the Statement of Good Governance Principles, we will see how cooperative it intends to be and we wish to remind them already that the Government and Deputy PDM Leader, Sharlene Cartwright Robinson Opposition members will be elected voices of our people,” Cartwright of the people. Robinson asserted. “The DPP asked for in 2006 The PDM deputy leader said that consultations is now included, and we while the PDM welcomed the provision are pleased to have this function protecting Good Governance in the TCI, separated from the function of the AG. it was concerned with the procedure set We are grateful for the expanded Bill of Rights positioned again at the front of the up in Section 105 (2), which empowers Constitution and whilst we have a few the Governor to pass a budget not portions that will require the UK accepted by an elected Government. She ensuring it carries out its function to said that the party was also concerned assist in our being able to carry out ours. with section 124, which gives the “We intend to make representations Integrity Commission the powers to set on section 7 which speaks of equality for the salaries of all elected members of the all before the law and human rights. We House of Assembly and the Speaker. make no further comment on that Another gripe expressed by the portion. We have placed in this Section PDM was an allowance in the a provision that holds the institution of Constitution for the Minister of Finance marriage between man and woman. It is to prepare the budget and the Chief our Christian heritage spoken of in the Financial Officer is to approve it. Christian Preamble. We stand on section “In fact an elected Government can 18 -the protection of our environment - pass an Appropriations Bill and the CFO when we make known our stance against can advise the Governor not to sign it,” dredging in the Leeward Channel and we Cartwright Robinson argued.
Page 12
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
A new constitution for the Turks and Caicos Islands Monday October 15th 2012, was a historic day for the Turks and Caicos Islands, with the new Constitution coming into effect, three years and two months after the old Constitution was suspended on August 14th, 2009. Speaking on the new Turks and Caicos Constitution, UK Minister for the Overseas Territories, Mark Simmonds, said it marks the beginning of the end of the three year UK-led Interim Administration and the countdown to local elections. “I am delighted with the progress that the Interim Administration has made in its efforts to reform and embed the principles of sound financial management and good governance across the structures and government of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Simmonds said, adding that he looks forward to the November 9th elections
and to welcoming the return to elected government in the Turks and Caicos Islands.” The new Constitution is a key part of the framework designed to help ensure fair and transparent governance under a new administration. Marking this historic moment in the development of the Turks and Caicos Islands, His Excellency Governor Ric Todd stated that the new Constitution marks the culmination of a huge amount of work to get the country to this point where it is significantly more transparent, accountable and financially better run. Todd said: “ I would like to thank colleagues and stakeholders, both here in the Turks and Caicos, the UK and elsewhere for all their efforts in making this possible. “We now have a modern Constitution that is the result of wide
Bethel Forbes
DOMESTIC WORKER Is looking for a
to work 6 days per week and some holiday Contact 241-3580
STOREROOM CLERK
Requirements: • 2 years experience as a storeroom clerk • Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Duties Include: • Maintaining the storeroom by properly storing all food, beverage and consumable goods in pre-designated areas with proper rotation • Maintaining proper storage of all food goods in their pre-designated areas • Keeping storerooms organized and clean for proper storage • Maintains and clean delivery truck • Deliver in-house requisitions to each department location and ensures that the receiver signs requisition. • Ensuring that requisitions signed by the receiver are given to Purchasing Manager and Purchasing Assistant. • Keeping close communication with Purchasing Assistant and Purchasing Manager on slow moving and non moving items in the warehouse • Collection of goods from Customs when necessary Starting salary $6.00 per hour not including service charge
CHIEF ENGINEER Requirements: • Minimum of 7 years previous experience as Chief Engineer/Director of Engineering with experience in luxury resort • Post secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience • Thorough understanding of plumbing, electrical, HVAC and deep refrigeration with ability to quickly evaluate problems and decide on a plan of action • Experienced with waste water treatment plant • Understanding of all concepts behind landscape and grounds maintenance • Experience developing and implementing effective preventive maintenance programs
consultation including a Turks and Caicos delegation who visited London in the summer of 2011 to help ensure that it reflects the wishes of both the citizens of the islands and Ministers in London. “Since former UK Minister Bellingham announced this summer that sufficient progress had been made against the milestones to allow elections, I have been meeting regularly with the political parties and have been impressed by their diligent preparations. I would also like to thank the Elections Supervisor and his team for all their detailed work in preparing for the poll.” PNP leader Dr. Rufus Ewing, said although having the new Constitution was historic, he regarded it as the day that the British in this the 21st century, have legitimized the further subjugation and social and economic enslavement
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
of our people. He said the TCI’s right of self determination was stripped with the suspension and invalidation of the 2006 Constitution, a document crafted by our people to serve and protect all who reside on our shores regardless of race, creed or country of origin. “This new Constitutional Order and the objectives contained within its substance, is a clear indication the United Kingdom is by no means ready to further the development of our people and our country in a manner beneficial to this and future generations. This behaviour runs contrary to The United Nation's Declaration on The Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, a declaration which was made some 52 years ago. It is therefore crucial that on November 9 th 2012, we remember to vote for our future, we must remember to take that first step that will return us to self government and self-determination. We must choose as our leaders, those whose plans and visions have been clearly outlined and organzied and we must stand together ready to move our country forward towards progress,” Dr. Ewing added.
NEWMAN’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL GRAND TURK SEEKING
ANCILLARY WORKER
Offering comparative salary Please contact the chairperson of the school board At P.O.Box 7 Grand Turk Belonger Preferred • Knowledge of Opera system is also a definite plus • Must be able to work all days and shifts Duties Include: • Supervising/managing/overseeing maintenance and engineering departments as well as landscaping • Maintaining and refining preventive maintenance program • Develop and monitor annual operating , Capex and project budgets • Serve as project manager for renovation/upgrade projects including sourcing, vendors and establishing schedules and budgets Starting salary $50,000.00 per annum SPA MANAGER Requirements: • Minimum of 5 years experience as spa manager at luxury spa of similar size and status • Post secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience • Strong written and verbal skills with documented responsibility for promotions sales and marketing. • Merchandising/visual skills; experience with retail products and apparel goods. • Knowledge of current trends In luxury spa facilities and services • Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts Duties Include: • Manage the day to day operations of the Fitness Center and Spa Facilities • Maximize profitability by increasing sales of products and services and by managing effectively • Ensure high quality of facility and services to meet international luxury and brand standards and earn global recognition and awards • Experience developing and implementing effective preventative maintenance programs • Demonstrated experience in development budgets and cost saving measures • Develop annual operating and Capex budgets, monitoring and adjusting as needed. Starting salary $50,000 per annum not including service charge Interested applicants should apply to the Regent Palms Monday through Friday, and bring along an updated resume, or by email marjorie.dorsett@regenthotels.com no later than Friday, October 26, 2012.
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Page 13
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
Flamingo Crossing By e Sea placed into liquidation and may lose land at North West Point BY HAYDEN BOYCE PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A company associated with attorney Beryn Duncanson has been placed in liquidation by the High Court and will lose several acres of land at North West Point, Providenciales, because of its inability to pay its arrears to Government for a Conditional Purchase Lease. In a ruling handed down in the Supreme Court on October 12t, 2012, Madame Justice Margaret RamsayHale appointed Gary Brough as liquidator for TCI Hydra Developments Limited, because the company could not pay its debt of $83,500 to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. A press release from the Attorney General’s Chambers, which was investigating the company along with the Civil Recovery Unit, said that TCIG commenced proceedings to wind up the company after the parties were unable to agree settlement terms. The company opposed the liquidation but the court determined that the company was clearly unable to meet its debts and should be placed into liquidation. During the case, Duncanson appeared in behalf of the company, while Queen’s Counsel David Phillips and Khalila Astwood-Dorsett, appeared for the Attorney General’s Chambers. The liquidator will now take steps to liquidate the company's assets in order to pay the Government and any other creditors. The AG’s chambers said the action is part of TCIG's investigations into Commercial Conditional Purchase Leases, which commenced in 2010. The investigation has focused on approximately 100 parcels of land where commercial leaseholders have failed to pay rent. Over 70 acres of land have been recovered or are due to be recovered, $175,000 in arrears and damages have been recovered or ordered to be paid and19 sets of proceedings have been issued. In her ruling, Judge Ramsay-Hale said that the TCIG, in refusing to extend the CPL and hold open the offer to sell the freehold title until the outstanding arrears of rent had been paid, did nothing more or less than it was entitled to do under the clear terms of the agreement, adding that they were certainly not obliged to renew the lease or transfer the legal title to the Company where the Lessee had not fulfilled its obligation sunder the CPL. The judge stated that the Company has no substantial ground for
Beryn Duncanson
defending the action, adding that its solvency is plainly in doubt. She stated: “It (the company) has been served with a statutory demand which has not been met and so is deemed insolvent under s 103 (a) of the Companies Ordinance Cap 16.08. If it has no assets, as Mr. Duncanson asserts, then that is also prima facie evidence of its insolvency. Although Mr. Duncanson argues that a Company cannot be said to be insolvent where it has the power to raise financing, where the financing must be raised on the strength of a CPL which has not been renewed, the Company must be adjudged insolvent. Mr. Duncanson's letter of May 17th, 2010 says it all: “The tenant company, TCI Hydra Developments Ltd., depends on having either the freehold or at least an extension of the lease in order to raise the further finance necessary to make the respective payments to Government. In the best of economic times it could not find the money to pay arrears on the mere hope that Government wilt deal with us in good faith afterwards. Better to be sued for the arrears and counter-sue in court for the $900,000 expenditure or in extremis, wind up the company." The background to the case is that b lease dated the 19th of September, 2006 and granted by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government ("TCIG") the Company entered into possession of Crown land at North West & North Central, Providenciales for three years on condition that it obtain planning permission within three months for the construction on the demised land of "Building for Hotel/Condominiums and Associated Facilities to commence construction within 6 months of that date, and complete construction of the approved development upon the demised land at a cost of no less than $300,000 to the satisfaction of the Crown and as to be ready in all respects for occupation and use within three years. The Company covenanted to pay
the sum of $41,750 annually in advance on the anniversary of the date of execution of the Lease. It is common ground that the Company paid the sum of $41,750 on the 18 August, 2006 but failed to make the payments for 2007 and 2008 and that the sum of $83,500 as and for rent is due and owing. The Company took possession of the demised premises and over the next several years, on the evidence of the architect and project manager for the Company's proposed development which was to become known as Flamingo Crossing By the Sea, the master planning was completed, Detailed Development Permission and Building Permit were obtained for Phase I, partial site clearance and commencement of Phase construction was underway, Phase 2 drawings were prepared and ready to submit to the Department of Planning for approvals and Phase 3 drawings well advanced for submission. The bulk of the $867,318.50 said to have been spent by the Company on the project was expended on architectural services and legal fees presumably in respect of the services of Beryn Duncanson who is also the Managing Director of the Company. On the 23111 February 2009, Tatum Clerveaux, the Deputy Commissioner of Lands wrote to the Company via Mr. Duncanson. She referred to the Company's application for a renewal of its lease and clearly stated that $83,500 was outstanding and that its application would not be considered until the arrears were settled. Mr. Duncanson in his role as Managing Director of the Company wrote several times to the Minister of Natural Resources in March 2009 to request an extension of the Company's lease. The request was similarly rejected. On the 18th September and on the 9th November 2009, Duncanson & Co wrote on behalf of the Company. In these letters, the Company sought an extension of the lease on the same terms agreed in 2006 but it appears the TCIG remained unwilling to offer an extension without full payment of the outstanding arrears and on the 30th day of March 2010, attorneys for the TCIG wrote to the Company to seek payment of the arrears of $83,500 and mesne profits and recovery of the land. On 17th day of May 20 I 0, Mr. Duncanson responded by email to Brian Titley (the former Chief Economic Advisor to the Governor). He acknowledged that the rent fell due, but argued that the Company had invested $900,000 in the Land and
there was a custom that permitted rental payments to be either paid at a later date when the freehold was acquired or waived if the property was returned to TCIG. He stated that "we remain ready to proceed in good faith, ready willing and able to raise finance to pay for the freehold together with rent arrears and stamp duty (c. $1,050,000 depending on rate of stamp duty applicable at the time) or rent arrears on formal exercise of extension of the lease and we continue development efforts." TCIG and the Company subsequently entered into without prejudice communications, in an effort to settle the dispute, which were unsuccessful. By letter dated the 2od day of December, 2010 the Company was given notice of forfeiture and served with a statutory notice as well. A further letter was written to the Company on the 3'd of March, 2011 by which the TCIG exercised its right of re-entry and forfeiture pursuant to Section 56 of the Registered Land Ordinance. The AG submitted that there is a clear debt due to the TCIG for the unpaid rents reserved under the lease, that in previous negotiations to settle the dispute Mr. Duncanson stated that Company would be unable to pay its debts and would rather, "in extremis, wind up the company'' and that the Company having failed to pay the statutory demand is deemed unable to pay its debts. Duncanson strenuously opposed the application and asserts that the petition is an abuse of the Court's process and should be dismissed. Mr. Duncanson submits firstly, that as there is a better, more direct remedy available to the Petitioner -in this case, an action for recovery of possession the Court should find that the petitioner is acting unreasonably in seeking winding up. Ramsay-Hale said the facts of the case were that the petitioner bad agreed that his co-shareholders could buy out his shares but when negotiations failed to bear fruit he commenced winding up proceedings, as the Court found, so that the other shareholders would have to buy out his shares at the price he chose to place on them or face the disruption of a winding-up order and that notwithstanding the fact that they had continued to run the company in the expectation that a price, or a fair machinery for ascertaining the price, could be agreed and had exposed themselves to a continuing liability under a guarantee to the company's bankers in order to do so
Page 14
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
LOCAL NEWS
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
Several Belonger businessman against VAT, says Clive Stanbrook There are plenty of prominent Belonger business men involved with the Turks and Caicos Independent Business Council (TCIBC) despite a widespread feeling that expressing anti VAT sentiments may result in the victimization of their businesses. This was stated by Clive Stanbrook, QC, chairman of the TCIB, who said this feeling comes about certainly in part as a result of one email sent to a prominent local businessman back in June who had asked for a business meeting with the FCO to introduce a potential investor. Stanbrook said: “The response from the FCO was that although he would be happy to meet him. ... " I think it will be difficult to have a constructive meeting, if you continue to orchestrate anti-VAT initiatives to the extent that you have been," and going on to say "no problem with you expressing views about HOW VAT should be implement." The clear implication from the FCO, a powerful figure in the TCIG administration, is that there is a problem if it goes beyond that. Whether it was intended or not, the threat was very obvious and it is very surprising that a retraction does not appear to have been made. Although this apparently caused a number of people to be concerned, I am
pleased to say that the TCIBC, contrary to the Governors comments to the FT, has a remarkably broad based support for it campaign.” According to Stanbrook, for the Governor to suggest that the arguments of the TCIBC were mere scaremongering highlights the unwillingness of the TCIG to engage on the substance of the debate. The IGA owner added: “Indeed when it has come to a dispute on the facts it has been the government and Mr McGarel-Groves in particular that has had to back down. TCIBC have responsibly presented the arguments on VAT and have not resorted to the dissemination of allegations of questionable factual basis. Accordingly the Governor is asked to either withdraw this allegation or substantiate it and explain what the TCIBC have said that constitutes scaremongering.” Stanbrook said that to suggest that VAT will result in lower prices was always absurd. He continued: “With the benefit of the leaked document it is clear that the Government knew very well it would have to raise more by way of tax revenue. McGarel-Groves protestation that it had gone to great lengths to "make sure that the man in the street is not adversely affected by VAT" can be
seen to be meaningless. When a government needs more revenue the tax goes up and the man in the street will be affected.” Stanbrook noted that it is not the level of taxation that determines whether a tax is good or bad. He said the level of taxation is determined by the tax revenue that is needed to run the country. “A tax is good if it is fair in its application and raises money efficiently in other words the collection costs are low. VAT does neither. VAT is a complex tax and one that is expensive to collect. At present the TCI collects its taxes effectively and very efficiently. Why should the Turks and Caicos citizens pay what may be as high as 15 million additional dollars in the first year just to implement and collect VAT,” he added. “VAT has the very unfortunate effect that it taxes anyone that adds value on the Islands. This means it imposes a tax on construction, on boat building, on services carried out on the Islands. In short it taxes work, labor and employment. Mr McGarel-Groves claims that the TCIBC have overlooked the benefit that the resorts and the restaurants will get by virtue of the switch from accommodation tax to VAT. The TCIBC are well aware of this.
Indeed Keith Burant discusses this in the last edition of the Sun. What is happening is the tax burden paid by the tourism industry will be reduced and the tax burden will be shifted on to those that work and "add value” in the Turks and Caicos economy,” Stanbrook said. The TCIBC chairman said it does not make sense to now transfer the burden of existing taxation from the tourism industry onto an already weakened construction and domestic service industry, adding that this does not help to provide the government with a more stable income. He added: “Yes it can be argued it taxes the lawyers and the accountants but they can be taxed in much simpler and, if appropriate, more penal ways. It seems to have escaped the attention of the TCIG that there has been a complete collapse of much of the non direct tourism business in the Islands. There is rampant unemployment and 25% of the working population has moved away and they mostly come from this sector. This is not a time to discourage work and value being added on the islands it is a time to encourage it. VAT, if indeed it is eventually introduced, will contribute to the continuing collapse of the economy outside that of the direct tourism industry.”
PROVO STEVEDORING LIMITED
Provo Stevedoring is seeking a qualified individual to fill the following opening. Only candidates who meet the minimum qualification and requirements will be considered.
OPERATIONS MANAGER (Hiring Salary Range is $55K - $60K annually)
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND COMPETENCE: Responsible for hands on implementing and management of Operations, Maintenance and Safety Programs as it relates to Stevedoring Work at the Port of Providenciales and/or the Port of Grand Turk as directed by the General Manager: - Assist the General Manager in developing operational procedures and logistics to ensure a safe and efficient work environment including coordinating with shippers, Customs and Ports Authority and other governmental departments as required. - Responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of the port and equipment maintenance and ensure that equipment and personnel are maintained and managed effectively. - Responsible for verbal and written communicating and coordinating with Ports Authority, Shipper and Shippers Agent on operational issues. - Responsible for developing and managing the implementation of the company equipment preventative maintenance program to ensure that equipment are maintained in good repair and in accordance to manufacturer and/or company standards. - Responsible for the development and implementing Safety programs including rigging training, equipment operator training and hazmat training. - Responsible for employee and equipment certification including notification to the Ports Authority. - Exercise courteous and respectful communications/relations with Customers, Customer Personnel, Port Authority Personnel (Customs, Security and Immigrations), Vendors/Suppliers and all individuals within the confines of the Port of Providenciales and Port of Grand Turk.
- Exercise courteous and respectful communications/relations with Management, Supervisors, Co-workers and all individuals either directly or indirectly associated with Provo Stevedoring, its Partners and its subsidiaries. - Assist in providing contract deliverables to the Ports Authority as directed by the General Manager. - Other miscellaneous activity as directed by the General Manager. MINIMUM QUALIFACTIONS AND EXPERIENE Five years mid to senior level management experience with three (3) years experience in stevedoring operation including port operation logistics, human resources management and developing/implementing equipment preventative maintenance programs. Must be willing to work extended hours, night/day, weekends and public holidays and cooperate and work as a joint team with other staff members. PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS: Sitting, standing, walking, driving, climbing/ladders, squatting/kneeling, reaching, grasping, pushing/pulling, twisting/bending, lifting/carrying up to 50 lbs multiple times per shift, fingering, talking, hearing, and seeing. WORKING CONDITIONS: Strong working knowledge and command of the English language and ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally. Must summit a clean police record, a valid driving license & a clean drug medical. Spends most time outdoors, frequent exposure to extreme hot temperature for one hour plus. Possible exposure to distraction/uncomfortable noise levels and vibration of body or extremities. Risk of bodily injury from mechanical parts, electricity, etc. Possible exposure to fumes, odors, etc. that may effect respiration and skin. Please submit Resume and completed job application to the attention of Crystal Greene, Human Resources Manager by October 15, 2010. Job application forms can be obtained at Provo Stevedoring Limited administration office located at South Dock Road or call 649-941-8975.
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
Page 15
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
LOCAL NEWS
$70million hotel, casino and marina to be built on ird Turtle property BY ANLESLIE GARLAND SUNTV REPORTER
It was the first hotel in Providenciales until it was closed in 1989. Then it was bought by multimillionaire Richard Padgett, whose ambitious plan for a luxury hotel here, was crushed after he became caught up in corruption allegations. Now the Third Turtle is about to become the future home of a $70million hotel, casino and marina complex. The 17-acre site at Third Turtle with 775 feet of beachfront, will be the newest addition to TCI’s luxury hotel inventory. It will be a low-density hotel that is proposed to create between 300 and 400 jobs and inject $9million per year in Government revenues. A memorandum of understanding between the developers of a new $70m hotel, casino and marina complex and the Turks and Caicos Islands Government was signed by Acting Governor Patrick Boyle on, Friday October 12th, 2012. According to a Government press release, the project will spearhead a new type of development around Turtle Cove offering a public promenade along the marina featuring a casino, boutique, and restaurants. The marina intends to rival the best in the region and to put Providenciales back on the map for top
An aerial view of the Third Turtle site
yachting and fishing enthusiasts. The site, recently acquired out of receivership, also has 1,300 feet of marina frontage, and an elevated bluff with spectacular ocean views. The site was originally the location of the Third Turtle Inn was reputable for its entertainment and the best port of call south of the Bahamas. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed under the Turks and Caicos Islands’ new Investment Policy. Referring to managing partner of
HAB MANAGEMENT LTD
HAB Management Limited is seeking a suitably qualified individuals to fill the following opening:
WAITRESS/WAITER
MAIN DUTIES Applicants will be required to greet and take food and beverages orders from restaurant guest, serve the orders and accommodate guest requests. Applicants will be required to serve guests’ promptly and according to established restaurant standards, policies and procedures.
REQUIREMENTS Must have a minimum of three years experience working in a restaurant. Must have a strong working knowledge of dining room procedures, policies and EPOS System. Applicants must be a customer service advocate, maintaining a high level of customer service standards. Maintain a friendly, cheerful and courteous demeanor at all times. Perform other duties as assigned, requested or deemed necessary by management. Applicants must be willing to work varied shifts, split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays as required by management. Applicants will be required to work on a full time basis. Must be able to walk, stand or stoop for the duration of shift (at least 8 hours). Applicants must be able to understand/speak/read/write English proficiently. All applicants must be hardworking team players. Wages for this position is commensurate with experience and training. Wages starts at $6.00 per hour. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by October 22, 2012 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
the development, Vasco Borges, Boyle said it is terrific news that someone with such a proven track record right here in the TCI wishes to combine forces with seasoned real estate investors and bring his knowledge and experience to a new development. “I am very excited with this project, no less by the unequivocal support it has received from all quadrants of the society, particularly from neighbours and business owners at Turtle Cove, and from the TCI Government,” said Vasco Borges. “When one walks the site, it is
evident why the first developers on Providenciales chose the Third Turtle beach as their home. It is unique in combining a half-moon white powder beach with marina facilities. We will now take the necessary time to design a property that best conserves and enhances nature’s beauty, and is well within the existing height and density restrictions. The project was greatly facilitated by the revamped Investment Unit set up by the TCI Government. The TCI Government has proven they are willing to do their share in putting Turks & Caicos Islands in the investors’ mind”. The Acting Governor added that growing the economy here in the TCI is a balance between established businesses investing and reinvesting and attracting overseas investment.” Burges, who has resided and worked in real estate development and hospitality in the Turks & Caicos Islands since 2005, said he is very excited with this project and by the support it has received from all sections of the society, especially from neighbours and business owners at Turtle Cove, and from the TCI Government. Borges said they will now take the necessary time to design a property that best conserves and enhances nature’s beauty, and is well within the existing height and density restrictions.
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Gertrude Forbes is 2012 Unsung Hero BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR
Wesley Methodist Girls Guide Leader Gertrude Forbes is the 2012 CIBC FirstCaribbean Unsung Hero for the Turks and Caicos Islands, having favoured by the judges for what was described as her selfless dedication not only to that organization but also the less fortunate of the community. By virtue of copping the local competition, Forbes, wife of Principal for the Provo campus of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Samuel Forbes, is automatically pitted against fellow regional winners for Caribbean-wide glory and prize more towards her cause. Judging for the regional leg of the competition begins next month, with the winner to be announced early 2013. The presentation ceremony, held at the Occasions Ballroom located at the Airport Hotel on Airport Road in Providenciales, was a surprise to the 2012 recipient. And so, when she walked into the venue and saw her husband, daughter, other family members, well-wishers, CIBC FirstCaribbean staff, as well as members of the media, it dawned on her that the errand at the Carambola Restaurant on which she was sent be her employer – Griffiths and Partners
: Gertrude Forbes makes a gesture of thanksgiving after being surprised with the news that she was the 2012 CIBC FirstCaribbean Unsung Heroes recipient. Sharing in the unforgettable moment are: Larry Lawrence (right), Country Manager for CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank TCI; Bianca O’Neil, Business Support Officer for the bank and Forbes ‘close acquaintances.
Attorneys -was part of a grand but pleasant conspiracy. Larry Lawrence, the CIBC FirstCaribbean Country Manager for the Turks and Caicos Islands explained that the Unsung Heroes Programme was about highlighting individuals regarded as selfless. “It means that they give of themselves without looking for anything in return; persons who give of their time and resources, to improve the lives of the less fortunate. CIBC FirstCaribbean Unsung Heroes Programme has, without a doubt, made its mark here in the TCI and throughout the Caribbean in the spirit of
COOK
HAB MANAGEMENT LTD.
MAIN DUTIES Prepare food items of consistent quality in accordance with production requirements and quality standards while maintaining a safe sanitary work environment. Start prep work on food items needed for the menu of the day. Organize all of the various prep items needed from different areas to ensure that all items are in place and ready for service. Inform the Executive Chef of any shortage of supplies that need restocking before items completely run out. REQUIREMENTS Applicants must have a minimum of three-year culinary experience working in a restaurant. Comprehend and follow recipes and cooking techniques. Must have thorough knowledge and understanding of food service sanitation standards. Thorough knowledge and understanding of standard kitchen equipment and its use. Applicants must be willing to work varied shifts, split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays as required by management. Perform other duties as assigned, requested or deemed necessary by management. Applicants will be required to work on a full time basis. Must be able to walk, stand or stoop for the duration of shift (at least 8 hours). Applicants must be able to understand/speak/read/write English proficiently. Applicants must be detail oriented, must be hardworking and a team player. Work with minimal supervision. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by October 22, 2012 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Only persons selected for an interview will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.
volunteerism. Like the programme, our 2012 unsung hero has made a significant mark through-out the TCI,” Lawrence. Unveiling the reason for naming Forbes the 2012 Unsung Hero, Lawrence noted: “Over the past years, Mrs. Forbes has played an instrumental role in being the lead Guide for the Girls Guide here in the TCI. She is also known to have volunteered her time by doing many charitable deeds in various areas on the island of Providenciales. Mrs. Forbes has been involved in the Girls Guide for about 10 years. Its (Girls Guide) main goal is to groom young girls between the ages of five and 16, into well-rounded members of the community. “She has invested a lot of time into imparting much-needed basic training to these individuals. Areas such as healthy lifestyles, relationships, communication skills, and also providing an environment where they learn, share and interact with each other. What she does is create an environment for persons to flourish; for persons to be the best that they can, be based on their God-given potential. And that, in many ways, personifies what our Unsung Heroes finalist has done. “Mrs. Forbes is also involved in volunteering her time in many other areas in the community. She willingly takes care of persons in the community with varying ailments, for example, individuals stricken by stroke or blindness. She selflessly cares for them, by providing assistance where necessary.” Responding to the question of how she felt having entered the ballroom door and saw the number of familiar faces, Forbes said: “I couldn’t think of
anything, I was wondering, what’s going on, because my boss said he wanted me to pick-up something from Carambola that’s kind of personal. I didn’t think about anything…I didn’t think it would be something like this. But I am very thankful. I am overwhelmed,” Forbes said. She revealed that helping people was natural to her, since it gave her a sense of satisfaction and success. “It’s a part of me, I just like to make people happy, the best way I can with the little that I have, because God wants us to be kind and loving and share what we have with others. I am happy (helping people),” she said. Forbes’ Achilles Heels was discovered at a tender age, when she became a Brownie before moving on to the Girls Guide, Rangers and then becoming a Girls Guide Leader. Not only did such discipline assist her in caring more for her fellow citizens, but also afforded her the opportunity of becoming a homemaker. Forbes was also recognized by the CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank Unsung Hero panel of judges for her commitment to working with the physically disabled. She said that her having to care for a close family member after the death of his mother may have triggered her interest into falling in love with members of that particular demographic. “I guess it is because I have a nephew, who is handicapped – it is like adopt and son – because when his mother died, my mother took him, but she is not in the position to care for him, so I took over that responsibility. Now he is at the Wellness Centre in Grand Turk. And then, I came across Stephen – a blind guy – and I became attached to him. I just like helping people. I also, at one point, took handicapped kids to Jamaica with the Social Services Department. I just like helping out,” Forbes said. She noted also that the cash presentation to her organization was a timely one, since it came at a time when the entity was in need of funding to offset programmes upon which it had embarked and events that were coming up. Looking towards the regional competition, Forbes said that she was expecting a tough competition, but declared that if it was the will of the Lord, she would cop that title as well. “If it is for me, I will get it, but if it not, then (so bit it). I am privilege to be honoured here. This is a big step right here,” she said.
DOMESTIC WORKER WANTED
On Grand Turk Salary $5 per hour Contact Mahala Wynns 946-2691
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
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Moral of the story for TCI: VAT dollars need prudent handlers
BY MARVA COSSY
Sometimes the unexpected appears and pushes earlier plans down the priority list. That was the case recently when I saw a copy of the September 26 letter, sent by the Executive Committee of the Turks and Caicos Independent Business Council’s (TCIBC) to the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. William Hague. The letter spoke to what the TCIBC termed “the current misconceived plans to introduce VAT into a small, single income (tourism) economy …” and effectively presented the business sector’s case. But one particular paragraph floored me. I read it five times: “Barbados is a very good example of a small country that assumed VAT would be a solution to many ills when it has in fact exacerbated their financial mismanagement.” That statement suggests a strong causal relationship between VAT and financial mismanagement. If that relationship exists, then it is a strong reason for any country, especially the small debt-prone ones of the Caribbean to steer clear of VAT. The point was therefore intellectually stimulating, not because of the Barbados factor, but generally. So my
Marva Cossy
research started. Perhaps the IMF website could shed light on the matter, I thought. After all the IMF has a penchant for chiding countries for financial mismanagement, especially small island developing states, like my home country. I am still searching. My search so far has revealed that in several countries, VAT receipts have exceeded original expectations raising more revenue than the taxes it replaced. In fact, a well administered and designed VAT system is often hailed as a blessing to government coffers, except when consumer spending power is severely reduced by layoffs, redundancies or inflation.
OPERATORS & STEVEDORES
JOB PURPOSE: • Transports material and equipment to/from vessels and job sites. • Off load and Back load container ships. • Must be able to operate Top Pick, Reach Stacker, Excavator, Front End Loader & Forklift. • Must be able to work unsupervised. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: • Knowledge of various truck types and their use of maintenance. • Ability to operate jockey truck, flatbed truck and pick up truck. • Ability to use hand tools and basic grounds keeping tools and equipment. • Knowledge of standard crane signal and safety procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: • Must have a high school diploma or GED • Must have at least 5 years experience. • Must summit a clean police record. • Must summit a valid driving license. • Must summit a clean drug medical. • Must be willing to work extended hours, night/day, weekend and public holidays. • Must be willing to cooperate and work as a joint team with other staff members.
PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS: Sitting, standing, walking, driving, climbing/ladders, squatting/kneeling, reaching, grasping, pushing/pulling, twisting/bending, lifting/carrying up to 50 lbs multiple times per shift, fingering, talking, hearing, and seeing.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Spends most time outdoors, frequent exposure to extreme hot or cold temperature for one hour plus. Possible exposure to distraction/uncomfortable noise levels and vibration of body or extremities. Risk of bodily injury from mechanical parts, electricity, etc. Possible exposure to fumes, odors, etc. that may effect respiration and skin. Please apply before August 1 to: Crystal Greene Human Resources Manager P.O. Box 427 Ports Administration Building South Dock, Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands
Barbados’ VAT system from a money-generating perspective has performed well. During the country’s 2008 General Elections, the then opposition Democratic Labour Party accused the then ruling Barbados Labour Party of financial mismanagement, citing many government projects as the subject of several hundred thousand dollars worth of cost overruns. In Bajan parlance, the opposition claimed government had plenty VAT dollars and ‘lick it out”. I think this is where the comment of financial mismanagement might have crept into the equation. I will be guided by those who can cite otherwise, but I will speak with respect to this view. Government spending is oft-time influenced by the philosophy of the ruling political party; its vision for the country’s future. Some politicians focus too much on securing their seats and are prone towards padding the civil service with workers or rubber stamping ill conceived projects to appease supporters. Indebted-Caribbean countries, like Barbados, whose small open economies countries have been turned practically upside-down by the effects of trade liberalisation, require government to be a facilitator of economic growth and development. Export promotion; the implementing and administering of laws regarding fair trading, competition policy and the protection of the intellectual property; initiatives to equip the private sector and citizens to participate effectively in the restructuring of the economy are among a long list of to-dos for us. If VAT dollars are efficiently spent on such services and goods which will propel economic growth, then the more the merrier. Therefore the main issue from the TCIBC sentence in question relates to how money is spent rather than how it is generated. It would be sophomoric to paint employee promotions with a negative brush because a promoted employee spent all his earnings on liquor to the detriment of his family. I haven’t properly analysed the quality of the Barbados government spending, but if financial mismanagement can be
proven, that is not due to VAT but due to misguided policy makers and reflects a system that has inadequate checks and balances; a system that allows inefficiencies to thrive. The moral of the story therefore to citizens of Turks and Caicos is that VAT, like any other government funds, requires prudent handlers. Now let me examine the comment that “Barbados saw VAT as a solution to many ills”. These ills included a complex indirect tax system filled with anomalies; the existence of a high level of duties and taxes on imported extraregional goods. The tax system suffered due to multiple rates, cascading, nontransparency and arbitrariness of exempt status. Barbados had consumption tax, stamp duty and import duty as well as 42 minor taxes such as excises, hotels and restaurants, licences and services taxes. A sales tax was implemented in the 1970s but failed. A few years later, after a comprehensive study, University of Illinois’ Professor John F. Due, recommended measures to aid development, simplify the indirect tax structure, improve the operation of indirect taxes and improve equity. He suggested a VAT but government went the route of an expanded consumption tax regime and added a stamp duty. Obviously, Barbados has since adopted a VAT and the objectives outlined by Professor Due remain in focus and many are partially fulfilled. But tax systems must be appropriate for the environment in which they operate. The TCI tax issues will differ from Barbados’, given the difference in their taxation and political systems, although both countries depend on tourism for their livelihood. Next week I will look at tourism related matter. Is it introducing “VAT into a small, single income (tourism) economy” a misconceived plan, can Barbados’ experience provide some lessons?
• MARVA COSSY IS A BARBADIAN INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONSULTANT AND JOURNALIST AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS SUN’S EASTERN CARIBBEAN BUREAU CHIE
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Open letter to Governor Todd from Peter Kerrigan Your Excellency, I run EDS a small structural and civil engineering consultancy based on Provo. Since the economic crash, I like many, have suffered greatly by the demise of the construction industry and the vacuum that has been left in the economy as a result. The construction industry typically produces a significant percentage of the GDP in any economy. In TCI this is or was more the case as the economy is limited in depth and breadth and historically the construction industry contributed greatly to its wealth. We now find ourselves in a situation where the construction industry is pretty much on its knees, there is little on the horizon. Promises of projects are just that, promises. And if we are all honest, in today's world where banks have seemingly lost their appetite to lend, carrying a "promised project" from inception across the start line is a "tall order" to say the least. As a businessman, resident and someone who calls TCI home, my observations of the economy over the last months and weeks are concerning. I still see little genuine news that would give hope. I feel a contraction in the economy, cash is flowing less freely and people are still leaving or seriously talking about leaving the islands. The significant increase in the cost of living over the last four years is a matter of fact, while salaries and income have either frozen, fallen or in some cases business owners pay themselves no salary. A teacher, nurse, policeman or other low income workers are now facing the stark reality that they can no longer afford to live in TCI. In essence the current economy is one where only the very rich and self made can live comfortably and is turning the screws on those in the lower income bracket. This is very much the reality. No economy anywhere in the world can survive and more importantly grow if it does not accommodate all sections of society. The current status quo is choking the economy ever closer to the tipping point, a tipping point that will result in a failed economy. Many people in TCI are heavily in debt and have their backs against the wall. Many talk of leaving and finding a place to live that is more affordable. An exodus or further rapid contraction of the population will only compound the problem. Of course that would result in more lost revenue. What I state are my genuine thoughts and concerns based on my findings and my conversations with people on the ground that live and work in TCI. They are, I believe objective and real. They are not politically motivated. It is my honest and sincere opinion that whether one is either pro or anti VAT, any thinking man who has his finger on the pulse of our society will know this is absolutely not the time to introduce VAT into TCI and further burden the residents with yet higher costs.
The additional 11% will be the proverbial straw that breaks the TCI back. The person who falls in the low income bracket or worse still is unemployed and without income, will, in relative terms be affected the most. Your absolute refusal to take on board advice from local businessmen and politicians with respect to VAT is for me, difficult to fathom. The consultation period was I believe regrettably anything but consultative and was very much a one way process. Unlike many countries TCI does not have the support system to help citizens who are struggling, there has been no "stimulus" afforded to TCI. Basically the average man or woman is on his or her own. To introduce VAT in 2013 would be ill conceived and I believe economic suicide. As a businessman I cannot see the logic in implementing such additional burdens during such trying times. One of my biggest concerns is the disconnect that exists between you, your team and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. It seems to those of us who live here that you are disconnected on many levels. Socially, emotionally and financially. Socially your team does not mix with the average resident, there is little or no interaction, no attempt to get on the ground and sample feelings of the working man or woman, not to mention the unemployed. Whether that be a Turks Islander or an expat who now calls TCI home. This is a massive disconnect. Emotionally, few if any of your immediate team have any emotional connection to TCI. None of you call it home and few if any will stay beyond your contractual obligations. You are not emotionally invested in the TCI. Financially I would hazard a guess that few of you have any serious personal financial commitments to TCI and as such you make decisions as "outsiders" not as someone who might be financially affected by those same decisions. So the policy makers have no solid ties to TCI. In my view the aforementioned are massive disconnects with the TCI community and frankly I feel it has produced nothing short of a dysfunctional relationship between you, your immediate administration and the people who live and work on these islands. How can life changing decisions that affect the residents of the TCI be made under such a scenario. It is plain wrong, bad business and all very worrying for many who call this home. A great example of running a country from "afar". A policy that never really worked in the past, and I do not believe it's likely to work now. At this 11th hour, I ask that you step back from your current stance on VAT, think of the many residents who are on the brink, look at your polices from a different and more creative perspective and consider an alternate approach to VAT. Before it's too late. Sincerely Peter Kerrigan
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Rihanna and Chris Brown reunited and soon to go public? NEW YORK, USA – Barring an elaborate publicity stunt or an updated version of the Princess and the Frog fairytale, it looks as if Barbados’ superstar Rihanna and the notorious Chris Brown are an item again and about to make their rekindled romance public. The couple, said to have recently reconciled, is reportedly ready to stop sneaking around and will make their reunion public knowledge after Rihanna releases her new album “Unapologetic” next month. A source close to Rihanna told HollywoodLife.com: "She [is] hitting the studio real hard these days, but [talks] to Chris every step of the way. "As soon as she finishes up with this album, they will be out. She gotta focus and get that album together and stay paid." The source reportedly said that once Rihanna’s new album is released, she and Brown will attend events and be photographed together
It looks as if Barbados’ superstar Rihanna and the notorious Chris Brown are an item again
despite the potential commercial backlash. Rumours really started to fly that Barbados’ pop princess and Brown had reunited romantically following
the Hip Hop star's public breakup with recent girlfriend Karrueche Tran. Now it looks as if the tabloid rumours may have been confirmed in the form of a stern warning reportedly
delivered by Rihanna’s friend and mentor Jay-Z to Brown. The latest buzz holds that at JayZ's recent Brooklyn concert at the newly inaugurated Barclay's Arena, Jay-Z approached Brown to warn him that he would "finish" him if he ever hurt Rihanna again. Jay-Z actually invited Brown to the concert personally, according to The Sun. "He invited them as a couple to his concert in New York and backstage he called Chris to one side and told him if he hurts Rihanna, whether emotionally or physically, it's over for him," an unnamed source told The Sun. "He'll ensure it will result in the end of his career." If anyone really knows the truth about what's going on between Rihanna and Brown, it's probably JayZ who has been protective of his Bajan protégé in the past and has interjected himself into her fraught relationship with Brown before.
Rihanna will allegedly earn $8 million Adele leads record label for turning on Christmas lights at a mall to $67 million profit Rihanna might have a reason to be extra festive the Olympics and want to fork out to celebrate. Over the last 20 months, as Adele’s album “21” spent week after week in the Top 10 — a total of 79 weeks in the United States, with 24 of them at No. 1 — envious record executives have, between salivations, wondered what kind of profit all those sales would bring. That number has now been revealed: nearly $67 million, according to recently filed accounts by Adele’s label, XL Recordings. And that’s just for last year. (Nor does that number include Adele’s songwriting royalties or concert fees, in which neither XL nor its parent company, Beggars Group, has any interest.) XL had $181 million in revenue in 2011, up about 400 percent from the $36 million it reported the year before. The label had $66.9 million in operating profit, before taxes, and ended the year with just less than $60 million in cash. “We’ve sold 25 million copies of ’21’ around the world,” Martin Mills, the chairman of Beggars Group, said in a telephone interview on Monday. “And when you sell that many records everyone makes money. Not just Adele and the label, but distributors, retail, everyone.” XL had nine releases in 2011, including albums by the Horrors, Friendly Fires and Tyler, the Creator. But of course “21” — the top seller around the world, with more than 18 million in total sales by the end of last year — was the label’s rainmaker. (By comparison, 4AD, which like XL is half-owned by Beggars Group, had about $15 million in revenue and eight new releases.) For its success, XL paid $27.3 million in dividends, half of which went to Richard Russell, one of its founders, and the other half to Beggars. In its own accounts, filed with British regulators, Beggars — which in addition to XL and 4AD has full or part ownership of Rough Trade, Matador and other labels — reported $138 million in revenue for the year and $37 million in operating profit.
during the upcoming holiday season. A London mall is reportedly paying the “Diamonds” singer a whopping $8 million to flip a switch and turn on the shopping center’s Christmas lights. A source with insider knowledge of Westfield mall in East London revealed to The Sun: Rihanna’s thrilled. She knows it’s a big deal and is totally up for it – if it fits in with her schedule. Westfield have had a great year due to
Myf Ran, marketing manager for Westfield, confirmed that Rihanna has been contacted about doing the event. “The Christmas light switch-on at Westfield Stratford City is one of the highlights of the festive calendar. This year we want to thank our loyal shoppers by giving them something they’ll never forget.” Rihanna is also rumored to perform a short concert before the more than 20,000 people that are expected to swamp the shopping center.
Drake finally graduates from high school Rapper finally graduated from high school after dropping out to be on 'Degrassi.' Sometimes dropping out of high school is a good thing. Take Aubrey Graham, 25. While his mom was probably not psyched that he bailed on the books as a teenager, the rapper, better known as Drake, kind of made it work for him. Well, Drizzy made it official recently, announcing to his Twitter followers that after leaving Toronto's Forest Hill Collegiate Institute as a teen to take a spot on "Degrassi: The Next Generation," he recently earned his degree with flying colors. "97% on my final exam," he tweeted on Wednesday. "88% in the course. One of the greatest feelings in my entire life. As of tonight I have graduated high school ... Thank you to my teacher Kim Janzen for spending the last 5 months working tirelessly with me!! OVO SOUND."
Drake joined "Degrassi" at age 15 and played paralyzed basketball player James "Jimmy" Brooks for seven seasons, appearing in 138 episodes through 2009, when Jimmy graduated from high school. In a Complex interview last year, Drake said he took the "Degrassi" job to help out his family during a rough time. "My mother was very sick. We were poor, like broke," he said. "The only money I had coming in was off of Canadian TV, which isn't that much money when you break it down ... A season of Canadian television is under a teacher's salary, I'll tell you that much." The 25-year-old Young Money star has been vocal in the past about not making the grade, rapping in "Crew Love" that, "I guess we'll never know what Harvard gets us/But seeing my family have it all/Took the place of that desire for diplomas on the wall."
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HIGHLIGHTS
• Bahamas opposition leader under threat after election loss READ MORE ON PAGE 33
Bermuda elections will be this year Bermudians will go to the polls to elect the next Government this year, Premier Paula Cox announced. And the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) will lead the way to the end of mandated conscription through the development of a full time army. “We are committed to having a full time Regiment with a paid cadre of officers and to move away from mandated conscription,” Ms Cox said to applause in her keynote address at the second night of the party’s annual conference. “This year — I’m giving you a hint now — in the coming election, the Progressive Labour Party will be calling on you to stand up for these values and to look at what we have done during our three terms in office,” she said. “Let us remember that we inherited a country full of division where a forgotten group of people were sidelined by those who put the interests of business first. We changed that equation. Now it is the people first.”–Ms Cox continued: “Yes indeed we have more work to do. That is why winning this election is so urgently important and that is why we will win
Bermuda’s Premier Paula Cox
this election.” Ms Cox gave a preview of the PLP’s platform by outlining a “10point road map for recovery and growth”. Job creation topped the list which also included developing Bermuda as an attractive place to do business, strengthening tourism, improving public safety, improving public education, energy sustainability, responsible budgeting, supporting seniors and creating economic opportunities for Bermudians in an infrastructure improvement
programme. “There are many theories about the economy but for most Bermudians the only issue that matters is having a job,” Ms Cox said. Job creation programmes include a project to have local companies refurbish Government properties, launching a boom in the construction industry. She urged her audience to keep the faith and bring out the vote by listing accomplishments of her Government and highlighting what she said were key philosophical differences from the Opposition. “The next election is going to be about a choice, a choice between two very different philosophies. On the one hand you have a PLP that believes in investing in people and standing strong for Bermudians,” Ms Cox said. “On the other hand you have a cynically renamed UBP that offers no real ideas and no real solutions to meet our challenges. They don’t get it. “They say widen our economic empowerment zones so that those who used to benefit will continue to benefit. WE say those who need help should get it in a targeted way. That is how
you level the playing field and help those who need it most, but they don’t get it.” She continued: “We’ve heard one of their elder statesmen say in answer to a query at a public meeting that trickle down is how things work. Just let business do whatever it wants and the wealth will eventually trickle down to the people. They don’t get it. “Two years ago Bob Richards told The Royal Gazette it really has to be all about austerity. Austerity means deep and damaging cuts to programmes that help people — like DayCare, like Future Care. It means fewer police on the streets. “Austerity means thousands of unemployed Bermudians and a poorer life for countless thousands more. They don’t get it. We in the PLP measure the success of our economy not by how much money we can get away with not spending but by how much we can invest in Bermudians. We build the economy by helping people prosper and we work to make their lives better, much better.” The PLP had built “the most affordable housing in the history of Bermuda,” she said.
US considers giving more Caribbean states duty-free access for goods Several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries could benefit as the United States considers whether to designate them eligible to receive benefits under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA). Since 1983, the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) has granted unilateral duty-free treatment for imports of certain eligible articles from CBI beneficiary countries. Currently 17 countries and dependent territories receive benefits under the CBERA. Seven of these countries and dependent territories receive benefits under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA). The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington, DC, said it is requesting comments no later than November 9 on the possible extension of trade preferences under CBERA, as amended by the CBTPA to countries not currently receiving them. The USTR is considering whether to designate Aruba, The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines as eligible to receive
benefits under CBTPA. It said while Congress identified The Bahamas, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent for benefits under CBERA in 1983 and CBTPA in 2000, these countries did not request benefits under CBTPA until 2012. The CBTPA is currently authorised through September 30, 2020, and the USTR said that it is considering whether to designate Curacao, St Maarten, and the Turks and Caicos Islands as eligible to receive benefits under CBERA/CBTPA. USTR said that Congress had identified the Turks and Caicos as potentially eligible for benefits in 1983 but the country did not request beneficiary status until July 2012. Separately, as a result of the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in October 2010, Curacao and St Maarten became successor political entities and have therefore requested the receipt of CBERA and CBTPA benefits. Similarly, Aruba was designated as a CBERA beneficiary country as of January 1, 1986, upon
becoming independent of the Netherlands Antilles but did not request CBTPA benefits until October 2012. USTR said that interested parties should submit comments on whether these countries meet the appropriate eligibility criteria. For CBERA, these include whether the country is communist, has nationalised ownership or control of property owned by a US citizen or corporation, fails to act in good faith in enforcing arbitral awards in favour of US citizens or corporations, and affords preferential treatment to the products of another developed country that could harm US commerce among other criteria. It said that other measures include the country’s economic conditions, assurances of equitable and reasonable access to its markets and basic commodity resources, compliance with accepted rules of international trade, use of export subsidies, export performance requirements or local content requirements that distort international trade, contribution to regional revitalization through trade policies.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
Bahamas ethanol plant could bring thousands of jobs NASSAU, The Bahamas – A proposed joint venture between the Bahamas and Brazil to build an ethanol plant on Grand Bahama could result not only in national energy savings but the creation of over 3,000 jobs. This was revealed recently by Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder as he spoke to the media during a Trade in Services Workshop. “We spoke to one of the largest ethanol producers in Brazil and they have such a high consumption of ethanol they have to look for export markets. They need to look in other jurisdictions. I propose again, Grand Bahama, because of the container port that's there, and the closeness to Andros – you may be able to utilize the sugar cane. Now their estimates were 3,000 to 4,000 jobs that can come out of that one initiative,” Pinder said. “So we're activity looking to see if our soil
quality is good enough to meet the standards to grow the sugar cane and all of the technical components to be able to say The Bahamas is a good access point for North America,” he added. The minister said there are several opportunities to do business with countries in Latin America and Brazil. Pinder travelled to Brazil recently seeking investment opportunities for The Bahamas and he further revealed that he plans to go on a follow-up trip early next year with officials from the Port Authority to further the discussions regarding the development of an ethanol plant. He categorized this as all part of government’s plan to position Freeport as a key trading hub for Latin America and Brazil. "When I was in Brazil I spoke to the poultry association but I spoke to them in the context of using The Bahamas as a trade hub rather than domestic
production, and that could produce a number of jobs and opportunities in Grand Bahama,” he said. "The opportunities are very great. But you have to be very aggressive and you have to do your homework and be able to present your proposals. Gone are the days when people say ‘let’s go to The Bahamas and do business’. The reality is you have to go out and get the business." Pinder added that the government is also in talks with North American and European officials for additional opportunities. Pinder said he will travel to Brussels, Belgium later this month in a bid to seek out investment opportunities for the country. “Those are the keen markets that I see us being able to advance and flourish. You don’t really want to really spread yourselves overly thin grasping at straws in certain jurisdictions,” he said.
Bahamas opposition leader under threat after election loss NASSAU, The Bahamas -- A senior Free National Movement (FNM) official told The Nassau Guardian on Wednesday that Dr Hubert Minnis’ time as leader is “winding down” after the crushing defeat the opposition party suffered in Monday’s by-election. According to the source, FNMs are deeply troubled by recent statements Minnis has made to the public: First that former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s era is over and secondly that the FNM as a party should take responsibility for Monday’s loss, not just him. The source said Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) officials and supporters have long been saying that the Ingraham era is over and for the FNM leader to echo that is “troubling”. Also, the source said, as leader of the party, Minnis should take full responsibility for the loss and FNMs find it troubling that he has not. “He won’t be there long,” the source said. Asked who would fulfill the role of leader, the source said Deputy Leader Loretta Butler-Turner is being eyed to take up the mantle. The source said the party would hold a special council meeting on Thursday night to discuss Monday’s byelection. “The council meeting won’t be good for him,” the source said. “He has an opportunity to say some
things that may amend some of the statements he made over the last few days but that’s up to him.” No force in the party is looking to dethrone Minnis as yet, said the source, but generally people in the FNM are disappointed in him. “His whole position during the election was that he would get more votes than Ingraham, which left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths,” the source said. “Really he was saying that he could do a better job in North Abaco than Ingraham.” Another aspect that upset FNMs, the source said, was that the campaign in North Abaco appeared to be disorganized, with “shoddy” advertisements and ground work. The source also said that the constant claims of victimization on the island by the party leader were “played out and untrue”. “No one was victimized in Abaco,” the source said. “People were intimidated but not victimized.” Late FNM chairman Charles Maynard previously said that Minnis had less than 12-18 months to prove that he had what it takes to lead the party. After the FNM lost the by-election on Monday night, Minnis declared that the “the Ingraham era is over”. “I wish him luck in his future endeavours,” Minnis said, referring to his former leader.
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“But his era is over. That’s it for him.” Minnis went further and said: “There is only going to be one leader going forward.” Minnis was reportedly troubled that Ingraham appeared to concede the election when the party’s
communications unit sent out his statement acknowledging the party’s defeat before Minnis. However, Ingraham said on Monday night, “I made no concession on behalf of the FNM. “It had nothing to do with Dr Minnis and the FNM issuing a statement.” The party has lost the last three elections in the country, the 2010 Elizabeth by-election, the 2012 general election and Monday’s by-election in which the party lost Ingraham’s seat, which he held for more than 30 years, by 854 votes.
PART-TIME ASSISTANT at the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre. Position will be responsible for the general running and supervision of youth programs. Must be fluent in English and available to work holidays and weekends. REQUIREMENTS: • University degree or diploma in psychology, counseling, social work or similar field • Minimum five (5) years’ experience working in a related field • Computer proficient in Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel and Publisher • Excellent interpersonal skills, specifically dealing with teens ASSETS • Administration management or other office experience • Strong written, verbal and communication skills • Second language a plus Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience Deadline for applications is 31st October 2012 BELONGERS ONLY NEED APPLY Email your resume to roxann@ecgyouthcentre.com or contact 331-9602
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CARIBBEAN NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
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Cruise spending totals $2bn in 21 Caribbean/Latin American destinations Direct cruise spending totaled nearly $2bn in 21 Caribbean and Latin American destinations in 2011/12, according to a new study released at the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Conference and Trade Show in Curaçao. That $1.99bn in spending by passengers, crew and cruise lines generated 45,000 jobs and $728m in wages across the 21 destinations. FCCA president Michele Paige hailed the figures as ‘wonderful news,’ adding that for destinations, the data gleaned from a survey by Business Research and Economic Advisors is ‘the key to understanding what passengers like and don’t like’ in destinations. It can be a tool to improve, she said. BREA found that cruise passengers (15.44m) spent $1.48bn in the 21 destinations, with per passenger spending ranging from a high of $185.40 in St. Maarten to $27.10 in St. Vincent & Grenadines. Average spending per passenger was $95.92. Some 52% of passengers bought shore excursions, generating $270m in total payments to tour operators.
Other notable purchases include watches and jewelry ($583m), clothing ($158m), food and beverage ($106.5m) and local crafts and souvenirs ($87m). Crew members (2.7m) spent more than $261m in the 21 destinations, with per crew spending ranging from $138.30 in the US Virgin Islands to $21.40 in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Crew spending averaged $96.98. Cruise lines spent an estimated $246.9m in the destinations participating in the FCCA survey, on port fees and taxes, utilities, navigation services and ship supplies. BREA principal Andy Moody said passengers were generally ‘very satisfied’ with their visits, with mean scores in the mid-70s. Shore excursions showed the highest satisfaction level, while shopping tended to score lower than other categories. Moody said cruisers were typically very satisfied with their interactions with local people while shopping but were less satisfied with the variety of shopping and the
prices. In the high-spending destinations, though, visitors were very satisfied. Five destinations had direct cruise expenditures of $100m or more. They were the Bahamas ($393.8m), St. Maarten ($356.2), US Virgin Islands ($339.8m), Puerto Rico’s San Juan ($186.6m) and the Cayman Islands ($157.7m). Combined, these five destinations with $1.43bn in direct expenditures accounted for 72% of the total cruise expenditures among the 21 destinations. The next nine destinations with spending between $25m and $100m accounted for 23% of the total cruise expenditures with a combined total of $457.7m in direct spending. Direct spending among these nine destinations ranged from $30.3m in the British Virgin Islands to $70.6m in St. Kitts and Nevis. In addition to St. Kitts, Aruba ($63.7m), Belize ($61m), the Turks and Caicos ($60.6m) and Barbados ($53.7m) had total cruise expenditures in excess of $50m. The remaining seven destinations with less than $25m in direct cruise expenditures had a combined total of $98.5m in direct cruise spending and accounted for 5% of the total among the 21 destinations. Cruise expenditures among these destinations ranged from $2m in Nicaragua to $21.4m in the Dominican Republic. In addition to the Dominican Republic,
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Honduras ($20.4m), Costa Rica ($18.5m), Dominica ($18m) and Grenada ($15.2m) had direct expenditures in excess of $15m. FCCA’s last cruise spending study was in 2009, at the bottom of the recession. Then, 29 destinations participated in the research, which found cruise tourism generated more than $2.2bn in direct expenditures, 56,000 jobs and $720m in employee wages. The figures are not directly comparable since eight more destinations were in the survey than in the recent period. Among the 20 destinations that participated in both the current and 2009 studies, eight showed an increase in cruise expenditures, three experienced no change and direct spending fell in nine destinations. In each of the eight destinations that chalked up increases (Aruba, the Bahamas, Colombia, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten and the Turks and Caicos) total passenger and crew visits shot up over the three-year period. This increase in onshore visits was enhanced by increases in the average expenditure per visit in Aruba, Colombia, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Maarten. In the remaining three destinations (the Bahamas, Belize and the Turks and Caicos), the increase in visits was partially offset by a decline in average per visit expenditures.
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
HIGHLIGHTS
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• Gallup study says 3.4 percent of US adults are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender READ MORE ON PAGE 37
Federal Reserve terror attack foiled; suspect arrested in alleged plot on NYC building Federal authorities arrested a Bangladeshi national Wednesday morning for allegedly plotting to blow up a Federal Reserve Bank in New York City's lower Manhattan, mere blocks away from the site of the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001. The bank is one of 12 branches around the country. The 21-year-old suspect, Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis, attempted to detonate what he thought was a 1,000-pound bomb in front of the Fed building on Liberty Street, but the device was a fake supplied to him by undercover FBI agents who had been tracking his activity, the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force said Wednesday afternoon. The supposed explosives posed no threat to the public, the FBI said. A criminal complaint accuses Nafis of having overseas connections
to Al Qaeda and travelling to the U.S. in January to recruit individuals to form a terrorist cell and conduct an attack on American soil. He came under the guise of going to school in Missouri on a student visa. One of Nafis' potential recruits was an FBI source, who alerted authorities, the FBI said. A federal law enforcement official told Fox News that there was no evidence Nafis was directed by Al Qaeda to carry out this attack, though he appears to have thought he was working for the terrorist group. At one point, according to criminal complaint, Nafis told undercover agents: "I don't want something that's like, small. I just want something big. Something very big ... that will shake the whole country, that will make America, not one step ahead, change of policy, and
make one step ahead, for the Muslims ... that will make us one step closer to run the whole world." A U.S. official told Fox News that President Obama was Nafis' first target, but the criminal complaint only refers to "a high-ranking official." The complaint also mentions the New York Stock Exchange as a proposed target. The FBI cites a written statement obtained from Nafis in which he said he wanted to "destroy America" and determined that the best way to achieve that goal was to target the economy. He also referenced quotes from "our beloved Sheikh Osama bin Laden." Nafis appeared in federal court in Brooklyn to face charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to provide material support to Al Qaeda. Wearing
a brown T-shirt and black jeans, he was ordered held without bail and did not enter a plea. His defense attorney had no comment outside court. "Attempting to destroy a landmark building and kill or maim untold numbers of innocent bystanders is about as serious as the imagination can conjure," FBI Acting Assistant Director-in-Charge Galligan said. "The defendant faces appropriately severe consequences." NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly noted that there have been 15 terrorist plots targeting the city since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "Al Qaeda operatives and those they have inspired have tried time and again to make New York City their killing field," Kelly said. "After 11 years without a successful attack, it's understandable if the public becomes complacent. But that's a luxury law enforcement can't afford."
TENDER NOTICE FOR CROWN LAND Turks and Caicos Islands Government is in receipt of a proposal to acquire a leasehold title over a portion of Parcels 60514/8, Blue Hills & Stamers Run, Providenciales, comprising of approximately 94 acres, for a commercial development. In the spirit of good governance and in keeping with Section 34 of Crown Land Ordinance we would like to open the tender process for competing tenders to this parcel. This process promotes transparency and helps mitigate favouritism and corruption; as well as affords the Government the opportunity to get the best value for the land. The parcels are located in an area zoned for tourism development and all bids should guide the Project Proposal Guidelines, found on TCIG website - www.gov.tc. All bids must be submitted to the Tender Board and must be accompanied by the appropriate non-refundable application fee payable at any Treasury location. RETURN OF TENDERS: The return date is scheduled to close at 9pm on Friday, November 2nd 2012.
Bids are to be returned in a sealed envelope addressed to: Chairman of the Tenders Board N. J. S. Francis Building Pond Street Grand Turk
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
WORLD NEWS
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
New York appeals court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act A federal appeals court in New York on Thursday became the nation's second to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, finding that the Clintonera law's denial of federal benefits to married same-sex couples is unconstitutional. The divisive act, which was passed in 1996, bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages and says states cannot be forced to recognize such marriages from other states. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the federal law violates the Constitution's equal protection clause, ruling in favor of a widow named Edith Windsor, an 83-
year-old lesbian who sued the federal government for charging her more than $363,000 in estate taxes after being denied the benefit of spousal deductions. The case centered on the money Windsor wanted back but questioned whether the federal government could continue to ignore New York's recognition of her marriage and financially penalize her as a result. "Homosexuals are not in a position to adequately protect themselves from the discriminatory wishes of the majoritarian public," wrote Dennis Jacobs, a conservative judge in New York.
A federal appeals court in Boston made a similar ruling in May, but the moves are considered largely symbolic as the issue is expected to be eventually decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. "This court has a limited jurisdiction," CNN legal analyst Paul Callan said. "But this is a very favorable decision for those who believe that the Defense of Marriage (Act) unconstitutionally discriminates against same-sex couples." Those who back striking down the law "believe this decision will give them a very strong position arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court in the
future," he said. In February, the Obama administration ordered the Justice Department to stop defending the constitutionality of the law. Currently, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and the District of Columbia issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Maryland, Washington, Maine and Minnesota are voting on the issue in November referendums. Five states -- Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island -- currently allow civil unions that provide rights similar to marriage.
Judge questions World Trade Center blame of United Airlines in September 11 case A judge on Thursday questioned whether United Airlines could be held responsible for suspected airport security lapses that allowed hijackers onto the American Airlines plane that
slammed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Thursday's hearing before District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan stems from one of the few remaining
lawsuits arising from the hijacked plane attacks, which killed more than 3,000 people in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington, and Pennsylvania. While most of the cases have settled, Larry Silverstein, the leaseholder of the World Trade Center property, is pursuing negligence claims against United Airlines, now United Continental Holdings Inc (UAL.N), and American Airlines AAMRQ.PK. Silverstein says they should both be held liable for loss of property and business. Silverstein's World Trade Center Properties is seeking additional damages beyond what he has already received from his own insurer. The hearing on Thursday dealt only with claims over the destruction of 7 World Trade Center, a building just north of the World Trade Center site that also collapsed in the attacks. Silverstein argues that United is responsible for suspected security failures that resulted in the hijacking of American Airlines Flight 11, which slammed into one of the towers. Those failures, the court heard on Thursday, began very early in the morning of September 11, 2011, when hijackers Mohammed Atta and Abdul Aziz al Omari set out on their trip. That morning, Atta and al Omari boarded a US Airways flight from Maine's Portland International Jetport to Boston. From Logan International Airport, they connected onto Flight 11, which they commandeered and crashed into the World Trade Center. Silverstein argues that because United was one of the carriers that operated Portland's only security checkpoint, it is responsible for the screening of all passengers that passed through it, regardless of what flight they are ticketed for. United "had to be really vigilant when it did the screening," World Trade Center Properties attorney Richard Williamson told the court. "The first line of defense was Portland.... They were just asleep at the switch." But Hellerstein appeared skeptical.
"Would I be acting inconsistently if I did not dismiss United?" the judge asked, referring to a 2009 order in which he dismissed claims against other airlines for damages caused by United Flight 175, which also crashed into the World Trade Center. United urged Hellerstein to follow his own logic. "The duty is to the passengers on our flights," United attorney Jeffrey Ellis told the court. Hellerstein said he would reserve decision on whether to grant United's bid to dismiss the damage claims over 7 World Trade Center and the American flight. Judges often do not rule immediately from the bench, preferring to study the issues especially if they are complex. Silverstein's 2008 lawsuit also named aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co (BA.N), the Massachusetts Port Authority, which manages Logan International Airport, and security companies as defendants. He is seeking $8.4 billion in damages for loss of property and lost business, even though Hellerstein has limited the amount to the $2.8 billion Silverstein paid for the leases. In August, Hellerstein denied the airlines' motion for judgment on whether $4 billion that Silverstein recovered from his insurers more than compensated for the potential damages recovery of $2.8 billion against the airlines, saying it was an issue for a jury to decide at trial. <ID: nL1E8KB2SM> The attacks prompted the creation of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, which now oversees security at airport checkpoints. Hellerstein, who sits in a courthouse less than a mile from the World Trade Center site, has presided over almost all September 11 litigation. Many of those lawsuits, including cases brought by relatives of those killed, people left injured, first responders, cleanup workers and businesses, have been settled.
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OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
WORLD NEWS
Mitt Romney will not run again if campaign falls short, wife says Ann Romney said she did not want her husband, Mitt, the Republican nominee for president, to seek the White House again this year and added that if he loses on Nov. 6, the former Massachusetts governor will retire from politics. “He will not run again -- nor will I do anything like that,” Ann Romney said on ABC’s “The View.” “This was a very hard thing for me to decide to go forward again … for the family to have to go through this,” Romney also said. “The children have a hard time with it. I have a hard time with it. And yet I felt as though there was something my husband could offer this country that was uniquely his, that
he could bring better economic hope and prosperity to women and men and all Americans.” Members of Mitt Romney’s family have said before that they had reservations about another presidential bid. “I was really reluctant. I didn’t want him to do it,” Matt Romney said on TBS’s “Conan” in June, when he was joined by the four other Romney sons. “I tried to convince him not to. I think there are a few of us who tried that.” On the same program, Josh Romney said the family is “nervous” about how life might change if Mitt
Gallup study says 3.4 percent of US adults are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender NEW YORK — A new Gallup survey, touted as the largest of its kind, estimates that 3.4 percent of American adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The findings, released Thursday, were based on interviews with more than 121,000 people. Gallup said it is the largest study ever aimed at calculating the nation's LGBT population. The report's lead author, demographer Gary Gates of the UCLA School of Law's Williams Institute, said he hoped the findings would help puncture some stereotypes about gays and lesbians while illustrating the diversity of their community. "Contemporary media often think of LGBT people as disproportionately white, male, urban and pretty wealthy," he said. "But this data reveal that relative to the general population, the LGBT population has a larger proportion of nonwhite people and clearly is not overly wealthy." According to the survey, which was conducted between June and September, 4.6 percent of AfricanAmericans identify as LGBT, 4 percent of Hispanics, 4.3 percent of Asians and 3.2 percent of whites. Overall, a third of those identifying as LGBT are nonwhite, the report said. There was a slight gender difference: 3.6 percent of women identified as LGBT, compared to 3.3 percent of men. And younger adults, aged 18 to 29, were more likely than their elders to identify as LGBT. One striking difference: among 18-to-29-year-olds, 8.3 percent of women identify as LGBT, compared with 4.6 percent of men the same age. The survey also asked about political leanings: It found that 44 percent of the LGBT adults identified as Democratic, 43 percent as independent, and 13 percent as Republican. In contrast to Gallup polling showing an overall even split between President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, the survey found 71 percent of LGBT registered voters supporting Obama and 22 percent supporting Romney.
In contrast to some previous, smaller studies, the Gallup survey found that identification as LGBT is highest among Americans with the lowest levels of education. Among those with a high school education or less, 3.5 percent identify as LGBT, compared with 2.8 percent of those with a college degree and 3.2 percent of those with postgraduate education. A similar pattern was found regarding income groups. More than 5 percent of those with annual incomes of less than $24,000 identify as LGBT, compared to 2.8 percent of those making more than $60,000 a year. Among those who report income, about 16 percent of LGBT individuals have incomes above $90,000 per year, compared with 21 percent of the overall adult population, the Gallup survey found. It said 35 percent of those who identify as LGBT report incomes of less than $24,000 a year, compared to 24 percent for the population in general. Regarding family status, 20 percent of LGBT individuals said they are married, and an additional 18 percent are living with a partner; they weren't asked about the gender of those spouses and partners. Among non-LGBT Americans, 54 percent are married and 4 percent are living with a partner, the report said. The survey found that 32 percent of both LGBT and non-LGBT women have children under 18 in their homes. By contrast, 16 percent of LGBT men had children in their homes, compared to 31 percent of non-LGBT men. Gates said he was struck by the geographical spread of the LGBT population, pegged at 3.7 percent in the East, 3.6 percent in the West, 3.4 percent in the Midwest and 3.2 percent in the South. The survey was conducted by telephone June 1 through Sept. 30 and has a margin of sampling error of less than 1 percentage point. The results were based on responses to the question, "Do you, personally, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender?" included in 121,290 Gallup interviews.
Mitt and Ann Romney
Romney is elected. “Our lives are pretty good as they are, and this is one of those things where we recognize it’s good for the country for my dad to run, but it’s not necessarily as good for us,” Josh Romney said. Josh Romney joined his mother on “The View” on Thursday and said “you really don’t like to see your dad get beat
up.” Answering for his brother Tagg’s comment on Wednesday that he wanted to “take a swing” at President Obama during Tuesday’s debate, Josh Romney said the remark was a joke. “That brother has slugged me a couple times. I assure you President Obama has nothing to worry about,” Josh Romney cracked.
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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
HIGHLIGHTS
• Google Shares fall on premature earnings
Apple loses tablet copyright appeal against Samsung Apple has lost its appeal against a ruling that cleared rival Samsung of copying its registered designs for tablet computers, in a decision which could end the two firms' legal dispute on the subject across Europe. The world's two leading smartphone makers are fighting over patents, both for smartphones and for tablets like Apple's iPad, in courts around the world. Britain's Court of Appeal on Thursday upheld the country's High Court judgment that, despite some similarities, Samsung's Galaxy tablet did not infringe Apple's designs, in part because its products were "not as cool". The decision is valid throughout Europe and should prohibit further legal disputes between the two companies over the design of tablets in the region. South Korea's Samsung welcomed the decision saying in a statement: "We continue to believe that Apple was not the first to design a tablet with a rectangular shape and rounded corners". Apple declined to comment on the decision. The U.S. company has been instructed to run advertisements saying Samsung did not copy its registered tablet designs, both on its website and in selected newspapers. Apple can appeal to the Supreme Court. "I expect this will be the end of the line. An appeal to the Supreme Court is in principle possible but there has been no indication so far that Apple plan such an appeal", Darren Smyth partner at EIP, a specialist intellectual property law firm, told Reuters. "For the design of tablets in Europe this should be the final word." The U.S. appeals court also
Britain's Court of Appeal on Thursday upheld the country's High Court judgment that, despite some similarities, Samsung's Galaxy tablet did not infringe Apple's designs,
overturned a pretrial sales ban against Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's Galaxy Nexus smartphone, dealing a setback to Apple Inc in its battle against Google Inc's increasingly popular mobile software. Apple is waging war on several fronts against Google, whose Android software powers many of Samsung's devices. The ruling on Thursday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is not expected to have an outsized impact on the smartphone market, as the Nexus is an aging product in Samsung's lineup. Apple's stock closed down nearly 2 percent at $628.10. However, the court's reasoning could make it much harder for companies that sue over patents get competitors' products pulled from the market, said Colleen Chien, a professor at Santa Clara Law
school in Silicon Valley. Such sales injunctions have been a key for companies trying to increase their leverage in courtroom patent fights. "The Federal Circuit has said, 'Wait a minute,'" Chien said. Apple declined to comment, while Samsung did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Apple scored a sweeping legal victory over Samsung in August when a U.S. jury found Samsung had copied critical features of the hugely popular iPhone and iPad and awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages. The Nexus phone was not included in that trial, but is part of a tandem case Apple filed against Samsung earlier this year. District Judge Lucy Koh issued a pretrial injunction against the Nexus in
June, based on an Apple patent for unified search capability. The appeals court then stayed that injunction until it could formally rule. In its opinion on Thursday, the Federal Circuit reversed the injunction entirely, saying that Koh abused her discretion. Apple failed to prove that consumers purchased the Samsung product because of the infringing technology, the appeals court ruled. "It may very well be that the accused product would sell almost as well without incorporating the patented feature," the court wrote. "And in that case, even if the competitive injury that results from selling the accused device is substantial, the harm that flows from the alleged infringement (the only harm that should count) is not." The court considered a single patent - one which allows the smartphone to search multiple data storage locations at once. For example, the smartphone could search the device's memory as well as the Internet with a single query. The appeals court has sent the case back to Koh for reconsideration. A separate pretrial sales ban Apple had managed to win against Samsung targeting the Galaxy Tab 10.1 - was dissolved earlier this month after Samsung won at trial on that patent. Beyond the Nexus, Samsung also has a collection of new tablets and smartphones intended for launch before the holidays. On Wednesday, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt called the intensifying struggle between Apple and his company a "defining fight" for the future of the mobile industry.
Top bankers urge Washington to avoid fiscal cliff Top financial industry executives urged the Obama administration and Congress on Thursday to stop automatic fiscal austerity measures from kicking in at year-end, but did not propose fresh ideas for replacing those harsh budget and tax measures. "The consequences of inaction ... would be grave," members of the Financial Services Forum, an industry trade association, wrote to President Barack Obama and members of Congress in a letter released on Thursday. The letter, signed by 15 top executives of some of largest U.S. and global financial services companies, points to rising concern that lawmakers will run out of time to seal a deal to avoid sharp tax increases and spending cuts. With a presidential election leaving the political landscape uncertain, negotiations to avert what has become known as the fiscal cliff are not expected until after the ballots have been counted on
November 6 - and that has made many nervous. If unattended, the impact of the sudden tax hikes and spending cuts could be severe. Independent policymakers, including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, have warned that failure to avert the "fiscal cliff" would cause economic growth to contract sharply and hamper an already fragile recovery. The White House said on Thursday that the outcome of the election will break the deadlock over the key sticking point - whether to raise taxes on those earning more than $250,000 - and that there will be time to prevent the crunch. "The president is confident, we remain confident that we can address these issues," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters traveling with President Barack Obama on Thursday. "He said on a number of occasions that he is confident that since the electorate will have spoken
on this issue, and will have endorsed the broad consensus that we need to take a balanced approach to these matters, that will compel Congress to move in that direction," Carney said. If the White House and Congress fail to prevent them, $1.2 trillion in across-the-board spending cuts would start to take effect on January 2 and tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush would expire on December 31. Lawmakers set up the year-end deadline as a spur to achieve a broader deficit-reduction package, but failed to reach such a deal. The letter from the Financial Services Forum letter is not the first sign that Washington's lack of action in light of the looming threat has caused anxiety in the business community. Last month, chief executives of some of the largest U.S. companies also urged Congress to step up efforts to avert the fiscal cliff.
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Newsweek to cease print publication at end of year Newsweek, the weekly magazine that for decades summarized the news for households across the United States but struggled to maintain relevance in the Internet era, announced on Thursday that it would cease print publication at the end of the year. Tina Brown, founder of the Daily Beast Web site and the driving force behind its merger with Newsweek, announced the move on Thursday in a message on the Daily Beast. “We are announcing this morning an important development at Newsweek and The Daily Beast. Newsweek will transition to an alldigital format in early 2013. As part of this transition, the last print edition in the United States will be our Dec. 31 issue,” Ms. Brown said in a message co-written with Baba Shetty, the recently hired chief executive. The all-digital version of the magazine will be called Newsweek Global and operate on a paid subscription model. The name Newsweek, in spite of its trouble in print, still has value in terms of international licensing, as well as several conferences Ms. Brown has created. Readers and media analysts have been puzzled by some of the covers Ms. Brown had chosen in an effort to
distinguish Newsweek from other magazines and make it a talked-about publication again. Last November, she featured a cover story about sex addiction, and in May President Obama was shown wearing a rainbowcolored halo with a headline that read ”The First Gay President.” But Ms. Brown defends her choice of covers. “The magazine was incredibly moribund when we came in,” she said in a phone interview Thursday. “It had taken so many knocks. We have been able to bring Newsweek back to relevance. I have always felt that the covers are about a conversation. The covers become a conversation starter.” Founded in 1933, Newsweek established a venerable place in the American media landscape, competing ferociously with Time magazine week in and week out to bring news to several million readers. In the preInternet era, before a constant stream of real-time information was available, the two magazines were viewed as among the best sources of news and analysis — an attractive product on the newsstand and a highly anticipated arrival in the mailboxes of subscribers. But as the weekly publication cycle became outdated, both magazines struggled to adapt to the
GULF INSURANCE LIMITED (IN ADMINISTRATION) This is to advise the general public that Gulf Insurance Limited has been placed in Administration by The Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands with effect from October 10, 2012. Mr. Desmond Morrison and Miss Abria Henry were appointed as Joint Administrators to administer the affairs of the said company. The Joint Administrators wish to advise the public and policyholders that the entity will not be accepting new or renewal business from or within the Turks and Caicos Islands but will continue to service policies which are in force and which pertain to the Turks and Caicos Islands’ book of business. Policyholders who wish to contact the Joint Administrators may do so at 649-941-8834 or may visit us at Unit D7/D8, Caribbean Place, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Contact may also be made via email at dmorrison@tcifsc.tc or ahenry@tcifsc.tc. By order of: Joint Administrators Gulf Insurance Limited (In Administration) Dated this 17th day of October 2012
Internet age and establish a digital presence, while facing a decline in advertising and circulation. In 2001, Newsweek had a total paid circulation of 3,158,480, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulation. But as of June of this year, circulation had fallen by more than half, to 1,527,157. Losses at the weekly continued to mount even after the sale in 2010 to Sidney Harman, a 92-year-old audio magnate. He bought the property from the Washington Post for a dollar and eventually, with Ms. Brown, merged it with The Daily Beast, the Web site owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp. The future grew grimmer still after Mr. Harman died in the spring of 2011. His heirs had said they would continue to support the ailing weekly, but last summer the family announced it would no longer invest in the magazine. Ms. Brown also says that even with her past experience in magazines — as editor of Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and the failed Talk magazine — she had little control over what was happening in the broader industry.
“You can not actually change an era of enormous disruptive innovation,” she said. “No one single person can reverse that trend.” Losses at the magazine have been reported to be about $40 million a year, and Barry Diller, the chairman of IAC, which owns both The Daily Beast and Newsweek, made it clear he would not underwrite the losses forever. “Our offices have been filled with consultants running around with lists of people, so we knew something was about to happen,” said one staff member, who insisted on anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak and was worried about potential layoffs. One of the consultants, the person said, was Jack Griffin, a former head of Time Inc. “Regrettably we anticipate staff reductions and the streamlining of our editorial and business operations both here in the U.S. and internationally,” Ms. Brown wrote. The announcement was timed, staff members said, to get ahead of next week’s earnings call for IAC, when Mr. Diller was expected to be peppered with questions about Newsweek’s losses. In an interview with public radio’s Marketplace, Mr. Diller made it clear he was not sentimentalist when it comes to business, saying if one doesn’t work out, “Sell it, write it off, go on to the next thing.”
Google Shares fall on premature earnings Google Inc. GOOG 9.03%prematurely released its quarterly earnings midday Thursday, reporting that profit declined 20% as total costs jumped and advertising prices continued to slide. The unexpected release, via a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, triggered a selloff in Google shares. The stock dropped about 9% before trading was suspended and weighed on the broader Nasdaq Stock Market NDAQ -0.08%. The results missed expectations and the company released its results several hours earlier than expected. The filing provided Google's financials for the quarter, but was obviously released prematurely, as it included near the top "PENDING LARRY QUOTE" a reference to Google CEO Larry Page. Google issued a statement blaming R.R. Donnelley RRD 1.47%& Sons Co., the company that prints its financial documents, for the early release and said it planned to hold its conference call with investors at 4:30 p.m ET. For the third quarter, the average cost that advertisers paid Google per click fell 15% from a year earlier, and fell 3% from the prior quarter. Also, paid clicks, a measure of how frequently consumers click on Google's advertisements, increased 33% from a year earlier and were up 6% from the second quarter. Google generally pulls in less revenue from the advertising it places on mobile devices than it does from traditional personal computers. That's helped create a downward trend for
advertiser prices on Google, which has caused some concern. The recently acquired Motorola hardware business brought in $2.58 billion in revenue, with $1.78 billion from the mobile segment and $797 million from the home segment. Its operating loss was $527 million. Google posted a third-quarter profit of $2.18 billion, or $6.53 a share, down from $2.73 billion, or $8.33 a share, a year earlier. Excluding stock-based compensation and other items, profit fell to $9.03 from $9.72 a share. Revenue, excluding traffic acquisition costs, improved to $11.33 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $10.65 a share and net revenue of $11.86 billion. Total costs jumped 71%. Despite consistent double-digit revenue growth for more than two years, Google's shares had been moving sideways for much of 2012. That changed in July, as concerns faded about its Motorola acquisition and the price of mobile-search ads, leading the stock to hit new all-time highs and post its biggest quarterly rally in nearly seven years. The company, which dominates the search-engine market, closed its $12.5 billion purchase for cellphone maker Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. in May, as it looks to expand as a hardware provider. It also recently pushed into the increasingly competitive tablet market with its Nexus 7. The Motorola unit posted an operating loss in the second quarter and was viewed as a potential drag on results.
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LOCAL NEWS
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
Impressive start to Sailrock Girls U15 League
The TCIFA Sailrock U15 Girl’s Youth league started last weekend as six teams took to the field. The Red Devils made an impressive start to the season and currently top the table remaining undefeated after their opening three games. Monae Gooden scored to give them a slender 1-0 victory against the Purple Panthers in their opening game. Gooden scored again in a 1-1 draw with the Striking Cheetahs before Trincy Reid scored a hat-trick against the Yellow Jaguars in an impressive 3-1 win. The Striking Cheetahs find themselves in second place with a win and two draws. Jenny Fleurenvil ensured the scores were even against the Red Devils with a well taken goal and Tanealsha Huggins scored twice
against the Titans in a 2-1 win. The Cheetahs then played out a 0-0 draw against the Green Dragons. The Dragons made a steady start despite losing their opening game against the Yellow Jaguars. Makayla Ellis opened the scoring for the Dragons but goals from Briandie Brooks and Yarielca De la Cruz proved to be decisive. The Dragons then tied 1-1 with the Titans with Maiya Madden scoring for the Dragons and Evnisha Saintverlu for the Titans. In the remaining games the Yellow Jaguars tied 1-1 with the Purple Panthers 1-1 before falling 3-1 to the Red Devils. Ericka Jean Guy found the back of the net for the Jaguars and Cydnee Campbell for the
Sailrock Boys Leagues promises excitement
The TCIFA Sailrock Boys leagues started last week and judging by the results the leagues promise to be closely fought with lots of skills on display. In the U12 division, the Yellow All Stars and the Green Dragons are level on four points after they both recorded a win and a draw from their opening games. The All Stars defeated the Red Devils with goals from Theo Weldon whilst Shadown Sainjour scored for Devils in a losing effort. The Green Dragons managed to overcome the Devils by a solitary goal from Jack Small, before they tied 1-1 with the Blue Sharks, with goals from Evance joseph and Zarek Swann respectively. In the opening fixture the Sharks had drawn 0-0 with the All Stars. With five weeks of competition remaining it promises to be a very closely fought league. In contrast, the U15 Boys division was full of goals as several high scoring games enabled many players to get on the score sheet. The Grasshoppers opened their account with a comfortable 3-0 win against the Eagles with goals
coming from Kevin Simon (2) and Wilkins Sylvain. The Golden Retrievers defeated the Tigers 4-2 in a close match before going on to defeat the Grasshoppers with a one-sided 4-0 win. The Retrievers goals came from Jackson Pierre (2), Jules Jennings (2), Jamesly Louis (2), Gilbert Tilus and Adner Davilmar. Despite losing to the Retrievers the Tigers managed to salvage a 4-4 draw against the Eagles in a tense and exciting final game of the day. Jefty Desvales (2), Ras diamond and Grayson Behlmaier found the back of the net for the Tigers whilst Raymondo and Renaldo both score twice for the Eagles. The Retrievers currently find themselves at the top of the table but they will have to play at their best to keep this position as there are no weak teams in the league. U14 Boys coach Paul Collis was full of praise for the boys. “The quality of football was high, as was their work rate and commitment. Special mention must go to Ras Diamond, Jeffty Desvales and Renaldo for putting in great performances and scoring some spectacular goals”.
Panthers in their draw and Yarielca De La Cruz scored a consolation goal in their 3-1 loss to the Devils. The final game of the day was the most exciting as the Titans claimed a 3-2 win against the Panthers. Yarileny De La Cruz scored twice for the Panthers but it was not enough as Evnisha Saintverlu (2) and Shinaydine Pluviose gave their team victory with three well taken goals. Technical Director Matthew Green was pleased with the opening games. “The teams seem to be well balanced and this will push the players to work harder. This league is a great opportunity to see how our younger players cope with competitive football so that we can
look at some of them getting more involved with our Academy and national programmes as well as senior leagues”. He added “our girls programme continues to produce many talented players such as Cydnee Campbell, Makayla Ellis, Trincy reid, Guerine Hall and Monae Gooden who are all 12 years old and younger and yet they are able to compete with much older players in the WFL. They all have a very bright future ahead of them and I am sure will go far in the sport”. MVP for Week 1 was Makayla Ellis of the Green Dragons, who attends Wesley Methodist School and plays for AFC Strikers in the WFL.
Provo Basketball League should be hotter this season
The Turks and Caicos Islands Provo Basketball Association appears to be bigger and better this time around, as there has been growing interest among other teams following the smashing success of the last season. This year 11 teams are set to contest the much-anticipated competition, up from the nine teams that contested last season. The teams last season were defending champions the Flyers, Knights, South Caicos Harbor Boys, Cobras, Predators. Steelers, Lions, Police Badgers and the Customs Collectors. The new team that will enter the competition this year are the Grand Turk Stallions, North Caicos Spartans and the Top shottas! Players are all excited about the prospects of winning a ring and the $500 MVP prize. Anthony Cash of the Flyers was last year's MVP, and it would be interesting to see who will emerge atop that ladder this year. Flyers swept all the titles last year and made a brief statement in the preseason which they won. The big opening ceremony is Friday was scheduled for October at 6 pm.
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MAINTENACE WORKER (a) To perform general maintenance and repair at building faculties and equipment (b) Knowledge of plumbing, electrical wiring and carpentry ability to use a variety of hand tools & equipments Salary $12.00
LABOURER General Labourer Salary $8.00 per hour 2 Gaming Dealers $12.50 per hour Minimum of 2 years experience good communication skills knowledge of maths. Must be able to work flexible hours Contact Maryann 244-4665 9am-5pm Mon-Fri
TCI Services ltdSALES CLERK NEEDED starting wage $6.00 an hour Job requirement: Food handlers permit. Experience in food prep. Must have own vehicle. Computer skills-word perfect and Excel. Excellent interpersonal skills 3 character reference required. Must be available day times, evenings, weekend and holidays. Belonger need only apply. Send resume to msimmons@tciway.tc.
SALES CLERK WANTED
Applicant must be honest, reliable hardworking Contact 242-2407
FINE ART SPECIALIST with Bruno Fine Art Grand Turk Cruise Center
Requirements: Knowledge of Judaic Art/Artist and Culture, Sales experience with art and sculptures. Work schedule determined when cruise ships in port Contact Gallery at 649-345-2704
Chief Executive Officer
InterHealth Canada is seeking a CEO for its subsidiary company, InterHealth Canada (TCI) Ltd.
The Post: Managing a team of clinical and support staff providing secondary care service to the Turks & Caicos Islands. The hospital is on two sites with the larger centre being on Providenciales and the smaller on the capital island, Grand Turk. In total this modern hospital 30 beds but expansion plans exist which will more than double this number. The Hospital is a full service centre with advanced diagnostics including CT and MRI. It is also served by additional visiting consultants in sub-specialist disciplines in order to bring services to the islands and limit the number of patients having to travel overseas for treatment. It treats both public and private patients and is developing health tourism. The hospital is fully accredited by Accreditation Canada (in 2012) at the highest, Diamond, level The Person: • It is unlikely that anybody with less than 20 years experience in the healthcare delivery arena will have the level of experience for this post. • The specific healthcare background may be clinical or non-clinical but must demonstrate extensive knowledge of all operational requirements of a modern, acute care hospital, whether clinical or not. • Prior executive management experience in an acute setting is essential as is experience in the overall management of an acute hospital facility, preferably as CEO / chief administrator or COO. • The successful candidate will be as much a business person as a healthcare executive and be comfortable with budgets, P&L and other financial documentation. • The position calls for a leader and innovator with extensive change management skills and experience in the acute care setting. • A practical knowledge of accreditation requirements internationally and experience of working through accreditation processes is essential as is a verifiable background in strong governance. • It is an imperative that the position holder has a demonstrable background in partnership development with other public and private organisations or bodies. • Above all, the candidate must be patient-centred and be prepared to develop further the work conducted to date on ensuring that the patient remains at the centre of everything the hospital does. Qualifications & Experience: • You will educated to at least first degree level • Membership of an internationally recognised management or healthcare management institute would be a distinct advantage • Must have recent (within 3 years) acute care hospital experience at executive level of at least 5 years duration.
Remuneration to be negotiated depending on professional background and experience. Please forward CV‘s with email and telephone contact to llawrence@interhealthcanada.tc the closing date for application is Monday 22nd October 2012
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HIGHLIGHTS
NBA has antidoping gaps READ MORE ON PAGE 43
International Cricket Council fighting war against corruption Dave Richardson, the ICC chief executive, has conceded that the recent sting operation by India TV involving six umpires from the sub-continent, who allegedly were willing to divulge information and even give favourable decisions in exchange for monetary profits, is a prime example of how far the tentacles of corruption have reached in cricket. Richardson, who became chief executive on July 1, said cricket was confronting a "war" against corruption and the ICC was aware that the bookmakers were now targeting domestic Twenty20 leagues as a result of a tightening of security and education of international players by the anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU). "It is everybody now unfortunately: everybody is susceptible, the curators, the
Dave Richardson, ICC chief executive
groundsmen," Richardson said at the unveiling of the ICC Champions Trophy, which will be hosted in England in the summer of 2013. "At
international level, whether it is a bilateral series or whether it is an ICC event, the attention to that aspect of the world game is at the same level every time we walk out onto the field so to speak. "So it won't be any less, it won't be any more than normal. But the bottom line is, it is a bit of a war we are fighting and our anti-corruption unit has their work cut out to make sure the players are kept away from temptation and that we end up with a corruptionfree event." On October 8, India TV, a privately-owned Indian television channel, exposed details of the sting operation, which was carried out by undercover reporters. Nadir Shah (Bangladesh), Nadeem Ghauri and Anis Siddiqui (Pakistan), and Sagara Gallage, Maurice Winston Zilwa and Gamini Dissanayake (Sri Lanka) were
Novak Djokovic dumps Andy Murray SHANGHAI -- Novak Djokovic saved five match points in the second set before outlasting two-time defending champion Andy Murray 5-7, 7-6 (11), 6-3 on Sunday in the Shanghai Masters final. In another entertaining matchup between the two U.S. Open finalists, Djokovic seemed headed for defeat when Murray was serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set. But the second-ranked Serb saved one match point in that game before breaking back for 5-5. He then saved four more in a tense tiebreaker and carried his momentum into the deciding set, breaking the Briton twice to earn his fifth title of the year. "I won the match. But, you know, as spectators could see, we were very close," Djokovic said. "It was a very even match throughout the whole three sets. He was so close to the victory that I cannot say I was the better player." It was Murray's first loss in Shanghai in 13 matches. Murray, who beat Djokovic in five sets at Flushing Meadows for his first Grand Slam title, saved two match points in the final game, but sent a backhand long on the third. "It was a disappointing one to lose," Murray said. "I've lost tougher matches than that before in the biggest events. So I'm sure I'll recover from it pretty well. "It's not like I threw the match away. I didn't make, I don't think, any real glaring errors or anything." In a matchup of two of the game's best returners, both players struggled to hold serve early, trading breaks three times, and were tied 4-4 in the first set. When Djokovic was broken for the fourth time in the
11th game, he lost his cool and shattered his racket by smashing it into the ground four times before slinging it disgustedly toward his sideline chair. "We are professional tennis players and we're big rivals, but in the end we're humans. We shouldn't be ashamed of our emotions," Djokovic said. "I don't see anything bad in showing your emotions -- positive, negative emotions. We can't just be flat-faced throughout the whole match." The momentum seemed to shift with one audacious shot from the Serb, just as Murray appeared to be closing in on his third straight title at the tournament. Trailing 5-4 and 30-0 in the second set, Djokovic chased down a lob from Murray and hit a perfect betweenthe-legs shot, then followed it up with a drop shot to win the point. He went on to save Murray's first match point with a forehand and broke back when the Briton missed a forehand of his own two points later. In the 20-minute tiebreaker, Djokovic finally prevailed when he converted his fourth set point with a forehand winner. Murray couldn't recover, and Djokovic broke for a 4-3 lead before winning the next two games to wrap up the win. Djokovic also beat Murray in five sets in the Australian Open semifinals this year and improved his record against the Briton to 9-7. "We had an incredible year so far with our matches, big matches in important events," Djokovic said. "He definitely is a different player this year. You could see by the results he's achieved. He's more aggressive on the court and he's definitely a danger to anybody on any surface."
the six umpires named in the sting. Shah was the only one who met the reporters in person in Delhi, while the rest carried out the interactions via Skype. Though all the umpires denied any wrongdoing on their part, their respective boards decided to suspend them pending investigations. Richardson said although the ICC was not empowered like the police to arrest anyone, the ACSU had been strengthened recently to make it more effective and install the required mechanism to arrest corrupt elements to breach barriers. "The plan of attack is obviously we have got an anti-corruption unit whose resources have been increased in recent times," Richardson told ESPNcricinfo in an extensive interview. "So they have got more personnel working there, they have got more money allocated to do their job, their databases have been upgraded. What has happened is because the international players are well educated now and know the risks, displacement has occurred and the bookies are now targeting domestic leagues. "So to counter that we made sure that every full-member country has its own anti-corruption unit in place and its own anti-corruption code so that what we are doing at the international level can be mirrored at the domestic level. And in doing so we have increased the total resources available (to fight corruption)." In the past, it has been suggested that the ICC could run an undercover operation of its own in an effort to stamp out corruption. However, Richardson defended the ACSU, saying it had acquired more teeth and was much more pro-active protecting the game, players and officials from corrupt elements. "The strategy of the anticorruption unit has been prevention," he said. "And this is borne out of the fact that they are not a police force. They have quite restricted investigatory powers themselves. So if that is the case, then the focus has been to try and prevent. In other words, let us gather intelligence, let us know who the crooked bookmakers are, let us keep them away from players, when they come near the players, let us warn the players from stay away. And only if they ignore the warnings then try and nail them (players). "In a way, the criticism has been 'how come you have never caught anybody?' But actually it is bit like a good lawyer; he keeps you out of the court. He does not wait for you to get to the court and then catches you. Obviously in some case the ACSU have not prevented everything and sting operations have exposed things."
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Convicted child abuser Jerry Sandusky wants new trial BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky asked a judge on Thursday to overturn his child sexual abuse convictions and grant him a new trial, claiming his lawyers lacked sufficient time to prepare and the statute of limitations for some charges had expired. Sandusky's lawyers made the filing at the courthouse in Bellefonte where he was sentenced two weeks ago to 30 to 60 years in prison after being convicted of abusing 10 boys, some on Penn State's campus in State College. "The defendant submits the court's sentence was excessive and tantamount ... to a life sentence, which the defendant submits is in violation of his rights," they wrote. The 31-page set of motions, technically not appeals because they were filed with the trial judge, cover a wide range of assertions, including insufficient evidence, improper use of hearsay testimony and improper rulings from the bench. More than a third of the document explores ways Sandusky believes the rapid pace of the case violated his right to due process of law, as he went from
arrest to trial in just over seven months. His lawyers said they were swamped by documents from prosecutors, they lacked time to interview possible witnesses and an expert and two assistants were not available at trial. The document said Judge John Cleland ruled improperly concerning the use of a computer-generated drawing of an accuser and issued incorrect jury instructions. It also raised issues about prosecutors' closing argument, the vagueness of the charges, sequestration of jurors and the amount of restitution ordered. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said the Sandusky filing was under review. Sandusky remains in the county jail, awaiting a transfer to a state prison. Eight young men testified against him in June, describing a range of abuse they said included fondling and oral and anal sex when they were boys. Sandusky didn't testify at his trial but has consistently maintained his innocence in interviews and at sentencing. The new filing was made a day before one of the young men who testified was expected to tell his story
Ticket prices: Arsenal costliest LONDON -- Arsenal continues to have the most expensive ticket prices in the Barclay's Premier League. The team's most expensive match ticket was 126 pounds ($203.27), while a season ticket costs 1,955 pounds ($3,153.65), according to a BBC survey released Thursday. Arsenal's cheapest season ticket is 985 pounds ($1589.79) and the most expensive is 1,955, although that includes seven FA Cup or European games in addition to the standard 19 Premier League matches. The cheapest season ticket belongs to Wigan at 255 pounds ($409.65). Manchester City was second at 275 pounds ($441.79). By comparison, in the NFL, the New York Jets have the highest average, nonpremium ticket price in the league at $117.94 and the Boston Red Sox have the highest average for a nonpremium ticket at $53.38, followed by the New York Yankees at $51.55. The NFL average ticket price was $77.36 last year, and baseball's was $26.92. It was $57.10 in the NHL and $48.48 in the NBA in their previous seasons. The cheapest tickets in English soccer's top four divisions have increased by an average of 11.7 percent since last season, more than five times the rate of inflation. The BBC survey showed the average price of the cheapest match ticket in the Premier League has increased from 24.87 pounds last year to 28.30 pounds ($40.10 to $45.60) this year, an increase of nearly 14 percent. This was in stark contrast to the Consumer Price Index, one measure of inflation in Britain, which stood at 2.2 percent in September. In the United States, NFL ticket prices for the 20122013 season were up 2.5 percent over the previous season while Major League Baseball ticket prices remained flat for 2012 for the first time in two decades.
Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky
on ABC. The man, known in court records as Victim 1, has a book about the Sandusky scandal coming out next week. Sandusky, 68, built a reputation as one of the country's premier defensive coaches while serving under head coach Joe Paterno, including two national championships. That image was shattered last year by his arrest. The abuse scandal rocked Penn
State, bringing down Paterno and the university's president and leading the NCAA, college sports' governing body, to levy unprecedented sanctions against the university's football program. Two Penn State administrators were charged as a result of the investigation into the Sandusky allegations, accused of lying to the grand jury that investigated Sandusky and not reporting suspected child abuse to the proper authorities. Those two officials, athletic director Tim Curley, who is on administrative leave, and retired vice president Gary Schultz, await trial in January and maintain their innocence. Former FBI Director Louis Freeh, hired by university trustees to conduct an investigation into the university's handling of abuse complaints against Sandusky, concluded that Paterno, who died in January, ousted president Graham Spanier, Curley and Schultz concealed a 2001 allegation against Sandusky to protect Penn State from bad publicity. The late coach's family, as well as Spanier, Curley and Schultz, dispute Freeh's assertions.
NBA has anti-doping gaps The director general of the World AntiDoping Agency says the NBA's antidoping program is insufficient. "They've got gaps in their program, between what they do and what we suggest would be better," David Howman said. "They know what we would suggest," added Howman, who calls for the NBA to test for human growth hormone, among other things. "And I would just hope that they would be discussing all of those things rather than just putting them on the side table." WADA designs testing protocols that are employed by hundreds of leagues and national federations globally, including the Olympics and international cycling. Professional cyclists say aggressive testing in recent years led many cheaters to mend their ways, and analysis of key race data suggest they may have: Riders are measurably slower by key measures than in the years of heavy doping, which is seen as confirmation the sport is cleaner. Howman's concern is that practices that have evidently been effective in other sports are not all being deployed in the NBA. In the past, including in testimony before Congress in 2005, NBA officials have made the case that performanceenhancing drugs are unlikely to be effective in basketball. "They do not feel they have such an issue as the other major leagues and therefore haven't addressed it in quite the same way," Howman said. "I just think
you've got to be very careful when you start saying performance-enhancing drugs are not beneficial in any sport, because you're going to be proven wrong. And you'll be proven wrong when you're not expecting it." At present, HGH is banned in the NBA, but the league does not test players' blood for it. WADA strongly recommends the test, deployed by many sporting organizations, including the Olympics and, in limited ways, Major League Baseball. The NFL is interested in implementing the test but faces hurdles from the union. The NBA and its Players' Association have formed a committee to explore HGH testing, but no progress has been reported. As of yet, no major North American leagues have adopted WADA's full code of recommendations. Howman said there has been progress in football and baseball, but noted basketball is a laggard. "I had meetings last week with both the MLB and the NFL," Howman told ESPN.com by phone. "Although through their collectively bargained agreements, they have not embraced the World AntiDoping Code, they've certainly come much closer. "Everybody likes to think their sport is one that's not tainted. We work on the basis that there's no sport, and no country, which is immune. Better, therefore, to be aggressive in the way you go forward than to be complacent. I think those who are too complacent end up being bitten where they don't like to be bitten."
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LOCAL NEWS
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TURKS & CAICOS SUN
TURKS & CAICOS SUN
OCTOBER 20TH - OCTOBER 27TH, 2012
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LOCAL NEWS
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