Volume 8 Issue 6

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

VOLUME 8 No. 06

$1

$175,000 BAIL FOR

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CLAYTON AND PIPER

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP) and former Speaker of House of Assembly, Clayton Greene and former government minister McAllister ‘Piper’ Hanchell were each granted $175,000 bail when they appeared before Magistrate Clifton Warner in the Magistrate’s Court on corruption charges on Friday, February 10.

Greene is facing three money laundering charges; entering into a money laundering arrangement; acquiring proceeds from criminal conduct; and handling proceeds from criminal conduct.

Mark Weeks, the lead prosecutor for the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) said that in 2007, he entered into arrangements with Floyd Hall to handle proceeds from sale of a property at North West Point in Providenciales. The SIPT said that all three dealings amounted to $1.7 million.

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HAITIANS DENY FORMING Super Bowl fever in Turks and Caicos Islands POLITICAL PARTY PAGE 2

ASSAULT CASE AGAINST AG DROPPED PAGE 5

Super Bowl fever spread across the Turks and Caicos Islands last Sunday night as hundreds of tourists and locals alike gathered at various bars, restaurants, beaches and residences to watch the keenly contested game, in which the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots, 21-17.

Projectors, big screens, buckets of beer and plates of chicken wings were the order of the night as excited fans tuned in to the play-off which was seen by a record 111.3 million viewers. In this photograph, Claire Arrindell, Director of Sales for Gansevoort Turks and Caicos, joined some exuberant guests who were strongly supporting the New York Giants and declared victory long the nail-biting finish.

TOUGHER FIREARM RULES PAGE 12

HAROLD CHARLES TO QUIT AS ADVISOR TO HAITIAN PRESIDENT PAGE 13

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

$175,000 bail for Clayton and Piper ...Cont’d

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

His attorney George Missick insisted that Greene’s case were to be treated separately from other persons who were charged under the SIPT ongoing investigation, as, while they were serious charges, they should be placed into context.

He said that Greene cooperated freely with investigators, as he went in to be interviewed on his own free will.

He said that the prosecution had no substantial grounds on which to ask to his passport be seized, since he was not a flight risk, and the allegation would be proven false.

He said that Greene was the father of three children, was married for 18 years and served on a number of bodies, the board of the Provo Children’s Home. Missick argued that his client should not have to inform the SIPT on when he is traveling within his own country and that there was no need for his passport to be surrendered.

He said he was also opposed to his client reporting once a week to SIPT. However, Magistrate Warner said that he wanted to remain consistent in the matter and as such, he set Greene’s bail at $175,000 with a surety and on condition that he surrendered his passport, report to the SIPT on Wednesday between 8am and 5pm and also that he notify the SIPT of a fixed address.

Hanchell was charged with receiving bribes from Lisa Hall, Jeffrey Hall, Michael Misick in the form of cash, credit and entertainment, which goes contrary to the rules of governance.

The prosecution said that between August 2003 and August 31 2009, he conspired with the others to collect bribes.

He, too was granted bail in the

sum of $175,000 and asked to surrender his travel documents, report to the SIPT on Wednesdays between the hours of 8am and 5pm, and to notify the SIPT of a fixed address.

In applying for bail, his lawyer, Alex Haylor said that Hanchell knew that this day was coming, and could have fled the country but he did not.

He said that he was a businessman who is married with a family and has all his assets were in the TCI. He said that Hanchell complied with the SIPT’s entire request, saying also that he surrendered his passport to his lawyers even before the SIPT had considered such a move.

Both are to return to court on April 17 for a sufficiency hearing. The prosecution said it would provide the relevant documents to his defense for both men by March 15. In a statement issued of February 8th, days before he appeared in court, Greene stated: “For the last week it has been rumoured that I might be charged on the next occasion that I attended the offices of the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team. That rumour was not without basis and… I was charged.

I have done nothing wrong and I am confident that acquittal and vindication will come in due course. I encourage the Special Investigators to move quickly to bring me before the courts on the charges so that this matter can be concluded as soon as possible. It is necessary that these matters be determined sooner rather than later so that the country and its people can begin again to move forward.”

In his statement on February 7th, Hanchell stated: “I was invited by Special Investigations and Prosecution Team (SIPT) to attend an interview on February 7th, 2012 which I attended on my own will. I was subsequently charged...I am innocent and will

defend this charge. I will not be commenting further at this time.”

When he was arrested last month, Greene said that the British are on “a mission to tarnish the reputation of Turks and Caicos Islanders”, and stressed that being arrested by the Helen Garlick-led Special Prosecution and Investigation Team (SIPT) is no justification for him to step down as leader of the Progressive National Party.

Greene said he felt victimized on the grounds that the British want to punish him since he served in the former Michael Misick administration, before he was forced from office by members of his party who turned against him, in the twilight of that administration.

“It is the only reason that I am being investigated. The SIPT cannot be convinced of my guilt because there is nothing there. And so, I am satisfied.

The only reason that I have been arrested is to further, in my view, what is a mission by the administration, using the SIPT, to criminalize the people of this country, and more so, to cut off the heads of persons who they feel are leading political parties in the directions that they don’t want the parties to go. If you are prepared to challenge them in this country, then you ought to be wary,” Greene argued.

He added: “. By now we should all be aware that the British are on a mission to tarnish the reputation of Turks and Caicos Islanders and that cannot be right and it certainly is not in the best interest of the Turks and Caicos Islands and we should continue to fight against it at all cost. While we cannot control their actions we can control our responses to them. We should never allow them to divide us.

To those who would wish to see the PNP obliterated from the political

landscape and are for that reason reveling in the news of my arrest you have my sympathies. The PNP is much bigger than me or any single politician.

It is here to stay and will outlive all of us. To those in the Administration and elsewhere who think that my arrest will somehow make me less critical of an incompetent, arrogant, and vindictive Administration or for that matter cause me to fail to make public my belief that the Interim Administration, SIPT and the Civil Recovery Team are together perpetrating the greatest rape of Turks and Caicos Islanders that we have seen since the days of slavery then you don’t know me at all and you are sorely mistaken as you will come to see.”

Giving background to the circumstances which led to his arrest, Greene said that in December 2011, he was approached by SIPT, who wanted to interview him concerning US$1 million which his cousin Quinton Hall had received for his 2006 sale of a his interest in Crown land. He said he did not act for Hall in the sale, however his proceeds of sale were deposited a trust account which his lawfirm firm operated at TCI Bank and from which he disbursed the funds on Quinton's instructions.

“The relevant funds were drawn on the account of a reputable institution in the Turks and Caicos Islands held at a commercial bank in the Turks and Caicos Islands and I had no reason to suspect that they were anything other than clean funds. When I deposited the funds into my account its source was declared to the bank and the bank did not question me further on it. I also had no reason to doubt that the transaction was anything other than legitimate.

Haitians deny forming political party Prominent members of the Haitian Community have flatly denied reports that they had been contemplating or in the process of forming a political party, while rubbishing the allegation as baseless rumours.

The Haitians said such rumours could have been kindled by two happenings of which they were the centre. The first was the path to citizenship town hall meeting held on Saturday, February 5, where His Excellency Governor Ric Todd was in attendance, while the other event was a meeting held on Tuesday, February 8, in Kew Town and involved a government delegation from Haiti.

Members of the Haitian Community said both meetings were held purely to iron out issues facing that TCI demographic group, and had nothing to do with forming a political party to contest future elections.

Ronald Gardiner, who is a strong voice in the Haitian Community, told The SUN that he was unaware of any move to setup such a structure in the TCI, while blasting those who ignited the rumours.

According to Gardiner, such issue did not come up in any of the meetings that were held in the past week with the Governor or the delegation.

“No, that was never mentioned in any of the meetings. I will go as far as to say that it is a lie. We discussed things about the Haitian Community here, what is going on with them; how we could get together with the government and the authorities to fix things in a legal way, and establish a diplomatic relationship between the two governments. But talks about forming a Haitian political party here, we never discuss that,” Gardiner said.

Another prominent Haitian living in the TCI – Pastor Alces Dor, who is also an educator – said, too, that he was not aware of any plans to establish a political party here.

A view of the bar Dor went as far as to state that even if such an organization was being formed, he

would not be part of it, neither would he be in support of it.

“I am not aware of that. As far as the real Haitian Community is concerned, I am not aware of that. If such a matter is being planned, I am not aware of it, and if such move was being planned, I would not be part of it, because I don’t have any intention to involve in politics.

“My main areas of focus are on (gospel) ministry and education – those are what I like. In terms of social issues, I can give my opinion in what is going on, but when it comes to involving directly in politics, I am not into that,” Dor said. A Haitian delegation which comprised key department heads that visited the Turks and Caicos Islands during the course of this week, has declared that it would make efforts to stem the illegal migration by their countrymen into the TCI. The team comprised, which among other persons, Claude Raymond, Director of Immigration; Jean Wilfrid Bertrand, Director for the National Haitian Archives and Rigard St. Pierre, Coordinator for Haitian Diaspora, said its mission was specifically seek ways to provide the growing number of undocumented Haitians living in the TCI with documentation from that country.

However, during the question and answer segment, Raymond said that the delegation would meet with the local authority regarding their concern of the illegal migration problem and upon his return to Haiti, would pass on the information to President Michel Martelly, then work to find ways to address the problem.

“We are going to go back and say, ‘Turks and Caicos Islanders have a problem with illegal immigration’. And the Haitian government will have to find a way to curtail that problem. Your problem is on the north side of Haiti with illegal immigration.

So, the government will have to find a way to curtail

or control those people living in Haiti. And also it is a matter for the police to help,” Raymond asserted.

The Haitian Immigration Director also told the news conference that the Haitian government was creating ways to make foreign countries less enticing to Haitians, by providing jobs for them.

“That is what we are doing right now. We are building an industrial park in the north section of the country which will employ sixty thousand people, so we are starting that process,” Raymond said.

In the meantime, Raymond defended the move by the delegation to seek to give documentation to undocumented Haitians living here, stressing that the move was not to meddle in local affairs, but rather merely to ensure that every Haitian living in the TCI receive proper documentation from that country if they so desire.

Raymond also stressed that the Haitian government did not assign any intermediary to process immigration and other documents on its behalf, as was earlier believed. He warned Haitians living here that when in need of documents, to utilize a system through money transfer companies such as Uni Transfer, to ship their applications to Haiti for processing. He said the service should come on stream soon.

Haitians living in the TCI have often complain to the news media that one of their own, Donald Metellus, who said he was the local representative for the Haitian government, was not authorized to do so.

They also accused Metellus of improprieties, to which he rejected as efforts to tarnish his name.

But Raymond said, while the Haitian government did not authorize anyone locally to work on its behalf, it would not intervene between the two parties.

“We are not in the business of putting ourselves in the middle of fights. We are not here for that. We are here to provide a service for the community.

That’s it,” Raymond insisted.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Assault case against Attorney General dropped Attorney General Huw Shepheard will not face any criminal charges or court action stemming from a report from prosecutor Leonard Franklyn who alleged that he was physically assaulted by the AG. A government press release said His Excellency Governor Ric Todd received a report on Wednesday, February 8th 2012, from Police Commissioner Colin Farquhar, into an incident that occurred on 30 Nov 2011 at the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“The Commissioner has stated that following an investigation, no further

judicial action is required and that this Police file is now closed,” the statement said.

No other information was given as to why the case was discontinued.

Todd has previously stated that there will be an independent investigation into the matter.

After the alleged incident last year, Franklyn was placed on administrative leave with full pay, but Government officials are saying that this disciplinary action was imposed because of a heated exchange which occurred prior to the alleged incident,

No more civil service pay cuts Governor for the Turks and Caicos Islands His Excellency Ric Todd has put to rest rumors that government was contemplating chiseling off another five percent from the pay of civil servants.

Terse in his answer after the question was posed to him; Governor Todd was unequivocal in his response.

“No, there will be no cuts in civil servants’ pay,” he said.

Between the start of the week and press time on Thursday, February 10, The SUN received no fewer than half a dozen calls from members of the public, who were seeking for us to clarify whether or not such a rumour was true.

In 2011, ten percent of civil servants pay was pruned by the Gordon Wetherell regime which preceded the Ric Todd governorship. Since then there have been constant rumours and fears that another round of cuts to public sector workers’ salary was on the cards, and while so far none of the rumours were proven to be true, jitters continue remain intense in the sector.

One caller to our newsroom said he was told that teachers’ pay was to go under the guillotine. Another said heard on the street that it was medical workers’ that was to be cut, while another said he was told that the cuts would be across the board.

In a news conference last year, the government said that while it would not cut civil service pay, it would slash the service to cut costs, in an attempt to balance the finance of the country.

Prepaid mobile customers get magic from lime In another effort to help consumers cope with the harsh economic times, LIME has introduced an offer that magically extends the talk time for participating customers.

Magic Minutes, as the offer is called, started on January 24, 2012 in the Turks & Caicos Islands, gives each LIME customer who talks on the LIME prepaid mobile network for 5 minutes an extra 25 minutes and, like magic, they rack up significant savings immediately.

Regional Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Grace Silvera points out that the Magic Minutes offer is all about delivering the best prices to customers. “Talking is a normal part of everyday life and business and if customers can automatically get more talk time and realise an immediate saving we know we would have delivered more than they bargained for in these difficult economic times. Once again we are using our technology to make everyday living better for the people of the Caribbean.”

and not because Franklyn reported the AG to the police.

Within days, Governor Ric Todd overturned the decision to suspend Franklyn, saying it was “sensible and right in the circumstances”.

“An allegation has been made and the police are investigating. Another allegation was made and it is being investigated by the normal Civil Service disciplinary procedure. While those investigations are going ahead, I’ve decided that the individuals concerned should return to work,” Governor Todd said. “I’m sure that

Attorney General Huw Shepheard

everyone agrees that there are many important things that need to be done in the TCI and everyone should get on with their work.”

TCI’s Saint George Fashion House to Highlight Bahamas Fashion Show Turks and Caicos Islands own, Kazz Forbes, head designer and owner of Saint George Fashion House (SGFH) will showcase for the second time in three months in Grand Bahama as Special Guest Designer.

Just after showcasing by special invitation on November 5th 2011, at the Red Rose Ball; a charity event held under the distinguished patronage of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham and First Lady Dolores Ingraham, Forbes will return to showcase creations from his SGFH label ‘Le Caicos Chic: A Romance with Decadence’ and ‘Bold Rouge’ collections as a special guest designer at ‘Meeting of Minds Fashion and Art Expo’.

‘Meeting of Minds Fashion and Art Expo’ is an event organized to explore and further enlighten the people of Grand Bahama by showcasing outstanding art, fashion, photography, and musical talent on the island. The artful event will take place February 11th 2012, at the Pelican Bay Resort’s Canal House of Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Proceeds of the evening will benefit the Grand Bahama Humane Society, as the cause holds a special place in the hearts of the organizers, Ashley Baker and Sean Johnson III. “We are honored and excited to have Mr. Forbes, a talented fashion designer coming from the Turks and Caicos Islands as our Special Guest to showcase his creations on our request, for a great cause.” said organizer, Ashley Baker.

Photo Credits: Fashion: Saint George Fashion House, Fall/Winter 2011/12 Model: Lee-Ann Forbes, Miss Trinidad & Tobago World 2011/12 Photographer: Kazz Forbes Photographer's Assistant: Christopher Lawerence Location: St. Chad's Anglican Church (Remains), Macqueripe Road, Chaguaramas, Trinidad

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COMMENTARY

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

THE STATUTORY THEFT OF OUR $10M FROM NIB I really did not think that we could Colin Roberts saying that he possibly be back in the dark ages would not agree to the when the king could make a spending of any of the decree without consulting his British tax payers’ money to people and that became the law of bring some semblance of the land. stability to TCIG. With Governor Ric Todd, we This was in the face of seem to have reached that countries world-wide, backward point once again in our having to borrow money to country. How in heaven’s name prop up their economies can this man think that he could until the world situation just say that he is doing something turned around. They refused in our best interest and do it to allow us to borrow money without even our “say so”? to embark on policy-based There must be a fixation with infrastructure developments the number $10M by these guys. that would have primed the First of all, TC Invest has to be pump of the economy and closed because of the potential for ensure that we came out of Government to have a $10M the crisis quickly. liability on its hands and then So with the uncertainty ROYAL ROBINSON there is the owing of Government looming, persons left the CONTRIBUTER

by NIB of $10M for injury related country and the economic expenses; so they say! base shrunk. So unless and We all know that when the scheme was first until there is a concerted effort to boost investor started in 1992, there were not that many persons confidence and encourage inward investments, we employed in areas that could create job related will continue down the slippery slope of revenue injuries. As the population increased over time, and reductions. No amount of raising taxes will fix the the construction boom took place, there were some situation. People will hoard and cut back. There is injuries. No one in the health care services billed no real expectation that you can collect taxes if there NIB for such costs over the period. It was not until is no money. we started working on the hospitals project, and So Governor Todd finds himself in a quandary needed to have data on the utilization of the various with respect to money and so he began to try and clinical services, that we were able to separate out bully NIB to pony up money for things for which the data in some systematic form, and this gave rise there are no verifiable bill. NIB money is our money. to our ability to separate out what costs would have The Board is supposed to protect our nest egg been as a result of work related injuries and would until such time as we, the senior citizens, required per force rightly had to be reimbursed to government that money to be paid to us as our pension, resulting

by NIB. from our contribution over the years! It is totally Once it was decided that a reimbursement would disingenuous on the part of Governor Todd, to now be applied for, discussions between government and say, first of all, that government is owed money, NIB took place, and an agreed amount was paid to when neither he, nor he, in conjunction with the government, the bulk of which was offset against Ministry of Finance provide the Board with any what government owed NIB for non-payment of verifiable bills. rents and contributions for and on behalf of the This man just came here yesterday afternoon! government employees. The first tranche was paid How can he be such an expert in our financial in 2009 and a subsequent one thereafter. matters, when the persons who have been Now, when former chief Financial Officer responsible for the data know of no such bills? This Caroline Gardiner left these shores last year, she had is the greatest “snatch and grab” operation since the pronounced that the budget was seriously tending days of Captain Morgan! towards balance, and was on track to be balanced in This man really thinks that he is still in the spy 2012-2013, which would be this upcoming financial business! There, he could be a pathological falsifier year. of voracity and all would be fair game. He is However, because they made the decision to pay supposed to be running a country and has to be SIPT and Civil Recovery from recurrent budget and transparent. not as was previously said, by HMG, they found He knows full well that there were not six themselves in a bind as to how they would balance meetings with the Board of NIB to discuss the issue. the budget.

He knows too that the only discussions at the Forum So the new CFO Hugh MgGarel-Groves comes was mainly by chance, and that the Chairman of NIB in with this $30M deficit first of all, they revised and on hearing some oblique reference to the matter extended that subsequently. They had to find $10M requested of the Chair of the Forum to speak there, from somewhere to plug in the deficit hole, because and that is how the public got some inkling as to even with the raising of taxes, they were not going what was really going on! to meet the targets as projected.

I have not to this day seen any public support for What they have not understood here in Turks Todd’s position in any newspaper in this country or and Caicos Islands is that our economy thrives on any other part of the media. So when he goes on inward investments. They have not, since their WIV TV and says such things, he is trying to spit in arrival, and the closing down of all of the major on- our faces and expect us to call it small rain! Man get going projects, replaced them with anything. real we are every day seeing through that façade that Therefore, the amount of money in circulation just you are putting up. That smoke screen is not going has been drying up. People have been holding on to to work on us this time! their wallets in every way possible and spending If what he were doing were right and justifiable, money on the bare essentials, and cutting back on do you really think that he would have to create fresh them too. legislation to do what he is doing, that is financing a These people came here with the mindset that hair-brain scheme with our money? there was a pot of gold hidden somewhere here and As has been proven by a Court case brought by they intended to find and milk it. This started by NIB, when the then AG gave a written opinion that

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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.

they could not lend money, the Court upheld the Board’s position! So if the Governor wanted to borrow the $10M from NIB, once a creditable proposal was made, they would have been lent the money. But that was never the governor’s intent. He just wasted access to our money without the need to account for it. Not only that, he wants our Pension money and does not want to pay it back or really tell us what he wants it for. The totally sad part of this is that he has already passed the legislation by himself without it being debated in one of the organs that has been set up by his kit and kin.

Had any elected government attempted to engage in such activity, everyone, including Todd and the British would have been screaming their heads off about the lack of transparency and the total employment of corrupt practices!

So there is one yardstick for the infidels taking of our money and another if there is the smallest semblance of something like that by Turks and Caicos Islanders. I have said it before, and now more of us are coming to realize that these people mean us no good.

All of their plans are designed to bring us all to our knees financially, take the political rod from our hands, make us a totally bankrupt country and then hand it back to us and say “you deal with the mess that we have created in your best interest”. They will then brush their donkeys and leave us adrift in the greatest morass that we could ever imagine!

But as many would say, “the devil is a liar”! We have to rid ourselves of the leach that is sucking our blood, while we still have some strength! If we continue to lay back, when we decide some time down the road to do something, the road would be too hard to hoe! So let us get our acts together. I have been seeing signs of a turnaround. The Governor is reading the same tea leaves. Why else do you think he has started his campaign, but not to create an aura of something positive being done, when in truth and in fact, it is nothing more than a charade to lull you to sleep?

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

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FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Pension benefit cuts for some retired civil servants

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Retired civil servants who joined the government after 1992, and left at age 55, will no longer be entitled to full pension benefits, at least until a way is found to make up for another five years of contribution.

The Government will also move to eliminate upfront lump sum gratuities that were normally given to retirees upon leaving the service.

These changes came about as government moves to eradicate what it describes as erroneous and anomalous payments of benefits, while seeking to push the retirement age to 60. The changes, which were ratified by the Advisory Council at its meeting on Wednesday, February 9, and will now move to the Consultative Forum for debate, will be implemented through legislative amendments.

Governor Ric Todd, during a post Advisory Council news briefing on Wednesday, February 9, said that the errors were uncovered following an actuarial review of the pension system last year, and that the amendments were recommended following the review. He said that the actuarial findings revealed that administrative mistakes had resulted in a $2m loss to government.

An earlier statement from the Governor’s Office indicated that civil servants were currently required to

retire at 55, but for those employed after April 1992; this leaves a gap of 5 years before they are eligible for their NIB pension. However, those retirees had been receiving full pension payment, which it said was erroneously administered under the Pensions Ordinance.

To address the problems of retirement age for civil servants, Government said it would bring it in line with that of the private sector, which has theirs as 60 years old. It further noted that those who were 50 years old on April 1, 2011 may still retire at 55, unless they wish to remain in their employment subject to the agreement of TCIG. The Governor said the shortfall in pension contribution by the affected group will have to be made-up either by those individuals given employment in the private sector or granted government re-employment.

He said that an actuariallyassessed temporary pension will be introduced for that group, which will be to the value of 75 percent of the pension they would have received had they been eligible under the Pensions Ordinance for a pension at 55 years of age, and 100 percent from age 60.

He said that the review also identified that the administration of pension and gratuity payments for retired civil servants was complicated and subject to misunderstanding as a result of Government paying the two schemes at the same time.

The Government also indicated

ANNOUNCEMENT

Griffiths & Partners is a new firm of attorneys in the Turks & Caicos Islands The attorneys are Conrad Griffiths QC and David Cadman

Their new offices are located at 82 Cherokee Road, Providenciales Tel: (649) 941-8250 and Fax: (649) 941-8251

that the elimination of gratuities will ensure that persons retiring have continued access to the maximum monthly pension payments available to them and also to reduce the cost to TCI tax payers by $3m over the next 5 years.

The government also announced that all civil servants will now be entitled to death service provision. In the past civil servants employed before the introduction of the NIB Ordinance were eligible for the service, while those employed after April 1992, were excluded.

The changes to pension benefits which should ensure fairer administration for all current and retired civil servants are: • Removal of housing allowances from the calculation of pension benefits. Housing allowances are designed to reimburse the short term costs incurred by some civil servants who are obliged to move home for their job.

Including housing allowances in the total assessment of individual pension benefits is unfair to those civil servants who have had no need for this allowance.

• Ending pension gratuity payments for female civil servants who stop working when they marry.

This is an old provision designed to provide a one-off pension payment to women when they got married in anticipation that they would stop working to raise a family. The benefit is out of date – many women clearly continue working after they get

married – discriminatory and unfair to male employees.

• Identify where benefits have been paid in error and write-off these payments. Retired civil servants, employed after April 1992, who have been in receipt of $1.5m of unlawfully paid gratuities and pensions under the Pensions Ordinance will not be penalized. Where payments are due to administrative error, they will be stopped – if ongoing. It is not considered appropriate to recover these sums from pensioners as the recovery costs are larger than the amount outstanding. Erroneous payments will be validated and written-off.

• Ending the payment of pensions to civil servants reemployed by the Government after they have retired.

The 2011 pension review identified cases of civil servants who had been re-employed by TCIG after they had retired aged 55 and who were still collecting a pension. Retired civil servants who were employed before April 1992 are entitled to the pension earned before that date under the TCIG Pension Scheme. However, under Pensions Ordinance, they are not allowed to receive that pension if they are re-employed by TCIG. They will continue to receive their TCIG Pension once they stop working for government entirely. The payment of their TCIG pension while they continue to be employed effectively doubles their income at a cost to the TCI taxpayer. The Pensions Ordinance will be amended to clarify this position.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

Some members of the path to citizenship panel are seen at the head table with Chamber President Tina Fenimore (third from left).

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Prominent TCI citizen, Bill Clare makes a point during the meeting

Expatriates want straight pathway to Belongership status There are strong suggestions by members of the expatriate community that the TCI should do away with the Permanent Residency Certificate (PRC) and naturalization systems and go straight Belongership, which is the immigration status that puts foreigners on the same level as locals, which also comes with the right to vote.

Such suggestion received loud applause during the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce pathway to citizenship meeting that was held at the Windsong Resort, Lower Bight,

Providenciales on Monday, February 6.

A member of the audience declared that if the TCI is to become a true democracy, it should give everyone that is above work permit level the right to vote. He suggested that persons who invest heavily in the TCI and others who work hard to build the country should be given Belonger status automatically.

Another member, who supported the suggestion, proposed that the classification of citizens should be abolished, thereby cutting out the categories of PRC naturalization, and

leap frog to Belongership.

Suggesting that the TCI was putting the cart before the horse on the issue of citizenship, another member of the audience suggested that Belonger status should be issued before naturalization, since when someone is naturalized, he or she is entitled to apply for a British Overseas Territory Passport, yet they are prevented from voting. On the other hand, he said that when a nonnaturalized expatriate is granted Belonger status, that individual is given an automatic right to vote, even though he or she may opt not to apply for a British Passport.

“It is confusing when you hold a Turks and Caicos Islands Passport, but yet you cannot vote. Why don’t we take the first step and issue the Belonger status, which pretty much gives you the right to do business and everything else.

“And then after the Belongership, you can apply for the citizenship and get your passport, which would then give you the right to vote. Because it is very confusing when you are holding the passport of a country in your hand and yet you have no right; you cannot vote, you cannot do anything,” the member of said.

Another member of the audience, who declared that he bought 25 acres of land after arriving in the TCI four years ago, said, was interested in applying for PRC, but understood that there was a moratorium placed on that process.

He told the meeting that he would not invest in the country until he got a clearer picture of the local political tide and also his security of tenure, since at this time, he did not believe he could call the TCI home, which he said was his desire.

In response, Willette Swann, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Border Control and Labour, explained

that citizenship came in two parts, and since the TCI was not an independent country, there was little that could be changed to make the system more straight forward.

Making the distinction between the two statuses, Swann outlined that the British Overseas Territories status gives one the right to a passport and the privilege of international travel, while the Belongership is the franchise to move freely and work as an ordinary TCI citizen.

“The British Overseas citizenship is shared by the 13 remaining British Overseas Territories, and Belongership is peculiar to us – that is why we have to have two different parts.

“The British Overseas Territory Citizenship is UK law. We may not be able to change that in the immediate instance. Belongership is Turks and Caicos law, and that is what we can manipulate. However, on the matter of granting Turks and Caicos status, there is already a framework laid out in the Constitution, which, again, is UK law, which I don’t think we will be able to change in the immediate instance.

“So, I think we are stuck with the British Nationality Act and the Constitution, so we have to work within those boundaries,” Swann said.

Swan further explained that after the consultation process is complete, it is likely that the status of Belongership and British Overseas Territories citizenship would be intertwined.

“The way I understand Turks and Caicos Islanders status, is that, eventually, when we everything is all worked out, Turks and Caicos Islander status would be a combination of British Overseas Territories citizenship and what we now know as Belongership. And in my mind, I think it is highly possible (that) we can design the policies and procedures where we grant both at the same time,” Swann said.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 9

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

More rigid and costly work permit health examination coming

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

In a matter of weeks, the Turks and Caicos Islands will install a more rigorous health examination programme for first time migrant workers and children to be endorsed on work permits of their parents already working here.

Claudia Munnings, Chairman of the Turks and Caicos Islands Immigration Board made the disclosure during a path to citizenship consultation meeting convened by the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce at the Windsong Resort in the Bight, on Monday, February 6.

She said the programme’s implementation missed its February 1 implementation date, but should come on stream soon.

But already some members of the expatriate community are decrying the move on the basis of its sharp rise in fees. An examination fee is now $50, but some members of the meeting said they made checks at some medical facilities and found out that the new fee will be $200.

However, Munnings said the new examination process would mirror that of a regular doctor’s visit for a complete check up, since it would

cover a wide range of health issues, rather than just a normal blood test for HIV, syphilis and other easily detected diseases.

“Our Immigration Ordinance, section 24 -1B, makes reference for persons applying for a work permit to have a certificate of good health.

Traditionally, the practice is that the certificate of good health was merely a blood test indicating positive or negative result. But we don’t get the positive results, but negative results for HIV, syphilis, Hepatitis and other diseases like that.

“So what the Immigration Board has done in collaboration with the Ministry of Health; we have piggybacked on their migrant workers health programme that Dr. (Rufus) Ewing had proposed a few years ago.

And we have joined up with them to design a form that we will be introducing as the Migrant Health Workers Programme,” Munnings declared.

Munnings was quick to point out that the scheme was not done in isolation, but rather took the form of a bipartisan approach, as the Health Practitioners’Board and other stakeholders were consulted on the matter.

“It was done in consultation with the Health Practitioners’ Board, Dr.

Ewing, Dr. Menzies, Dr. Slattery, and in collaboration with the other medical doctors on island, (as well as) NHIP and InterHealth Canada. Because, of course, NHIP’s endorsement is critical because the main focus for it, is to assist NHIP in the pre-screening of a number of persons who come to the Turks and Caicos to work, and may potentially have medical issues, which could be quite costly to NHIB or even to them, because there are quite a few people who would like to return home if they are sick,” Munnings asserted.

She said that as soon as all the details were worked out, the certificate of good health would be uploaded to the Immigration Board’s website, along with a news release and an announcement. She said, too, that the

form will not be complicated but nevertheless, it would be fully explained, pointing out further that the ailments for which medical examinations will be done will be uploaded on the site.

She assured the public that positive results would not be sent to the Immigration Board, but to the medical consultant at NHIP, who would then issue a certified letter to the Board, indicating whether or not the applicant is fit for employment.

In the meantime, Consultative Forum member and employee of Associated Medical Practices, Guillane Brutus, explained that the prescribed increases medical examination fees were set by Government and not arbitrarily by individual doctors.

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LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Special needs children suffering in TCI The Turks and Caicos Islands is woefully in need of special needs educational specialists so as to tackle the growing number of cases that currently exists, especially in the formal school system, this according to a team of doctors that visited the country to assess the situation on a voluntary basis.

Dr. Debbie Venditti, Speech Language Pathologist from Toronto, Canada, Dr. Claire Richardson, Occupational Therapist from Upstate New York and Helen Leonard, who is a Consultant Paediatrician, said that they encountered a number of children from two to 14 years old with a variety of needs, which included educational and physical.

Venditti noted that a part from the SNAP Centre, which caters mainly to children with physical disabilities, there is no formal special needs system in place to assess and address the needs of that demographic group, so as to administer the necessary solution to channel them into the mainstream of learning.

“There is one school for eight children, but other than that, there is a huge need to be able to support the children in their regular classrooms, so that they can be with their peers. So, there is a great need for some special services for the kids. I think that the time that we have been here we have seen a total of 60, children, and I don’t think that even scratched the surface,” Venditti said.

In the meantime, Richardson pointed out that children who fall into this category will have a hard time to climb from such abyss since it appears that no plans are in place to provide the necessary clinical mechanisms for them.

“There is no speech therapy, occupational therapy, and there is no education support through the hospital or in the school, so the families are basically trying to figure it out on their own. And so, any form of clinical team

is needed on the island(s),” Richardson said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Leonard has warned the powers that be on the dangers of not having programmes in place to satisfy such needs, saying that the reliance on overseas volunteers alone was not sustainable.

“Claire and Debbie said it. It would be nice to have speech and language therapists and educational specialists to offer more support to the children, who we have that are both attending the special needs centre and who are in main stream school as well, in terms of specialist advice on how to develop motor skills, speech, language skills and specialist skills, there is a special need for that sort of thing on the island(s).

“At the moment we are relying on people like Claire and Debbie, giving up two weeks of their time for no pay – relying on charities like Rotary and One World, who funded them; the Sands (Resort), when they would have been able to donate free accommodation; Grace Bay Motors, who gave them a discount on car hire and everybody who chipped in,” Leonard said.

Leonard added: “It is a shame that it has to be like that. It would be lovely to set up something more permanent, and with discreet funding to help the kids, rather than having to do it this way. It is great that the Community is doing it, and community spirit in Provo and across the islands is fantastic, but it would be better to have something more secure and sustainable for the kids here,” Leonard said.

The team visited the TCI to evaluate children with special needs and give suggestions to parents and teachers on how to help them develop and grow to meet their true potential.

This was there second trip to the country in two years for Venditti and Richardson

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 11

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Government launches consultations on system for At-Large seats Government has not yet decided what mechanism it would use to determine the voting system for the five At-Large electoral seats that will come on stream for the next election as part of the Interim Administration’s overhauling of the Turks and Caicos Islands political system.

The matter was on the agenda of the latest Advisory Council meeting held at the Disaster Management office on Providenciales, Wednesday, February 9, but according to Governor Ric Todd, a final decision was not arrived at on that matter.

“What we are doing is that, we are starting the process of consultation – the Advisory Council, the Consultative Forum, (and) the two parties, everyone – about what voting system we will

use for the five At Large members of parliament. So the consultation has started,” Governor Todd explained.

It was a forgone conclusion for many persons in the public’s sphere, that the simplest method – first five members with most votes being declared winners – would be used. But Governor Todd said while that method was under consideration, it was not final, hence the consultation.

Under the Electoral Reform, five of the 15 constituencies will be abolished and replaced by five At Large seats, which will be contested nationally. It is expected that smaller constituencies will be merged to form bigger constituencies.

Governor Todd said even though the first past the post system was considered as one of the preferred

methods, wider consultations from stakeholders would be sought to come up with a system that everyone agrees upon.

“There will be 10 constituencies, each of which will elect their own member of assembly by first past the post – that is clear, that is all set out.

Second, there will be five At Large members elected by TCI as one constituency. No decision has been taken on whether this will be first past the post or proportional or proportional list.

The point of this consultation is to try to reach a conclusion on how those five At Large will be elected. You have all different sorts of electoral systems; the point we are making here is, no decision has been taken exactly on how those five members will be

chosen,” Governor Todd said.

Governor Todd added: “It does make sense to me to have a discussion and consultation with the Advisory Council, the Consultative Forum and the political parties expressing their views on what they think is the best way to do that. It seems to be the entirely fair thing to do.”

It is believed that after the Electoral Reform is complete, a few of the constituencies will be abolished. It is believed that North and Middle Caicos could be merged into one constituency, so, too would be the two seats on South Caicos, while the four seats on Grand Turk will be reduced, with Salt Cay forming part of one of the new constituencies on the capital island.

Lord Ashcroft bank asked to hand over documents linked to ‘culture of corruption’ The Caribbean bank of the controversial British peer, Lord Ashcroft, is facing demands to hand over documents relating to the collapse of a company whose subsidiary is accused of benefiting from “a culture of corruption,” the Guardian newspaper reported on Sunday.

An insolvency practitioner appointed by the British Virgin Islands courts to trace the assets of Oxford Ventures Limited has been granted powers to request information from the British Caribbean Bank (BCB), an Ashcroft business based in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), the paper said.

A billionaire who is ranked among Britain’s wealthiest people, Lord Ashcroft is a Belonger of the Turks and Caicos, a status normally reserved for people born there or who otherwise have made a significant social or economic contribution to the British territory.

Oxford Ventures, which collapsed in 2010, is the “ultimate parent company” of Johnston International, a construction and engineering firm that went “bust” in the same year, with debts of $30m, and is now under scrutiny in the TCI and the United Kingdom, the Guardian said, adding that Oxford’s main creditor was BCB. In a libel action brought by Lord Ashcroft against the Independent newspaper last week, the paper’s lawyers claimed the Conservative Party peer was linked to Johnston which, they alleged, had benefited from a property boom in

the TCI “knowing this boom was being created through systematic corruption”.

“Lord Ashcroft insists he has had no ‘economic beneficial or legal interest’ in Johnston since he sold it in 1999,” the Guardian said.

But it said documents obtained by the BBC’s investigative current affairs programme, Panorama, “suggest its chief executive, Allan Forrest, who was also a director of Oxford Ventures, reported to Lord Ashcroft and also believed the peer owned Oxford”.

“Chris Johnson of CJA Associates, the insolvency practitioner charged with unpicking Oxford’s collapse, was last week given new powers by the TCI courts to request documents from Lord Ashcroft’s bank,” said the Guardian, stating that BCB has “previously declined to provide Johnson with requested documents.”

But on Friday, the bank confirmed it would hand over Oxford’s bank statements, the paper added.

“We have now obtained a court order in the Turks, which empowers us to receive such documents,” it quoted Johnson as saying.

According to the Guardian, the Liberal Democratic peer, Lord Oakeshott, said he would be tabling parliamentary questions to establish what British officials in the TCI knew about Johnston.

Lord Ashcroft, who also holds dual British and Belizean nationality, has significant business holdings in Belize.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Police to implement tougher firearms rules

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Due to the number of reported incidents of licensed firearm holders’ misuses of their weapons, including brandishing them during public fracas, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police will be instituting a more stringent license renewal rule.

This was disclosed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Darron Williams, who is in charge of issuing such licenses, during an interview.

Superintendent Williams told The SUN that the police hierarchy saw the need for such a process to be implemented hence they decided to take that step.

“We have enhanced the process

because we see the need for it. We just don’t want to give people firearm licenses without ensuring that they are aware of the safety aspects of it and what the law says about drawing your firearm on someone, or the use of force with firearms. So, we have put a new process together, on the approval of the Commissioner of Police. That is currently on the table,” Williams said.

In the meantime, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police is reminding licensed firearm holders that their license should have been renewed by the 31st December 2011.

According to the police, holders who failed to immediately take the necessary steps to update their license, since technically they are carrying an illegal weapon and “can be in serious trouble with the law”.

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Meanwhile, Superintendent Williams said that the force will be moving to issue wallet-size permits similar to that of a driver’s license, instead of the current 8x5 certificate now being offered. Those, he said, should be available for distribution by next week.

He said that someone wishing to be granted a license for a firearm should commence the process by writing to the commissioner of police outlining the reason for the application. The applicant will then be asked to complete a firearm’s application form, which can be accessed at any police station.

Additionally, the applicant should submit two passport size photographs, a recent medical certificate from a registered doctor in the TCI, stating mental and otherwise fitness for consideration for carrying a firearm.

Testimonials from two justices of the peace should also be submitted, along with a police record and original copy of a fingerprint document.

He said if the applicant is a foreign national, he or she should submit an immigration document reflecting status in the country.

Foreign nationals, who held firearm licenses in other countries, should submit a certified police record and the firearm’s license issued by that country Superintendent Williams said that someone who was convicted would not be eligible to hold a firearm’s licenses for five years after the last conviction. He said applicants are only allowed to apply for small firearms not exceeding .45 calibre or 12 gauge shotgun, for home protection.

Additionally, Superintendent Williams said: “You (applicant) must demonstrate your knowledge of safety handling for firearms with a firearm’s instructor of the police department, because the issue of firearm licenses is a serious matter, that carries criminal liability, hence those with responsibility for issuing them must be certain and convinced that the individuals applying are persons that can be considered fit,” Superintendent Williams said.

He stressed that even after all the requirements for application are met, there is no guarantee that a license would be granted. He said, too, that if the holder of a firearm’s license failed to adhere to any of the stipulations, the license will be in jeopardy of be revoked and the firearm seized.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 13

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Harold Charles to quit as advisor to Haitian president

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Prominent Turks and Caicos Islands businessman Harold Charles had declared that he will discontinue his role as advisor to President of Haiti Michel Martelly citing, among other things, divisions within the parliament.

In an interview with The SUN on Saturday, February 5, just after participating in a town hall consultation meeting for local Haitians on the path to citizenship and which was attended by Governor Ric Todd, said that, for the most part, a number of parliamentarians were yet to accept Martelly as the legitimate Haitian president, and so, a great deal of attempts were being made to stonewall

his efforts.

“I am not sure I am going to continue with my role there for personal reasons. The president is trying very, very hard to push things forward, but I still see this high level of division between parliament and the president. And it appears to me that a lot of members of parliament have not accepted that he is the president. So there is still a lot of divisions that make me unhappy to see, as a Haitian, and until things get settled, I am more likely to stay out of the Haitian politics for now,” Charles said.

Charles was quick to point out that he was not pushed, but at the same time, communication between him and the Haitian government could have been better.

“But again, the government is working with an infrastructure that is almost nil. The president’s office is under a tent, so working under this kind of environment made it difficult for him to be as efficient as I would have liked him to be. But at the same time, I will always there for the president; I will always be there for his cabinet; I will always be there to help them whenever they need me. They know how to find me; they will call me when they need me,” Charles said.

In the meantime, Charles expressed optimism in the local government’s effort to create a clear, transparent and honest pathway to citizen, saying that such a move would finally allow Haitians to be rewarded for their hard work over the years.

“I think the meeting went well, even though there was not a clear direction as to what will happen next, but the Haitians got an opportunity to express themselves. They want to know that they have a voice in the community, which I know for sure they deserve.

“My expectations from this meeting are for the government to speed up the process and get the people who need to be sorted out, sorted out, and get this thing over with, because, as I said, the Haitian people are suffering. I hope they (government) can accomplish pretty much everything (path to citizenship process) that they wanted to, within the timeframe that they give,” Charles said.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

Governor Todd reports constructive visits to North and Middle Caicos

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‘Extremely constructive’ was how His Excellency Governor Ric Todd described his visits to North and Middle Caicos on Mon, 6th and Tue, 7th February.

The Governor visited the family islands as part of his promise to regularly visit all of the inhabited Turks and Caicos Islands to hear for himself from residents and community leaders about their hopes and concerns. In addition, he will use his these and further planned visits throughout 2012 to provide people to hear directly from him about the progress being made against the eight milestones that seek to improve the governance, openness and transparency of public life in the TCI ahead of fresh elections being called.

Governor Todd previously visited all the family islands in September 2011 when he took up post, and visited Salt Cay and South Caicos for the second time in January. He will hold similar public meetings in Grand Turk and Providenciales later in February.

Some 44 people attended the meeting in North Caicos and 43 in Middle Caicos.

The single issue that the communities in North and Middle Caicos brought to the Governor’s attention was the urgent requirement for repairs to the Caicos Causeway.

Todd reminded his audiences that this is one of the Interim Administration’s key infrastructure projects along with the redevelopment of South Base on Grand Turk and the South Caicos Airport. As the public finances continue to be reprioritised this will allow the Interim Administration to redirect funding into such building works and its two other spending

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priorities education and employability.

He reminded the meetings that the Government’s Chief Engineer, Norman Watts, has visited the site for himself and surveys have been also been conducted to determine the full range of repairs that are required.

Responding to local requests on Middle Caicos, Governor Todd agreed to see if there is the potential for some remedial works to be taken now ahead of a major repair contract being let, recognising that local people, including school students, business and tourists have to use the causeway every day.

Both communities also raised the issue of increased taxes. Governor Todd sympathised with the communities but stated that in the absence of direct taxes, such as income tax, what option does the Government have but to raise indirect consumption taxes which he

knows fall disproportionately on lower income households. While suggesting that any changes in taxation policy are a matter for future elected Governments, Governor Todd also reminded his audiences that the TCI economy is improving in 2012 and that achieving a balanced Government budget is a key milestone. He stressed the importance of the Government’s income meeting or exceeding its outgoings. Once this is achieved not only can TCI begin to address its multi-million dollar debts, but achieving a surplus sends an important message to business, including potential inward investors, that TCI means business.

A variety of other subjects were raised including the Consultative Forum’s citizenship consultation, crown land, support for farming, and the additional transportation costs of goods reaching both islands. The issue of residents having to travel to travel to Providenciales to cash cheques was also raised and the Governor promised residents that he would begin to investigate a solution for the more remote communities.

During his visit the Governor also visited the new clinic being built in Conch Bar, Lorimer’s, Bambarra, Cay’s Construction, Green Acre’s Farm and Gibbs Boat Building.

Governor Todd said: “ I would like to thank the two District Commissioners McLean Handfield and Dottis Arthur for all of their hard work in setting up two extremely interesting days – from generating audiences for the public meetings and providing me with other opportunities to better understand local issues.”

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Page 15

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Haitians complain of being abused in Turks and Caicos Islands

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

A number of horror stories came out of the path to citizenship meeting for Haitians at the All Saints Church along the Leeward Highway, Providenciales on Saturday, February 5, as especially women told stories of severe physical abuses including knife attacks by their Belonger husbands.

Alleged police brutality and extortion were other abuses that some of the attendees reported to His Excellency Governor Ric Todd, who Pastor Alces Dor (second left) and an artist that goes by the name Ben (third left) present a painting to was in attendance along with officials Governor Ric Todd on Saturday, February 5, following the path to citizenship meeting at the All Saints from the Ministry of Border Control Church along the Leeward Highway in Providenciales. At left if Pastor Alba Jean. and Labour, who were at the meeting to collect feedback of opinions from police and the man was arrested and way for her path to citizenship in the that demographic group for later sentenced for the crime. Upon his TCI. release from prison, she said he asked Another woman complained that consideration for the final document.

One woman told the packed her to take him back and she did, her husband threatened to withhold his church hall that she came to the TCI revealing to the meeting that she still signature from documents that would allow her to become a citizen of the some five years ago and got married loved him.

However, she said not long after TCI if she continued to refuse him about a year later. She said not long her husband began to verbally abuse her they were reunited united under one having his way with her daughter until he began to hit her. She said the roof, he began to physically assault her which was from a previous abuses reached a head when, during again, and threatened her with relationship.

She told the meeting that at least one of their arguments, he brandished deportation if she reported the beatings on one occasion, she had to leave work a knife and proceeded to slash her all to the police.

She said that she moved out of the to rescue her daughter after she called over her body, which caused her to receive dozens of stitches to close the matrimonial home, and as a result, her from home to tell her that he was husband had been holding out on trying to make sexual advances at her. wounds.

She told the meeting that she was The matter was reported to the signing documents that would pave the

still without her documentation because he refused to give him the green light to sexually abuse his step daughter.

A man, who said that he operated a jitney service on Providenciales, complained that he was badly beaten by police who stopped him along the Leeward Highway.

Showing photograph of his badly bruised body, the man said that the abuse took place after he proved to the lawmen that his driver’s license was valid and his motor vehicle was properly registered.

He said the beating started when he told the police that only criminals and police carried guns, and he was neither. He said that his utterances came after one of the officers asked him if he had any weapons in his possession.

During the meeting the ministry officials told the gathering that their suggestions, complaints and questions would be considered whole collating the final document. They also assured the Haitians that citizenship hindrances and abuses reported would receive urgent attention.

Governor Todd received thunderous applause from the crowd when he began to address them in French during his opening statements.

They also lauded the governor for leading the charge to address their situation.

HAB MANAGEMENT LTD. GENERAL MANAGER

Requirements include: • Functions as the Strategic Business Leader of the resort. Position oversees the development and implementation of departmental strategies and ensures implementation of the brand service strategy and brand initiatives. Focuses on target customer needs, employee satisfaction, growing revenues and maximizing financial performance of the resort.

• At least 12 years experience in managerial role at high-end hotel/resort with in-depth knowledge of luxury marketing, sales.

• Sound knowledge of all aspects of resort operation and finance.

• Exceptional verbal, written and strategic planning skills.

• Strong organization skills.

• Ability to effectively direct labor productivity.

• Financial management skills e.g., ability to analyze P&L statements, develop operating budgets, forecasting and capital expenditure planning.

• Ability to use standard software applications and hotel systems – Opera (Fidelio), Micros.

• Strategic planning skills.

• Ability to evaluate business trends, determine applicability to customer profile and modify business strategies accordingly.

• Ability to take constructive action without relying on directions from others.

• Ability to network and build relationships to grow the business.

• Strong problem-solving skills; encourages new innovative solutions when appropriate.

• Must be willing and available to work all shifts and days.

Duties include: • Responsible for strategic planning and long-term vision and projects • Oversee day to day management of entire resort including development and implementation of process and management guidelines.

• Review financial data and prepare executive reports for owners and international management company..

• Oversee managerial and other staff to ensure high guest satisfaction and employee retention.

Interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms, Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday and bring along an updated resume, or by emailing your resume to Marjorie.dorsett@regentexperience.com no later than February 24, 2011.

Cook 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 February 27, 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.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Come and join our winning team!!!

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, the only 6 Diamond all inclusive property in the Caribbean is inviting applications from suitably qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders for the following vacant positions.

Applicants must have a clean police record and a good command of the English language both written and spoken. In addition candidates must be able to work nights, public holidays and week-ends.

The Resort thanks everyone for their interest in advance and advises that only short listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.

BAR DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Bar Porters Requirements include but are not limited to: • Outgoing personality • Physically fit The rate for the position listed above is $5.00 to 5.50 an hour.

HOUSEKEEPING DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Room Attendants/ Domestic Worker Housemen Public Area Attendant/Cleaner Requirements include but are not limited to: • One years experience in a hotel environment an asset.

• Physically fit The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $5.50 an hour.

Linen Room Controller Linen Room Attendant Requirements include: • Knowledge of inventory, stock and par levels • Computer literate • Physically fit The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $7.00 an hour.

Housekeeping Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: • Supervises and may participate in housekeeping services including cleaning, mopping, scrubbing, sanitizing the floors and other surfaces as well as the refinishing, waxing and polishing of floors, tile work and other various floor and wall surfaces in stairways, hallways, restrooms, offices, laboratories, recreation and locker rooms.

The rate for the position listed above is $6.00 to $8.00 an hour.

KITCHEN DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Kitchen Helper Requirements include but not limited to: • Must have worked in a Resort kitchen or medium to large sized restaurant

Cooks (Grade 1,2 and 3) Chef Garde Manger Requirements include: • Must have worked in a Resort kitchen or medium to large sized restaurant • Must have over three years experience • Professional qualification an asset The range in the rates for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $12.00 an hour.

STEWARDING DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: • Knowledge of the clean requirements of kittens and environs • Physically Fit • Ability to supervise a team

The rate for the position listed above is $6.00 to $7.00 an hour.

Steward Requirements include but are not limited to: • Physically Fit • Ability to carry out labour intensive cleaning task

The rate for the position listed above is $5.00 to $5.50 an hour.

PHOTOSHOP DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Photographer Shop Attendant Requirements include but are not limited to: • 2 years’ experience in field • Ability to sell and make quotas

The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $8.00 an hour.

WATERSPORTS DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Beach and Pool Attendants Requirements include: • Sweep, mop, and assist with the maintenance of the pool.

• Keep the pool area tidy and well stocked • Ability to swim Dive Instructor Dive Master Requirements include: • International Dive certification required • An outgoing personality required • Strict adherence to safety procedures • Ability to swim

The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $8.00 an hour.

ROOMS DIVISION DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Front Office Agent Concierge Agent Requirements include but are not limited to: • Background in customer service • Ability to go above and beyond for guest

Butler Requirements include but are not limited to: • Member of the Association of English Butlers • Ability to go above and beyond for guest Bell Captain Bellman Minibar Stocker Requirements include but are not limited to: • Physically Fit • Outgoing and friendly attitude

The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $7.00 an hour.

THE COST CONTROL DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Labour Requirements include but are not limited to: • Experience in working in a refrigerated storage.

• Physically Fit The rate for the position listed above is $5.00 to $6.00 an hour.

GROUNDS DEPARTMENTS REQUIRES:

Grounds man/ lady Requirements include but are not limited to: • Physically fit • Ability to carry out labour intensive task

The rate for the position listed above is $5.00 to $5.50 an hour.

ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Fun pals/Players/ Dancers/ Clowns Requirements include but are not limited to: • An outgoing personality required • Ability to sing and dance

The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $6.00 an hour.

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Electrician or Plumber Carpenter Room Technicians Painter Cabinet Maker Mason Tile layer Requirements include but are not limited to: • Knowledgeable of in related fields both in theory and practical The rate for the positions listed above is $6.00 to $10.00 an hour.

Labourer Requirements include but are not limited to: • Physically Fit • Ability to carry out labour intensive task

The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $6.00 an hour.

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or Fax to: 9414870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road and

The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and should reach not later than February18th 2012. Otherwise, please call anytime for an appointment tel # 649-946-8000 ext 4138

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FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Police Force renegotiating Chalk Sound Police Station rent The Chalk Sound, Providenciales outpost of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, could close if talks between the owner of the building and government officials, including the police, breaks down.

Commissioner of Police Colin Farquhar told The SUN that negotiations between the two parties were ongoing, and if those talks are favourable, the police would more than likely remain at that location, but if parties failed to get past the such hurdle, they could pull up stakes and move to another location.

The location favoured, this newspaper understands, was the former home of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, which is located on Old Airport Road in Providenciales.

“There is nothing definite on that (negotiations); we are still in negotiation with owner of the Chalk Sound building, and as far as I know, nothing has been decided,” Commissioner Farquar explained.

He said that the former community college building was still on the cards for relocating not just the Chalk Sound

Commissioner of Police Colin Farquhar Chalk Sound Police Station

Police Station, but other sub departments.

“That is one of the buildings that I thought would be good for us as far as good location in order to consolidate our offices, because we are kind of spread out a little bit, but we can consolidate some of our offices,” Commissioner Farquhar said.

Career OppOrtunities Grace Bay Club is looking for candidates that have most of the requirements listed along with an outgoing professional manner. They love to work with different types of people, meet challenges with a positive attitude and live the standards of our organization. Their leadership style balances a commitment to people and their development with business/financial accountability and delivers a consistently exceptional guest experience.

Director of Finance

Job Requirements & Qualifications: • Recognized Accountancy Qualification, ACA/ACCA/CIMA/CPA • 5 to 10 years post qualification experience.

• Experience in running the finance function in a luxury hotel/resort/club.

• Considerable people management experience.

• Excellent knowledge of hotel accounting software.

• Advanced mathematical and accounting concepts • Analyzing and interpreting general business periodicals, professional journals and governmental regulations.

• Coordinates and manages the Business Planning and Forecasting process in conjunction with the General Manager and Department Heads.

• Supervises the timely preparation and distribution of Financial Statements and Operating Reports in conjunction with Corporate and Owner guidelines including cash flow statements, Belongers need only to apply Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience

restaurant Manager

Requirements: • Certification in Food & Beverage Management • At least 4 years experience operating a restaurant and expertise in fine wines • Experience in quality and efficiency initiatives • International and multi-outlet experience • Must be able to work with different types of people, meet challenges with a positive attitude and live the standards of our organization.

• Responsible for ordering and receiving food and paper shipment.

• Maintain food and equipment inventories, and keep inventory records.

• Responsible for training restaurant staff, supervising restaurant operations.

He pointed out that cost-cutting was one of the variables that the force was looking at, hence the negotiation with Sandra Garland, the owner of the Chalk Sound Police Station building, to reduce what The SUN understand to be a monthly rent of approximately $20,000.

The former Community College

building, this newspaper understands is far cheaper. It is also understood that the Chalk Sound station is only fullyoccupied between business hours from Mondays to Fridays and with a staff at least one person each night.

Some government members were of the view, that, to continue occupying the building at such rate, while paying the same fee, was not financially prudent.

Belongers need only to apply Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience Kitchen Helper Requirements: • Assist with Food & Beverage service • Receive and store supplies • Stock cupboards, refrigerators and salad bars • Clean food preparation and storage areas • Assist with food preparation.

• Work with minimal supervision.

Qualified Belongers need only to apply.

Salary Range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience

Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) oversees all aspects and teams at Grace Bay Club and The Veranda Resort for Accounting, Strata, and Information Technology. The CFO is responsible for relationships with banks and investors, special projects, and business development. The CFO reports directly to the Board.

Requirements: • Oversee Accounting team, IT team and strata accounting for both resorts.

• Ensure accuracy of financial reports to investors and lenders.

• Implement and monitor strategic objectives. Actively seek profitability improvements.

• MBA or equivalent degree.

• Previous relationships with major lending institutions and Real Estate Private Equity funds • Previous experience in investment banking, strategic consulting and/or private equity.

• Previous experience in real estate development and hospitality • Fluency in English. Other languages a plus. Willingness to work long hours when needed.

Qualified Belongers need only to apply. salary range: Commensurate based on qualification and experience

interested persons can contact our Human resources Department no later than February 17, 2012 @ (649) 946-5050 ext. 1050 email: veronica.clare@gracebayclub.com Fax: (649) 946-5758 p.O. Box 128 providenciales, turks and Caicos islands, British West indies

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FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Come and join our winning team!!!

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages and Spa, the only 6 Diamond all inclusive property in the Caribbean is inviting applications from suitably qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders for the following vacant positions.

Applicants must have a clean police record and a good command of the English language both written and spoken. In addition candidates must be able to work nights, public holidays and week-ends.

The Resort thanks everyone for their interest in advance and advises that only short listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.

THE GROUNDS DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Grounds Manager Assistant Manager/ Senior Supervisor Requirements include but are not limited to: • Minimum 2 year diploma in related field.

• Experience with tropical or subtropical plants, Greenhouses and Irrigation • Physically Fit THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Executive Sous Chef Sous chef Requirements include but are not limited to: • To create recipes and production methods, as well as compile new banquets methods when required.

• Oversee the training and development of staff.

THE WATERSPORTS DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Office Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: • Experience in managing the affairs of an Office of a Regional Manager.

• Extremely confidential • Professional designation and asset

Watersports Manager Dive shop Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: • Experience managing a Dive shop operation • Ability to up and cross sell • PADI certification to dive • PADI certification to teach instructors • First Aid Certification

THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Cost Control Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: • Experience in controlling cost example fuel, electricity, water.

• Experience in controlling a multi-million dollar portfolio • Ability to cover day and night shifts

THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Pirates Island Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: • Experience in running a teens and tweens program.

• Professional designation in a related children development program • Over 3 years managing a children’s operation

THE PHOTOSHOP DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn

ZONE MANAGER/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT MANAGER Requirements include but are not limited to: • Experience in F&B, Rooms Division and operations • Experience in managing a boutique hotel or an operation encompassing rooms, restaurant and environs

Assistant Training Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: • Qualified to teach English Butler Program to certification • Knowledge of Food and beverage, Front office, Concierge (this is not exhaustive) • Ability to design training programs Food and Beverage Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: • Experience in managing multiple Restaurant outlets with seating of over 200 • Five (5) years relevant experience in Fine Dining, Al La Carte and Buffet Photoshop Manager Requirements include but are not limited to: • Experience managing multiple photo retail outlets • Experience meeting sales targets • Ability to cross and up sell • Three (3) years relevant experience The salary for the positions listed above ranges from $25,000 to $75,000 per annum THE KITCHEN DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

Executive Chef • Maintain control of the standards for purchasing and receiving items.

• To create recipes and production methods, as well as compile new banquets methods when required.

• Oversee the training and development of all kitchen staff.

• Experience in managing over four (4) kitchens

THE COST CONTROL DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

THE KIDS KAMP DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

The salary for the positions listed above ranges from $25,000 to $75,000 per annum

The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road and

The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and should reach not later than February 18th 2012.

Otherwise, please call anytime for an appointment tel # 649-946-8000 ext 4138

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Governor Todd visits South Caicos

Governor Todd and his wife with the Principal of Majore Basden High School, David Bowen

HE Governor Ric Todd made his second official visit to South Caicos on Friday 27 January 2012. The Governor was accompanied by his wife and they were hosted by the District Commissioner Miss Emily Malcolm.

The visit reinforced the importance the Governor places on the family islands and maintains his commitment to visit each of them on a quarterly basis.

The main elements of the Governor’s programme were: • A one- on-one meeting with Miss Emily Malcolm where the District Commissioner briefed the Governor on the key issues on the Island

• A visit to Marjorie Basden High School. The Governor toured the school's facilities, made a speech and answered questions from the students on a range of issues including the Milestones, schools, tax and independence.

• A visit to Calvary Christian School where the children performed a series of songs for the Governor.

• A visit to DECR where the Governor met staff and was briefed on the work carried out by the Department.

• A tour of the Medical Centre and a chance to meet and thank the staff.

• A tour of, and briefing on, the High point/ Caicos Beach development.

• A visit to Iris Stubbs Primary School

INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY SALON

Governor Todd and wife with students from Calvary Christian Primary School

where the Governor spoke with children and answered questions.

• A public meeting where the Governor spoke about the prospects for TCI in 2012, the Milestones, his and the TCIG’s priorities, and held a Q&A session with the local community.

The Governor commented: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to South Caicos last Friday. I much appreciated the warm and friendly welcome.

I am committed to maintaining a close connection with the Island, its community and the individual issues they face.

I would like to thank the local school children for greeting me at the

airport, for entertaining me with their songs and for engaging on issues of mutual interest.

When speaking to the school children I highlighted that empowerment is something you can only do for yourself, for example by study and hard work. I encouraged the children to work hard to deliver a positive future both for themselves and for TCI. I was interested to hear about the varied and valuable work of DECR and view the facilities at the Medical Centre And I much appreciated the open, lively and constructive discussion at the “town hall meeting” and the opportunity to hear citizens views and concerns.”

PART-TIME LABOURER LEEWARD WATER SERVICES Is seeking to employ one person as a

$5.50 per hour

HARD DRIVE CONSTRUCTION

SEEKS A LABOURER Hardworking, dedicated and punctual Starting salary $5.00 per hour Contact 231-3171

NAIL TECHNICIAN Seeking a

Salary $6.00 per hour Please contact 231-6399

Jeommimi Israel Milien Seeks

1 Domestic Worker Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 346-9664 or 342-5802

DUTIES: Daily work duties include but are not limited to daily cleaning of raw sewage treatment, screens of debris, filters, pipes, valves, submersible pumps, etc., under supervision of plant manager OSHA, approved PPD (personal protection device).

Must be available for emergencies that require additional hours during evenings and weekends, must be able to communicate in English.

Please submit applications in person to our administrative office located at Turtle Cove Landing attention: Mrs. Desemona Belliard. Cut off date for applications is February 27th, 2012.

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LOCAL NEWS

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

New sports adventure company in Provo

First to Offer Guided Excursions to Northern Haiti A new sports adventure company on Provo, Caicu Naniki Ltd., is raising the profile of the Turks & Caicos Islands as a sports vacation destination and providing the gateway for adventure tourism in northern Haiti.

Created by TCI residents Ben Stubenberg and Chloe Zimmermann, the enterprise offers several exciting and unique opportunities for visitors and residents to trek across the spectacular bluffs of Middle Caicos, watch in awe migrating humpback whales with their calves off Salt Cay, or get into fast growing sports like open water swimming and free-diving.

Many of these sports adventures can be combined, like swimming and yoga or freediving and whale watching.

Among their immediate plans is put in the first open water swim training zone in the Caribbean Region off the Alexandra Resort beach.

Beginning April 2, the company will also offer sailing charters through the Caicos Cays on the luxury catamaran Oteka.

Mr. Stubenberg and Ms Zimmermann are the founders of the annual Turks & Caicos “Race for the Conch” Eco-SeaSwim or charity in July that features 1 mile nd 2.4 mile world class open water competition in Grace Bay. The success of the Eco-SeaSwim inspired the expansion into sports adventure travel that taps into the growing market of open water

swimmers and triathletes, as well as people who want to do something incredible they’e never done before.

“These islands have a wild, unspoiled beauty and offer countless possibilities for active vacations,” said Ms Zimmermann. “This makes the Turks & Caicos a natural for sports adventure travel.” Mr. Stubenberg noted, “Here you can train for your next event or learn a new sport and return home with that “WOW”sense of adventure.”

Haiti Adventure Tours Caicu Naniki (pronounced kai-koo nah-neekee) is also the only tour company that offers guided overnight excursions to Northern Haiti, including a spectacular hike to the mountaintop Citadelle, the largest and most majestic fortress in the Americas and a UN World Heritage Site.

“It’s a unique chance to see this country’s incredible beauty and vibrant affirmation of life that is too often overshadowed by stories of despair and destruction,” according to Mr. Stubenberg and Ms Zimmermann. “We have found that the interest is particularly strong on Provo. The common complaintwe get from people we take on the Haiti excursion is We want to stay longer!” Groups fly from Provo to Cap-Haitien on Air Turks & Caicos, a 40 minute flight, and stay at Cormier Plage Beach Hotel just outside town along a stunning coastline.

The Citadelle in Haiti is the largest and most majestic fortress in the Americas.

For each activity, the company uses the best professionals in TCI and Haiti to ensurethat participants have the safest and most rewarding experience.

Chloe Zimmermann, the owner/manager of Marco Travel on Provo, has three decadesof destination planning and travel adventure experience in the Turks & Caicos Islands and Haiti. Ben Stubenberg, swimmer, surfer, and sailor, was the Chief of Transportation for several Club Med villages and has extensive experience leading adventure tours throughout the Caribbean region.

Since 2000, he has organized medical team trips to Haiti and hikes

to the Citadelle. Both are the cofounders of the West Indies Bluewater Swim Series and were recently selected by Open Water Source as the top 100 “Movers and Shakers” in the open water swimming world.

Caicu Naniki means Island Reef Where the Festive Spirit Lives in the language of the Taino Indians, the original people of the Turks & Caicos and Haiti, and the first to greet Columbus on his voyage to this world.

More information about the sports adventure activities and excursions can be found on caicunaniki.com or by calling (649) 432-5000 or (877) 6209331.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Veranda is currently seeking qualified candidates that have the requirements listed along with an outgoing professional manner.

Our ideal candidates must love to work with different types of people, meet challenges with a positive attitude and live the standards of our organization.

RESERVATIONS MANAGER

Job Overview The job will entail overseeing the reservation functionality of the resort and working closely with the Director of Reservations to maximize group and leisure revenue while providing accurate and timely information on reports as it relates to the group segment.

The Reservations Manager will have the exciting opportunity to develop this department from a blank slate.

Key Responsibilities This essential position reports to the Director of Reservations and Resident Manager and will manage all aspects of the reservations department and pre arrivals concierge including but not limited to; entering group room blocks, maintain pick-up and cut-off date analysis; ensuring billing, special requests and VIP information is set in the system as well as communicated to the essential departments of the hotel; fielding incoming calls related to Reservations groups, special requests as well as, spa, golf and restaurant reservations; managing the TA commissions process;

working closely with the reservations call center to maintain updated information and provide support; attending and involvement in pre-convention meetings, attending weekly operation, revenue and sales meetings as well as daily stand-up meetings.

Basic Requirements 2 - 3 years experience in a supervisory or management role for the Reservations or Front Office department of a AAA 4 or 5 diamond quality organization Hotel Property Management experience, Opera preferred Understanding of group reservations and block process Advance computer and typing abilities Advance knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook Excellent organization and time management skills Good interpersonal skills basic accounting and mathematical skills required Excellent written and verbal communication skills..

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience Interested persons may contact our Human Resource Manager No later than February 20, 2012 Email: deleria.simms@verandatci.com Or hand deliver to our office at Veranda Resort and Residences Princess Dr. Lower Bight, Providenciales

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FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

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LOCAL NEWS

For years I delayed my desire to write an inspirational Column in the Sun. I kept thinking how busy I was and how the time was just not right. Years ago it was because I was in politics and articles may have been perceived as political. Now that I am being prosecuted, it may be said that I should postpone because I am awaiting trial.

You see those excuses are the primary ways that defeat creeps into our lives and we miss our purpose. We think we are waiting for the right time and that right time may never come. I also believe that God uses busy people, because Faith is an action word.

Well I have decided to start my Column this week and I am calling it “Stepping Stones” and I pray that you will read it, enjoy and be blessed by it.

Can you imagine trying to get pass a large stone that is blocking the highway? While some may turn back and give up because they believe that they just can’t pass, take another look with me. There are so many ways to pass. You can walk around that stone, you can climb over that stone or you can get busy and chip away at that stone and use the broken pieces in the road design or in many other creative ways. You see that stone had a purpose also just like you do. I believe that your purpose was to get on the other side. Without life’s inevitable challenges to our survival, our freedom, our happiness, we might never discover our resourcefulness. We might never search within ourselves for wisdom, strength or truth. We might never seek God. You see Readers the object of the journey is not in the arrival at a particular destination, but rather in the encounters along the way.

I keep thinking, if my life was everything I wished it to be, what would my purpose be? What would I be doing here on earth right now? What would encourage me to extend myself, to be inventive and grow into the fullness of my being and become a productive citizen? It is not difficult for me to look at what is happening here in our country without looking at the opportunities that are available, but unfortunately missed because we are so confused about the changes that are taking place.

It is important for us to release ourselves from this sad environment and give it solely to the Lord and get on with our lives and use this time as a stepping stone. It is said- if life gives you lemons, make the best tasting lemonade. Don’t be afraid to take chances; be a risk taker or there will be little development or activity in your life.

As long as we are alive and we are productive we are in the process of becoming what God has purposed us to be.

We are the hands of God, migrant workers sent to Earth with all the talents and strengths needed to do God’s work here for a season. We must explore a world of possibilities for personal growth and for making the world a better place. With so much hardship and broken dreams in our Turks and Caicos Islands, now is the time for us to lend a helping hand to the weak among us or start that business that would bring a brighter future to the lives of your children or provide a job for the many that are waiting to be hired. There are no limitations on dreams. They can be as big as you choose, and we must keep on dreaming as a people. There are no ambitions or goals too high to achieve. We have the vision so let us find the strength to create the life we want. We are God’s living enterprise.

Take time out to reflect on your life, I have done so.

You will see that every challenge along the way offers you another piece of life’s puzzle. I know that every occurrence in life has its purpose. As you grow in wisdom and faith, you learn to trust life more and discover one of its greatest truths that God never closes one door without opening another. Let us allow God to lead us to the newly opened doors.

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“The thing at the moment is Adele... She is a little too fat, but she has a beautiful face and a divine voice.”

- CHANEL DESIGNER , KARL LAGERFELD

READ FULL STORY BELOW

Lagerfeld lost 110lbs in 2001

Madonna sets 2012 World Tour dates Fresh off her halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVI (which was viewed by a record 114 million people) comes details of the Madonna 2012 World Tour.

The trek will begin May 29 in Tel Aviv, Israel, and will be her most extensive tour ever in terms of number of dates, according to Arthur Fogel, CEO of Live Nation Global Touring, worldwide producers of the tour. The tour will take Madonna to Austrialia for the first time in 20 years, as well as many markets she has never played before.

This will be Madonna's fifth tour with Fogel and Live Nation, and second under her long-term multirights deal with the promoter. Her last tour, 2008-2009's Sticky & Sweet, grossed $408 million according to Billboard Boxscore, the highest ever for a solo artist and third-highest of all time. Prior to that, Madonna's 2006 Confessions Tour grossed $194 million, according to Boxscore, then the highest ever for a female artist.

The 2012 tour will follow the release of then 53-year-old Madonna's new album "MDNA," due March 26 on Live Nation Entertainment/Interscope Records, which creates myriad crosspromotional opportunities, according to Fogel. Having the

Madonna

recording and touring (not to mention merchandising and other rights) under one umbrella "gives you the freedom to line up all the different elements to sell tickets and to sell records," he says. "It's as great a set-up as you could have. If this doesn't work, I'm going into plumbing."

The tour will play arenas, stadiums and unique outdoor sights, including the Plains of Abraham in Quebec. Fogel tells Billboard.com that production for the tour is in the conceptual stages, but did say, "it

Karl Lagerfeld says Adele is too fat

Singer, song writer Adele

As the head designer for Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld is one of the world's most influential figures in fashion - but he's definitely not a world leader when it comes to tact. Lagerfeld told the publication Metro that he is a fan of Adele, but isn't a fan of her appearance.

“The thing at the moment is Adele," says Lagerfeld. “She is a little too fat, but she has a beautiful face and a divine voice.”

Ironically, Lagerfeld himself was once overweight - he lost close to 100 pounds in 13 months back in 2001 by following a special diet.

Wonder how he would have felt if some worldfamous designer had called him "too fat."

will be big and can get bigger," depending on the venue.

The tour will play 26 European markets, including London, Paris, Milan and Berlin, before hitting North American shores beginning Aug. 28 in Philadelphia. Twenty-six shows are planned for North America, including a Sept. 6 show at New York's Yankee Stadium, and an Oct. l0 performance at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale beginning Feb. 10 in Tel Aviv and the U.K., with North American tickets going on sale beginning Feb. 13. Tickets for North America are available at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.

Madonna will play North America until just before Thanksgiving, then head to Latin America to tour until the holidays, then wrap the tour in Australia in early 2013, Fogel says. The entire tour will end up with close to 90 shows, which would be the most ever for Madonna; Sticky & Sweet ended up with 85 dates.

When all is said and done, the upcoming tour will be one of the highest-grossing treks in history, potentially giving her two tours in the top five all time. Fogel says ticket scaling will be "almost identical" to Sticky & Sweet, though

venue capacities will vary.

While there are "certain variables" that come with routing a Madonna tour, Fogel says planning begins with the amount of time the artist makes available for touring and then producers using that time to maximum effect. "There's basically an established window and we need to fit into that window whatever we can that makes sense logistically," he says. "Of the shows we're doing, I'd say 25%-30% will be markets she's never played before. There's still a few left. We'll get to these markets where she's never been, some exciting new places, and get back to Australia after too long a time."

While Madonna's first headlining tour was in 1985, the upcoming run will only be her ninth.

Sticky & Sweet was a monster by any measure, and included some blockbuster dates in a wide range of territories, 32 countries in all.

Madonna sold 650,000 tickets in South America, 72,000 tickets at Zurich's Dübendorf Airfield -- the largest attended concert ever in Switzerland -- 75,000 tickets in London, and four sellouts at New York's Madison Square Garden that sold 60,364 tickets. That tour wrapped where the next one begins, Tel Aviv.

New Bob Marley film for April 20 A new documentary on the life of reggae legend Bob Marley is scheduled to open April 20 in the United States. Directed by Scottish director, Kevin Macdonald, Marley will be distributed by Magnolia Pictures.

According to the Hollywood Reporter publication, the documentary will be shown in theatres, and will be available in Video On Demand and digital format. It will be first shown during this week's Berlin International Film Festival.

Its first showing will be at the March 9-17 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas.

"Bob Marley is a fascinating, towering figure in musical history, and Marley is the biography that he deserves," Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles is quoted as saying. "Kevin Macdonald has once again shown himself to be a master documentarian with this eye-opening, entertaining, beautifully crafted film."

Macdonald won an Academy Award in 1999 for directing One Day In September.

For Marley, he used rare footage, archival photos, performances and interviews with family,

friends and bandmates for fans and persons who know little of the singer/songwriter to get an authentic portrayal of his life.

Steve Bing of Shangri-La Entertainment and Charles Steel co-produced Marley while Marley's oldest son, Ziggy, and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell are executive producers. Island distributed several of Marley's best albums.

"This documentary is the ultimate revelation of my father's life," said Ziggy Marley. "The family is proud to be able to have the world finally experience this emotional journey."

The Marley documentary has been the subject of much speculation.

High-profile film-makers such as Martin Scorsese and Jonathan Demme were rumoured to be potential directors before Macdonald was offered the job.

Marley, reggae's most enduring figure, is best known for songs like No Woman Nuh Cry, One Love and Exodus, died from cancer in May, 1981 at age 36. He would have been 67-years-old on February 6th, 2012.

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Zero Erosion Sonic Nicaragua

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FUN AND GAMES

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HIGHLIGHTS

• Stanford profits faked says former exec • Liat may sue Caribbean Airlines

Possible Rape Charge for Guyana’s Police Chief

Haitians told to form voting bloc in e Bahamas as thousands turn out to see President Martelly in Nassau Haitian President Michel Martelly on Wednesday urged his countrymen to form a voting bloc in The Bahamas and align themselves with the political party that will best serve their interests.

“I told them to organize themselves and identify in the upcoming elections who is on their side. That way they can become a force. By being [unified] in the elections they might have people taking care of them. . .this is the democratic way,” Martelly told reporters.

He was reiterating statements he made in Haitian Creole as he spoke to thousands of Haitians and HaitianBahamians who crowded the Church of God on Joe Farrington Road on Tuesday night.

Police on the scene estimated the crowd at 6,000. Many of them converged outside the hall anxious to hear their president speak.

His meeting with the members of the Haitian community in The Bahamas kicked off his brief official visit to the country.

Many people of Haitian descent who were born in The Bahamas, and some Haitians who came to The Bahamas illegally many years ago have been granted citizenship over the years.

Martelly said he heard reports of Haitians being mistreated in The Bahamas, for example being arrested for illegal immigration although they had permits to work or reside in the country. He also lamented the plight of ‘stateless’ people who have to wait

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham (right), meets His Excellency Michel Joseph Martelly, President of the Republic of Haiti during a courtesy call at the Office of the Prime Minister, Wednesday, February 8th, 2012.. The President paid an official two-day visit to The Bahamas, meeting with Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes, senior government ministers and other officials

until their 18th birthday to apply for Bahamian citizenship even though they were born in this country.

“So until they’re 18 they don’t belong to anywhere, and yet they were born here, meaning do I have to tell anyone if you send them back to Haiti they probably don’t know anybody or won’t recognize the place where they land? This could be considered as a crime, but that’s not the issue to talk about crime here; the issue is to stand by them and find the right solution. Be responsible, be humans and see how to

better assist these Haitians,” said Martelly at a press conference at the British Colonial Hilton hotel.

However, he said he did not urge Haitians living in The Bahamas to protest, but instead to use this country’s democratic system to work in their favor.

“I could not ask my people to riot for their right, this is not what I want,” he said.

The president said his government is working to create job opportunities so his people do not have to leave the

country to make better lives elsewhere.

At the meeting with Haitians Tuesday night, Martelly encouraged them to return home and help rebuild the poor nation. He said it would be hard to convince foreign investors to help develop the country if its own people are leaving in droves.

“I’m asking for your support, everyone get together with me, unite with me. We are going to create jobs for Haiti so Haitians don’t have to leave Haiti to look for jobs elsewhere,” he said in Creole, eliciting cheers from the crowd. “. . .Those that want to leave now I’m telling you go with me tomorrow.”

The purpose of Martelly’s visit was to rebrand Haiti as a nation ripe for investment and full of opportunities.

The president, who was elected last April, said Haiti is no longer looking for international aid but wants to forge new ties in trading.

The country needs foreign investors to help build homes, roads and other infrastructure for the struggling country, according to the president.

Martelly met with Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, leader of the Opposition Perry Christie, members of the Chamber of Commerce and the ministers of immigration, national security and tourism.

• Reproduced from The Nassau Guardian

St Kitts and Nevis clears IMF fiscal target and gets additional US$17 million BASSETERRE, St Kitts and Nevis - St Kitts and Nevis is the recipient of additional US$17.6 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after its Executive Board recently approved the release after the island administration met its end of September quantitative targets.

The funds were released on the completion of the first review of St. Kitts and Nevis’ economic performance under a 36-month Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF. This brings the total released so far to approximately US$51.6 million. The Fund approved the US$80.7 million SBA on July 27, 2011.

While the country experienced slower-thanexpected economic growth, IMF Deputy Managing Director Naoyuki Shinohara, said, the fiscal target was met by a comfortable margin.

Shinohara pointed out that the government

successfully reduced budget expenditure arrears to below the levels at the end of December 2010.

No external arrears were accumulated except for debt service payments, which are part of the debt restructuring. Also, the authorities approved the 2012 budget consistent with the program objectives, the IMF representative stated.

“The St. Kitts and Nevis’ economy is estimated to have remained flat in 2011 after two years of contraction, but the outlook remains favorable supported by Foreign Direct Investment-related construction projects and an improvement in tourism activities,” he said.

“Uncertainty regarding the global economic recovery, however, highlights increasing downside risks. Steadfast implementation of policies under the Fund-supported program will be important going forward.”

The IMF Deputy Managing Director said progress had been made on structural reforms such as the valuation of 600 acres of land, as well as updating existing stress tests of financial institutions.

He further noted that additional reforms should focus on public financial management, the civil service, the social security system, and the strengthening of the social safety net to ensure fiscal sustainability.

“The authorities are making progress on negotiations with their creditors for the comprehensive restructuring of the public debt,” Shinohara said.

“Early implementation of the debt restructuring will be critical for the success of the program.

Continued commitment to ensuring the stability and health of the financial sector will be important to reduce vulnerabilities.”

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Jamaica government destroys 2,000 guns in furnace KINGSTON, Jamaica — Roughly 2,000 firearms were melted down in a blazing furnace Tuesday as part of an effort designed to combat gun trafficking and corruption in Jamaica while reducing violent crime.

Police, government and U.N. officials destroyed pistols and revolvers by pitching them into a kiln glowing bright orange at a cement factory in the capital of Kingston.

Most of the guns were decommissioned or seized in police operations over the years.

National Security Minister Peter Bunting, who has been in office for just over a month, said the destruction of the weapons is an important first

step toward managing the sizable stockpiles of guns in Jamaica and reducing the risk of theft.

"The removal will help to reduce the risks of these weapons being possibly diverted back into the illicit trade," Bunting said at the Jamaica Constabulary Force armory.

William Godnick, a coordinator with the U.N. Regional Center for Peace Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, said the destruction of the guns "is the beginning of a long process in which we hope to destroy a much larger quantity."

The primary goal is "to prevent theft and loss," Godnick said.

Dominica to receive Euro millions over next 2 years ROSEAU, Dominica - Dominica expects to receive between 14 and 15.5 million Euros during 2012 and 2013, from the 190 million Euros allocated to the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) nations through the European Commission’s BAM (Banana Accompanying Measures) programme.

Dominican agricultural officials say the country is positioning itself to make maximum use of funds being made available to ten banana-exporting nations by the European Union.

The funding of is intended to provide additional development assistance to help the countries involved adjust to new market conditions, following the erosion of the preferential market access that was previously enjoyed by the ACP group of countries through trade with Europe.

Director of Agriculture Ricky Brumant says under the BAM arrangement, Dominica will seek to make its banana production and exports more competitive, while focusing on other areas of agriculture as well.

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector were meeting on Tuesday, to help ensure that “what we say we are going to do with the money is going to bring to the country maximum benefits”.

Brumant said also that another priority would be to “place the agricultural sector, the banana sub-sector, on a plain that we can enhance competitiveness and of course move our non-banana programmes or crop programmes, production programmes to a level to where it can ensure that we are competitive not only on the regional market but also the international market”.

The agriculture official says the BAM funds being allocated to Dominica will make a significant difference.

“From a government standpoint enhancing trade is important, ensuring food security is important, these are some of the broad areas that we will look at,” Brumant said.

He confirmed that a substantial amount of the available funds is expected to go to the banana industry, to make it more competitive.

“I cannot tell you now how much would go into bananas. I can tell you that we are prepared to ensure the right production mix between banana and nonbanana crops,” the Director of Agriculture told Dominica News Online.

Last year, a Jamaican police sergeant was sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing guns and bullets from the Kingston armory. He was arrested after agents seized 18 highpowered weapons and 11,000 rounds of ammunition that were stolen for sale to criminals.

Bunting, who recently announced that he hopes to develop new policies encouraging police use of non-lethal weapons such as Tasers to stem a high rate of police killings, told reporters that reducing stockpiles can also "remove temptation" from rogue officers who may plant weapons.

He said a crime spike so far in 2012 shows that advances the Caribbean country has made

combating gangs and crime since 2010 are fragile.

"We can't let up in our efforts to combat crime," Bunting said.

In a report last year, the World Bank estimated that violence and crime cost this Caribbean country roughly $400 million a year.

With arsenals to rival police firepower, gangs whose turf wars have long plagued gritty parts of the island are blamed for the majority of Jamaica's homicides. The large majority of the gangs' weapons are smuggled from the United States.

Illegal guns come in on freighters and in "guns-for-ganja" deals by fishermen, who carry homegrown marijuana to nearby Haiti and return with pistols, revolvers and submachine guns — many of them believed to be from the U.S. as well.

On Wednesday, officials destroyed roughly a half ton of ammunition at the cement factory.

Queen Elizabeth celebrates 60 years on throne LONDON, UK — Queen royal family — including Elizabeth II marked 60 years on Prince William and his wife, the the throne Monday with a Duchess of Cambridge — will message thanking all those who fan out across the globe and have supported her over her travel to Commonwealth reign and reaffirming her countries including Canada, dedication to serving the British Jamaica and Belize. people.

The queen and Philip, also Tributes from British known as the Duke of officials poured in to honour the Edinburgh, will stay closer to 85-year-old monarch on home, touring the UK from Accession Day. She ascended March to July. the throne when her father, The 2012 Diamond Jubilee George VI, died on February 6, weekend will be held from June 1952 and is the longest-serving 2-5, with the main highlight monarch after Queen Victoria, likely to be a huge pageant on who reigned for more than 63 the Thames river featuring a years.

1,000-strong flotilla.

Queen Elizabeth II Before a year's worth of Elizabeth expressed hope festivities to celebrate her milestone, the queen that the coming year will be a time to give thanks said she and her husband have been "deeply "for the great advances" since she took the throne moved" to receive so many kind messages about and "look forward to the future with a clear head her Diamond Jubilee. and warm heart."

"I am writing to thank you for the wonderful Later today, the queen is slated to tour a support and encouragement that you have given nursery school and meet pupils there before to me and Prince Philip over these years," she watching a play about her 60 years as sovereign. wrote in a message to the nation. "In this special Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I praised the Queen's "magnificent service," hope that we will all be reminded of the power of thanking her for guiding the nation with "dignity togetherness and the convening strength of family, and quiet authority." friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of "Always dedicated, always resolute and which I have been fortunate to see throughout my always respected, she is a source of wisdom and reign." continuity," Cameron said. "All my life, and for The queen's Diamond Jubilee will be feted the lives of most people in this country, she has with a series of regional, national and always been there for us. Today, and this year, in international events throughout 2012. the 60th anniversary of her reign, we have the Over the course of 2012, members of the chance to say thank you."

LIAT may sue Caribbean Airlines for unfair competition Regional airline, LIAT, is reportedly considering taking legal action against Caribbean Airlines over "unfair competition."

LIAT says it lost 46 million U.S. dollars last year, following up on a 20 million U.S. dollar loss in 2010.

The airline put some of the losses down to competition from Caribbean Airlines because of subsidised fuel.

Caribbean Airlines currently buys oil from

Trinidad and Tobago at a subsidised price of 50 U.S. dollars a barrel.

LIAT on the other hand pays between 110 to 120 U.S. dollars a barrel.

Vincentian Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who also chairs the shareholder governments of LIAT, says he is taking advice on whether or not the subsidies are legal under Caricom rule.

He says he has no problem with competition noting that it has to be on a level playing field.

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Amnesty slams Haitian judiciary for dropping Duvalier case LONDON, England — Haiti’s judicial authorities have dealt yet another blow to the victims of former leader Jean-Claude Duvalier, Amnesty International said this week after the criminal case against the former “president-for-life” for grave human rights violations was dropped.

An investigating judge in Port-auPrince on Monday announced that Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier will not stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity – including torture, disappearances and extrajudicial executions – but only for embezzlement of public funds committed during his rule between 1971 and 1986. The text of the judge’s decision has not been made public.

Duvalier has been under investigation in Haiti since he returned from exile in France in January 2011, after a group of victims filed complaints accusing him of crimes against humanity as well as corruption and theft.

The victims can appeal the judge’s decision and Amnesty International has vowed to continue supporting their search for justice.

Former exiled Haitian dictator ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier

“The conclusion of the sham investigation into Duvalier is a disgrace and will further entrench impunity in Haiti. No serious effort was made to determine the truth despite the multiple complaints and abundant evidence about the crimes committed and the victims,” said Javier Zúñiga, special adviser at Amnesty International, who researched the crimes of Jean-Claude Duvalier in the 1980s.

“The handful of victims that have been interviewed had been subjected to intimidation by Duvalier supporters and his lawyers. It is clear that the investigating judge left out invaluable evidence and decided not to interview all the victims that filed complaints.

This is a dark day for Haiti and for justice.

“Duvalier benefited from a safe haven in France for 25 years until he returned to Haiti, where the authorities have failed to hold him to account for the crimes under international law perpetrated by his subordinates while he was in power.”

In January 2011, Amnesty International submitted extensive documentation on the grave human rights violations committed under Duvalier, none of which was considered by the magistrate.

Under international law, torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and arbitrary arrests are considered crimes against humanity when committed as part of a systematic or widespread attack against the civilian population.

No statute of limitations may

Former Stanford exec tells jurors bank’s profits faked HOUSTON – Jailed Texas financier R Allen Stanford helped fake profit numbers for his Caribbean bank and funnel millions of dollars of depositor funds to a secret Swiss bank account used to pay for personal expenses, bribes to regulators and employee bonuses, the man who was in charge of the tycoon’s books told jurors.

James M Davis, the former chief financial officer for Stanford’s companies, testified the financier’s bank never reported having an unprofitable year because he and Stanford worked together to fabricate figures for annual reports and other documents. Prosecutors allege Stanford masterminded a fraud in which he bilked investors out of more than $7 billion in a massive Ponzi scheme centered on the sales of certificates of deposit, or CDs, from the bank on the island nation of Antigua.

Davis, 63, said the fake profit numbers were part of the ruse to hide the fraud and show CDs purchased by investors were doing well and the bank itself was on solid financial footing.

“Was Stanford uncomfortable with reporting too high a (profit) number?” prosecutor William Stellmach asked Davis, the prosecution’s star witness.

“No,” Davis said before a packed courtroom that included Stanford’s mother, one of his daughters and two of the financier’s ex-employees – Gilberto Lopez and Mark Kuhrt – who have also been indicted and are free on bond as they await trial in September.

Authorities allege Stanford used depositors’ money to fund his businesses and his lavish billionaire lifestyle and pay bribes to regulators and auditors. They also allege he lied to depositors by telling them their funds were being safely invested.

Stanford’s attorneys contend the financier was a savvy businessman whose financial empire,

headquartered in Houston, was legitimate. They have suggested Davis, who worked 21 years for Stanford, is behind the fraud.

Stanford is on trial for 14 counts, including mail and wire fraud, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Davis said while the bank never reported an unprofitable year, it did have to report at least one unprofitable quarter to keep up the charade: the third quarter of 2001 when the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened.

“It would have been unreasonable to report a profit when world markets collapsed,” he said.

Davis also testified Stanford transferred CD deposit funds to a secret Swiss bank account with Societe Generale belonging to the financier.

Davis said Stanford used the money for “real estate purchases, paying for personal expenses, beginning another company.”

Davis, who began testifying Thursday, said Stanford then had him make transfers ranging from $500,000 to $10 million from the Swiss account to a personal account the financier had in Houston. Jurors were shown copies of letters Davis signed asking for these transfers from 2000 to 2006.

Davis testified some of the money in the Swiss account was also transferred to an account Stanford had in Antigua to pay for bribes to the top regulator on the island nation who oversaw the financier’s bank.

Some of the funds from the secret account were also used to pay employee bonuses, he said.

Davis pleaded guilty in 2009 to three counts: conspiracy to commit mail, wire and securities fraud; mail fraud; and conspiracy to obstruct a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation. The plea is part of a deal Davis made with prosecutors in exchange for a possible reduced sentence.

apply to crimes against humanity and the alleged perpetrators cannot benefit from amnesties, even in the case of former heads of state.

Amnesty International has expressed concern that the current Haitian government lacks the will to bring Duvalier to justice.

“Recent public statements from President Martelly hinted at pardoning Duvalier. This could amount to unacceptable pressure and interference with the investigation. Inviting JeanClaude Duvalier to take part in public official ceremonies clearly showed that the government wanted to rehabilitate Duvalier instead of holding him to account,” said Zúñiga.

“Haiti has failed to live up to its international obligations to investigate all allegations of crimes against humanity and bring their perpetrators to justice. Victims have been awaiting justice for more than 25 years, and today’s decision is a major setback to them and all Haitians. But this is not the end of the road – we will continue to support the victims at the appeal stage and in international instances if necessary.”

Prosecutor recommends rape charge against police chief GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana’s state prosecutor has recommended that Police Commissioner Henry Greene be charged with rape of a 34-year-old woman, according to the independent Demerara Waves online news service.

Demerara Waves quoted “well-placed sources” as saying the Director of Public Prosecutions made the recommendation following a joint investigation by Guyanese and Jamaican police into the woman’s allegations that he raped her when she went to him for help on a matter involving another police officer and his wife.

The news service said that the government is expected to ask Greene to resign before the charge is laid. The police chief went on leave in mid-December while the probe was conducted.

On Friday, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said that Greene could only remain in office if he had been cleared of the allegation along with other “factors”. He did not elaborate.

The woman alleges the rape happened on November 22 but she did not report the incident until early December because of threats by the rapist.

The police commissioner’s American visas have been revoked.

He has also faced a string of health problems, requiring him to been hospitalised several times.

Greene, a 38-year veteran of the Guyana Police Force took over its leadership on July 24, 2006, following the retirement of Winston Felix.

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HIGHLIGHTS

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• Iran says it can strike US if attacked • 15 tons of meth seized in Mexico • Italian court extends house arrest for ship captain.

Obama to try to placate Catholics on contraceptives Seeking to quell a political firestorm, the White House will announce a plan to accommodate religious organizations on its rule for health insurance coverage of contraceptives, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The Obama administration has faced an election-year backlash from Catholic Church leaders, Republicans and others who have said the regulation is an attack on religious freedom. The new proposal is unlikely to satisfy all the concerns of church leaders, the sources told Reuters.

The proposal will aim to show flexibility toward religious organizations that have criticized the policy, but will preserve the central White House goal of ensuring that women employees of religious institutions, including schools and

hospitals, receive full coverage of contraceptives in health insurances plans.

The proposed deal, first reported

by ABC News, could be made public as early as Friday.

The administration has been looking at several state laws that let religious employers opt out of covering birth control in their insurance packages, so long as they refer women to a provider that will offer the benefit at low cost.

But Catholic leaders have already said they oppose that option, arguing that referring women to low-cost contraception is as immoral as distributing the drugs and devices firsthand.

The regulation at the center of the controversy requires religiousaffiliated groups such as charities,

hospitals and universities, but not churches themselves, to provide employees coverage for birth control as other health insurance providers must do. The Catholic Church opposes most methods of birth control.

Polls indicate a majority of Americans and Catholics support the rule. A Public Religion Research Institute poll taken last week found 55 percent of Americans want employers to provide healthcare plans that cover contraception and birth control, including nearly six in 10 Catholics.

So far, the church's protests have focused mainly on their fear that the new requirement abridges their religious freedom.

Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl, reacting to reports of the planned White House announcement, told MSNBC he was

still concerned about religious rights.

"Our concern is our basic freedom, and I'm not sure it makes sense to say 'how if about we compromise away parts of your freedom, how about if this part's acceptable to us and this part isn't.' I would want to see exactly what we're being offered," he said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." Several prominent Catholic leaders have indicated in recent days that they are in no mood to compromise and will not accept anything short of the Obama administration withdrawing the regulation, which was announced in January and is part of the administration's 2010 healthcare overhaul.

On the other side of the table, women's rights advocates, who have been pressing Obama to hold his ground, said they would wait to see the details of any proposed compromise before judging it.

But they made clear that they would not be inclined to support any proposal that required women employed by Catholic organizations to navigate additional bureaucracy or pay additional fees to get access to contraceptive coverage.

Greeks strike against austerity before crucial vote Striking Greek workers denounced a new wave of austerity on Friday as an imposition too far by Europe and the IMF. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos told the nation it faced a stark choice between sacrifices inside the euro area and bigger sacrifices outside.

Police fired teargas at black-masked protesters who threw petrol bombs, stones and bottles in central Athens at the start of a 48-hour general strike against planned pay and job cuts. But street protests were relatively small and mostly peaceful.

The biggest police trade union said it would issue arrest warrants for Greece's international lenders for subverting democracy, and refused to "fight against our brothers." A daily newspaper depicted German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a Nazi uniform with a swastika armband.

As public rage simmered, the leader of the far-right LAOS movement, the smallest of three parties backing Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, said he would not vote for the harsh austerity program in a crucial parliament vote due on Sunday or Monday.

"Greeks cannot be hostages and serfs," LAOS leader George Karatzaferis told a news conference.

"We were robbed of our dignity, we were humiliated. I can't take this. I won't allow it, no matter how hungry I am.

"Germany decides for Europe because it has a fat wallet and with that fat wallet it rules over the lives of all the southern countries."

His party has 15 deputies in the

A petrol bomb explodes near riot police during protests against planned reforms by Greece’s government

300-seat parliament, dominated by the socialist PASOK and conservative New Democracy parties, which both support the Papademos government.

LAOS' four ministers tendered their resignation, but Karatzaferis rejected calls for an early general election and suggested the prime minister appoint more technocrats instead.

Venizelos made clear Greece has little choice but to accept the harsh conditions attached to a 130 billion euro bailout, and a plan to halve its huge debt to private bondholders, to avoid a chaotic default when big bond repayments come due next month.

"It's time for us to make up our

minds," he said after euro zone finance ministers refused to give immediate approval to the bailout plan.

"Unfortunately, we have to choose between sacrifices and even bigger sacrifices."

The European Union and IMF have been exasperated by a series of broken promises and weeks of disagreement over the terms of the bailout, which would be Greece's second since 2010, with time running out to avoid a default.

The ministers gave Athens six days to prove its commitment by passing key legislation, finding an extra 325 million euros in savings, and providing assurances that the program will remain

in force after any election.

Summing up their deep mistrust, Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of euro zone finance ministers, said: "In short, no disbursement before implementation."

The euro and European shares fell, reflecting concern that the Greek bailout and debt swap could fail.

The austerity plan includes lowering the minimum wage by 22 percent, axing 150,000 public sector jobs and reducing pensions.

Some protesters compared Greece's plight, facing bankruptcy unless it accedes to the demands of international lenders, to its seven years under military dictatorship.

On Syntagma Square in central Athens, songs from the struggle in the 1960s and 1970 against a junta of colonels boomed out over loudspeakers.

Police said three policemen and two protesters were slightly injured in clashes. Five people were detained.

With Greece probably at its lowest ebb since the junta was overthrown in 1974 and democracy restored, protesters denounced the "troika" of lenders - the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.

"Do not bow your heads! Resist!"

They chanted. "No to layoffs! No to salary cuts! No to pension cuts!

Even the police, who have repeatedly clashed with protesters since the crisis broke out more than two years ago, announced resistance to the creditors' demands.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WORLD NEWS

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Syrian forces renew bombardment in Homs Syrian forces bombarded oppositionheld neighborhoods of the city of Homs with rocket and mortar fire on Thursday, activists said, as divided world powers struggled to find a way to end the violence.

The United Nations chief condemned the ferocity of the government assault on the heart of a revolt against President Bashar alAssad that broke out nearly a year ago and is getting bloodier by the day.

"I fear that the appalling brutality we are witnessing in Homs, with heavy weapons firing into civilian neighborhoods, is a grim harbinger of things to come," U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said after briefing the Security Council in New York.

Activists and residents report hundreds of people killed over the

last week as Assad's forces try stamp out opposition in Homs and as Thursday dawned, rocket and mortar fire rained down again on Baba Amro, Khalidiya and other districts.

Armored government reinforcements also poured into the eastern city.

A Syrian doctor, struggling to treat the wounded at a field clinic in a mosque, launched an emotional video appeal over the Internet for the world to stop the killing and send aid.

Concern was growing over the plight of civilians and the United States said it was considering ways to get food and medicine to them - a move that would deepen international involvement in a conflict which has wide geopolitical dimensions and has caused division between foreign powers.

As the violence grinds on, the international community is searching

Italy court extends house arrest for cruise ship captain An Italian court ruled that Francesco Schettino, the captain of the cruise liner that ran aground and capsized off the island of Giglio, killing at least 17 people, must remain under house arrest.

Schettino was arrested the day after the January 13 disaster, accused of manslaughter and abandoning the 114,000-ton Costa Concordia before all the 4,200 passengers and crew were evacuated.

He admitted to prosecutors that he sailed too close to the island and was released from prison and placed under house arrest on January 17. In confirming that he must remain under house arrest, the Florence court rejected the pleas of both the prosecutors, who argued that he should return to prison, and Schettino's lawyer, who had requested that he be completely set free.

Last week authorities called off the search for bodies on the ship, after recovering 17 corpses. Fifteen people are still unaccounted for.

The hulk of the Costa Concordia is still lying on its side on a rocky ledge less than 100 meters from the Giglio shoreline and salvage crews are pumping the 2,300 tons of fuel from the vessel to try to avoid an environmental disaster. The head of Italy's civil protection authority said the ship would not be removed for at least 7-10 months.

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for new diplomatic approaches to stop the protracted bloodshed in Syria.

The regime's crackdown on dissent has left it almost completely isolated internationally, but Assad is receiving political backing from Russia and China, which delivered a double veto over the weekend that blocked a U.N. resolution calling on him to leave power.

Sanctions are crippling the Syrian economy, but they have failed to stop military offensives that have led to an overall death toll of more than 5,400 people since March.

Homs, Syria's third-largest city, has become the focus of both resistance and reprisal in the 11-month uprising as many areas have fallen under the control of increasingly bold army defectors who want to bring down the regime by force.

In the latest operation, which began Saturday, government forces have unleashed a relentless offensive against Homs, shelling residential areas as they try to root out any resistance and retake control of the city of 1 million people.

Hundreds are believed to have been killed in the heaviest bombardment the city has seen since the country's uprising began in March, activists said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the LCC were trying to compile numbers and names of those killed Thursday. The Local Coordination Committees, an activist group, said an estimated 90 people were killed in Homs, but the death toll was impossible to independently verify.

Activists also reported violence in Zabadani and Daraa.

Pakistani fishermen reel in 40-foot whale shark

Pakistani fishermen use cranes to pull the carcass of a whale shark from the waters at a fish harbour in Karachi on February 7, 2012.

Pakistani fishermen needed at least five cranes to reel in a 40-foot-long whale shark from the waters at a harbor in the port city of Karachi on Tuesday, according to the Express Tribune newspaper. The massive whale shark, which was said to weigh between 6 and 7 tons, was found unconscious ten days ago about 150 kilometers from shore, according to the owner of a local fishery. By the time the fish was pulled out of the water, it was dead.

According to the newspaper, fishermen initially called in two cranes to pull out the giant carcass but it took at least three more to successfully get the

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Page 37

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

WORLD NEWS

Iran says can hit US interests worldwide if attacked MOSCOW - Iran is capable of carrying out military strikes on U.S. interests all around the world if the Islamic Republic is attacked by the United States, Iran's ambassador to Moscow said.

The United States has tried to force Tehran to scrap sensitive nuclear work by imposing sanctions targeting Iran's central bank and giving U.S. banks new powers to freeze Iranian government assets.

Iran's ambassador to Moscow said that the United States would be making a serious mistake, akin to

suicide, if it risked a military strike on OPEC's No. 2 oil exporter.

Washington has announced no such plans, but has said a military option is always on the table if Iran cannot be otherwise prevented from developing atomic weapons.

"The Americans know what kind of country Iran is. They are well aware of our people's unity," Iranian ambassador Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi told a news conference in Moscow.

"And that's why Iran is fully able to deliver retaliatory strikes on the

15 tons of pure meth seized in Mexico MEXICO CITY - Mexican troops have made an historic seizure of 15 tons of pure methamphetamine in the western state of Jalisco, the Mexican army said.

Soldiers discovered the huge cache in the town of Tlajomulco de Zuniga, a suburb of Mexico's second-largest city, Guadalajara.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said total meth seizures worldwide were 31 metric tons in 2009, the most recent figures available.

The find outside Guadalajra is more than four times the size of a major seizure last summer of 3.4 tons (3.1 metric tons) and more than twice the total amount of meth seized in Mexico in 2009, according to the U.N. report.

Mexico is the primary source of the meth sold in the United States, according to U.S. drug intelligence reports.

Methamphetamine production has been rising in Mexico, and much of the increase is attributed to the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, headed by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who the U.S. Treasury Department calls the most powerful drug trafficker in the world.

Jalisco state has long been considered the hub of Sinaloa's methamphetamine trafficking, thought army statement didn't indicate which Mexican cartel may have been involved.

The Sinaloa cartel also is suspected of smuggling in mammoth amounts of precursor chemicals that are used produce meth in industrial-size operations. It also appears to be extending its massive production of methamphetamine into neighboring Guatemala, where remote, isolated mountains and an alliance with a key Guatemalan trafficker are making the Central American nation a new international meth production base.

Mexican authorities seized 675 tons of a key precursor chemical in December alone, and all of it was heading for Guatemala.

United States anywhere in the world," he said, speaking through an interpreter.

"Even if it attacks, we have a list of counter actions. (The United States) would be disappointed with their huge mistake."

Iran has increasingly issued threatening statements against the West in recent weeks as tension has increased over its uranium enrichment program, which it moved last month to a mountain bunker better protected from possible air strikes.

Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful while Western powers fear Tehran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.

"The issue of a military attack from America on the Islamic Republic of Iran has been on the agenda for several years," said Sajjadi, adding that Iran would never strike first.

Iran has warned its response to any such strike would be "painful," threatening to target Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf, along with closing the Strait of Hormuz used by one third of the world's seaborne oil traffic.

Russia, the world's biggest energy producer, opposes further U.N. Security Council sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program and has sharply criticized U.S. and European Union sanctions.

Mom who forced son to walk alongside car, charged with child abuse A Utah mother, who allegedly forced her son to walk alongside a moving car she was driving after he had missed his school bus, has been charged with child abuse and reckless driving, ABC News has learned.

Stacie Johnson, 37, reportedly was angry that her 9year-old son had missed the bus to school one too many times, and was again refusing to walk. But what Johnson may have thought was teaching her son a lesson, turned into criminal charges Monday, 11 days after she was arrested in the incident.

"He had missed the bus repeatedly ‌ he refused to go to school," Johnson wrote in an email to ABC News.

"The reason I did not walk with him is that I was already late for work."

Police responded to a call on Jan. 26 reporting that a boy was being pulled alongside a moving car by his belt, which was being held by the female driver, as it headed down a Woods Cross neighborhood street.

Woods Cross Police Chief Greg Butler told ABC

News that Johnson was driving at a slow enough speed that the boy could keep pace with the vehicle, but that he could have been hit by traffic driving in the opposite direction.

Police turned the case over to the Davis County District Attorney's office and Johnson was charged Monday with child abuse, a class A misdemeanor, and a class B misdemeanor of reckless driving.

While the story has been making its way around the internet, Johnson's identity was not known until after she was charged Monday.

Johnson told ABC News that contrary to other media reports, she did not "drag her son through the car window in the middle of the road," but rather that the door was "ajar" as she drove slowly to the side of the two-lane road.

She retains custody of her 9-year-old son and another son, age 12. Johnson said that her younger son has struggled emotionally ever since she and his father divorced about four years ago.

10 U.S. states to get No Child Left Behind waivers WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama freed 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, giving leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students.

The first 10 states to receive the waivers are Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

The only state that applied for the flexibility and did not get it, New Mexico, is working with the administration to get approval, a White House official told the AP. A total of 28 other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have signaled that they, too, plan to seek waivers - a sign of just how vast the law's burdens have become as a big deadline nears.

No Child Left Behind requires all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014. Obama's action strips away that fundamental requirement for those approved for flexibility, provided they offer a viable plan instead. Under the deal,

the states must show they will prepare children for college and careers, set new targets for improving achievement among all students, reward the best performing schools and focus help on the ones doing the worst.

In September, Obama called President George W. Bush's most hyped domestic accomplishment an admirable but flawed effort that hurt students instead of helping them. He said action was necessary because Congress failed to update the law despite widespread bipartisan agreement that it needs fixing.

The executive action by Obama is one of his most prominent in an ongoing campaign to act on his own where Congress is rebuffing him.

No Child Left Behind was primarily designed to help the nation's poor and minority children and was passed a decade ago with widespread bipartisan support. It has been up for renewal since 2007.

For all the cheers that states may have about the changes, the move also reflects the sobering

reality that the United States is not close to the law's original goal: getting children to grade level in reading and math.

Critics today say the 2014 deadline was unrealistic, the law is too rigid and led to teaching to the test, and too many schools feel they are labeled as "failures." Under No Child Left Behind, schools that don't meet requirements for two years or longer face increasingly tough consequences, including busing children to higherperforming schools, offering tutoring and replacing staff.

As the deadline approaches, more schools are failing to meet requirements under the law, with nearly half not doing so last year, according to the Center on Education Policy. Center officials said that's because some states today have harder tests or have high numbers of immigrant and lowincome children, but it's also because the law requires states to raise the bar each year for how many children must pass the test.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WORLD NEWS

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Argentina condemns British militarization of Falklands Islands BUENOS AIRES/LONDON Argentina's president accused Britain of "militarizing the South Atlantic" and said she would complain to the United Nations, as tension rises ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war.

Britain, which rejected the accusation, went to war with Argentina over the British-ruled Falkland Islands in 1982. London has refused to start talks on sovereignty with Argentina unless the roughly 3,000 islanders want them.

"They're militarizing the South Atlantic once again," President Cristina Fernandez said in a speech on Tuesday at the presidential palace, criticising the deployment of British destroyer HMS Dauntless in the area in the coming months.

"If there's one thing we're going to preserve, besides our natural resources, is a region where peace prevails," she said, adding that the Foreign Ministry would present a formal complaint to the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly.

She also criticized Prince William's posting as a military search-and-rescue pilot in the islands, called Las Malvinas in Spanish: "We would have liked to see him dressed as a civilian, not with a military uniform," she said.

A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday rejected Fernandez's comments.

"We are not militarizing the South Atlantic. Our defensive posture in the Falkland Islands remains unchanged," the spokeswoman said. The defence ministry has described the deployment of HMS Dauntless as "entirely routine".

"The people of the Falklands choose to be British. Their right to self determination is a principle that's

enshrined in the U.N. charter," she added.

A war of words between the two governments has escalated in recent months.

Fernandez, a fiery former senator who started her political career in the Patagonian region closest to the islands, has described Britain as a "crass colonial power in decline."

Cameron hit back by accusing Argentina of colonialism.

Oil exploration by British companies off the islands has raised

the stakes over the sovereignty dispute.

Three decades on, memories of the war remain painful in Argentina, where most people see the decision by Argentina to invade the islands on April 2, 1982 as a mistake by the discredited military dictatorship ruling at the time.

Fernandez also signed a decree on Tuesday to declassify a military report that was commissioned in the aftermath of the 10-week conflict in which about 650 Argentine and 255 British troops were killed.

Prince Harry qualifies as Apache helicopter pilot

Prince Harry

LONDON - Prince Harry has qualified as an Apache attack helicopter pilot, graduating as the best co-pilot gunner in his class after 18 months of training, Britain's defense ministry said Thursday.

The ministry said the prize recognizes the student whose performance is the best among their peer group.

Harry, known in the military as Capt.

Wales, was awarded his prize Wednesday.

He's third in line to the British throne.

The 27-year-old prince, who trained in California, southern Arizona and in Britain, will now fly Apaches on exercises in the U.K. In December, a British newspaper said Harry had acknowledged he will be deployed to Afghanistan for a second time. He briefly served there in 2007. The defense ministry has declined to confirm details of the prince's future deployments

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• Monitor all requisitions made to the warehouse by different departments. promotions • Understanding of how P&L is prepared and the line items impacted by • Organize Cost Controlling Systems under supervision of Financial Controller.

• Track all records of all expenses in different departments, and make department and how to impact results • Exceptional knowledge of different types of cuisine and wine including how recommendations to Financial Controller.

• Assist in and coordinate monthly inventories. menus are developed, pricing guidelines and how to improve results • Supervise all supporting documents for in-going / out-going merchandise from the warehouse.

Duties Include: • Guiding the teams in reaching its targets for all areas of the F & B team • Verify if Standard Operating Procedures implemented by the Resort are being followed up by the different departments. measures in Medallia comments results and revenues • Constantly keep track of price variance for all major/recurrent purchases.

• Has the total overview of all F & B areas • Research inventory and cost of goods variances and prepare monthly internal • Assisting F & B manager in regards to follow up on established procedures cost of product analysis report, using sales and inventory reports from various • Ensuring all sanitation standards and procedures are followed at all times • Communicating effectively to ensure teams provide The Regent Experience to systems.

• Assist Financial Controller in verifying implementation of overall internal control all guests at all times • Monitoring guests flow in F & B areas to ensure that food, beverage and service procedures.

• Must be willing and able to work all days and shifts are adjusted and at proper levels at all times • Training and supervising the team to up sell and generate revenue • Ensuring restaurant and bar teams are well trained in the company procedures Interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms Monday through Fridays and bring along an updated resume or by emailing to to ensure cost effective operation and The Regent Experience service • Providing ideas and implementing programs to maximize food and beverage Marjorie.dorsett@regenthotels.com no later than Friday, February 17, 2012. revenue • Must be willing and able to work all days and shifts

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 39

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

• Kodac moments may come to an end Steve Jobs’ FBI file included bomb threat, drug use

Feds, states, banks agree to $26 billion mortgage settlement Five major mortgage servicers agreed to a $26 billion settlement with state and federal officials in a deal that is being called historic, but which critics are likely to say doesn't go far enough.

The deal could grow to $30 billion if nine more servicers sign on, and it's expected to cover almost all 50 states, a White House official said.

The settlement would be the biggest involving a single industry since a 1998 multistate tobacco deal.

A monitor will be appointed to see that it is carried out.

The five servicers involved so far —Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Ally Financial and Wells Fargo— will provide $17 billion in mortgage relief to more than 1 million homeowners. Another $1 billion will go to the federal government; $3 billion will help the servicers refinance borrowers into lower-interest rate

loans.

Hundreds of thousands of borrowers are also expected to receive restitution, averaging $1500 to $2000, if they lost homes to foreclosure from 2008 to the end of 2011.

The relief must be extended within three years or servicers would have to pay any remaining part of the settlement in cash. To encourage servicers to do more work sooner rather than later, given the ongoing foreclosure crisis, they'll get more credit for modifying and refinancing loans in the first year of the deal.

The settlement, which has been a year in the making, will create the largest effort by servicers so far to write down the amount homeowners owe on underwater mortgages, where the homeowners owe more than the house is now worth. Falling property values have put many homeowners

under water.

The reductions in loan principal are expected to account for at least 60% of the $17 billion pot. By writing down principal, officials hope fewer people will eventually default on their loans.

Most of the writedowns are expected to occur on the 56% of loans that the five servicers own themselves, and will not include any loans owned by mortgage giants Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or the Federal Housing Administration.

The impact of the principal reduction is expected to go farther than the actual dollars. Servicers will get "credits" for writing down loans at varying stages of being under water.

They'll get more credit for some writedowns than for others, officials said.

All told, the $26 billion deal could

provide up to $40 billion in mortgage relief, one official estimated.

If so, California officials said in a statement that state would get $18 billion of that, including $12 billion in principal reductions and other relief for an estimated 250,000 homeowners.

In most cases, to be eligible for principal write downs, borrowers would need to be delinquent on their mortgages. While the principal writedowns, when averaged, might run just $20,000 or so on a national basis, writedowns could be much larger in some cases, officials say.

The servicers will be expected to devise a plan on how to reach out to borrowers to carry out the mortgage relief.

The settlement is expected to include most states; New York and California were prominent last-minute holdouts.

Sony sees $2.9 billion loss, Oracle to buy Taleo new CEO warns of pain for $1.9 billion Ailing Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp warned it was heading for a bigger-thanexpected $2.9 billion annual loss, presenting a daunting task for incoming CEO Kazuo Hirai, who vowed to move quickly to turn things around.

Overtaken by more innovative rivals such as Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics over the past decade, Sony posted a $2.1 billion net loss for October-December, normally a strong quarter boosted by yearend holiday sales, as it battled a strong yen, flooding in Thailand that ruptured supply chains, and a weak economy.

It also took a one-off charge for exiting a flat panel joint venture with Samsung, and said sales dropped 17 percent to 1.82 trillion yen.

The forecast for a 220 billion yen ($2.9 billion) net loss for the year to March, Sony's fourth straight year of red ink, was close to double what the market had expected, and revealed the task ahead for Hirai, who replaces Howard Stringer as CEO in April.

Hirai, a 51-year old Sony veteran known for reviving the PlayStation gaming operations through aggressive cost-cutting, said he would not hesitate to scale back or withdraw from businesses if they were not competitive.

"I have a very strong sense of crisis about the environment surrounding us,"

Hirai told a news conference. "We cannot be afraid to make painful choices for the future of Sony. Our rivals and the operating environment won't wait for us."

There is unlikely to be a honeymoon period for Hirai, who is under immediate pressure to sort out the ailing TV business after it fell behind South Korean rivals such as Samsung in a market where prices are tumbling.

Above all, Hirai will strive to recapture the innovative flair that led Sony to come up with the Walkman personal music-player in the 1980s and the PlayStation in the 1990s, and regain ground lost since then to Apple and Samsung whose iPhones, iPads and Galaxy gadgets are snapped up by consumers.

Some analysts believe Hirai -- 51, tall, urbane and a fluent English speaker -- can rekindle the flame, saying he has a good grasp of the overall business and is likely to know how to break down its silos and integrate its divisions.

Others are less optimistic about his chances.

"It won't be easy for Sony to regain its lost ground under new leadership, as its overall competitiveness has sharply weakened," said Kim Young-Chan, analyst at Shinhan Investment Corp in Seoul.

Oracle Corp said it will buy web-based recruitment software maker Taleo Corp for about $1.9 billion to expand its line of cloud computing products, one of fastest growing areas of the technology market.

The move will allow Oracle to better compete with rivals including SAP AG, which said in December it would buy cloud human-resources software maker SuccessFactors Inc for $3.4 billion to jump start its expansion into cloud computing.

The Taleo deal value of $46 a share offers an 18 percent premium to Taleo's Wednesday close of $38.94.

Taleo shares surged 17 percent on Thursday and other makers of cloud-based software rose on hopes they might be the next to be sold in what could be a cloud-computing acquisition spree by big technology players.

Last year, Oracle and SAP started buying up companies to expand in cloud computing - the business of providing software, storage, computing power and other services to customers via remote data centers over the web.

They are trying to catch up with industry leader Salesforce.com Inc, which Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison helped launch over a decade ago, though he was eventually ousted from the company's board.

Morgan Keegan analyst Michael Nemeroff said that Oracle's purchase of Taleo fills a hole in its recently launched portfolio of cloud-based business management software, which is known as Fusion Apps.

"They did not have a recruitment package. They always needed to develop or buy it and now they have done it," he said.

Last month, Oracle filled another hole with its $1.5 billion purchase of RightNow Technologies: web-based software for handling customer service.

Page 40

BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Bank of England injects another £50bn into UK economy The Bank of England has agreed to extend its quantitative easing (QE) programme by £50bn to give a further boost to the UK economy.

When completed, it will bring the total amount of QE stimulus to £325bn.

The Bank started its QE programme, through which it buys mainly government-issued bonds from banks freeing up cash for lending, in 2009.

The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) also said it would keep interest rates at their record low of 0.5%.

UK interest rates have been held at that level since March 2009.

The BBC's economics editor, Stephanie Flanders, said the £275bn of QE undertaken so far was an amount equivalent to nearly 20% of the country's gross domestic product.

Inititally, experts were predicting

an extra of £75bn of QE, but this figure was reduced to £50bn when economic surveys released last week indicated that the manufacturing and service sectors had performed better than expected in January.

However, concerns remain over weak consumer spending and the eurozone crisis.

The Bank said in a statement: "The underlying pace of recovery slowed during 2011, with activity falling slightly during the final quarter. "Some recent business surveys have painted a more positive picture and asset prices have risen.

But the pace of expansion in the United Kingdom's main export markets has also slowed and concerns remain about the indebtedness and competitiveness of some euro-area countries."

It added that without another stimulus from QE, inflation was

Global food prices up in January Global food prices rose in January for the first time in six months and may show another rise for February, as concern about bad weather in main growing regions boosted grain and vegetable oil values, the United Nations' food agency said on Thursday.

January's increase was not expected to heap as much inflationary pressure on economies as a year ago, when prices were climbing towards record highs, the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said ahead of the European Central Bank's decision on interest rates.

Global food prices, which have been falling since July 2011, rose nearly 2 percent in January from the previous month, with the FAO food price index averaging 214 points.

"It is a pause in a downward trend rather than reversal, with a lot of unpredictability," the FAO's senior economist Abdolreza Abbassian told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"There is scope for an increase in prices in February given what we've seen in the first week," Abbassian said, adding that high energy prices, exchange rate and strong equity markets could push food prices higher this month.

Weather in main producing countries remained a key factor for prices adding greater uncertainty, Abbassian said.

U.S. corn and soybean prices have gained recently on expectations of smaller crops in the drought-hit South America.

"Inflationary pressure from food prices is not as significant as a year ago," Abbassian said.

World food prices measured by the FAO hit a record in February 2011, helping fuel inflation and stoke the unrest of the Arab Spring. Prices have dropped in the second half of 2011.

FAO's food price index, which measures monthly price changes for a food basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar, remained 7 percent below the January 2011 figure and well below the 238 point record hit in February 2011.

likely to fall from its current 4.2% to below its 2% target, as rising unemployment and falling import and energy prices fell away, and as the VAT increase from 17.5% to 20% last January also dropped from the annual comparison.

Official economic data also released on Thursday showed import prices fell by 1.3% between November and December.

Other figures showed that industrial production, which accounts for about 15% of the economy, grew by 0.5% on the month, against forecasts for a 0.2% rise.

"Despite overall signs that activity picked up in January after GDP contracted 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2011, the economy is far from out of the economic woods and it continues to face major obstacles to developing sustainable, decent growth," said Howard Archer, chief

UK economist at IHS Global Insight.

The new QE was greeted with dismay by the pensions industry.

Joanne Segars, the chief executive of the National Association of Pension Funds, said while she could understand the need to boost the economy, QE was damaging the value of pensions: "Retirees who get locked into a weak annuity will find that the Bank's money printing leaves them out of pocket for the rest of their lives.

"For the companies that run final salary pensions, QE is a headache which pushes their pension funds further into the red. This means businesses have to put more money into their pension schemes, instead of spending it on jobs and investment.

Our fear is that firms struggling with a weak economy will simply choose to close their pension schemes."

She called for help for pension funds from the Pensions Regulator.

Kodak moments are coming to an end The company that invented home photography has tossed in the towel on it.

Eastman Kodak, the bankrupt inventor of the hand-held camera, plans to stop making digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames in the first half of 2012 in a bid to cut costs.

The move marks the end of an era for Kodak, which is seen as one of the biggest corporate casualties of the digital age, after it failed to quickly embrace modern technologies such as digital photography, a product that it also invented.

Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection last month. It said Thursday that its plan to stop making cameras and frames would mean “significant” job losses at the business, which employs 400 people, mostly in Rochester, N.Y. Kodak will take a charge of about $30 million to leave the business. It expects the exit to generate more than $100 million in annual operating savings. The charge does not include additional costs that Kodak expects to incur for items such ending manufacturing contracts with overseas companies that make its products.

Steve Jobs’ FBI file included bomb threat, drug use in background check achieve his goals."

Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder "[Name redacted] also who transformed personal advised that he was aware that computing, communications and Mr. Jobs used illegal drugs, other fields with such products as including marijuana and LSD the iPhone and iPad, also had a 191while they were attending page FBI file that detailed a federal college." (p. 41) background check, a bomb threat on his home, and second-hand The file also notes (p. 40) reports of drug use. that "based on the background Released today under a information furnished by Mr. Freedom of Information Act Jobs, he has no close relatives (FOIA) request, the FBI file shows residing in communistthat Jobs' background was checked controlled countries." Former in 1991 for an appointment to the associates at Apple said they Steve Jobs White House Export Council under "recommended him for a President George H.W. Bush; and that he and other position of trust with the Government."

Apple employees were targets of a bomb threat in The file was posted on the FBI website. Most of 1985. it was compiled at the request of the White House in The file reveals no felony convictions and dryly lists lawsuits in which Jobs was involved, but also 1991, when Jobs was president of NeXT computers cites unnamed associates who mentioned Jobs' drug and owner of the then-struggling Pixar software company, which would later make such films as "Toy use and questioned his "honesty."

In the 1991 FBI background investigation, an Story." Jobs, ousted from Apple in a 1985 power agent wrote, "Several Individuals commented struggle, returned in 1996 and became its CEO in concerning past drug use on the part of Mr. Jobs." It 1997.

The 1985 bomb threat concerns someone who adds, "Mr. Jobs also commented concerning his past was demanding $1 million and claimed to have drug use." (p.37) On the same page: "Several individuals placed explosives in Jobs' home along with those of questioned Mr. Jobs' honesty, stating that Mr. Jobs three other Apple employees. The threat was traced will twist the truth and distort reality in order to to a hotel near the San Francisco Airport Hilton.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS • TCIFA attends FIFA women’s Conference in Canada

Page 41

• Cheshire Hall lead WIV Provo Premier League

AFC Hurricanes, Net Rockers in WFL Championship final The WFL championship will be decided next weekend as Net Rockers FC know that a draw against AFC Hurricanes will be good enough to hand them this year's title and whereas most people will be focusing on this game, those of a more discerning eye may decide to turn their attention towards watching the progress of what is possibly the youngest women's team in the world, AFC Strikers.

This team consists of players from the TCIFA U14 Girls Center of Excellence, whose average age is less than thirteen years old. They have competed in the WFL league this season with great courage and determination and although they have yet to win a game they have impressed everyone with their attitude and level of play. Technical Director Matthew Green was full of praise for the girls.

"Many people raised their eyebrows when we decided to let them enter the league. Clearly they are much younger and physically smaller than the other teams, but what they lack in size they make up for in effort, bravery and passion."

In their opening two games of the season they were defeated 8-0 (Net Rockers) and 7-0 (AFC Hurricanes) but since then the most they have conceded is three goals in a game. Last week they kept Net Rockers at bay for most of the game losing by just a solitary goal.

Green added, "out of all the teams in the league this year they have

AFC strikers

improved the most, their results have got better and better, week after week".

"In all the years I have been involved in football I have not seen a team develop so quickly. Our aim was to prepare them for national team play in a few years time, but we did not anticipate that they would respond to the challenge so quickly.

They have made considerable progress in a short time which clearly shows what our association is all about - development".

The success of this team is another feather in the cap for the TCIFA who pride themselves on their

TCIFA starts Football Aerobics The TCIFA is starting to run "football sessions" for parents of our youth programmes on Wednesday mornings. These sessions will be fun based, aimed at improving general levels of fitness as well as allowing beginners the opportunity to experience football in a non-competitive environment (more advanced players will receive training to suit their abilities).

The sessions start next week Wednesday (15th February) and will run for eight weeks. Sessions begin at 6.00am (prompt) and finish at 7.00am. You do not have to wear football boots / cleats but it may advisable to do so.

Cost is $10 per session or $70 for the full eight weeks. The sessions are open to people outside of the footballing community so please feel free to pass on the information to friends and family.

commitment to both youth and women's football. "We want to ensure that all our players are given the opportunity to develop by creating a environment for them that facilitates learning both on and off the field. As well as coaching our players to become more skilful and tactically aware we want them to excel off the field by understanding the values of respect, team work and dedication.

These qualities will equip them to deal with problems and situations on the pitch, at home and at school".

The TCIFA has big plans for all its teams and academies but a lot of the young players in this squad will get a taste of international competition this year when they participate in a Girls Festival in July (against Jamaica and either Guyana or Trinidad and Tobago) and a Beach Soccer Festival in December (against Bahamas and an as yet to be named foreign team).

Green commented "it is important that we give these girls a chance to test themselves against the best players in the Caribbean. Only then will they realize how much more work they need to put in to reach the highest level. The journey will be a long one, but hopefully if these girls and all our players are given the support they need from their families and schools we could produce very competitive national teams".

Green is more than aware of the challenges the association faces in preparing players for national competition but he hopes the attitudes of many people will change. "Sadly a

lot of people do not realize the importance of how sport can help develop young people and what an honour it is to represent your country.

Hopefully this attitude is beginning to change and if people can see what is happening with our young players they may be more supportive.

For all the fans that have come to watch the Women's League I am sure they have all been impressed with the attitude and ability of our young girls.

They are an inspiration to all and they have proved that if you work hard, stay focused and disciplined your dreams can come true".

When pressed to state which players have impressed the most Green gave a very diplomatic answer by saying all the players at the moment have improved tremendously, however in view of her past two performances, eleven year old Enid Capron student Guerline Hall is perhaps the player who deserves special mention.

"She has been a revelation in goal and pulled off a great penalty save against Net Rockers FC in the last game. She is perhaps the toughest and hard working player we have and will always give 100% for her team mates.

She will go far in this sport, as will many of the girls".

The TCIFA will be running a full 11-a-side U20 Girls Development League Sponsored by IFL Supplies and 7-a-side youth leagues sponsored

by Sailrock in March. Anybody interested in Girls or Women's football should contact the TCIFA at 231 1860 / 941 5532.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL SPORTS

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Cheshire Hall lead WIV Provo Premier League

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Cheshire Hall FC tops the WIV-sponsored Provo Premier League on goal difference, as while sharing on six points with SWA Sharks, possesses a superior goal difference.

This was after walloped HAB FC by a 7-2 goal margin in the feature of a double header on Saturday, February 5, at the TCIFA Academy field in Providenciales. A pair of double strikes by Samuel Narcius and Damion Palmer, along with a goal each

by Agelus Nickenson, Dameo Leslie and an own goal from HAB guaranteed the win for Cheshire Hall.

HAB’s goals were scored by Chris O’Neill and Jaron McCarthy.

In the curtain-raiser SWA Sharks registered a 3-1 over AFC Academy Woody Gibson, Woody Gibson, Xavier Gili and Stephens Derilien.

It was an even contest for most of the first half, as the goalkeepers kept both teams in the game courtesy of some fabulous saves.

The score could have been anything from 0-0 to 3-3 by half time and there were a few small niggles that could have resulted in action by the referee. It was

the Sharks who managed to seize the initiative when Gibson converted from a good shot from Derilien, although the Academy contended that there should have been a free kick during the build up to the goal.

The second half continued much like the first, until Gili found some space outside the box and skillfully beat two players before hitting a bullet of a shot into the top left hand corner which left goalkeeper Gregg motionless. It was possibly the best goal so far this season.

From then, the Academy lost some or their cohesion and discipline and the Sharks tried to capitalize with hard work in midfield. They eventually pulled one back when Coach Hurdle, with a lovely strike from an indirect free kick inside the penalty area, which flew high over the Sharks wall on the goal line.

This made for an exciting finish but the Sharks killed the game off in the end with a clinical third goal from Stephens Derilien.

In the second encounter HAB looked threatening in the early stages of the contest, as they surprised Cheshire Hall with good on and off the ball skills.

However, despite some great battling marshaled

by Craig James in defensive - midfield at first - it was Cheshire Hall who put the cat amongst the pigeons

with three goals within the first half hour.

Nickenson scored first after a mazy run with two more goals from good crosses finished by Samuel Narcius. HAB proved that they were still alive and kicking when O’Neill, their new signee, scored a good one-on-one goal beating the keeper to his right, to end the half 3-1 in favour of Cheshire Hall.

In the second half HAB started where they had left off and scored within 3 minutes of the restart, after good work from Dukens Dorisca finished by McCarthy.

This shook up Cheshire Hall, whose game started to wobble. Dukens worked hard all game, although got himself in the book after a rash challenge in the second half.

However, he knuckled down after that and the HAB threat was mostly from him down the left wing.

But a goal from Dameo Leslie and an own goal from HAB put Cheshire Hall two goals further ahead and effectively killed the game off.

A penalty following a push in the box and a good finish provided two goals for Palmer contributed to the 7-2 win. President’s Player of The Week was Xavier Gili.

TCIFA attends FIFA women’s Conference in Canada It has been a great start to the year for the TCIFA with over 300 players enrolled in their Providenciales academies and over 100 players registered in Grand Turk.

Programmes will soon start in North and Middle Caicos as the TCIFA aims to develop football throughout the country.

The association also has one of the strongest women’s programmes in the region and this was further enhanced last week as Technical Director Matthew Green and Girl’s Academy Coach Gillian Vernice attended a FIFA Conference on Women’s Football in Vancouver, Canada.

The event gave the TCIFA a chance to present its credentials to the world’s governing body as well as receive information that can be further used to develop the women’s game in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The conference focussed primarily on analyzing last years Women’s World Cup in Germany. The event was a milestone in the development of women’s football as it drew in millions of spectators around the world and showed just how attactive and competitive the women’s game can be.

Several countries presented case studies on their programmes and it was clear that the TCIFA is well ahead of many countries in the region with regards to women’s football. Green said “despite the size of our country and its small population our association is one of the most proactive and well organized bodies in the region.

We ensure our players have the opportunity to compete all year round in a variety of formats. We are the only country in the region that has a Beach

U20 Girls on their way to Dominica 2009

Soccer League and stages regular international tournaments for women.”

He added "FIFA are impressed with our efforts and I am sure they will continue to support us as we further develop the game” The conference gave an opportunity for the TCIFA to highlight its success in developing the women’s game. Gillian Vernice was designated as a group leader for a podium discussion on the development of Women’s Football in the region.

Vernice had the daunting task of presenting to the whole conference.

Several presentations were made by some of the top names in women’s football. Bruno Bini, head coach of the

French national team reminded those in attendance that although hard work is essential to success, one should never take the game too seriously and that fun is the key to keeping players motivated.

The Japanese delegation said the reason for their victory was due to team work and a shared vision amongst all their players and staff. They added that each country should build their programmes based on their specific circumstances and cultural trends and not try to emulate other countries whose situations do not reflect their own.

Even Pellerud whon the World Cup with Norway in 1995 reminded coaches that the most important qualities of a player is not their skill or physical

strength but their attitude, discipline and focus, qualities which the TCIFA is keen to promote.

Technical Director for the local football programme Green Greene said: “it was great to hear some of the top people in the game sharing the reasons behind their success and it is clear that we are on the right path. We have a strong foundation in place but we still need to do more to develop the game".

Green has his concerns as to how the TCIFA can close the gap on its rivals.

“One of our problems is that our best players still do not get enough time on the field to learn the game and improve their skills. The best teams in the region have their players training intensively five days a week plus games. They have at least 14 to 15 contact hours, at best our players manage six to seven hours. Until that changes, we will never catch up at international level. Hopefully we can get our players and their parents to see the value of being involved in our programmes and make a full commitment”.

The participants also had the pleasure of attending three of the Olympic Qualifying games which convinced Green that the TCIFA has players of the finest calibre.

At the moment the TCIFA conducts regional academies for girls in Providenciales and Grand Turk. The next step is to set up programmes in North and Middle Caicos and South Caicos within the next few months.

In addition the TCIFA will be running a schools tournament in Provo for both boys and girls at four age groups, U11, U13, U16 and U20.

However, the association has even more planned for their female players. Next month will see the start of a Women's 7a-side league and as well as a 11-a-side Youth Development League for girls.

A Beach soccer league will start in April and the Sailrock Youth leagues will also begin soon. Green was pleased that the association is able to offer many opportunities for female players.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 43

FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

Immediate opening SPECIAL PROJECTS CONSULTANT Organizes the team working on the special project within an organization. This includes delegating tasks to other employees and conducting regular meetings with team members to monitor the status of the project. The special projects consultant also provides consulting expertise to management on the progress of the project and advises on implications regarding complications, setbacks, defects or any other changes that impact the success of the project.

Responsibilities • Oversees various projects renovations within the organization.

• Schedules meetings with key tem members to ensure that the project stays on track • Coordinates between developers, designers and management to ensure that projects are coordinated according to agreement • Delegating tasks to other employees and conducting regular meetings with team members to monitor the status of the project.

• Reports to upper management on the progress of the project. The coordinator also schedules the meetings with other team members to ensure that the project stays on track.

• Collecting the necessary data and reporting on each step in the project.

• Shall analyze research data to find the root cause of a problem or defect. The coordinator and team use the analysis to direct the course of the project to get the desired results.

• Researches data to find the root cause of a problem or defect. The

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS

ASSISTANT FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

• Solid training and in all areas of Accounting from A/P, A/R, General Ledger, Credit, Collections, Audit, Inventory control, Payroll, Budgeting, Costing, P&L preparation and analysis, etc.

• Post secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience • BA/BS Degree or equivalent.

• Strong budgetary, projections, and cost control skills with ability to audit complex transactions for adherence to accepted industry accounting principles and policies and direct corrective action on exceptions.

• Proven experience at resorts of similar size and quality.

• Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts.

Duties Include: • Work closely with Front Office, Reservations, Sales, and Catering Department to assist with identifying optimum ways to drive revenues while balancing market segments.

• Supervise and participate in regular periodic reports and inventories.

• Performing required audits, review submitted reports and follow up as needed • Oversee training and cross training of accounting staff.

REVENUE & RESERVATIONS MANAGER

Requirements: • Solid understanding of the reservation process including the role of WRS, distribution channels and reservations flow.

• Post secondary degree or equivalent qualification by experience.

• Ability to prepare revenue forecasts for department based on

coordinator and team use the analysis to direct the course of the project to get the desired results.

• Uses information systems within the organization to prepare reports and document the progress of the project. Documentation may also include budgets and projected budgets for the project including the cost of outside contractors and services • Business analysis and requirements gathering around custom solutions.

• Builds cross-departmental relationships in an effort to manage project/support objectives, design features, time-lines, implementation strategy and assignment of resources.

• Prepare Proposals / documenting requirements, solution proposed and associated scope.

• Provides highest level business process and project management expertise and consultation to business clients in order to meet department and cross-departmental goals • Defines project parameters to other units participating in the project. May develop and review project funding and expense budget • Analyzes market and operational impact of changes in the business Requirements • Must have the ability to supervise others and organize the various tasks involved in completing a project • Must have at least 3 years experience in consulting, budgeting and management of special projects • Must have at least 2 years demonstrated experience in working with major developers and exterior and interior designers on special projects.

• Must have a Bachelors Degree in relevant area • Must have the skills to supervise other employees to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. Must also monitor the work of outside contractors and vendors in relation to the project Interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms, Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday and bring along an updated resume, or by emailing your resume to Marjorie.dorsett@regentexperience.com no later than February 24, 2011.

business booked to date, current and historical booking pace and impact of special promotions.

• Ability to act as project leader for hotel utilization of the HARMONY Product Suite • Ability to develop of business strategies for reservations which are aligned with the overall objectives of the hotel.

• Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts.

Duties Include: • Maximize room revenue by utilizing yield management techniques and managing the operation of the Reservations Department • Prepares accurate twelve day, three and six month forecasts, monitors revenue and Yield management and takes corrective steps to improve results.

• Develop and implement strategies and practices which support employee engagements.

• Work with Systems to manage and monitor inventories, rates and reservations

BELLMAN

Duties: • Ensuring luggage handling upon arrival and departure according to Regent’s standards.

• Instructing taxi drivers about designated waiting area and pick-up and drop-off procedures.

• Maintaining luggage carts, cleaning and polishing as instructed.

• Using guests knowledge and information to ensure a high level of guest recognition and personalized service.

• Delivers phone messages, mail or packages, faxes, flowers, etc. to guest rooms.

• Maintaining the upkeep and appearance of the resort lobby and entrance.

• Providing valet parking services when requested.

• Must be able and willing to work all days and shifts.

Interested applicants should apply to Regent Palms human resources department in person, Monday through Friday and bring along an updated resume or by emailing marjorie.dorsett@regenthotels.com no later than Friday, February 10, 2012.

Page 44

Eli Manning led another fourthquarter touchdown drive and won his second Super Bowl MVP on Sunday night, leading the Giants to a 21-17 victory...

- READ MORE BELOW

Giants beat Patriots 2117, win Super Bowl INDIANAPOLIS - Tom Brady let his final pass fly toward the scrum of players in the end zone, hoping for an incredible finish.

Uh-uh, Tom. Not in this city, and not in this game.

Indianapolis is a Manning town, whether it's Peyton or Eli pulling out the wins. And the Super Bowl is suddenly the province of the New York Giants, who have figured out how to topple Brady and the New England Patriots in the biggest moments.

Eli Manning led another fourthquarter touchdown drive and won his second Super Bowl MVP on Sunday night, leading the Giants to a 21-17 victory that provided a pulsating finish to an NFL season that started with turmoil and a lockout.

"It's been a wild game," said Manning, who now has one more Super Bowl title than his older brother.

"It's been a wild season," A wild finish was certainly fitting.

The Giants (13-7) almost didn't make the playoffs, needing a lot of help at 7-7 with two games left. Their defense finally came together, and Manning gave them a chance in every game with his penchant for comebacks

Kershaw and Dodgers agree to $19M, 2year deal LOS ANGELES — NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided a salary arbitration hearing next week, agreeing to a $19 million, two-year contract.

Tuesday's deal for the 23-year-old left-hander calls for a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $7.5 million this year and $11 million in 2013. It covers all but his final year of arbitration eligibility.

The agreement mirrors that of San Francisco's Tim Lincecum, who in his first time eligible for arbitration two years ago agreed to a $23 million, twoyear deal.

Kershaw was 21-5 with a 2.28 ERA and 248 strikeouts last year, winning the NL pitching triple crown. After making $500,000, he had asked for $10 million in arbitration and had been offered $6.5 million.

— a league-record 15 touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Of course, his greatest career comeback was in that Super Bowl four years ago, when the Patriots were undefeated and Manning led a late scoring drive that included an enduring Super Bowl moment — the incredible catch David Tyree made by trapping the ball against his helmet.

The Patriots (15-4) had a chance to avoid more such history on Sunday.

Brady, trying to match boyhood hero Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw with four Super Bowl titles, had New England in range to put it away late in the fourth quarter.

Wes Welker dropped a pass at the 20-yard line with 4 minutes left, forcing a punt that gave the Giants another chance trailing 17-15.

"It comes to the biggest moment of my life, and (I) don't come up with it," said a red-eyed Welker. "It's one of those plays I've made a thousand times."

Manning's turn for more Super Bowl magic.

He threw a spot-on 38-yard pass down the sideline to Mario Manningham, fitting the ball perfectly

between two defensive backs barreling down on the receiver. Manningham got both feet down before getting smacked out of bounds in front of the Patriots' bench, a catch that was upheld on replay and reminded the 68,658 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium — one in particular — about that other catch four years earlier.

"In those situations, you are always looking to see who is going to be the guy," Tyree said, in the Giants locker room.

Once Manningham came down with it, the Giants sensed things had turned their way, just like four years earlier.

"I think they are both spectacular catches," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "I think with Mario's earlier tonight, the way he kept his feet inbounds and held onto the ball (while) going out of bounds was a remarkable thing."

The Patriots were thinking the same thing, too.

"I thought that play they made on our sideline was a phenomenal throw and catch," Brady said. "That got them going."

They got down to the 6-yard line

with just over a minute left and the Patriots down to one timeout. New York could have run the clock down to a few seconds and kicked a field goal.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick did the math and decided on a trade-off: Give up a touchdown for some time.

New England pulled up and allowed Ahmad Bradshaw to run the final 6 yards with 57 seconds left.

Once Bradshaw realized what was happening, he tried to stop at the 1-yard line to keep the clock going but ended up falling backward into the end zone.

Brady would get one last chance with the Giants defense bearing down on him, as it always does. Defensive end Justin Tuck huddled the New York defense after a touchback on the kickoff left the ball at the 20-yard line.

"I think a lot of guys had their eyes lit up," Tuck said. "This is what we've been working for all year, and we've got 57 seconds left to be world champs."

Brady set a Super Bowl record by completing 16 consecutive passes earlier in the game, topping Montana's record. When he needed several quick completions to get moving in the last minute, he couldn't do it.

The Patriots got only as far as midfield with 5 seconds left. Brady threw a desperation pass into the end zone, where the ball was batted around in a scrum before falling incomplete just beyond the reach of All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, bringing the spray of confetti from above.

Steve Waugh wished he could have played Twenty20 LONDON - Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, known for his risk-free batting style that brought him nearly 11,000 test runs, wishes he could have flung the bat in the Twenty20 format. Waugh still sits seventh on the all-time test run scorers list having called it a day in 2004, aged 38, narrowly missing out on the Twenty20 revolution.

The game's newest form was first played in England in 2003 and made its way over to Australia by early 2005 and despite his passion for grinding out long innings, Waugh says he would have loved to have chanced his arm in the fast-paced short format.

"I would have loved to have played Twenty20 cricket.

That's one we missed out on," Waugh told Reuters on Monday at a Laureus event inside Championship (second division) soccer club Millwall's stadium in south London.

"It would have been great to work out how to play the ramp shot, reverse sweep. All that stuff's exciting to watch.

It's something we can do as players so it would have been great to have learnt it."

The 46-year-old, famous for his steely approach to the game and the lucky red rag he used to mop his brow during long stays at the crease, was also a skilled medium pacer in his day and reckons his bowling could have adapted to Twenty20.

"I would have enjoyed the bowling, having to work out what you've gotta do, what variations to use," said the former world number one test batsman.

Waugh's open mindedness on a format that has its critics and has contributed to a decline in test cricket's appeal

says everything about the changing nature of the sport.

"The game's changed. Look at Dave Warner the other day in a one-dayer. He hit a reverse sweep right-handed for six. Amazing!" said Waugh of his explosive compatriot, who smashed the quickest test century by an opener (69 balls) against India last month and averages 52.37 after just six matches.

"He's what people want and it's great to see him in there.

He brings people through the gates and that's what you want.

He plays a bit differently but he's got a good technique.

"He's not going out and playing shots he hasn't practised, he knows what he's doing."

Warner's cavalier batting style provides Australia's selectors with an interesting dilemma.

The stocky 25-year-old's century against India was spectacular but he has also been known to carelessly give his wicket away.

Waugh does not care, as long as Australia are winning.

"It's great to see them doing well again. They've got some good young players coming through," said the captain who led Australia in 15 of their world record 16 consecutive test victories after taking over from Mark Taylor in 1999.

"The great thing about world cricket nowadays is a lot of teams are capable of beating each other."

Top-ranked England's 3-0 series drubbing at the hands of Pakistan on Monday was a stark reminder, and with Australia on the up the 2013 Ashes in England looks like an even fight after the Aussies suffered defeat in the last two editions.

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FEBRUARY 10TH - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2012

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Published by SUN Media Group, Turks and Caicos Islands I Tel: 649-946-8542 Fax: 649-941-3281