The SUN

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Locals protest Immigration Chief’s dismissal

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

Continued from Page 1

Investigations by The SUN revealed that Malcolm, a former police officer who joined the Immigration Department in the early 1990s, was sent on leave after he allegedly failed to carry out a directive from Acting Governor Mr. Mark Capes. There were also reports about pending investigation into “other allegations”, but this newspaper was unable to ascertain precisely what was the nature of those allegations.

Impeccable sources told The SUN that in recent weeks, Malcolm, Capes and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Border Control, Mrs. Clara Gardiner, have been at odds over Government’s decision to suspend the issuing of travel letters.

Apparently, there were several exchanges of e-mails, some of which were very strong, among Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. Capes and Mr. Malcolm on the matter, with Malcolm allegedly asserting that it was totally within his province as Director of Immigration to issue a directive as it relates to travel letters.

This, according to our sources, was rejected by the authorities and led to some serious tension in the Immigration Department, and, ultimately, Malcolm’s suspension.

Sources in Grand Turk told the SUN that Malcolm was seen going to a lawyer’s office in that island capital on Monday morning.

A few days ago, the Ministry of Border Control and Labour said in a press release that travel letters have been suspended because of “serious concerns about fraud, forgery and abuse, which threatened the good order and security of the islands”. The statement did not at all link Malcolm to these charges.

A probe by The SUN disclosed that six Chinese citizens recently were detained by Immigration authorities, after they were found to have entered the Turks and Caicos Islands on what are reasonably suspected to be forged and fraudulent documents.

Those Chinese are still in custody pending investigations, our sources said. Again, there has been no link between Malcolm and these illegal Chinese.

In addition to those illegal Chinese workers, Immigration and senior Government officials have been deeply concerned about the abuse by some bar and restaurant owners who have been importing women from the Dominican Republic on travel letters instead of work permits and visas.

Meanwhile, news of Malcolm’s suspension sparked a heated demonstration among a group of activists and protestors outside the Immigration Department in Sam’s Building (owned by former People’s Democratic Movement deputy leader Sam Harvey), Downtown Providenciales, early Monday morning.

Dubbing the suspension as victimization, demonstrators vowed to keep up the pressure on the authorities so as to have the long-serving civil servant reinstated.

The protestors temporarily prevented tenants SAM’s Building from entering their offices by using boundary tape to cordon off steps, walkways and

Protestors picket the outside of the Immigration Department located at the SAMs Plaza downtown Providenciales on Monday, November 8.

door entrances in protest of Malcolm’s sending home.

According to the protestors, the decision to suspend Malcolm, who was only recently promoted to the position of Director of Immigration, having served in the capacity of deputy for some time, was a plot to rid locals of top decision-making positions.

“There is a movement going on against us, Turks and Caicos Islanders.

They are putting everything in place, so they would be the owners and (be) superior us in our own country. Alonzo did not buy his way or push his way; Alonzo wasn’t politically appointed; he earned his way in (the) Immigration (Department); he worked hard,” said one protestor, Llewellyn ‘Blow’ Basden.

“As a matter fact, I thought the previous administration should have

given him director. They took too long.

I knew something was behind them giving Alonzo Director (of Immigration). It was a trick, a dirty trick. We rejoiced when we heard that Alonzo got Director of Immigration, but they were setting him up for the kill,” Added Basden: “What are they going to do now, bring in a white man and say he is director for immigration, and he makes all the decisions? That’s exactly what is going to happen, and the only thing you would see is white (work) permits being wheeled into Turks Islands. They don’t want to give the black countries like Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Haiti any travel letters, but imagine what they are going to do for white permits.”

Another protestor Luckner Toussaint is demanding that Malcolm be

reinstated immediately, since he has always been fair in his line of work.

“All we want is for Alonzo to be returned to work now, as simple as that.

Enough with the talk, talk. We want him to return to work now. Alonzo is a fair immigration man and the best man for the job. You can’t just let go the man like that,” Toussaint said.

Another protestor, Euwonka Selver charged that it appeared that Government was out to fire every local heads of department to be replaced by British Citizens. “That has not yet installed in our Constitutions, so how are they making these decisions without them being embedded in our Constitution – it has to be illegal. We need an inquiry into the (Commission of) Inquiry,” Selver said.

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High Court Judge Richard Williams said he wound up TCI Bank with ‘great sadness and regret’

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

THE HIGH COURT Judge who wound up TCI Bank, said he did so with “great sadness and regret”.

Mr. Justice Richard Williams, in delivering his ruling in the Supreme Court in Providenciales on October 29, said, among other things: “Most regretfully, on the material before me and in the circumstances of these protracted winding up proceedings, I feel that a further adjournment is not appropriate. There have already been ten adjournments and costs of the liquidation are increasing daily. The time has come for certainty. I make this decision with a heavy heart, understanding how it may affect the creditors and community as whole and Mr. (Wendell) Swann's wise caution has been at the forefront of my mind throughout.”

Mr. Anthony Kikavarkis and Mark E Munnings of Deloitte & Touche, in Nassau, The Bahamas, were appointed as joint liquidators for TCI Bank Ltd. In his ruling, Judge Williams said the Provisional Liquidators had expressed in their conclusions on page 24 of their "Analysis of Rescue Proposals" dated July 13, 2010 that "The proposal more in line with our requirements is that presented by ECIC Holdings Limited (The Investor Banks) who are prepared to inject permanent cash equity of $12.5million for the continued operation of the Bank."

On 13th August 2010 the Bank, he said, pursuant to Section 84 Companies Ordinance, filed an originating summons for leave to

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Mr. Justice Richard Williams

convene meetings to consider the scheme of arrangements proposed to be made between the company and its creditors and with the company and the shareholders of the company.

Williams said the scheme of arrangements were exhibited at `NH4' to the affidavit of Norman Hamilton dated 13th August, 2010. That scheme of arrangements involved investors, ECIC Holdings Limited, backed by St Kitts Nevis Anguilla International Bank and National Bank of Dominica Ltd ("the EC Banks") taking over the Bank.

He noted: “Meetings were held, and 97.85% of the shareholders and 99.98% of the creditors in value, voted in favour of the scheme of

HAITIAN CARGO BOAT WORKER DROWNS

A male member of a Haitian cargo boat drowned before assistance could reach him on Thursday evening, November 4, while attempting to climb onto the vessel to stabilise it after it pulled anchor at the South Dock port and was drifting away.

The SUN learned that the boat came in from Haiti with goods to sell in local shops two days prior to the incident, and was docked at the port until the passage of Hurricane Tomas. This newspaper was informed that sometime after 7pm, it was discovered that the boat had pulled anchor and began to drift out to sea.

The captain and the crew who were not at the dock at the time, were alerted, and rushed to the scene immediately. The captain and the crew member them jumped into the water and began swimming towards the drifting boat.

The SUN was told that while in the process of swimming towards the vessel through chopping waters, the crew member got into difficulties and before help could reach him he disappeared into the dusk.

“Another member of the crew, who was standing by, saw that the other guy was in trouble and took off all his clothes before jumping into the water to save him, but before he could get to him, the guy sunk and could not be found, and the other guy, who seemed like he was experiencing difficulty too, swam back to shore,” according to an eyewitness.

The area was searched for the better part of the night but, and after he failed to turn, search was abandoned for the day. His body was found early Friday Morning in the area and later removed to the morgue for post mortem examination.

The captain eventually reached the boat and brought it under control.

Up until press time the police had not issued a statement on the matter.

Efforts to ascertain his name and where in Haiti he was from, were also unsuccessful.

arrangements. It then appeared that, at last, there was some positive news and a real hope that the Bank could be rescued. All parties were striving to put the proposed arrangement in place.

Sadly, at the hearing on 9th September 2010, it became apparent that the FSC was understandably unable to endorse the offer or scheme of arrangements.

The $12.5 million had not been placed escrow in this jurisdiction. This had been a key requirement of the FSC, as well as of the Provisional Liquidators for rescue, as set out at page 11 of the latters' "Analysis of Rescue Proposals" dated July 13, 2010.

There were further serious concerns about whether the EC Banks had the necessary internal approvals and external regulatory approvals. At the hearing on 22nd September 2010, it was evident that the proposed scheme, in that form, could not proceed, as the Banks were unable to obtain regulatory sign off by their regulator, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, confirming that they were approving the offer.”

According to judge Williams, the FSC submitted that, from their monitoring of the Bank, they had concluded that it was carrying on business and was likely to remain carrying on business in a manner that was detrimental to the public interest and to its customers and creditors: In support of this contention, Judge Williams said, the FSC highlighted at that hearing that they believed: 1. That 5 members of Board of

LOCAL NEWS

Directors had credit facilities in accounts that were not clearly identified as related party accounts.

The FSC stated that the Company could not confirm whether in all instances the Board had been made aware of, or approved, these loans, which was a breach of the Company's policies and procedures. As of June 30, 2009 the total balance of those loans was $3,842,494.21 and the FSC was of the belief that this amount would not have decreased and was likely to have increased.

2. That the Company was not following its own provisioning policy and had not rectified the position since the FSC Report from September 2009.

3. That the Company continued to fail to obtain certificates of good standing from all corporate customers on an annual basis — the Bank failed to address all of the issues relating to personal loans including not holding evidence of current life assurance, and not reviewing accounts.

4.

That the Company's administration of credit was critically weak. Including no standard checklists in files, no annual reviews in files, no evidence of review of follow-up work, were missing documentation and unsigned documents on files, were unassigned insurance policies and also numerous instances where overdraft accounts had exceeded authorised limits without evidence of approval.

(SEE PAGE 16 – 18 FOR THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF JUDGE WILLIAMS’ RULING)

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COMMENTARY

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

COOL HEADS AND NO CROWNS: THE CARIBBEAN IN A STORM

By Sir Ronald Sanders

Not for the first time in the history of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), Heads of Government are conveying mixed signals to the people of the region about how they feel about the CARICOM relationship and, indeed, about themselves.

Two incidents brought this reality into sharp focus over the last few days. The first was an inflammatory statement attributed to Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissesar, that she did not make, and the other was the almost complete turn out of CARICOM Heads of Government to the funeral of David Thompson, the late Prime Minister of Barbados, and the genuine sense of “family” that they showed.

The statement that Persad-Bissesar is alleged to have made is, “No free help” for the islands of St Vincent and St Lucia that have been severely battered by Hurricane Tomas with St Lucia getting the worst of it. Earlier, as a tropical storm, Tomas had also sallied through Barbados uprooting trees, dislodging utility poles and wires, and damaging hundreds of mostly low-cost houses throughout the island.

“No free help” were not Persad-Bissesar’s words. They were the headline in the Trinidad Express Newspaper on November 1 which did report what the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister actually said. According to the story and other newspaper reports, the Prime Minister was speaking at a press conference about a request that she had received from the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, for assistance after his country was ravaged by the brutal Tomas.

What all the Trinidad and Tobago media reported her to say, was: “We will have to look at ways in which we would be able to assist. But you would recall my comments earlier this year, when I said there must be some way in which Trinidad and Tobago would also benefit. So if we are giving assistance with housing for example, and that is one of the areas that we (Prime Minister of St Vincent and myself) spoke about, … then we may be able to use Trinidad and Tobago builders and companies, so that whatever money or assistance is given, redounds back in some measure to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

She did not say that the Trinidad and Tobago Government would not help. Indeed, she is reported as actually saying that her government had already mobilised two containers of foodstuff, and a decision would be made about where to send them but

“certainly to St Vincent”.

The issue here is not that she refused to provide assistance. If she had done so, I would have joined the chorus of voices that are now condemning her.

When she talked earlier this year of Trinidad and Tobago not being “an ATM machine” for the Caribbean, I was one of the first to criticise that statement drawing attention to the fact that Trinidad and Tobago enjoys almost a monopoly market in the Caribbean for its cheaper-oil subsidised goods because of the CARICOM Treaty and that the Petroleum Fund (badly managed though it is) is as much in Trinidad and Tobago’s interest as the rest of the CARICOM countries since it helps to keep those countries as markets for Trinidad and Tobago’s goods.

The real issue with those who now condemn her is the link she drew between her government’s assistance and the use of “builders and companies” from Trinidad and Tobago.

Heat over that issue should be tempered by two realities. First, other countries (not only the former imperialists) link their assistance to their own materials and people. As examples, Cuban projects in many CARICOM countries use Cuban material and Cuban labour, as do several Venezuelan-funded projects. And, China not only insists upon the use of its material and people in aid projects, it does so for commercial projects too. And, it has long been the condition of many donors – either directly or through the agencies they use to finance aid projects – that their money be used for materials and workers from their countries exclusively.

The second reality is that Kamla Persad-Bissesar is the leader of a political party and Prime Minister of a country that, like many others, has become skeptical of CARICOM. It is up to her and her Ministers to demonstrate to a large section of the Trinidad and Tobago population that there is benefit in CARICOM for them.

Of course, they need to demonstrate CARICOM’s benefit to them over a very wide range of issues which includes the fact that CARICOM is a very lucrative market for Trinidad and Tobago’s products and services keeping thousands of its people employed; the country needs the support of CARICOM in fighting drug trafficking and crime, and maintaining security; it needs CARICOM in international bargaining in trade against larger entities such as the European Union; and it would not fulfill its international aspirations in the international system without the full backing of CARICOM. Trinidad and Tobago, too, must realise that it

Editorial Cartoon

Turks and Caicos Sun Suite # 5, Airport Plaza Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: (649) 946-8542/ (649) 241-1510 Fax: (649) 941-3281 Email: sun@suntci.com Read us online at www.suntci.com

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Hayden Boyce Senior Editor: Vivian Tyson Web Designer: Patrina Moore-Pierre Graphics Editor: Joleen Grant Office Manager: Dominique Williams Distribution Manger: Kelano Howell Advertising and Marketing ManagerPatrina Moore-Pierre

The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd.

We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands. alone does not wear a crown and it is not an island (not even-two) onto itself.

But Persad-Bissesar should not be lynched for what she did not say, or for linking her government’s assistance to use of her country’s material and work force. At no time did she say no help would be forthcoming.

The entire Caribbean is going through what Professor Norman Girvan recently described as “existential threats”. This is a time for cool heads. It is not a time for tit-for-tat statements or for statements whose content sound like “something will not be given for nothing”.

Much of this present controversy is unnecessary and would not happen if CARICOM governments talk to each other on a platform of interdependence and common problems, and with a resolve to solve them collectively, recognising that none of them can go it alone and the task at hand is urgent and huge.

It was significant that at the well-organised and dignified funeral of Barbados David Thompson in the same week of this incident, CARICOM leaders turned out in full force to honour their fallen brother, and CARICOM was given an important role in the proceedings through its Chairman, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding. It is on that sense of CARICOM “family” that the region needs to go forward in its own vital interest

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN’S LETTERS POLICY The Turks and Caicos SUN welcomes Letters to the Editor.

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

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

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

Page 7

Travel letters were suspended because of concerns about fraud, forgery and abuse

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

THE MINISTRY OF BORDER CONTROL and Labour wishes to inform the public that travel letters have been suspended because of serious concerns about fraud, forgery and abuse, which threatened the good order and security of the islands.

According to a press release from the ministry, under TCI laws, no one needs a travel letter to enter the islands.

People from countries which do not need a visa, and who are seeking to work or reside in the TCI, simply need a work permit or resident permit.

“People from countries which need a visa should obtain a visa, either from the Immigration Department or from a British Embassy or High Commission overseas. The list of countries which do not need a visa is on www.immigration.tc under Permits, Requirements, Forms, "Visa Requirements",” the ministry stated.

The Ministry stressed that visas have not been suspended, adding that the Immigration Department staff and the airlines were instructed on Sunday 31 October that employment visas which had been

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

issued in the form of a letter prior to the suspension should be honoured, and the person concerned allowed to enter the Islands. Visas should now be issued in the form of endorsements in passports.

The Ministry of Border Control noted that there has also been a practice of obtaining a travel letter when someone has to travel while their work permit application is pending.

According to the release: “This was introduced at a time when work permits were taking an extremely long time to process. This is no longer generally the case. The Immigration Board meets twice a month and, once Labour Clearance has been obtained and an application with all the necessary documents has been lodged, it will normally be considered by the Board within the following month.

Our strong advice to employers is to ensure that applications are lodged at least three months before the worker is needed, or three months before expiry of an existing permit.”

“If there is a genuine need for urgent consideration of a work permit application, this can

be drawn to the Board Secretary's attention so that the Board's consideration can be expedited; or in exceptional circumstances a Temporary Work Permit can be issued under Section 11 of the Immigration Ordinance by the Director of Immigration.”

The Ministry said it is also looking urgently at an alternative, secure format for a document to confirm that an application is pending, for people who genuinely have an urgent and unavoidable need to travel while their application is under consideration.

In the meantime, the instruction which was issued on Sunday 31 October confirmed that travel letters issued for this purpose before the suspension should also be honoured.

“The Ministry is committed to wholesale reform to ensure that the TCI's immigration system works effectively in the interests of the travelling public, the economic well-being of the Islands, the good order and security of the islands, and global security. We welcome all feedback and constructive comments from across the community to help us with this," the release added.

IBG LOWERS ACCOUNT OPENING RATE TO ACCOMMODATE TCI BANK DEPOSITORS INTERNATIONAL BANKING GROUP – the TCI’s newest commercial bank has revised its account opening requirements to accommodate those affected by the imminent liquidation of TCI Bank.

According to a statement from that institution, until the end of the year, the initial opening requirement for the Priority Current account, offering a debit card and internet banking, has been lowered to $50, to match TCI Bank’s minimum opening deposit.

Last week, the Supreme Court

ordered that the bank be liquidated after efforts to resuscitate it fell through. As opposed to receiving all their money in the event that the event that the bank had found an investor, customers now stand to get only a portion of their funds back.

Speaking on the initiative implemented by International Banking Group, Ivan Browne, President & Chief Executive said: “These are difficult economic times for the Turks & Caicos and across the world.

Cayman National has continued to be successful even through this

challenging period thanks to prudent management and conservative lending policies. We are adopting this approach at International Banking Group also in order to produce the same stability and success.

“The closure of TCI Bank is very sad and we recognise that many persons will have been badly affected by the loss of their deposits. In order to help those persons, we have revised our account opening deposit requirement. In addition, we continue to strive to make banking with us as easy and convenient as possible by

making opening requirements and application forms available on our website and by providing same-dayaccount opening services.”

International Banking Group opened in July 2010 and offers full retail and commercial banking services including savings and current accounts, Visa debit cards, personal and corporate credit cards, corporate accounts, loans & mortgages, internet banking and ATM services. The bank began with a complement of 35 staff in order to ensure the delivery of world-class service to its customers.

TABATHA FORBES-DORVIL SEEKS

1 DOMESTIC WORKER

Salary $100.00 per week Contact 345-0332

GARDENERS/LABORERS NEEDED Applicants must be able to work outdoors performing manual and physical labor. They must be able to operate a jackhammer, lawn mower and chainsaw. They will be asked to dig holes, mix and spread topsoil/cow manure and plant. They must be able to speak and communicate in English. Starting salary is $ 5.00 / hr and maybe require to work on weekends and holidays if needed.

Please drop all applications to Environmental Arts located at Grace Bay (at the back of Lemon Café) or email to environmentalarts@tciway.tc c/o Natalie Zaidan. Successful applicants will be notified by phone for interview.

Page 8

Banks feeling effects of economic down-turn

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

By Vivian Tyson SUN Senior Editor

COMMERCIAL BANKS IN the Turks and Caicos Islands are feeling the pinch from the economic downturn as expatriates and many customers who are trying to escape hard times caused by joblessness have been pulling their accounts and taking their savings with them.

Sources at two of the country’s more popular banks – FirstCaribbean and Scotiabank - told this newspaper that based on the number of account holders that have dissolved their accounts, the institutions may have lost between 20 and 35 percent of account holders.

The sources disclosed that many customers started to close their accounts between 12 and 14 months ago, when the economic pressure began to set in. But recently the banks have seen an increase in account closures.

The Bankers Association, when contacted by The SUN, acknowledged the situation, while seeking not to divulge specifics, opting instead to focus on the slowdown in new accounts. The Association noted further that if a light is seen at the end of the tunnel within the next twelve months, it could very be a train, since they did not see the economy recovering until after then.

“Members of the Bankers Association, like other players in the national economy, have also noticed a slow down. Total deposits are lower, new account openings have slowed down, and people and businesses are increasingly strained to meet their loan obligations. We believe that the next 12 months will continue to be a

Deposits are at an all time low and sources at FirstCaribbean and Scotiabank the SUN that they may have lost between 20 and 35 percent of account holders.

challenge, though we understand that the tourist season is looking positive and the arrival of more flights and airlines as well as the airport expansion project is extremely positive news. We also recognise that this is a small economy and one or two major projects could very quickly have a positive ripple effect throughout the territory,” the Association said.

The Turks and Caicos Islands did not escape the global meltdown which has crippled a number of economies around the world, putting millions out of jobs, and sent commerce crashing.

Locally, construction, which many regard as the number one employer of Belongers, experienced a freefall and eventually shattered, leaving hundreds out of a job.

A number of expatriates, many of whom opened accounts at the country’s commercial banks, also suffered as a result of the construction collapse. And after finding it difficult to land another job, coupled with the mounting monthly recurring expenses, including apartment rentals, power, water and cable bills, many decided it was easier to survive if they left, and so they did, closing their accounts and

JOSEPH WILLIAMS SEEKS

taking their savings with them.

A source for one of the banks, who asked that their name not be released, since they were not authorized to speak on the issue, told The SUN that despite the situation, their institution has not seen a drastic decline on overall business, but said the market remained soft; a condition which the source said it has been in for almost two years The source noted: “In terms of accounts being closed, that is mostly affected by the retail side. Take for instance, somebody may have a mortgage, and they plan to leave the island and can’t get their house sold; what they would try to do is put it on the market for rent, since they can’t find a tenant, and make the necessary arrangement going forward.”

The source also confirmed what the Bankers Association said regarding the drastic decline in new

POSITION AVAILABLE Turks and Caicos Sporting Club is seeking a suitable applicant to fill the post of:

LABOURER Salary $5.00 per hour Contact #244-9040

IMMEDIATE OPENING FOR EXECUTIVE STAFF SOLUTIONS LTD REqUIREMENTS: • Excellent verbal, written and computer skills including Word, Excel, quickbooks and Access with ability to create and maintain complex databases • Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize competing tasks and work with no supervision DUTIES INCLUDE: • Conducting sales calls and all follow-up related thereto • Maintaining databases and corporate accounts • Drafting correspondence, documents, applications and contracts for the company and for clients Wages are commission only with no set salary and depend entirely on sales and collections by the Executive Interested applicants should email resume and reference letters to HR Manager at staffsolutionslimited@gmail.com within 1 week of this notice. qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

accounts, explaining that the number plummeted in relation to the corresponding period last year.

A source at another bank said that loan is one area that had seen an obvious decline, since the general public did not have the necessary funds to service debts at this time, “so people are opting not to borrow money from those institutions right now.”

First Caribbean’s Country Manager, Sherma Hercules, at press time, was not readily available for comment; neither was Managing Director for Scotiabank, Doug Cochrane.

In the meantime, the Bankers Association is nudging Government to find innovative ways to bring back buoyancy to the economy, so as to ease the pressure on the private sector and householders.

“Our advice to Government is to be careful not to focus solely on balancing the public purse, potentially at the expense of the private sector and the household. We would welcome a focus on an economic plan that puts the country’s recovery from this recession on strong footing – for example by diversifying into financial services to a greater degree and facilitating much sought-after inward investment projects – as a stronger private sector and a better-off TCI household will in turn bolster public coffers,” the Bankers Association urged.

PLUMBER Essential Functions: • Maintaining all aspects of the Treatment Plant (watering, osmosis station, water heater, pools, lodging) in accordance with international standards • Maintain inventory of spare/repair parts and tools • Ordering of spare parts to ensure consistent functioning without discontinuity • Ensure all work sites are left in a usable and safe condition • Keep work shop clean and in order • Reports to the Director of Facilities • Any other duties as may be assigned Requirements - Applicants must have and or be: • at least three (3) years of experience in plumbing • a high school diploma or equivalent • attentive to details and self-motivator • able to understand and speak English fluently • able to work with little or no supervision • physically fit, dependable and hard working • in possession of clean police record and valid TCI Driver’s License • willing to reside on Ambergris Cay Salary Range: $6 - $7 per hour Closing Date for Applications is Friday, November 26, 2010 Applications must be addressed to: Ms. Dorothea Malcolm Human Resources Director Turks & Caicos Sporting Club @ Ambergris Cay Unit 66, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: dorothea@ambergriscay.com Tel: (649) 941-3777 Fax: (649) 941-3778

Police continuing patrols and searches, says Assistant Commissioner of Police Dave Ryder

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

THE SPECIAL OPERATION by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Fore, code-named “Alpha 2” continues across Providenciales and targeted patrols have and will continue to be deployed at various locations and different times to prevent, disrupt and arrest persons who are actively engaged in committing crimes of violence.

This was stated by Assistant Commissioner of Police Territorial Divisions and Operations - Dave Ryder, who noted that in the ten days since Sunday 24th October 2010 a total of around 41 crimes have been reported in Providenciales, averaging just over four crimes per day.

“This is a reduction from previously reported daily levels in both number and in the nature of the violence of the crimes committed. The last ten days have seen these crimes consist of mainly theft of property, burglary and several assaults which are mostly of a domestic nature,” Ryder said.

He noted that one robbery was reported during this ten day period involving a lone female who was robbed during the evening, after darkness fell and when a large amount of money was taken.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

“Though a firearm was produced, no one was injured in this offence.

Investigations are continuing into this offence and anyone with information that may assist are asked to contact Crimestoppers on 1 800 TIPS (8477),” ACP Ryder added.

“We remind the public once again, especially those in business, try not to carry large amounts of cash, especially when alone and during darkness. If you have to carry large amounts of cash, please ensure that you are accompanied or use a reputable company to assist you, that you frequently bank money to maintain low levels of cash if possible and that you have a system of working that ensures that the area around your business and you and any banks that you may deposit cash at, are fully checked before you leave or approach any premises while carrying cash.

These simple steps can prevent you becoming a victim of crime,” said Ryder.

He continued: “While there has been a reduction in violent crime in the last ten days and one robbery in that period, that is still one too many. We ask the public to stay vigilant and alert to your surroundings and your practices to make it as hard as possible

PROVO GOLF CLUB

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

HORTICULTURIST

Assistant Commissioner of Police Territorial Divisions and Operations - Dave Ryder

for the criminals to succeed in their aims.”

He said that as Operation Alpha 2 continues, officers have given up a day off each week and worked long hours to put more officers on the streets to combat those who seek to commit crimes of violence.

Several suspects have been arrested and some charged with

offences over the last ten days and persons illegally within the TCI have also featured in those detained.

The police message continued from Superintendent Ralph Doughty who said, “We are trying hard both on the street and in the investigative arena to arrest and solve these crimes and that hard work will pay off. We must, however, all be vigilant as criminals can plan what they want to do, when, where and how they want to commit crimes. Keeping one step ahead will only be possible if we work with the community to get the intelligence that we need. Please give us the information, anonymously if you wish, that will help us take those guns and criminals off the street.”

The police approach has included stepping up stop searches of persons and vehicles and it is notable that several bladed weapons have been seized during this time.

Meantime, ACP said he had completed and delivered the business case for assistance from UK police officers last week and that it has been provided to the Commissioner of Police Edward Hall and Acting Governor Mark Capes for action.

George Walkin Seeks

1 Labourer Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 244-4665

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

REQUIREMENTS

• Must have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture.

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

• Requires knowledge of landscape construction and materials.

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.

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

The salary range for this position is $55,000 - $62,000.00 per annum, commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by November 22, 2010 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Position is available immediately. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

Page 9

MCLEAN GARDINER

SEEKS

1 LABOURER

Salary $150.00 per week 5 days per week Contact 341-0453

Page 10

Airport Authority says Tourist Board had nothing to do with Continental Airlines coming to TCI

LOCAL NEWS

JOHN SMITH, CEO of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) says the Tourist Board had nothing to do with Continental Airlines coming to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“I find it rather distasteful that when others come in and claim to have been involved or have taken responsibility of bringing them (Continental Airlines) into the market. While I, as an individual, may not care about it, we have a team which had actually worked as they did with Jet Blue and the Hotel Association, who did a phenomenal job with us, to ensure that Jet Blue came here.

“So I decided that we would no longer just sit back and allow other individuals to take the credit for work that they haven’t done, and not even making mention of the individuals who actually done it,” Smith noted.

Last week, United Continental Holdings, Inc., operators of Continental Airlines announced that it will begin nonstop flights between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands on February 18, 2011. Providenciales will be Continental's 26th Caribbean destination.

Initially, flights will operate four times a week, on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, converting to daily service on March 6, 2011.

Upon learning of the news, the Tourist Board issued a statement welcoming the news, stating also of its hard work in landing the service to the Turks and Caicos, while making no mention of the Airport Authorities and the Hotel Association. Acting Governor Mark Capes also welcomed the news of the international airline’s entry into the TCI, but acknowledged the two bodies.

As a result, Smith accused the Tourist Board of being disingenuous by taking credit, while well cognizant of the fact that it played no role in securing the Continental Airlines scheduled flights

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

here, saying that the efforts were primarily between the Airports Authority and the Hotel and Tourism Association.

Documents of exchanges between the TCIAA and Continental regarding securing the flights here were displayed by Smith, as he moved to prove that the Tourist Board was not a factor in the negotiations.

Smith said Continental was reluctant at first to fly to the TCI, since they wanted a better deal - one similar to that of Jet Blue - which is a landing fee incentive policy. Such communication, the TCIAA CEO said, was made to him and not to anyone else.

“With other carriers in the past, we had no policy; you just give them (airlines) incentives, you just waived the landing fees. A (now) we don’t do that (anymore). We said over a three year period, the first year landing fees are waived and then they (airlines) step up. So, at the end of three year period, you would pay your full amount.

“That is our standard policy; it has been endorsed by our board, so any new entrant or any new route that any existing carrier starts up they would get the same benefits – it’s a level playing field,” Smith said.

Smith said as a result of the deal, Continental decided to take up the offer, explaining further that while the Tourist Board played a negligible role in Jet Blue coming here, it played a non-existing role in securing Continental.

“So, I think it is disingenuous (on the part of the Tourist Board), and I sincerely hope that I will never have to come to this point again where I have to rebuff, which I find rather disturbing. When negotiations were taking place, the Tourist Board was nowhere in sight. It’s wrong, and to a greater extent it is unethical,” Smith charged.

Smith said after seeing the release by the Tourist Board, he contacted the Hotel and Tourism

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

Association, and it was decided that the board’s statement should be rebutted if it did not make any efforts to retract it, which he said was not done.

“The Airports Authority does not believe in grandstanding, but as the CEO of the Airports Authority, it would be wrong of me to allow a practice like this to continue without putting it straight. If we did not do it, we wouldn’t be saying we did,” Smith asserted.

Meantime, in response to Smith’s charges, Tourist Board’s acting Director Ralph Higgs, said: “The Tourist Board has demonstrated over the years that it is a tried and proven partner in negotiating air lift to our islands. Its efforts and those of its private sector partners, particularly the TCHTA, predate the existence of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority and in some cases, predate the reemergence of its CEO. The number of carriers serving our destination from major gateways in North America and Europe confirm this fact. The Board seeks no special credit for this. It’s Directors and staff pursue no individual praise or recognition for performing their duties, sometimes under very trying circumstances.”

He added: “It is obvious that CEO Smith’s press conference and remarks were self-serving, selfpromoting, misleading and unfortunate. They could not have come at a worst time for the Tourist Board and or our country. The records will confirm the Tourist Board’s role in these talks. We are delighted that Continental Airlines is set to provide service to our Islands. If the Airports Authority wishes to take the praises for this, so be it. The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands know that it takes team work to build a nation and that the Tourist Board is, and always has been, an important part of that team.

The Board remains a willing and faithful partner of the TCIAA, the TCHTA and the broader business community of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Page 11

Hurricane Tomas misses Turks and Caicos Islands

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

RESIDENTS OF THE Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are breathing a sigh of relief, after being spared a direct hit from havoc-wreaking Hurricane Tomas.

Late Friday night, as Tomas was approaching TCI as a powerful hurricane packing strong winds and ready to unleash flooding and seas surges, it suddenly, almost miraculously, weakened into a tropical storm, bringing only light showers and moderate winds during the night.

There were no reports of deaths or damage to property, and only small sections of the main Leeward Highway in Providenciales were water-logged.

Around 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning, as Thomas churned away into the Atlantic Ocean, the all-clear was officially given and storm warnings lifted. The Providenciales International Airport, the main gateway to the country, reopened at mid-day Saturday.

American Airlines (AA) resumed full operations on Sunday, November 7th at 7:55a.m. They operated an additional flight on Sunday to accommodate passengers that were affected by the cancellations.

With memories of September 2008’s devastating hurricanes Hanna and Ike still lingering in their minds, TCI residents, for the most part, took no chances with Tomas and were as prepared as ever for its arrival by stocking up on emergency supplies, securing their homes and businesses and in some cases heading to emergency shelters.

Throughout the day, Friday residents flocked to supermarkets and hardware stores to stock up on emergency supplies. Residences and businesses across Providenciales were plastered with plywood and hurricane shutters. Vehicles snaked from fuel stations as drivers filled their tanks.

The streets were busy with trucks towing boats to safety.

Friday was a picture-perfect day in the Turks and Caicos Islands. On the world-famous Grace Bay beach on Providenciales, laid-back tourists were seen basking in the sunshine. A group of Jamaicans gathered outside a Jamaican store where reggae music blared and a tasty fare of jerk chicken and jerk pork was served. The Providenciales International Airport, which was closed since 8 a.m. Friday, was like a virtual ghost town. Large sheets of blue tarpaulin were draped over the airline counters.

Throughout Friday night, The Weather Channel, the National Hurricane Centre (HNC) in Miami and the locally-based Department of Disaster Management (DDME), all forecast that the TCI would have suffered a direct hit from Tomas, supporting their predictions with sophisticated satellite images and tracking maps. But this was not to be, as Tomas dissipated.

Meantime, residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands have come into high praise from Governor Gordon Wetherell for how they responded to the threat if Hurricane Tomas, which narrowly missed this British Overseas Territory.

In a press statement which was released moments after the all-clear

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Hurricane Tomas missed the islands but brought light showers late Friday into Saturday morning that inevitably led to flooding. Photo shows the Downtown area

was issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Governor Wetherell stated: “From the reports I have received from the Disaster Management team who have made an aerial assessment of the islands thanks to the helicopter support provided by HMS Manchester, and from District Commissioners and others on the ground, I am pleased to report that we have come through Hurricane Tomas with no serious damage.”

Commenting on the hurricane situation, Governor Wetherell said: “The fact that the storm has caused no serious damage and, more importantly, that there are no reports of major injuries or loss of life, is very good news for which we can be thankful.”

Wetherell paid special tribute to officials in the Disaster Management team, the police, the Red Cross shelter managers, and to the many other volunteers who contributed their time and effort to ensuring that Government was well prepared for the storm.

“My sincere thanks also go to the Commanding Officers and crews of HMS Manchester and Wave Ruler who, I know, endured a very uncomfortable night at sea to reach Providenciales at first light to render any assistance that we might need,” he added.

“Above all, I should like to thank you, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, for the way in which you responded to the advice and information which was provided and took all the appropriate measures to keep yourselves and your families safe, and to secure your homes and businesses.”

After battering Barbados, Hurricane Tomas then churned towards neighbouring St. Vincent, causing an estimated US$25million in damage and destroying more than 1200 homes.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves described Hurricane Tomas as the worst in living memory.

From St. Vincent, Hurricane Tomas then moved on to St. Lucia where it inflicted millions in damages, including to that country’s vital banana industry. Six deaths were reported

there.

It also did some damage in Dominica and Martinique.

The damage from Tomas has led to a $US12.8 million insurance payout to the three countries from the regional coverage scheme known as the

Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility.

Preliminary calculations based on the facility's modeled losses will see Barbados getting US$8.5 million, $3.2 million for St Lucia, and $1.1 million for St Vincent and the Grenadines.

4. Tracking and costing refurbish able engine spares

STAFF VACANCY – COST AND PLANT ACCOUNTANT

Applications are invited from interested and suitably qualified persons to fill the position of Cost and Plant Accountant in the Finance Department.

Description To provide a high quality plant and inventory accounting services on a timely and cost effective basis.

Main Duties Maintenance of Fixed Assets Sub Ledger, including Fixed Asset Count results.

Examines records to determine that acquisition, sale, retirement, and other entries have been properly and accurately made.

Prepares statements reflecting monthly appreciated and or depreciated values.

Responsible for reconciliation of Fixed Asset Sub Ledger with the General Ledger balances.

Responsible for the preparation of the Company’s depreciation budget and depreciation forecasts.

Responsible for compiling capital project budgets and preparing the monthly capital variance report.

Manage capital expenditure projects and ensure that the fixed asset register is updated and accurate.

Determining overhead costs particularly for capital projects.

In charge for maintaining the Work Orders System which includes but not limited to the following: 1. Maintenance of the CWIP account 2. Reconciling the CWIP account against the Work Order System 3. Setting up and closing work orders (WOs)

Responsible for analyzing the appropriateness of costs allocated to each work order.

Responsible for providing capitalizable interest figures on a monthly basis.

Maintenance of the Inventory Sub Ledger including Inventory Count results.

Coordinate with Operations and Materials Management Department for setting up Inventory Aging Procedures.

Ensures that there is proper inventory costing recorded.

Responsible for the preparation of the monthly Inventory General Ledger and Inventory Sub Ledger reconciliation.

Assists Financial Accounting Supervisor and/or Financial Reporting and Business Planning Consultant.

Other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Minimum Requirements · CPA, ACCA, CMA, CIA · 5-7 years experience in cost or plant accounting or related field. · Working knowledge of finance, accounting, cost and budgeting principles in conjunction with generally accepted Accounting Principles; · Working knowledge of financial and accounting software applications; · Working knowledge of related financial regulations; · Experience with ERP preferred. · Goal-oriented Compensation Salary Grade 12: $51,420.00 $64,270.00 based on qualifications and ability.

PPC offers a competitive compensation package for more information contact Human Resources Manager

Deadline for submission of application is November 5th, 2010. Please submit to:Ms. Judith V. Missick Manager, Human Resources PPC Limited P. O. Box 132, Providenciales Email address: jmissick@ppcltd.tc

Page 12

Almost 250 babies delivered since new hospitals opened LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

By Vivian Tyson SUN Senior Editor

SINCE THE OPENING of the two new hospitals in March of this year in Grand Turk and Providenciales a whopping 234 babies have been delivered, according to CEO of National Health Insurance Board (NHIB), Brian Hogan.

Speaking at the Turks and Caicos Islands Cancer Society Banquet at the Seven Stars Resort in Grace Bay on Saturday, October 30, Hogan said since the opening of the Cockburn Town Medical Centre in Grand Turk and the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales, health care providers have been ensuring that residents of the country get the best in health care in a professional and timely fashion and with the latest technology.

Hogan later told The SUN that of that number 186 births were recorded at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, while 48 deliveries were recorded at the Cockburn Town Medical Centre. It is not clear if the overall number was a record for the period locally, since in the past, a huge number of women opted for delivery in Miami.

Hogan said the baby deliveries across the country made up the more than 65,374 events processed by National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP).

Of the processing number, Hogan said, 27,000 were prescription drugs, noting that NHIP also processed 31,000 outpatient visits and 6,000 private doctor visits. The NHIB CEO also told the audience that there were 1,132 admissions at both hospitals, with 568 surgeries recorded.

According to him, for a country this

Brian Hogan

size, the NHIB has been providing significant health care resources across the country. According to him, in order to boast healthcare in any country, the right people must be hired and be provided with the right tools.

“When I listen to the discussions from before (NHIP was introduced), I think the TCI is fortunate that we always have the right doctors, and I have the pleasure to work with many of them. I have the pleasure to work with Dr. (Rufus) Ewing of the Ministry of Health and Dr. Slattery - Medical Advisor to the National Health Insurance Board.

“The difference is that, we are now giving them the resources that they need. We have the right people, the right resources, and it is amazing what they

POSITION AVAILABLE

Turks and Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay is seeking a suitably qualified applicant to fill the post of:

FLY FISHING GUIDE

Daily tasks will include, but are not limited to: • Responsibility for all fly fishing activities • Responsibility for teaching and leading fishing experiences for members and guests • Development of programmes for children and adults such as – nature walks, educational workshops, kayak trips, nature camps, canoe trips, fly casting lessons • Communication with members and guests of all ages to ensure a positive experience on all fishing excursions • Prospect Sales visits Requirements: • to work and live on Big Ambergris Cay with rotated weekends off • must possess a Boat Captain License • must possess a Coast Guard license • must have at least two years experience as a certified lifeguard • must have experience with fly casting for bonefish • must be an experienced Chartered fishing guide • must be attentive to details • must be able to work under little or no supervision • must produce a clean Police Record • must be reliable, hard working and enthusiastic Salary: $30,000 - $35,000 per annum.

Closing date for all applications is Friday, November 12, 2010.

Applications must be submitted to: Ms. Dorothea Malcolm, Human Resources Director Turks & Caicos Sporting Club @ Ambergris Cay Unit 66, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Baay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: dorothea@ambergriscay.com Tel: 649-941-3777 Fax: 649-941-3778

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

can deliver,” Hogan said.

Meanwhile, Hogan noted that in order to obtain returns on investment for the two new hospitals, maximizing of capacity would have to be a must, saying that NHIB would have to be judicious in when making decisions for overseas referrals.

“And the reason for that, is that, there is only one fund, and we all contribute to it, and we want to make sure that that fund is managed in such a way that we can call on it when we do have situations that can’t be managed here on island. So when I talk about exhausting all available local resources, it sometimes comes in slightly different ways, and I go back to the theme of giving the right people the right tools,” Hogan said.

The NHIB chief noted that overseas treatment is sometimes easier accomplished by bringing in doctors and or equipment, instead of flying patients to overseas hospitals.

“An example is that we had three candidates that required prostate-related treatment. Our option appeared to be that we would send all three to a facility in Florida until we realized that we had a doctor on island – Ken Peterson – that was capable of doing the procedures, if we just provide him the right couple of tools. And so, when we researched the situation for the cost of those tools it came to a grand total of eleven hundred dollars.

So, by spending eleven hundred dollars, Dr. Peterson was able to perform three additional surgeries on island, where airfare alone would have been about a thousand bucks; never mind the cost of the hospitals; never

mind the cost of the drugs,” Hogan asserted.

Hogan pointed also to several neuro-surgeries that were done on island recently, where a doctor was flown in from The Bahamas to conduct the procedures, with the support of local medical practitioners.

Hogan noted that in matters that require a team of specialists or where medical hardware cannot fit in carry-on luggage on planes, NHIB would rely on its offshore referral mechanism Overseas Treatment Programme. He said while commercial transportation is often used, charter is sometimes an option, with severe cases reserved for air ambulance service.

He said the NHIB has developed relationships with medical facilities in South Florida, while also developing partnerships with other medical institutions outside of the United States, including Canada and the Caribbean.

Hogan said hospitals were impressed with the level of attention that NHIB paid to candidates which it had flown to those facilities, and as result, requested that they be placed on the outsourcing slate.

He expressed the hope that very soon NHIB would start referring to UK hospitals, saying that logistics and other matters were in the process of being hammered out. He noted that health care beneficiaries that went to Santiago in the Dominican Republic have high praises for the level of service that they received there.

The Cancer Society’s annual banquet was held as part of that body’s fundraising effort to support cancer patients.

HAB LIMITED

HAB Limited is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the following position. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.

SENIOR ACCOUNTS OFFICER

Job Description • Responsible for all aspects of company accounting up to production of Trial Balance.

• All Balance Sheet reconciliations, including bank, credit card accounts and supplier statements.

• Preparation and reconciliation of Sales and Accounts Receivable reports.

• Reconciliation and preparation of bank deposits.

• Payment of purchase invoices and raising cheques, as required.

• Preparation of weekly and monthly payroll, along with monthly NHIP and NIB summaries • Preparation of Strata invoices, Monthly Rental Statements and corresponding with owners on a monthly basis.

Requirements • Should have at least (ten) 10 years experience in an Accounts Office.

• Must hold a minimum of a Degree in Accountancy.

• Must be proficient in Quickbooks and Visual One PMS. • Must have a good understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

• Work with minimal supervision.

The salary range for this position is $30,000 - $40,000 per annum, commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by November 22, 2010 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Position is available immediately. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview and practical examination.

Turks and Caicos Islands International scholarship recipients doing well

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

T HE M INISTRY OF E DUCATION , Youth, Sports and Culture congratulates its many overseas students who continue to excel academically.

In a press release from the Scholarship Secretariat, the Ministry recognized the outstanding performance of Mr. Jameika Harvey, a final year dentistry student at Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry, in Tennessee, USA. Recent results show that Mr. Harvey attained a GPA of 3.61 and ranked second (2nd) in a class of fifty-one students.

Equally, the Ministry applauded the outstanding accomplishments of Miss Raven Saunders and Miss Lakeia A. Lewis, who, as a result of their academic achievement, and placement in the top 15% of their university class, were nominated for membership in Golden Key International Honour Society.

Founded in 1977, Golden Key International Honour Society is a global collegiate honour society

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

established to recognize tertiary level students for academic excellence.

Raven Saunders is a second year medical student at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, while Lakeia Lewis is a first year undergrad Finance major at Howard University, USA. After completing their high school education in the Turks and Caicos Islands, all three students attended the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, where they demonstrated exemplary academic discipline, and outstanding leadership skills.

Earlier this year, the Ministry congratulated Mr. Koval Smith for making the Dean’s list for his outstanding academic performance.

Mr. Smith is currently pursuing a B.Sc. Degree in Human and Health Sciences at the University of Westminster, United Kingdom.

“Let us continue to encourage our young people as they make a name for themselves, and make our country proud,” the release ended.

Page 13

LOCAL NEWS

Page 14

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS KITCHEN STEWARD Duties Include: • Clean & sanitize all areas of the kitchen.

• Operate dishwashing machine in a safe, accident free manner Starting salary $5.70 per hour plus service charge.

PASTRY CHEF Requirements: • Experience with, and are comfortable preparing a variety of different cuisines in a fine dining environment • Knowledge of food preparation techniques and health/safety requirements Starting salary $20,000 per annum commensurate with experience.

SPA THERAPIST/ ESTHECIAN Requirements: • Diploma in massage therapy or equivalent.

• Prior experience in a 5-star luxury environment.

• Extensive knowledge of Eastern style massage, wraps, facials and other treatments.

• Proficiency in English.

Duties Include: • Providing spa treatments to resort guests and day spa guests.

• Maximize the revenue of the department through massage and retail product sales.

• In addition to performance of the essential functions, this position may be required to perform a combination of supportive functions, with the percentage of time performing each function to be solely determined by the supervisor.

Starting salary $5.65 an hour plus commission and service charge

SPA SUPERVISOR Requirements: • Must possess and demonstrate the ability to interact with all guests and team members effectively with tact and diplomacy in line with Regent standards.

• Willingness to work varying schedules, split shifts, nights, weekends and holidays to reflect the business needs of the hotel.

Duties Include: • Assigning work tasks and coordinate activities of spa attendants to ensure cleanliness and prompt, courteous service to guests.

• Responding to guest needs, issues, comments and problems to ensure a Regent luxury experience and enhance future sales.

• Maximizing revenue through thorough knowledge of spa • Services to train staff and increase sales.

Salary $8.50 an hour not including service charge.

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER Requirements: • BA/BS Degree • At least 5 years financial management experience at a property of similar size and quality with at least 3 years of international.

• Advanced knowledge and skills in computer systems, Excel hotel applications • Demonstrated understanding of interdepartmental relations and expectations in the luxury hotel market • Previous and in depth experience, understanding and application of management contracts • Solid training 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 Duties Include:

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

• Managing the day to day operations of the accounting department and overseeing staff • Assisting executive management, department ownership and related associations with the production of financial reports, detailed analysis and business outlook • Prepare, present and provide interpretation of operational reports as they impact the business finances • Coordinating internal and external audits Salary $70,000/Negotiable – Commensurate with Experience, Training & Education WASTE WATER PLANT OPERATOR MECHANIC Duties • Maintaining and cleaning plant equipment • Provide testing of all sediment and PH/Chlorine • Replacing of all motors and filtering systems • Operating testing equipment needed for the sanitary operation of plants Starting salary $7.00 per hour plus service charge.

ROOM ATTENDANT/PUBLIC AREA ATTENDANT Requirements: • Ability to work with heavy cleaning machinery.

Duties Include: • Ensuring that standards of cleanliness and organization are met at all times in assigned areas.

• Responsibility for care and maintenance of all equipment and machinery.

Starting salary $5.25 an hour plus service charge.

LANDSCAPING PROJECT MANAGER Requirements: • Minimum of five years experience in managing the landscaping department of a 5 star Luxury Caribbean Resort.

• Ultimate knowledge of Zone 9 Caribbean landscaping.

• Vast knowledge in horticulture, native plant species and chemical usage towards the prevention of plant disease and insect control.

• Must have extensive experience with Irrigation systems and landscape maintenance.

• Must have strong supervisory skills and demonstrated experience managing a grounds department.

• Must be able to give direction and expertise in areas of basic landscaping, tool safety, chemical usage and operation of lawn equipment.

Duties Include: • Impeccable maintenance of grounds and landscaping.

• Assists in supervising and participating in grounds work.

• Ability to identify areas for improvement and keeps abreast of latest trends in regards to plants, irrigation, landscape maintenance and chemical applications.

• Managing overall cleanliness of work, storage and space areas.

Starting salary $35,000 per annum commensurate with experience and qualification.

DOMESTIC WORKER Requirements: • Ability to work with heavy cleaning machinery.

Duties Include: • Ensure that standards of cleanliness and organization are met at all times in assigned areas.

• Responsibility for care and maintenance of all equipment and machinery.

Starting salary $5.25 an hour plus service charge

WAITER/WAITRESS Duties Include: • Serve food and beverages to guests in a prompt manner and anticipate guest needs.

• Knowledge of food and beverages on the menu included. Mix drinks and be aware of any menu items which are not available.

Starting Wages $6.50 per hour/Commensurate with Experience.

Requirements for all Applicants: • Prior experience in a similar role at a property of similar size and quality.

• Hardworking team player with excellent people skills and genuine desire to serve others.

• Ability to read, write and speak English proficiently.

• Ability to stand and exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours in length.

• Willingness to work nights, weekends and holidays as required to meet or exceed guest expectations at all times.

• In addition to the performance of the essential functions, employees may be required to perform supportive functions, with the percentage of time performing each function to be solely determined by the supervisor.

• Regular attendance is essential to the successful performance of these positions. Employees with irregular attendance will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Interested applicants should apply to the Regent Palms, in person, for a first interview Monday through Friday 10AM to 12PM and bring along a recent C.V. Appointments may also be made by calling the Regent Palms Human Resources department at 946-8666 during business hours.

‘Tasers should be permitted for civilian use in the Turks and Caicos Islands’

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

By Jack Grever

THERE SEEMS TO be wide spread confusion and misunderstanding about Taser devices. I am compelled to set the facts straight, I believe the public needs to know the Truth about Tasers.

FBI studies have indicated that crime and incidents of aggressive acts toward police are reduced as much as 75% where Tasers are deployed. The FBI has stated that Tasers in the hands of officers & persons without guns is the best possible safe solution to controlling crime and injuries.

A recent US study of Taser use nationwide does suggest that Tasers are a safe self defense tool. This study, conducted by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and funded by the National Institute of Justice, examined 1000 cases of Taser use and found that 99.7% of them resulted in no injuries.

What is the alternative? A police officer who uses physical brute force to subdue a perpetrator will have to physically restrain that individual – risking bodily harm to both the criminal and themselves. Tasers provide a nonviolent option that allows the officer to control the situation without risking their own safety and without harming the criminal.

Individuals who use Tasers for their own protection are even less likely to cause harm than a police officer. While an officer must remain with the criminal and work to gain control for an arrest, your goal is simply to stop the attacker long enough for you to escape to safety.

Moreover, those who carry Tasers as a self defense tool report that the likelihood of actually firing a Taser is very slim. Even in situations where a Taser-user has been under attack, simply displaying the weapon is usually enough to scare the criminal away.

Criminals are more intimidated by a Taser than a gun because THEY know the person holding the Taser WILL likely use it without hesitation (since the TASER will not kill), and the likely outcome is Jail for the criminal.

Tasers, are instantly paralyzing and offer little chance for escape. Even in the case of a gunshot wound to a criminal, he could still run away after leaving his victim(s) lying in a pool of

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

blood. Criminals know they will shoot first ESPECIALLY IF their victim has a gun, simply because the legal ramifications of pulling the trigger will cause a police officer or honest citizen to hesitate firing.

A Person can be shot several times and still posses the capacity to shoot back and kill the person shooting at them. When a TASER is deployed in the same scenario, the citizen with the Taser will be quick to use the protection it affords (since it will not kill) and the villain will not have the capacity to shoot back (or even get off the floor- for that matter).

Recent Crimes in the Turks and Caicos Islands: A family was attacked in their home, tied up, raped, terrorized and held hostage while accomplices raided the ATM with a threat to kill the family at any time. A TASER in the hands of the family could have stopped the event from happening. Although no one died in that seize, the emotional trauma can be worse than death.

Two Port Authority Officers were accosted and tied up in Grand Turk by gun wielding robbers. If those officers had been equipped with Tasers, the robbery could have been stopped.

A Security Guard was shot at and held at gun-point in a Grace Bay Jewelry store. Had that Guard been equipped with a TASER, that robbery would not have occurred.

Cash transits are made every day by business owners and security guards neither of which have guns. The vulnerability to crime for these innocent civilians is unreasonable. A TASER carried prominently by the escorting security officers would go a long way to curtailing these regular banking type robberies.

Convenience stores, Gas Stations, Bars and Resorts should have legal access to some type of reliable defense against crime. TASER provides excellent defense without the ramifications of causing death.

The FACTS are: Tasers DO NOT cause deaths. Deaths that have been recorded are only associated with the use of a Taser, but not the direct cause.

Just as in airline travel, you are going to have some accidents, but there are still 10,000 safe flights a day. There is a greater chance of death in the shower

TURKS & CAICOS WATER COMPANY LTD.

REVERSE OSMOSIS TECHNICIAN

Turks & Caicos Water Company Limited would like to fill the following position for a Reverse Osmosis Technician immediately. Applicant must have 5 years experience in Sea Water Reverse Osmosis, working for facilities producing a minimum of 2.0 MGD of potable water. Applicant must be proficient with RO Pro software, customized SCADA systems, design of membrane arrays, rebuilding of high pressure pumps & energy recover devices, TIG welding, and laboratory analysis of potable water. Applicant must be drug free, have high school degree, valid driver’s license, dependable transportation and clean criminal record. Position requires swing shift hours and 24/7 on call for emergencies.

Resume with cover letter must addressed to Plant Manager and be mailed to PO Box 483, Providenciales or faxed to 649-946-5191. Suitable resumes will be offered to complete an application process, which includes basic written examination regarding safety and process technologies, police background check and drug test.

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

Salary is $600.00 per week based on experience. All resumes must be received by November 22, 2010.

Page 15

by slipping on the soap than by being killed by a TASER. Tasers simply use a small electrical impulse (less than the power of a Christmas tree light bulb). The secret is in the frequency of that pulse that interferes with the neuro-muscular activity and renders the body immobile.

Tasers do not contain bullets, or gunpowder.

Tasers are safe, even if they are used incorrectly. Officers being trained in the use of Tasers are required to be Tased themselves, with no harm coming to them. Conversely, officers trained to use a GUN are not likewise required to be shot with a bullet before they graduate.

Of the million or so TASER uses, only two tenths of one percent ended in deaths, while 100% of GUN related incidents involve injury, blood, hospitals and many even ended in a tragic death. Clearly, to compare a Taser with a gun is not reasonable or credible.

The best things about Taser: If they get in the hands of a criminal, the moment they are shot, hundreds of confetti scraps are scattered at the site which identify the Taser owner to authorities.

Even if the Taser is stolen, the dots can be connected back to the criminal.

Unlike Guns that can get an unlimited supply of bullets, a stolen

Taser can only be used once because the cartridges can only be purchased by the registered owner.

A Taser can only be purchased by a law- abiding citizen after a background-police record check.

A Taser will not operate until the owner is given a safety course and then an unlock code is issued to allow the Taser to operate.

Even if a child were to find a Taser, the safety function has child protections built in and IF accidently discharged, will not kill or wound the child as a gun could.

Once you have the facts about TASERS, you will agree with me that the device is a viable self -defense tool and should be permitted for civilian use in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Finally, the idea of outlawing Guns would be great if you could really find them; but as we all know, only the criminals and thugs carry guns now, leaving all of the rest of us at their mercy – and criminals are not about to abide by any gun laws!

The only ones left without defense on this island are the law abiding citizens trying to protect their families – let’s get together and demand that the honest people on this island be allowed to protect ourselves from those that attack our families and our businesses.

You can sign the petition online here www.petitiononline.com/TASER Let your voice be heard.

VACANCY NOTICE

ISLAND TOUR SPECIALISTS

Applications are invited from qualified employees for the position of Island Tour Specialists.

The successful applicant will be responsible for daily sales and marketing for tours in Turks & Caicos Islands. He/She should satisfy the following minimum requirements: The preferred qualifications/skills are:-

• At least 3 years experience in sales or marketing • Excellent communication skills • High School Certificate or Diploma • An extensive knowledge of Turks & Caicos Islands and its attractions • Excellent command of the English Language • Have excellent Public Relations, marketing, sales and selling techniques • Applicants must be enthusiastic and self motivated • Have the ability to maintain and manage a running database to reflect revenue earned • Have the ability to develop marketing plans to create and generate extra revenue • Be professional, positive, open-minded and energetic • Be able to work on their own initiative as well as be a “self-starter” • Understanding and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment • Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills • Certificate in marketing or sales will be an asset • Proven knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite Remuneration: $5.60 per hour plus monthly commission. All applications, accompanied by an up-to-date resume should be sent to the following e-mail mforbes@islandroutes.com no later than November 12, 2010.

Page 16

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

RULING ON TCI BANK, BY SUPREME COURT JUDGE HON. RICHARD WILLIAMS As a public service, the Turks and Caicos SUN is reproducing the extempore ruling made by His Lordship Mr. Justice Richard N. Williams, on Friday October 29, 2010, in the matter between Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission and TCI Bank.

Lawyers: Jonatan Katan, for the Financial Services Commission; Norman Saunders/Saunders & Co for TCI Bank, Clayton Greene for Provisional Liquidators; Martin Green for Claymore Asset Management (CAM) etc; Ariel Misick QC:, for the National Insurance Board; Guy Chapman for Entec and Wendell Swann for the creditors.

JUDGE EX TEMPORE RULING

I feel it important to give this ruling now in open Court rather than reserving it and handing a written judgment down at a later date.

I therefore apologise if the grammar appears to be a little rough at the edges. A written transcript of this ruling can be provided, although its format will be in note form and not in that of a formal written ruling and should be treated as a record of the oral ruling with all the imperfections in style, spelling and grammar that may come with that.

Position of Parties in Court Today I have before me the Petition of Financial Services Commission ("FSC") presented on 7th April 2010. The FSC contends that the Petition should be heard and a winding-up order made today. This is not opposed by the Company, TCI Bank ("The Bank"). It is not that the Bank agrees with the factual background set out by the FSC upon which these winding-up proceedings commenced, but due to the position that the Bank now finds itself in, the Petition is now supported by the NIB, who initially took a different view as they felt that all attempts should be made to see if a `rescue package' for the Bank could be reached.

The NIB now feels that that time has passed. It appears that a requirement for a decision to be made by the Court on the Petition is also supported by the creditors represented by Mr. Martin Green, whose details are set out in Notice of Appearance date 30th, July 2010.

Mr. Swann, who appears today, for the first time, on behalf of a handful of other creditors, does not support the hearing of the Petition proceeding today, contending that an adjournment should be given to consider further avenues of rescue for the Bank.

The Provisional Liquidators had expressed in their conclusions on page 24 of their "Analysis of Rescue Proposals" dated July 13, 2010 that "The proposal more in line with our requirements is that presented by ECIC Holdings Limited (The Investor Banks) who are prepared to inject permanent cash equity of $12.5million for the continued operation of the Bank."

On 13th August 2010 the Bank, pursuant to Section 84 Companies Ordinance, filed an originating summons for leave to convene meetings to consider the scheme of arrangements proposed to be made between the company and its creditors and with the company and the shareholders of the company.

The scheme of arrangements were exhibited at `NH4' to the affidavit of Norman Hamilton dated 13th August, 2010. That scheme of arrangements involved investors, ECIC Holdings Limited, backed by St Kitts Nevis Anguilla International Bank and National Bank of Dominica Ltd ("the EC Banks") taking over the Bank.

Meetings were held, and 97.85% of the shareholders and 99.98% of the creditors in value, voted in favour of the scheme of arrangements. It then appeared that, at last, there was some positive news and a real hope that the Bank could be rescued. All parties were striving to put the proposed arrangement in place.

Sadly, at the hearing on 9th September 2010, it became apparent that the FSC was understandably unable to endorse the offer or scheme of arrangements.

The $12.5 million had not been placed escrow in this jurisdiction. This had been a key requirement of the FSC, as well as of the Provisional Liquidators for rescue, as set out at page 11 of the latters' "Analysis of

Rescue Proposals" dated July 13, 13 2010.

2010.

Of great significance, and really There were further serious the paramount problem for ENTEC, concerns about whether the EC Banks is that TCI Bank is still not in a had the necessary internal approvals position to support their proposal. and external regulatory approvals.

The Bank, on the whole, shares the At the hearing on 22nd same concerns as the FSC about the September 2010, it was evident that substance of ENTEC's proposals. As the proposed scheme, in that form, a consequence the Bank feels unable could not proceed, as the Banks were to make a S84 application, which unable to obtain regulatory sign off by would, in the circumstances of this their regulator, the Eastern Caribbean matter, be required to move Central Bank, confirming that they ENTEC's proposals forward. were approving the offer.

It does appear that the FSC has At the hearing, Mr. Chapman formed a firm view that they are far stated that there was a proposal for the from satisfied, even if there were EC Banks to move forward with further time afforded by an ENTEC Financial Services Ltd, who adjournment, that a licence would be would provide the majority of the granted. Sadly, it is most likely that His Lordship Mr. Justice required investment. The Court we would be in precisely the same Richard N. Williams cautiously agreed to a short position we are in today in, say, three adjournment until the 7th October months time, save that more assets 2010 to see whether there was real substance in the would have drained out of the Bank. proposal.

Most regretfully, on the material before me and in The Court was provided with an affidavit from Mr. the circumstances of these protracted winding up Philip Springer, sworn on 4th October 2010, setting out proceedings, I feel that a further adjournment is not ENTEC's proposals and reasons why they were viable. appropriate. There have already been ten adjournments I should state at this point that I have today again and costs of the liquidation are increasing daily. The carefully read this affidavit and attached exhibits, and time has come for certainty. I make this decision with listened very carefully to Mr. Springer's oral evidence a heavy heart, understanding how it may affect the and the eloquent submissions of Mr. Chapman. creditors and community as whole and Mr. Swann's Shortness of time does not enable me to rehearse fully wise caution has been at the forefront of my mind the contents of that affidavit in this oral ruling. throughout.

Mr. Chapman was, at the hearing held on 7th October, pressing for a three-month adjournment to Hearing of The Petition enable the FSC to carry out its enquiries into the offer I must now go on and consider the petition and those who were making it. At that time, having Although I set out large parts of my previous regard to the large number of adjournments and rulings in this matter, this will mean, and I apologise to escalating costs of the liquidation, I was not satisfied on those who have been involved throughout and have the material before me that it was suitable to adjourn already read those rulings, repetition of the contents of for that length of time. my earlier rulings.

I recommended to the parties that they should try I do so as I feel it is very important that, as this is and compile a single document with outstanding a final ruling, the decision I have to make today is put enquiries or concerns to be addressed and submit them into context by looking at the history of this matter. in good time to Mr. Chapman, thus enabling the even The creditors and/or members of the community then apparent issues to be addressed. who are unable to be at Court today may thereby be An important factor on my mind was that if the able to understand why we find ourselves in the sad FSC regulator felt so concerned that it could not situation we do today, and the basis of my decision. commend the viability of the proposals that in reality it had little or no prospect of success. The substratum of Background the company would not be there. (Canada (attorney The FSC was established as a body corporate. It general) v Security Home Mortgage Corporation has been given regulatory functions over the financial services sector, including Banks, in the Turks and (1996) 45 Alta LR (3d) 98.

After the hearing of 7th October 2010, an email Caicos Islands.

TCI Bank Ltd which is a company incorporated on was sent by Mr. Wilson, the attorney then representing the FSC, setting out a list of the FSC's requirements. 17th, August 2005 carries on business as a Bank and On hearing from the parties today, I am not satisfied holds a National Banking License and an overseas that those requirements, which I view as reasonable, banking license to carry on banking business pursuant have been satisfactorily addressed by ENTEC. The to the Banking Ordinance. That license was granted on impression I have is that Mr. Springer, an established 24th June 2005.

A Petition applying for the winding up of the Bank businessman, is well intended and is genuine in his was presented by the FSC on 7th April 2010, nearly desire to take over and run the Bank. I must balance seven months ago, relying on the S92 (f) Companies this, against the factual background of an aged Ordinance public interest ground. Public interest presented petition which has had a long history, provisions, such as in this case, are frequently based on involving the surprising decision of the EC Banks to grounds that a company's business practices are move so far ahead with their proposal without first inappropriate and place the public at risk of loss, or that receiving the required regulatory authority. This is the assets of investors are in jeopardy. The very nature compounded by the fact that today in Court, the parties of such a ground usually makes the appointment of a and I have learnt for the first time that the EC Banks provisional liquidator desirable. So, on the 7th April may not even be able to invest as suggested in the 2010, the FSC also filed an ex parte application for the ENTEC proposals. appointment of Anthony Kikavarkis and Mark E I have hitherto not been satisfied about the Munnings of Deloitte & Touche, Nassau, Bahamas as substance behind the offer by ENTEC, an entity with a joint provisional liquidators for TCI Bank Ltd. In a background primarily in the insurance industry and petition of this nature, to ensure independence and who have an apparent unwillingness to understand the impartiality, it would not have been appropriate to importance and reasons behind the requirements of the appoint a local provisional liquidator FSC. It is important to note the requirements for rescue set out in report of the provisional liquidator dated July Continued on NEXT PAGE (17)

Page 17

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

TCI BANK RULING CONT’D Continued from Previous Page

In support of its application, the FSC contended that Under S33(1) of the FSC Ordinance it may take enforcement proceedings against the licensee Bank.

Mr. Katan contended at that hearing that whether the FSC may take enforcement proceedings was a matter for them, and not for the Court, to determine.

I accepted that it was for the FSC to decide whether they were of the opinion that they could take enforcement action, and that then, they could automatically go on to Section 33(2) if they thought it was expedient in the public interest that the Bank should be wound up.

If having made that decision and presented the Petition, it would then be for the Court to decide whether it was just and equitable that the Bank should be wound up. As I stated in my 9th April ruling, it is for the Court, at the hearing of the petition, to form its own view as to what the public interest requires.

I must have regard to its function, as set out in Re Walter L Jacob Ltd, namely to carry out a balancing exercise between those matters relied upon by the FSC which constitute reasons why the Bank should be wound up compulsorily, and those matters relied upon by the Bank (if they had opposed the winding up) which constitute reasons why it should not, giving such weight to each matter as it thinks appropriate in light of all the evidence before the Court and the submissions made thereon. I reiterate that the Bank does not oppose the making of a winding-up order today.

In April, I stated in my ruling that no matter what the FSC may contend, the Bank was still an active company and that the FSC who asserted that it is just and equitable for the Court to wind it up, had to put forward reasons and evidence in support, which have a weight justifying such an order.

The FSC submitted at the April hearing that it could take enforcement proceedings against the Bank because it contended that; • S 33(1) (iii) - The Bank was carrying on, or was likely to still carry on, business in a manner detrimental to the public interest or to the interest of any of its customers or creditors: and/or • S33 (1) (iv) — The Bank was likely to become insolvent: and/or • S33 (l) (v) — The Bank had failed to comply with a directive given to it by the FSC • The Bank had contravened or remained in contravention of the Banking Ordinance and Regulations.

The FSC submitted that, from their monitoring of the Bank, they had concluded that it was carrying on business and was likely to remain carrying on business in a manner that was detrimental to the public interest and to its customers and creditors: In support of this contention, the FSC highlighted at that hearing that they believed: 1. That 5 members of Board of Directors had credit facilities in accounts that were not clearly identified as related party accounts. The FSC stated that the Company could not confirm whether in all instances the Board had been made aware of, or approved, these loans, which was a breach of the Company's policies and procedures. As of June 30, 2009 the total balance of those loans was $3,842,494.21 and the FSC was of the belief that this amount would not have decreased and was likely to have increased.

2. That the Company was not following its own provisioning policy and had not rectified the position since the FSC Report from September 2009.

3. That the Company continued to fail to obtain certificates of good standing from all corporate customers on an annual basis — the Bank failed to address all of the issues relating to personal loans including not holding evidence of current life assurance, and not reviewing accounts.

4. That the Company's administration of credit was critically weak. Including no standard checklists in files, no annual reviews in files, no evidence of review of follow-up work, were

missing documentation and unsigned documents on files, were unassigned insurance policies and also numerous instances where overdraft accounts had exceeded authorised limits without evidence of approval.

The FSC further highlighted their view that: Following the FSC examination in August/September of last year, there was a real concern in FSC about the Bank's ability to trade long term and that there was a real risk to the Bank and to the public if it failed in an unstructured manner. The FSC said that, as a consequence, a credit directive, an asset directive and a reporting directive were given by the FSC to the Bank on January 1st 2010. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the FSC contended that the Company failed to properly and promptly comply with the credit directive.

The FSC also highlighted that: There was a real concern that the Company was likely to become insolvent. This concern, they contended, derived from the Grant Thornton Specialist Services (Cayman) Ltd Report following a limited review of the Company which had been commissioned by the Company.

The Report accepted that Bank was in a very difficult position and that the Board and management were asked to think about contingency plans in the event that the Bank could not be kept open. The Company was told that they would need to get additional funding. The Court was told that despite making attempts, this has not been forthcoming and does not look as if it would be.

The Court was told that only two possible sources could be identified, but were both "non starters" as they were contingent upon the NIB being willing to unprioritise their $5.5 million secured loan. The Court was told that NIB was not willing to do that.

The FSC also stated at that hearing that, as a consequence, there was a significant concern about the liquidity risk for the Company. The Court was told that the Bank was unable to honour some, especially the larger, requests for transfers in a timely fashion and this, coupled with a concern that it was not able to collect all interest due to it, the FSC submitted, meant that there was a high risk of the Company defaulting on its obligations, leading to an unregulated and unmanaged collapse.

The FSC contended that the figures showed that the Bank was very vulnerable to any further commercial customers seeking to move their accounts. The Court was told that two corporate account holders had recently each removed $1 million.

In fact when Mr. Kikivarakis, after his appointment and initial investigation, reported to the Court in the presence of the Company and FSC representatives on 14th April 2010, he said that after the shareholder had invested $5.5 million in January, that shortly thereafter in February, two depositors each removed $2 million, and that a former director of the Bank removed $1.7 million in February/March. This meant that the $5.5 million injection was almost completely removed.

The Court was, and is, not aware of the reasons why those persons/entities decided to remove such sums at that time, but if the Court had been aware of the size of these withdrawals at the ex-parte hearing, it would have only increased the Court's significant concern that if that pattern continued it would inevitably lead to the Company becoming insolvent. With regard to the nature of these withdrawals, the concern existed that the existence of the application and Petition may very well become known in the community prior to any onnotice hearing being heard and concluded. That would have inevitably led to a calamitous situation, with an unstructured run on the Bank, with management who, on the evidence placed before the Court, was not able or willing to manage the Bank's affairs in accordance with their own, and the Regulators’, good practices and with no independent persons, like the provisional liquidators, overseeing the day to day running of the Bank.

Those persons in the know, or who may have been put in the know about the Bank's circumstances, would have been able to secure their position, as they could get to be first in the queue to withdraw, but then inevitably the small depositor, the hard working man of the street, being left to scramble for likely non-existent scraps left over. At the hearing, I was also made aware that an application to the Court for the release of about $6.1 million was also being considered by another entity.

The FSC contended, at that hearing, that the Bank had been unable to address its increasing lack of liquidity caused by poor credit control resulting in high levels of NPL and increasing number of withdrawals from these significant commercial customers. However, at the hearing it was accepted by the FSC that the Board of Directors had made some attempts to rectify the position for example by streamlining by closing branches and making staff redundant, although they viewed it as being " too little too late."

The FSC then further submitted to the Court their view that the Board of Directors had been unable to adequately address the issues of loss of confidence in the Bank and that the Bank's deficit had increased between March 23rd to March 26th, 2010 from $619,900 to $904,000. The FSC was already concerned enough by the fact that there was a deficit but this concern was increased by the fact that the deficit was in fact still increasing.

The FSC further contended that the Bank had contravened the Banking Ordinance and Regulations concerning maintaining capital, liquid assets and reserve funds. In particular the Company was required to maintain a ratio of capital to risk weighted assets of not less than 11% (an international standard) but in February 2010 it was only 10.7%. The Court was also told that the 10.7% figure was artificially high as it did not take into account the additional provisioning that should be in place. The Court was told that the Company had failed to ensure that liquid assets to deposit liabilities are not less than 12% (again, an international standard) as at end of February 2010 the ratio for the Company was only 10%. Finally, the Court was told that the Bank has failed to maintain a reserve fund.

The expressed concerns of the FSC, supported by affidavit evidence, that the Bank was running the business in a manner detrimental to the public interest and/or interest of its customers, that it had failed to comply with a directive from the FSC, and that the Bank had been, and was still, in contravention of the Banking Ordinance and Regulations, amounted to a good prima facie case for the winding up of the Company. Despite that finding I went on to caution myself and stated in my ruling: "I am conscious that this is a serious order to make, and is by no means a routine part of the winding up process, especially ex parte. The effect of any appointment is that the powers of the Board of directors immediately cease, and the powers of managing the company will vest in the Provisional Liquidator. Jam acutely aware that an ex parte appointment will allow the Provisional Liquidator to show up at the door of the Company's office and proceed to take over control of all documents, assets and property of the Company. He will be able to exercise the considerable powers conferred to him in the face of the court order."

I went on to remind myself that: "The appointment of a provisional liquidator will have serious consequences for this Company & sadly may cause irreversible damage to the goodwill and reputation of the Bank........”

I am also conscious of the fact that an ex parte application for a Provisional Liquidator should be made only where absolutely necessary..........”.

Continued on NEXT PAGE (18)

Page 18

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

TCI BANK RULING CONT’D Continued from Previous Page

I further stated in the ex tempore ruling: "The ex parte appointment is sought because of the extreme sensitivity of the application and that having regard to the small size of this jurisdiction, if "word of the application got out" before any on-notice hearing was concluded there would be customer panic resulting in removal of funds from deposit accounts.

If no Provisional liquidator was in place, especially with the pleaded concerns about the directors and management to adequately conduct the Bank's business, at this time the consequences to the Bank and to the financial sector in the jurisdiction as a whole could be extremely damaging. There is a real concern that if one of the larger corporate investors heard about the application and removed their funds, that it would cause an immediate collapse of the Bank A collapse in this unstructured way would have a catastrophic effect on small unsecured investors but also would be against the public interest of TCI, as for the Bank to collapse in those circumstances would cast a shadow over the financial sector in the TCI. A provisional liquidator, in control of the company could ensure that the `man on the street's' interests are best protected and show that TCI was able to supervise such an institution when collapsing."

I further stated in that ruling: "concern that the assets and the affairs of the Company are in jeopardy. The appointment would ensure that the assets and property of the Respondent are under the control of the Provisional Liquidator until the determination of the winding up petition or further order of this Court."

I went on to say: "If I was sitting in another larger jurisdiction I may not have felt it appropriate to make such an order ex parte, as there would be a real possibility that the on-notice hearing could be heard without the public having any prior knowledge. I accept that this is small jurisdiction which at this current time is gripped by a never seen before uncertainty caused by the weak economy.......... The public are not aware of the information concerning the apparent very serious state of the Bank's affairs which I have been told by the FSC. In this prevailing climate Jam satisfied that if knowledge of the petition and the application for a provisional liquidator came to the public's attention before a provisional liquidator was in place, and I am of the view that in this jurisdiction it is extremely difficult, if not nigh impossible, to keep such matters gagged, there would be a massive run on the assets of the Bank The Bank does not have the resources to meet that. Also regretfully, although I am aware that the Bank have been auctioning certain properties purchased with loaned money, due to the circumstances outlined to me by the FSC about the management of the Bank which has been to the detriment of the public, investors' and creditors' interests ,I am unable to be satisfied that they could cope or react to such a situation.

Therefore, I am satisfied that the grounds for appointing a provisional liquidator, namely a good prima facie case for saying a winding up order will be made, are made out. In these exceptional circumstances that exist at this time in TCI, having regard the unique circumstances of this Company and its importance to the stability of the financial sector in TCI and balancing the risk of waiting to have this application heard on notice and the catastrophic effect of information leaking out, in the public interest I feel there is no option but to make such an order ex parte. " After finding that the FSC had the standing to present the Petition and make the application and after finding that that there was a good prima facie case in relation to the making of a winding up order and upon finding that on the information before the Court the appointment of a provisional liquidator was urgently required (even at an ex parte hearing), the Court went on to consider the suitability of Mr. Kikivarakis and Mr. Munnings. After carefully considering the details of Mr. Kikivarakis' and Mr. Munnings' professional experience, the Court firmly concluded that they had the requisite insolvency experience to be appointed in a case of this nature, with this specific Company and with the potential politically sensitive nature of

this Company. Accordingly, on the 9th April 2010, the Court appointed Mr. Kikivarakis and Mr. Munnings as joint provisional liquidators and set out the powers which they may exercise.

Importantly, I then went further, indicating to the Provisional Liquidators that they should explore all reasonable options to see if a stabilization or rescue package could be put together for the Bank. In their Analysis of Rescue proposals dated July 13th, 2010 The Provisional Liquidators acknowledged this when they stated, " In addition to our orders mandated by the Court, Justice Williams requested that we explore rescue options for the Bank." This is a position that the Court has hitherto consistently held.

The Court also made it clear that their remuneration would be set at the same level as that ordered for other winding up proceedings in this jurisdiction. The court made it clear that their disbursements must be kept at a reasonable level and that before payment would be made, they must submit detailed fee notes that would be scrutinized.

At that hearing I made clear my expectation that the Provisional Liquidators, when exercising their duties, should consider calling meeting(s) for the creditors, contributories and shareholders to explain what was happening and the possible way forward. I am satisfied they have done this as best they can, in trying circumstances.

The Provisional Liquidators set out their views on the status of the Bank in their First Report dated June 2nd, 2010. They found that the Bank had been in a distressed position for at least eighteen months prior to their appointment. They expressed concern that they had found that: • A substantial portion of the Company's interest income was uncollectable, due to a large portfolio of delinquent and non performing loans.

• The Company had a serious liquidity problem from as early as February 2008 • The Company's shareholders provided a substantial portion of its liquidity, due to large deposits placed with the Company.

• The Company in the first two years of its operations had made a small number of large loans, many of which were non-performing due to the downturn in the economy.

• The Company had experienced recurring losses over twenty one months, from August 2008 to April 2010 • It appeared that the Company had overspent on fixed assets, particularly leasehold improvements that could not be recovered in the event of a liquidation.

• That there had been a loss of confidence by the public in the previous 12 months which was illustrated by the falling non-related party deposit balances.

They concluded that "these findings are preliminary and not exhaustive but they show the Company was continuing to lose money, customers and depositors. Significant provisioning for bad loans that was needed was not being captured because too much emphasis was being placed on overinflated property values established at the time of the real estate bonanza."

In their July 13, 2010 report, the Provisional Liquidators were of the view that the Bank's equity had been completely eroded as at the date of the liquidation in April and needed to be replaced.

There have been a number of hearings since April. The details of some of those hearings have already set out by me today. I need not details the others for the purpose of this ruling. It is exceptional and far from the norm in winding up proceedings for there to be so many adjournments. However, the Court has been willing, in this unique (for this jurisdiction) case which has such great importance to the country, to adjourn for the purpose of exploring proposals that had a reasonable prospect of success.

The Court, and, dare I say, the parties have tried with the support and exhaustive efforts of the Provisional Liquidators, to venture up every reasonable avenue to try and see if the Bank can be saved.

The position today is that I have before me an unopposed petition. The Bank does not contend that it should not be wound up. There is no current approved scheme of arrangement before the Court.

The scheme previously approved by the creditors and

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

shareholders could not proceed, despite time having been given, due to the inability of the EC Banks to meet the regulatory authority's requirements. There is currently no viable scheme before the Court as evidenced by the Bank feeling that it is not in a position to issue a Section 84 application in support of ENTECS proposals. .

When considering the material before me I also have regard to the balancing exercise set out by Nicholls LJ in Re Walter L Jacob and Co Ltd [1989] BCLC 345 at pp351-2, namely: "... the court has regard to all the circumstances of the case as established by the material before the court at the hearing.... The court will consider those matters which constitute reasons why the company should be wound up compulsorily and those which constitute reasons why it should not. The court will carry out a balancing exercise, giving such weight to the various factors as is appropriate in the particular case."

I also have regard to the guidance of Millett LJ in Re Senator Hanseatische Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH [1997] 1 WLR 515 at p 526 when he stated: "... the decision to wind up the company is not left to the Secretary of State but to the court, which must consider whether it is just and equitable to do so. In reaching its decision the court will take into account the interests of all parties, present members and creditors of the company..., as well as the interest of the public who may hereafter have dealings with the company" • In these circumstances, I am satisfied from the evidence filed on behalf of the FSC it is just and equitable for TCI Bank to be wound up and it is the public interest for me to do so and with great sadness and regret I so order.

• I am, invited to confirm the appointment of the Provisional Liquidators, as the liquidators. There is no objection by any interested person to their appointment. Therefore, I appoint Anthony Kikavarkis and Mark E Munnings of Deloitte & Touche, Nassau, Bahamas as joint liquidators for TCI Bank Ltd. Powers will be as set out in The Ordinance.

DEOMARDO CLARKE SEEKS

1 OPERATOR

Salary $15.00 per hour Must have at least nine years experience Interested person should contact 242-4354

DOMESTIC WORKER NEEDED To work 6 days per week including holidays Salary is $200 per week Interested persons should contact: 231-3617

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The Regent Village Turks & Caicos, receives Prestigious Best Retail Development, America’s Property Awards

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

HAB GROUP IS delighted to announce the Regent Village has won an award in the category of BEST RETAIL DEVELOPMENT of the International Property Awards within the highly competitive America’s property arena.

The International Property awards, is the world’s most prestigious competition dedicated to finding the best real estate professionals across the globe.

Run in association with Bloomberg Television and Google it puts leading elite companies firmly in the global limelight.

This year’s judging was carried out by the International Property Awards’ esteemed panel of judges at the London offices of Bloomberg Television and includes leading world experts Luke McKend, industry head property markets of Google UK, Peter Bolton King, group chief executive of the National Federation of Property Professionals and Thijs Stoffer, International Consortium of Real Estate Agents Association (ICREA).

Paul Slattery, Development Director, said: “The fact that The Regent Village has won this award is a marvelous achievement and proof that HAB Group is capable of developing prestigious, high-quality real estate.

We are proud that we can stand among the ultimate property developers in the world and delighted that we are one of the winners of this highly acclaimed industry award. This award is a culmination of dedication and hard work of HAB staff who have strived for excellence since we opened our doors three years ago. We will continue to strive for the quality that has become expected of us to make The Regent Village an even more attractive proposition for our current and potential investors.”

The International Property

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Awards will be presented at a gala dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, in London on the 26th and 27th of November where leading property professionals from more than 100 countries will attend.

The entries are currently being rejudged as they compete against other winning companies from Europe and Africa, UK, Arabia and Asia Pacific to find the ultimate World’s best in each category. The results of which will be announced at the gala presentation.

The Regent Village “The Heart of Provo”, located in Grace Bay is a modern and attractive plaza which boasts over 30 well-established shopping, dining, tourism and professional businesses. Offering 150,000 square feet of brand new construction, a state-of-the art conference centre, two-storey car park, 24-hour security and CCTV, it is a fabulous addition to the attractions of Grace Bay and is fast on its way to becoming the “hot spot” of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

HAB is the leading Developer in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Founded in 1983 their portfolio includes the Turks & Caicos Water Company, Provo Golf and Country Club, the Villa Renaissance, The Regent Grand Resort and Spa and the Regent Village. They also own large tracts of land on North Caicos and elsewhere on Providenciales.

HAB Group has been at the forefront of Property Development and has a reputation within the Turks and Caicos Islands as outstanding developers of luxury beachfront condominiums.

HAB are in the process of developing their most prestigious development to date, The Vellagio.

Established 16 years ago, the International Property Awards is the world’s most prestigious competition CASA BLANCA CASINO SEEKS CASINO SLOT MANAGER 3-5 yrs Casino Slot Management games master certificate 10-12 years slot tech experience Salary $18.00 per hour Contact Casa Blanca Casino 941-3737 2 dice dealers 2/3 years experience 2 or more table games dealers $12.50 per hr 1 Maintenance worker – Knowledge of plumbing and electrical work $12.50 per hr

Contact PH- 941-3737 or 244-4665

The Regent Village

dedicated to finding the most outstanding property professionals across the entire globe.

The top scoring finalists from each of these regional competitions (covering the Americas, Arabia, Europe, Africa, the UK and Asia Pacific) will now be flocking in eager anticipation to the Royal Lancaster Hotel in Hyde Park to discover whether or not they have won an ultimate ‘World’s Best’ award. These cover more than 36 different categories and include both the residential and commercial property sectors.

The two-day networking event will take the form of an exhibition with

seminars given by leading companies such as Bloomberg, Google, FIABCI, the Construction Industry Council and the National Federation of Property Professionals.

Additionally, Day Two will feature the presentations for both the UK Property Awards and the Americas Property Awards during the afternoon followed by a champagne reception and grand gala dinner where the International Property Awards will be presented to the World’s Best in each category. Bloomberg Television will also be interviewing representatives from many of the international companies attending the event.

POSITION AVAILABLE

Turks and Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay is seeking a suitable applicant to fill the post of: Essential Functions:

PAINTER

• Maintaining all furniture and buildings in accordance with international standards • Maintain inventory of paints/tools • Ordering of all paint to ensure consistent functioning without discontinuity • Ensure all work sites are left in a usable and safe condition • Keep work shop clean and in order • Reports to the Director of Facilities • Any other duties as may be assigned Requirements - Applicants must have and or be: • at least two (2) years of experience as a painter • attentive to details • able to understand and speak English fluently • able to work with little or no supervision • physically fit, dependable and hard working • in possession of clean police record and valid TCI Driver’s License • willing to reside on Ambergris Cay Salary range: $6 - $7 per hour.

Closing Date for Applications is Friday, November 26, 2010..

Applications must be addressed to: Ms. Dorothea Malcolm, Human Resources Director Turks & Caicos Sporting Club @ Ambergris Cay Unit 66, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: dorothea@ambergriscay.com Tel: (649) 941-3777 Fax: (649) 941-3778

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Tuberculosis case discovered in TCI

LOCAL NEWS

By Vivian Tyson SUN Senior Editor

NOTHING TO BE alarmed about; that is how the Ministry of Health is reacting to news that one case of tuberculosis has been discovered in the Turks and Caicos Islands recently.

The SUN understands that the case was discovered in Providenciales. A statement from the

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Ministry of Health confirmed the case, saying: “The Government confirms that a case of tuberculosis has been identified on the Turks and Caicos Islands. The person in question has been isolated, and is undergoing a full course of treatment.

Tuberculosis is less infectious than chicken pox and influenza, and the isolation should be regarded as a preventative measure only.”

In the meantime the Ministry of

HAB MANAGEMENT LTD.

CLEANER

Responsibilities: The successful applicant will be responsible for the general cleaning of communal areas, sweeping and mopping of floors, cleaning of windows and removal of trash. The applicant will also be responsible for any other duties assigned in regards to general cleaning.

Requirements: The successful applicant must be able to work with little to no supervision, should be physically fit, hard working and reliable.

Wages: $6.00 per hour

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by November 22 , 2010 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-9465191. Suitable applicants will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

Health has disclosed that persons who have recently been in sustained contact with the infected individual were interviewed by health officials as a precaution as per the recommendations of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre.

It is not clear if the individual contracted the disease while in the Turks and Caicos Islands or came into the country with the ailment. The Ministry of Health would not say either whether the individual is a visitor or a resident of the country.

Tuberculosis or TB is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by various strains of bacteria.

Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have the disease cough, sneeze, or spit.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said about one in ten latent infections eventually progresses to active disease which, if left untreated, kills more than 50% of its victims. The classic symptoms are chronic cough with blood-tinged sputum, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.

According to the WHO, one third of the world's population is thought to be infected with tuberculosis, and new infections occur at a rate of about one per second.

The WHO said the proportion of people who become sick with tuberculosis each year is stable or falling worldwide but, because of population growth, the absolute number of new cases is still increasing. In 2007 there were an estimated 13.7 million chronic active cases, 9.3 million new cases, and 1.8 million deaths, mostly in developing countries.

In addition, the WHO said more people in the developed world are contracting tuberculosis because their immune systems are compromised by immunosuppressive drugs, substance abuse, or AIDS. The WHO further noted that the distribution of tuberculosis is not uniform across the globe, saying that about 80 percent of the population in many Asian and African countries returned positive in tuberculin tests, while only 5 to10 percent of the US population tested positive.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNIT Y

AdministrAtive AssistAnt An Insurance Agency and Brokerage is seeking a dynamic, outgoing proactive person, with a background in Administration and Customer Service with a minimum of 2 years experience in General Life Insurance.

Job entails the processing of applications, policy documents, client renewals, supervision and assistance with claims. Secondary languages will be an asset along with any accounting knowledge or computer training with In-Visage Software Systems.

Interested persons, kindly send resumes to: Human Resource Manager P.O. Box 355 Providenciales Or Via Facsimile to 941-3988

IMMEDIATE OPENING FOR EXECUTIVE STAFF SOLUTIONS LTD

Requirements: • Excellent verbal, written and computer skills including Word, Excel, Quickbooks and Access with ability to create and maintain complex databases • Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize competing tasks and work with no supervision Duties Include: • Conducting sales calls and all follow-up related thereto • Maintaining databases and corporate accounts • Drafting correspondence, documents, applications and contracts for the company and for clients Wages are commission only with no set salary and depend entirely on sales and collections by the Executive Interested applicants should email resume and reference letters to HR Manager at staffsolutionslimited@gmail.com within 1 week of this notice. Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Page 21

Undefeatables win bragging rights as the fFirst Turks & Caicos National Dominoes Champions!

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

The Undefeatables claim the prize

THE FINAL LEG OF the Islandcom Wireless National Domino Tournament hit Providenciales Saturday October 30th.

Thirty-two (32) teams kicked off the Provo leg of the Tournament with high anticipation as the commentator taunted teams with the ultimate victory for the night – the chance to move on to the finals and compete for the title of National Domino Champion.

Experienced officials had their work cut out for them as the quick paced matches progressed, teams were eliminated and passions began to flare.

Between matches, spectators and players alike were treated with complimentary drinks, barbequed delights and snacks provided by Islandcom as well as a delicious assortment of menu items for purchase

by Caicos Catering.

Rain added to the challenge of the Quarter finals as seasoned domino players refused to stop play and surrender to the threat of weather. In the end the organizers and sponsors made a call to relocate the event to the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Centre before the semi-finals commenced.

Spirits remained high and determination intensified as officials kicked off the semi finals with the G&D Team up against Shut It Down and the Haitian National Team of Pierre and Jerome challenging The Undefeatables. In the end it was The Undefeatables team of Lowell Anderson and Orville Taylor and the G&D team of Deanza Wilson and Gervaree Delancey who would battle for the coveted title.

It was a dramatic show of passionate domino as the two teams pitted skill against skill. Under the firm supervision of referee’s Don, Judith, Mel and Ossie it was the undefeated Undefeatables who would go home with the Provo title and the pot of $640.

It was an outpouring of emotions as spectators and teams registered loud appeals and congratulations in tandem in what can only be described as the

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

fiery flame of Caribbean domino.

The audience and noise levels grew as the winners from North & Middle Caicos, South Caicos, Grand Turk and the newly crowned champions of Provo sat down for round one of the finals. The Robinson’s Team from North & Middle took on Provo’s Undefeatables whilst The Fish team of South Caicos took on The Waterboots Team of Grand Turk. Spectators were treated to Domino at its best as the Island Champions showcased their skill in a bid for a spot in the competition’s ultimate challenge – the FINALS! In the end it was The Fish Team that would go head to head with The Undefeatables for the National title.

The much anticipated Finals would not disappoint as spectators loyalties divided and the two top teams in the competition put on a best of the best show. The Undefeatables emerged overall champions for the competition and walked away (for the second time in one night with the pot of $2000 as well as Blackberry Pearls and the power of 3G from Islandcom Wireless.

“Islandcom is proud of how this domino tournament has gone,” said Tanya-Sue Young, Marketing and Customer Care Manager of Islandcom, “the communities really turned out in their numbers and it was sheer pleasure to see how much this event meant to our people - we have received so many calls of appreciation for organizing this event.” Islandcom Wireless has committed to make the Domino Tournament an annual event.

“This tournament gave the people of the Turks and Caicos a chance to enjoy themselves whether they were playing or just watching,” said Leonard Forbes, member of the Bambara Buds Team from Provo.

The event was co-sponsored by Blackberry for the Official launch of the new Blackberry 3G Pearl in the Turks and Caicos.

LOCAL NEWS

Russians vs. Big Blue in a tense Round 1 Match.

An afternoon of intense domino at the Islandcom Wireless National Domino Tournament at Authorized Dealer in Butterfield Square, Providenciales

Diamonds vs. Caicos Boys

Page 22

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

BEST Institute stages quiz on TCI

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

BY V IVIAN TYSON SUN S ENIOR EDITOR

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

THE STUDENTS AT BEST Institute, on Friday, October 29, demonstrated their vast knowledge on all things Turks and Caicos, with the staging of their second annual inter-house quiz competition, held on the school grounds in Blue Hills.

Principal for the school Mr. Leonard Glasgow told The SUN that the aim of the quiz competition was to test the students’ knowledge on a number of topics relating to the TCI, including its history, heritage, social development and local happening.

“I want the students to become Winning House, Cactus collects their trophy from Camille Musgrove of JS Johnson Insurance more aware of the Turks and Caicos Islands, its history and its people.

We tend to focus a lot on other countries and we don’t know much about the different islands, their food and who help to make up the industry. And since we are celebrating Health and Family Month (October), we also added some health and family life questions. And it was keen competition between the three houses of the BEST Institute,” Glasgow said.

Glasgow said that this year’s competition proved that the children were grasping the teaching of the Top Male competitor Roman TCI culture since they correctly Simons Top Female Competitor Dannekha Smith collects her aware answered a lot more questions than from Blossom Simons of Bethany Baptist Church

Page 23

when the competition was first held last year.

In addition to questions posed, the students were also quizzed on visuals – many of the pictures containing historic sites located around the country. They were also asked to identify the islands for which certain dishes are known, while being asked to tell of some of the founding fathers of the TCI and which islands they were from. TCI Creole was also part of the quiz.

In the end, it was Cactus House that was crowned champions with 275 points, outscoring Hibiscus House, who amassed 215 points, with Yellow Elder finishing in third spot on 130 points. Hibiscus was the champions last year.

The top individual scorer was Dannekha Smith, making her the top female of the competition, while Roman Simons snared the most bonus points title, enabling him to win the overall male student title.

Glasgow said he was encouraged by the level of sponsorship from corporate TCI, saying that the corporate feedback was encouraging to the children.

The sponsors were Royal Jewels, JS Johnson Insurance, Carambola Restaurant, Bethany Baptist Church, the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board and an anonymous donor from Bethany Baptist Church.

Page 24

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Telecoms company LIME staged its 2010 symposium at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa on October 29, to showcase its wide array of products and ser vices aimed at making life easier especially for its business customers. In addition to displaying its products and ser vices, LIME also brought in a number of partners and supplier s, to parade their products and suppor t systems. Among them were Mitel - a leading provider of communications software and solutions for a range of organizations; Avaya, which bought Nortel and Canadian phone manufacturers RIM (Research In Motion) – makers of the line of Blackberr y smar t phones.

Sounds of Sax at LIME's cocktail party.

LIME TCI's Symposium

A cross section of the crowd at LIME's symposium

Speakers at the head table

Hurval Wray Mr. Davidson Charles, Managing Director of Leeward Islands

LIME TCI's mobile booth

Dane Spencer & Lester Foreman

L-R Tim Quant, Lorenzo Smith, Davidson Charles, Octavio Ortiz & Rodrigo Gonzalez

LIME staff at Cocktail event

LIME's Symposium with RIM's booth in the background

Mikael Missick & Servitre Smith

LIME's cake

Mr. David McBean - Managing Director of Customer Solutions

Page 26

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010 TURKS & CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

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LIFESTYLE

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Hot and dangerous If you’re one of us, then roll with us ‘Cause we make the hipsters fall in love And we’ve got hot-pants on enough And yes of course because we’re running this town just like a club And no, you don’t wanna mess with us Got Jesus on my necklace I’ve got that glitter on my eyes Stockings ripped all up the side Looking sick and sexy-fied So let’s go-o-o (Let’s go!) [chorus] Tonight we’re going hard Just like the world is ours We’re tearin’ it apart You know we’re superstars We are who we are!

We’re dancing like we’re dumb Our bodies go numb We’ll be forever young You know we’re superstars We are who we are!

DJ turn it up It’s about damn time to live it up I’m so sick of being so serious It’s making my brain delirious!

I’m just talkin’ truth

I’m telling you ’bout the s— we do We’re sellin’ our clothes, sleepin’ in cars Dressin’ it down, hittin’ on dudes (HARD!)

We Are Who We Are

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I’ve got that glitter on my eyes Stockings ripped all up the side Looking sick and sexy-fied So let’s go-o-o (Let’s go!) [chorus] Tonight we’re going hard Just like the world is ours We’re tearin’ it apart You know we’re superstars We are who we are!

We’re dancing like we’re dumb Our bodies go numb We’ll be forever young You know we’re superstars We are who we are!

DJ turn it up DJ turn it up DJ turn it up DJ turn it up

Tonight we’re going hard Just like the world is ours We’re tearin’ it apart You know we’re superstars We are who we are!

We’re dancing like we’re dumb Our bodies go numb We’ll be forever young You know we’re superstars We are who we are!

OW!

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

Rap star Lil Wayne released from Rikers Island

Page 29

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

ENTERTAINMENT

Grammy-winner served eight months in jail, says he was 'never scared'

NEW YORK — Lil Wayne has been freed from jail after serving eight months in a gun case, emerging with a hot new album, well-wishes from a former president and a deepened appreciation for his fans.

The city's Department of Correction website said Thursday the Grammy Award-winning rap star had been released from the Rikers Island jail complex.

"FREE AT LAST!!!!!!!" the rapper's longtime manager, Cortez Bryant, Tweeted Thursday morning.

His managers have said he planned to head for his home in Miami, where they're planning a welcome-home party Sunday.

"I was never scared, worried nor bothered by the situation" behind bars, Lil Wayne said Tuesday through Weezythanxyou.com, a website he set up to give fans a glimpse of his life in jail.

Lil Wayne, who had the bestselling album of 2008 and won a best rap album Grammy with "Tha Carter III," kept his career in high gear while locked up for having a loaded gun on his tour bus in 2007.

His latest album, "I Am Not a Human Being" — released while he was in solitary confinement in September — hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart last month. He also was featured on a string of hits by other

'MICHAEL JACKSON THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR' ANNOUNCED BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL AND JACKSON ESTATE

The King of Pop's death isn't stopping what's being billed as the Michael Jackson tour.

Cirque Du Soleil and the Jackson estate announced "Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour" on Wednesday.

It's being billed as a combination of his music, thrilling choreography and visual effects.

The tour will kick off in Montreal in October 2011 and hit cities including New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

A select number of tickets are being sold to fan clubs of Michael Jackson and Cirque Du Soleil starting Wednesday.

The rest go on sale Saturday.

Lil Wayne

artists, including Drake and Eminem, that came out while he was incarcerated — and he recorded a verse for the Drake/Jay-Z collaboration "Light Up" over on the phone for a "Rikers Remix" that made the rounds online.

President Barack Obama recently told Rolling Stone he has some Lil Wayne music on his iPod. And former President Bill Clinton praised the rapper's abilities during a phone interview with a Pittsburgh radio station Tuesday, adding that "what I hope will happen is that he has a good life now."

Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Carter Jr., pleaded guilty in October 2009 to attempted weapon possession, admitting he'd had a loaded, semiautomatic .40-caliber gun on his bus after a Manhattan concert.

He started a yearlong sentence in March but got time off for good behavior, despite a disciplinary knock that sent him to solitary for the last month of his term.

A charger and headphones for a digital music player were found in his cell in May, jail officials said. The items are considered contraband.

The rapper later acknowledged the misstep on his Weezythanxyou site, where his associates typed up and posted periodic letters he wrote on topics ranging from his daily Rikers routine to new songs he'd heard and liked on the radio.

He also provided specific, individual responses to some of the fan mail that flooded his cell and became, he said, a source of cheer behind bars.

"I laughed with some of you, reasoned with some of you, and even cried with some of you," he wrote in a letter posted Tuesday. "I never imagined how much impact my words and life can have."

But he assured fans the impact hasn't completely changed an artist known for ingenious work that sometimes borders on weird: "I will be the same Martian I was when I left, just better."

Bush calls Kanye West's rant 'disgusting'

'He called me a racist,' former president says of rapper's post-Katrina comment Former President George W. Bush says one of the "most disgusting" moments in his presidency took place in 2005 — when rapper Kanye West criticized him at a Hurricane Katrina benefit.

West, 33, infamously declared on the televised Concert for Hurricane Relief, "George Bush doesn't care about black people," blaming him for the reason that America helps "the less well-off as slow as possible."

In a Nov. 8 "Matt Lauer Reports" primetime special on NBC, Bush (now promoting his new book) says though he didn't watch the telecast, he still heard what West said.

"He called me a racist," Bush tells Lauer.

When Lauer clarifies that West said, "'George Bush doesn't care about black people,'" Bush says, to him, that means "'he's a racist.'"

"And I didn't appreciate it then. I don't appreciate it now," Bush goes on. "It's one thing to say, 'I don't appreciate the way he's handled his business.' It's another thing to say, 'This man's a racist.' I resent it, it's not true, and it was one of the most disgusting moments in my presidency."

Courtney Cox is breaking her silence, speaking out about the problems in her marriage to David Arquette.

"I don't know what will happen, but it's not like we're getting divorced," Cox said in an interview with TV Week, obtained by People magazine. "This is a separation and I think that takes a lot of courage . . . Whatever is supposed to happen will be the best thing for us."

Cox, who's been married to Arquette for 11 years, acknowledged the interviews Arquette has given to Howard Stern in the previous weeks.

Cox said, "[David] is a kook. It's not shocking and Howard Stern, he loves him and I'm a fan of Howard Stern ... David is an entertainer and I'm sure the people who listen to the radio are entertained by his stories."

A few die-hard fans huddled in the pre-dawn rain Thursday outside Rikers Island complex, hoping to get a glimpse of him.

Anthony Smith, 19, and his twin sister, Jess, got in their car at 1 a.m. in the town of Woodbury, N.Y., north of the city, to drive down with a couple of friends.

Smith said he's been listening to Lil Wayne for about a decade since his first album, "Tha Block is Hot." "I feel that his words mean something ... He just has a gift," Smith said.

The group sang and rapped from some of Lil Wayne's songs and occasionally yelled, "Free Weezy," a reference to the rapper's nickname.

"I don't do this for just anyone," said Jess Smith.

Lil Wayne envisions recording new music and releasing a long-rumored "Tha Carter IV" next year, and he may also make a book out of a journal he kept in jail, according to his managers and associates.

But his priorities at the moment are reconnecting with his family — he has four children — and the Cash Money Records labelmates to whom he often refers as family, too.

"Family first ... then back to business," Cash Money co-founder Bryan "Birdman" Williams said in an interview last week.

BILL CLINTON SUPPORTS LIL WAYNE AFTER DAUGHTER CHELSEA EXPOSES HIM TO RAP AND HIP HOP MUSIC

After that volcanic Sister Souljah moment in 1992, Bill Clinton appears to have made peace with hip hop.

The former President has come out in support of jailed rapper Lil Wayne 20 years after being called a racist.

We have Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, to thank for him cheering on the "I Am Not a Human Being" rapper during the midterm elections.

"My daughter introduced me to rap and hip hop music after I said some things she thought were not very smart," he told the hosts of Pittsburgh's 96.1 Kiss FM "Morning Freak Show" while discussing the Democratic candidates on Tuesday.

He admitted that despite his run-ins with the law and expletives-filled music, Lil Wayne is "smart" and "has got ability."

"A lot of these people, they don't just get successful by being really dumb," Clinton said. "But a lot of them have had tough lives and almost think it's cool to get in trouble every now and then."

He concluded by saying he hoped that the rapper, who is scheduled to be released from Rikers Island on Thursday, will "have a good life" now that he's been given another chance.

Clinton wasn't always seen as a friend of the hip hop community.

The political term "Sister Souljah moment" refers to an incident in 1992 when Clinton was in the midst of running for president and made the mistake of comparing hip-hop MC Sister Souljah to a former Ku Klux Klan member.

"If there are any good White people, I haven't met them," Sister Souljah had sung in a music video, before being quoted in a "Washington Post" interview saying, "If Black people kill Black people every day, why not have a week and kill White people?"

Clinton responded while speaking to Jesse Jackson Sr.'s Rainbow Coalition.

"If you took the words 'white' and 'black,' and you reversed them, you might think [white nationalist and former Republican candidate] David Duke was giving that speech."

He was later criticized by Jackson Sr. and several African American supporters of the Democratic party while Sister Souljah accused him of being a racist.

KFWS • MindGym

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FUN & GAMES

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

November 1, 2010

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

—2—

King Features Weekly Service

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

November 1, 2010

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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FUN & GAMES

November November 1, 2010 1, 2010

King Features WeeklyService Service King Features Weekly

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Your ruling planet, Mars, allows you to assume a sense of command that can help you turn a chaotic workplace situation into one that’s orderly, productive and, yes, even friendly.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Getting a relationship that’s been stuck in a rut up and running again depends on how far you want to run with it. Be honest with yourself as you consider which decision to make.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Be wary of rumors that seem to be coming from everywhere this week. Waiting for the facts before you act means never having to say you’re sorry you followed the wrong lead.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A difficult personal matter might prompt you to turn to a trusted friend to help you sort through a maze of emotional conflicts. The weekend should bring some welcome news.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Some of the new people coming into the Lion’s life could play pivotal roles in future personal and professional matters. Meanwhile, an old friend might have an important message.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A delay in getting things moving on schedule can be a blessing in disguise. Use this extra time to do more research so you can buttress any of the weaker points with solid facts.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might need to get involved in a personal —13— matter before it becomes a

IT ONLY HURTS FOR A MINUTE

The bidding by the opponents often helps declarer find the best line of play, as illustrated by this unusual case from a team-of-four match.

At the first table, West led a diamond against three notrump. Declarer took East’s king with the ace and played a club to the king, taken by East with the ace.

East returned the nine of diamonds, covered by the ten, —13— and West made a good play by letting the ten hold. As a result, South went down one.

When he later led a spade to try for his ninth trick, East took the ace and returned his last diamond to West’s Q-8-

—15—

serious problem. Also be wary of someone offering to mediate unless you can be sure of his or her motives.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Taking sides in a workplace or domestic dispute could prolong the problem. Stay out and stay cool. Then you can be friends with both parties when things settle down.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A friendship has the potential to become something more, and with this week’s aspects favoring romance, you might feel that this possibility is worth exploring.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) The new job you want might require you to relocate. If so, keep an open mind and weigh all the positives and negatives before making your decision.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A new relationship seems to be everything you could have hoped for. Congratulations. Meanwhile, it’s not too early to get some feedback on that new project you’re working on.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might have decided to get out of the fastmoving current and just float around hither and yon for a while. But you might find that the new opportunity is too tempting to turn down.

BORN THIS WEEK: You believe in bringing out the best in people with kind deeds, loving words and recognition of their “special” selves.

• It w Tom S the fol “Skill is craft us man as wic kets. I skill gi • Yo some e some p probab this: Th hailsto in Ban weighe pounds stone, w year in sured 8 Be glad head — • W rison, comma the sho United died of days af • In 1 London homes, and St and it l ple ho vided

© 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

7. All told, South lost three diamond tricks and the two black aces.

At the second table, after exactly the same bidding, West also led a diamond.

But here, when East produced the king, South played the ten on it! East continued with the nine, covered by the jack and queen, after which the defenders were helpless.

East eventually scored his two aces, but declarer made the contract, losing only two diamonds, a club and a spade.

The declarer at the second table obviously assessed the situation more accurately than the declarer at the first table. He decided that West was an odds-on favorite to hold five diamonds rather than four, in which case he (South) could short-circuit the opposing communications by holding up on the first two rounds of the suit.

He also realized that he didn’t need to score more than one diamond trick, since sufficient winners were available elsewhere.

It is rare for a declarer to intentionally hold himself to one trick in a suit where he starts out with two. But when the circumstances indicate that it is the right thing to do, declarer should be perfectly willing to make the sacrifice. © 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

Blood for J the D Linco

by Ja (Will Revie Bes Swan the su as po est b the fl follow Conf of Pr coln writte inside wher Swa of im writin happe ago, sion. that he si pers, recor anyth to he od an “Bl two s fatefu Jeffer of the Amer migh

Page 32 NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

King Features Weekly Service

November 1, 2010

FUN & GAMES

—2— —2—

—23—

Regional tourism officials optimistic about 2010

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) says after a difficult 2009, the region’s tourism industry is showing signs of improvement.

In a message to mark “Caribbean Tourism Day” on Tuesday, CTO Secretary General Hugh Riley said there is a prediction that the upward trend in both the Caribbean and global tourism sector would continue “despite the

challenges that still lie ahead”.

Caribbean Tourism Day is being observed with the theme “One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean” and Riley said it focuses on the strength of the Caribbean brand.

“The Caribbean brand is a unifying force. It celebrates the many facets of our four language groups and our range of cultural influences, while highlighting

Paula Cox is new Premier of Bermuda

Paula Cox became the fourth Progressive Labour Party (PLP) Premier since the PLP wrested control from the United Bermuda Party in 1998 after 30 years in opposition.

Cox, who was Finance Minister and Deputy Premier under Dr. Ewart Brown, who has stepped down as party leader and Premier after four years, easily beat her two rivals, Terry Lister and Dale Butler, in last Thursday night's leadership battle.

Cox, who became a PLP MP in 1996, when she won a by-election in Devonshire North after the death of Opposition Leader Frederick Wade, has been at the heart of PLP politics all her life.

Her late father, Eugene Cox, was a leading PLP MP from the 1970s on, and for much of that time was Shadow Finance Minister.

Paula Cox first ran for the House of Assembly while still a student in 1985, but after being defeated, she returned to her studies and became a barrister, although most of her legal career has been spent as a corporate counsel, at the Bank of Bermuda and later at insurance giant ACE. Cox earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from McGill University, a post-graduate Diploma in International Law from the University of Manchester, England and is a member of the Bermuda Bar, having trained in the United Kingdom as a solicitor.

Cox is married to a businessman from Cameroon, Germain Nkeuleu, and has two brothers, Jeremy Cox, the chief executive officer of the Bermuda Monetary Authority, and Robert Cox, an electrical engineer, who currently works in the United States.

An aide to Wade before his death, she was also a protegee of the late Dame Lois Browne Evans, a former Opposition Leader, and Dame Jennifer Smith, who led the PLP to its first election victory.

When the PLP took power 12 years ago, Cox, still in her 30s, was given the critically important Labour and Home Affairs Ministry, where she crafted the legislation granting greater rights to hundreds of non-Bermudians but restricting

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Paula Cox became the fourth Progressive Labour Party (PLP) Premier

work permit stays at the same time.

She also tackled a succession of crises at Westgate prison and began the drafting of the Employment Act. She moved to the Education Ministry in late 2001 and, following the 2003 general election, had the Attorney General portfolio added to her responsibilities.

Cox replaced her father as Finance Minister when he died in January 2004, becoming Deputy Premier as well in 2006 when Brown defeated thenPremier Alex Scott for the leadership of the PLP. For much of her career she has enjoyed widespread popularity and built a reputation as a person who listened to all sides and developed a consensus on policies before enacting them.

That reputation contrasted with Brown, a 64-year-old physician and an MP since 1993 who was often seen as combative and confrontational.

Cox was also critical of Brown last year at the height of the Uighurs crisis when she said she felt “politically neutered”, but she rallied to the party to successfully defeat an opposition noconfidence motion.

Cox's only real hit came earlier this year, when she described herself as a “cog in the wheel”, unable to turn down ministers’ requests for more money, and delivered an unpopular tax-raising Budget.

the elements that unite us. That's what we mean when we speak of One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean.

“As the global voice of 33 countries, the Caribbean Tourism Organization will continue to lead the charge to ensure that the brand transmits the excitement of this region and that it remains stable and strong,” he said, noting “it is the stability of the brand that keeps the Caribbean on

the minds of potential travellers and provides confidence in times of economic uncertainty.

“It is the strength of the brand that delivers the promise of high quality and genuinely warm hospitality. It’s the sustainability of the brand that attracts visitors back to our shores time and again, assuring them of a unique and special vacation experience.”

ST. LUCIA NEEDS US$500MILLION TO REBUILD AFTER BEING HIT BY HURRICANE TOMAS Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has been praised by St Lucian Prime Minister Dr Stephenson King for her quick response to rally to his countrymen’s assistance in the wake of the passage of Hurricane Tomas.

King made the comment following a meeting with Persad-Bissessar at his official residence in Castries, after she kept her word by travelling to the island to get a first-hand look at the devastation caused by Tomas.

He said the country was grateful for whatever assistance PersadBissessar’s Government could offer.

During the meeting, King said the country would need approximately US$500 million (TT$3 billion) to get up and running again. He said one of their immediate concerns was a supply of fresh water, but noted the United States already has a contingent of engineering specialist troops on the island working around the clock to get water flowing again.

Persad-Bissessar said there was no way her Government could afford as much as the $3 billion needed, but promised to assist as much as she could.

The Prime Minister was accompanied on the trip by Minister of Trade Stephen Cadiz, Public Utilities Minister Emmanuel George, Housing and Environment Minister Roodal Moonilal, Local Government Minister Chandresh Sharma, Housing Development Corporation chairman Jearlean John, Contractors Association president Mikey Joseph and construction magnate Emile Elias, who were told of the country’s need for housing.

Over 100 houses were destroyed on the south-eastern part of the island alone and there is a need to rebuild over 200 homes immediately.

After the meeting, Persad-Bissessar was taken on a tour of several areas affected by Tomas, including Bexon. She distributed hampers to residents in some of those areas.

Following the tour, Persad-Bissessar assured she would do all she could to help. She noted that two T&T Coast Guard vessels with relief supplies were scheduled to arrive in St Lucia last evening and two containers with similar supplies were heading to St Vincent and the Grenadines, which was also hit by Tomas.

During the tour, Sharma said, “As part of the Caricom family we are willing to lend support to St Lucia and we have witnessed quite a large amount of destruction, including destruction to the banana industry which generates a lot of income for the country.”

He said “Whatever support Trinidad and Tobago can lend we will be happy to, including assistance from the engineering battalion from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.”

Cadiz said he was told the water problem was due to the fact that the country’s main dam, which pumps roughly eight million gallons a day, was inoperative.

“St Lucia needs to be fixed. Tourism will be adversely affected without water, especially in the northern part of the island where tourism is heaviest.”

He said the sum of US$500 million needed for reconstruction was a considerable amount and believed no Caribbean countries would be in a position to foot such a bill, since many of them are also under economic stress. He said St Lucia would therefore also have to seek international aid.

Speaking to King at a press conference after the meeting, PersadBissessar said, “I want to make it very clear, Mr Prime Minister, that we remain committed to assisting you here and the people of St Lucia. There are no strings attached to the humanitarian aid that we bring and will continue to send to you for reconstruction.”

The PM’s comment seemed directed at those who had expressed anger at her previous comment, among them the St Lucian business community, that in ex.tending a helping hand to Caricom countries affected by Tomas, Trinidad and Tobago should benefit.

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Former B’dos Prime Minister David Thompson buried CARIBBEAN NEWS

Bridgetown, Barbados – The regional and international community joined Barbadians on Wednesday in bidding farewell to their sixth Prime Minister, David Thompson, who died of pancreatic cancer 11 days ago.

Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands led local dignitaries including Prime Minister Fruendel Stuart, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government, diplomats and representatives of various regional and international organizations in an emotional farewell to Thompson, the third Barbadian prime minister to die in office since political independence in 1966.

CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, said that it was am “amazing’ sign that the rains which had threatened to put a damper on the State funeral, had given way to sunshine, perhaps reflecting the young and fulfilled life of the 48-yearold Thompson.

He described Thompson, who died on October 23, after prolonged battle with cancer, as “someone with so much promise should have been taken away from us so soon.”

“The entire Caribbean has been left poorer,” Golding said of Thompson, who entered Parliament at the age of 25, and had shown courage in the way in which he faced his own death.

At one point Golding said “he (Thompson) was no ordinary man”.

Golding said that his late

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

David Thompson’s tomb has become a shrine for scores of Barbadians still gripped by grief after his passing last month to pancreatic cancer.

colleague had brought to the regional integration movement “a sharp and refreshing look at Caribbean issues” and was also a “realist and a pragmatist”.

“He was passionately a Caribbean man, all of us Caribbean leaders will miss his wise counsel,” Golding said during the near two and a half hour ecumenical service held at the famed Kensington Oval, on the outskirts of the capital.

Hundreds of Barbadians lined the streets to have a glimpse of the casket draped in the Barbados flag drawn on a military carriage and carrying the

body of the 11th regional leader to die in office.

The Barbados-born international recording star, Rihanna and the Jamaican reggae star, Luciano, also attended the funeral service.

In a video presentation, Thompson’s three daughters and his nephew recalled the influence he had on their respective lives, as his wife, Mara, at times overcome with grief, stared at the coffin.

Mischa, his oldest daughter, said her father could not remain angry at anyone beyond 10 minutes and that she would have loved him to have

been present for her graduation or “walk me down the aisle”.

Oya, another daughter recalled that her father’s favourite words were “don’t panic”.

“You were not only my father but a great friend,” she said, while the youngest, Osa Marie said “I will always love daddy and he will always be with me”.

The principal political advisor to the Barbados government, Hartley Henry, who delivered the eulogy, said the late prime minister had lived a “short illustrious life…who was a beacon in our lives”.

“A dream fulfilled a vision postponed…all he wanted was a little more time,” said an emotional Henry, adding that Thompson in his dealing with countries was a ‘friend to all, but not a satellite to anyone”.

Brian Clarke said his friend whom he knew from school days was a “warm, humane and compassion man” who was very “confident but never egotistic” Clarke, who towards the end of his speech, broke down in tears, said that Thompson had a “first class memory” and was very “efficient and decisive”.

“Farewell David, we will meet again,” he said.

From the famed cricketing venue, the body was taken to the St. John’s Parish Church for burial.

Thompson had served as parliamentary representative for St. John’s constituency for the past 23 years.

New report says HIV is a significant cause of death in the Caribbean

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - A new report released on the status of HIV in the Caribbean said that despite the gains associated with antiretroviral treatment (ART), HIV/AIDS remains a significant cause of mortality in the region.

It is the leading cause of death among men and women aged 20-59, at 15.7 per cent and 14.5 per cent respectively,” the report from UNAIDS said.

The report noted that increased access to ART has led to a decrease in the mortality associated with AIDS. It said that since 2001, there has been a 40 per cent decline in AIDS-related mortality in the Caribbean.

“Access to treatment means that people are living longer, healthier, productive lives. Currently, 51 per cent of people who need treatment are able to access it, though 49 per cent cannot,” the report said.

Responding to the statistics, former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, who was the special guest at the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), said more resources were needed to fight the epidemic and the region should come up with creative ways to fight HIV/AIDS. "I recall my meeting with [the seven largest] pharmaceutical companies and appealing to them to ensure that medication they come up with reaches the poor for if that did not happen, it would be difficult for them to protect their intellectual property and have medication that can save lives and the poor and they made contributions,” Annan said.

"I would want to see a situation where the international community would come to some understanding that any company that holds intellectual property on key medications sets aside one or 1.5 per cent of gross profit for the kind of fund we are talking about.

"We are not thinking in those terms and the time has come for us to look outside the box," Annan added.

At the end of 2008, it was estimated that there were between 210,000 and 270,000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the wider Caribbean.

The largest number of PLHIV is on the island of Hispaniola, which is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic), where the combined number of PLHIV is 182,000.

“This accounts for approximately 70 per cent of all PLHIV in the Caribbean,” the report said.

In the English-speaking Caribbean, Jamaica has the largest number of PLHIV, with an estimated 27,000 PLHIV. However, the data on adult HIV prevalence offers a different perspective.

The Bahamas (3 per cent) has the highest adult HIV prevalence, followed by Suriname (2.4 per cent) and Haiti (2.2 per cent).

Annan said fighting the AIDS epidemic is a serious cause.

"This is not a fight that you knock off and go and sleep and forget it because you've done your best today. It's a fight that we have to be ready to get up and fight again and fight and fight until we bring help to all those in need," he said.

Between 2001 and 2008, there was no significant decline in the number of new HIV infections. Only a 4.8 per cent decline was observed during that period.

This statistic has not changed and, with the increase in life expectancy of PLHIV, there was a nine per cent increase in PLHIV in the same period.

The report said these overall prevalence figures hide important and evolving dynamics.

“First, it is estimated that the number of females living with HIV is increasing. Women – and

especially young women – account for 50 per cent of all PLHIV,” it said.

“In 1990, 35 per cent of the total number of PLHIV were females. In 2008, females represented 50 per cent of all PLHIV in the Caribbean. But there is wide variation by country in the estimates of females living with HIV, ranging from 26 per cent in the Bahamas to 59 per cent in Belize, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.”

The report also noted that HIV prevalence is highest among men who have sex with men (MSM) and among sex workers.

Among female sex workers HIV prevalence is high compared to the prevalence in the adult population.

From 2006-2008, the figures varied from 2.7 per cent in the Dominican Republic to 27 per cent in Guyana.

“This population plans an important role in the spread and acquisition of HIV, for example in Jamaica, 25 per cent of reported cases of AIDS indicated unprotected sex with female sex workers as mode of acquisition of their HIV infection.”

The HIV prevalence among MSM varied from 6.1 per cent in the Dominican Republic to 32 per cent in Jamaica.

Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé said the Caribbean faces a challenge when it comes to the issue of funding to fight the epidemic.

"We are facing a critical moment with the financial crisis in many places which will call for value for money, but trying to look at how we produce the best results will be a major challenge for the sustainability of all the problems where we have been successful, “ he said.

Obama pushes India to talk to Pakistan

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

President Barack Obama called on India on Sunday to bolster peace efforts with Pakistan that have floundered since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, relations seen as crucial to his troubled efforts to win the war in Afghanistan.

On the second day of his official visit to India, Obama faces a diplomatic tightrope in fostering ties with the growing global power, while at the same time helping Pakistan with billions of dollars in aid and promoting wider peace in Afghanistan.

Obama's first leg of a 10-day Asian tour has been hailed as moving the United States closer to India as Washington tries to revive a weak economy and gather support to pressure China on its currency. But on Sunday, India's worries about Pakistan dominated.

Peppered by questions from students at a college in India's financial hub, Obama toed a cautious line between the two nuclear-armed foes, saying both were needed to help stabilize Afghanistan where thousands of U.S. troops battle militants.

"My hope is that over time, trust develops between the two countries, that dialogue begins, perhaps on less controversial issues, building up to

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

US President Barack Obama (L) heaped praise on the country and its Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (R) at the end of a three-day trip

more controversial issues," Obama told students under a hot midday sun.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit was quoted by news agency Press Trust of India as saying the United States ought to play an "effective role for an amicable solution of the longstanding issue of Kashmir" given close India-U.S. ties.

Kashmir is at the heart of the dispute between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought two wars over the restive Himalayan region which they both claim.

The Mumbai attacks inflamed tensions between the foes, who have been to war three times since 1947 independence. India says elements

Page 35 within the Pakistan state were behind the rampage, when Pakistan-based gunmen killed 166 people in a 60-hour strike on hotels, a train station and a Jewish center.

India immediately broke off peace talks with Pakistan, although there have been some largely fruitless top level meetings in the last year.

"India's investment in development in Afghanistan is appreciated," Obama added. "Pakistan has to be a partner in this process, in fact all countries in the region are going to need to be partners in this process.

"The United States welcomes that, we don't think we can do this alone."

India has given $1.3 billion in aid to Afghanistan, a policy that unnerves Pakistan which sees its northern neighbor as its own backyard of influence. India wants stability there to stop the country being used to harbor anti-Indian Islamist militants.

Obama said Pakistan was not acting quickly enough to deal with militancy within its borders, a view long expressed by many Indian officials who say Islamabad is hoodwinking Washington by taking aid while also backing militants in Afghanistan.

"There are more Pakistanis who've been killed by terrorists inside Pakistan than probably anywhere else," Obama said.

STAPHAN JENNINGS SEEKS 1 DOMESTIC WORKER Salary $50.00 per week Contact 241-5472

Page 36

No regrets, says Pelosi, first female US House speaker

WORLD NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WASHINGTON– Nancy Pelosi She powered an 800said Wednesday she had "no billion-dollar economic regrets" after strong Republican stimulus plan to passage in gains in the House of February 2009, drove Representatives cut short her legislation to fight climate stint as the first female Speaker change through in June of the House.

2009, and led a Wall Street Pelosi, 70, also overhaul bill over acknowledged she had not Republican objections in decided what the future holds for June 2010. her specifically, though she won Pelosi, who as House reelection to a two-year House speaker is technically term representing her district in second in line to the California. presidency, now looks set "I'll have a conversation to be replaced by House with my caucus, I'll have a Minority Leader John conversation with my family, Boehner come January and pray over it, and decide how House of Representatives Speaker Nancy when the new House to go forward," Pelosi told ABC gathers for the first time.

Pelosi television. "But today isn't that "We believe we did the day." right thing, and we worked very hard in our Pelosi won the distinction of being the campaigns to convey that to the American highest woman ever elected to office in the people," Pelosi told ABC. "Nine and a half United States. But while she earned the affection percent unemployment is a very eclipsing event. of Democrats for her strict and skillful running "If people don't have a job, they're not too of the 435-seat House of Representatives, she interested in how you intend for them to have a swiftly became the woman the Republicans most job. They want to see results." loved to hate.

Republicans, bouncing back from their own President Barack Obama has credited her election drubbing by Obama in 2008, had picked with helping to push through some of his key up 60 seats in the 435-seat House of reforms.

Representatives by midday Wednesday, more Married to a millionaire and a mother of than the 39 they needed for a majority. five, Pelosi won admirers in party ranks for her They also grabbed an extra six seats in the fund-raising abilities as well as her success in 100-member Senate, setting the stage for a likely uniting Democrats against Republican gridlock in Washington, despite voter demands legislation. for both parties to work together.

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

BRITAIN’S QUEEN ELIZABETH II JOINS FACEBOOK

LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II is now on Facebook — but she's not going to be your friend.

Britain's queen has launched a series of official pages offering the website's 500 million users daily updates on her engagements, the royal household said Sunday.

The 84-year-old British monarch will be featured in videos, photos and news items on the site, which will be available starting Monday, alongside other members of the country's royal family, including Princes William and Harry.

Users will be able leave messages or comments for Buckingham Palace on the site and find details of royal events close to their homes.

However, because the pages will be corporate — and not a personal account — people won't be able to request to become friends with the queen.

A royal official said the queen had personally approved the plan, but acknowledged she has not actually used the site herself.

"The decision went right up to the queen," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to discuss the plan. "If you are going to have an online presence in 2010, you just have to be on Facebook."

The Facebook page is the queen's latest social media venture — the royal family already have an account on the Flickr photography website, joined Twitter in 2009 and set up a video channel on YouTube in 2007.

Buckingham Palace set up its own website in 1997, which now allows people to apply for palace jobs online, track the royal family via Google Maps or read details in a section devoted to the queen's prized corgi dogs.

Her Facebook site will include Britain's court circular, the official daily record of the royal family's engagements.

It lists all royal diary appointments from the previous day and was created by George III in 1803, reportedly after he became frustrated with inaccurate newspaper reports

Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay. 2. Assists in other departments and performs additional related duties as required.

3. Understands and follows policies and procedures of the department and Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay overall.

POSITION AVAILABLE

Turks and Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay is seeking a suitably qualified applicant to fill the post of Food and Beverage Manager at Big aMBergris Cay.

Daily tasks will include, but are not limited to:

JOB SUMMARY: Works along with the Club Manager to plan, organize and direct the activities of the Food and Beverage Department at Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay to ensure an exceptional level of customer service and patron satisfaction.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1. Ensures that all members and guests are welcomed upon arrival and treated in a friendly and respectful manner in accordance with the standards of excellence of Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay. 2. Coordinates the activities of the Food and Beverage Department and Employees to maintain exceptional service to members and guests of Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay. 3. Oversees and implement the hiring, training and evaluation of the performance of Food and Beverage employees. Recommends disciplinary actions and promotions.

4. Assists the Club Manager in preparing and submitting proposed budgets for the Food and Beverage Department.

5. Provides a continuous review of the service level and offering of the dining facilities and recommends changes to upgrade and improve them.

6. Oversees and works with the Executive and Sous Chefs and front of house managers to compile menus and wine lists to be served in the restaurants.

7. Oversees and monitors all orders and supplies of food, beverages, table linens, kitchen equipment and related items.

8. Responsible for and oversees the entire Food and Beverage Department of Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay. ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Ensures that all members, guests and co-workers are treated in a friendly and respectful manner in accordance with the rules of Turks & Caicos

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management (specializing in food and beverage) preferred or equivalent.

2. Minimum of 5 years experience in food service management, including the supervision of employees and relationships with outside vendors.

3 Excellent wine and food knowledge, (Sommelier certificate is preferred) 4. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

5 Has knowledge of office administration and budget in the food service industry.

6 Computer knowledge in Microsoft Word, Excel and general formatting, typing and printing 7 Has knowledge in Point of Sales System programming and operation.

8 Must be able to pass the food and beverage knowledge test REQUIREMENTS - Successful applicant must: 1. Have a pleasant personality and excellent communication skills 2. Be reliable, hard working and enthusiastic 3. Be able to reside on Big Ambergris Cay 4. Possess a valid TCI Driver’s License 5. Produce a clean Police Record 6. Be physically fit Salary: $50,000.00 - $60,000.00 per annum.

Closing date for all applications is Friday, November 12, 2010.

Applications must be addressed to: Ms. Dorothea Malcolm Human Resources Director Turks & Caicos Sporting Club @ Ambergris Cay Unit 66. Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: dorothea@ambergriscay.com Tel: 649-941-3777 Fax: 649-941-3778

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WORLD NEWS

excellent computer skills excellent communication skills both verbal and written Salary range: $75,000.00 – 95,000.00 per annum based on experience Plus Benefits not limited to: Health insurance cable and internet

Financial controller caicos television Holdings ltd dba WiV cable tV seeks a qualified individual for the position of Financial controller for the turks and caicos islands. this candidate will be responsible to direct the financial affairs of WiV Grand turk along with WiV and tct Providenciales and prepares financial analyses of operations, including interim and final financial statements with supporting schedules, for the guidance of management. the controller is responsible for the company's financial plans and policies, its accounting practices, the conduct of its relationships with lending institutions and the financial community, the maintenance of its fiscal records, and the preparation of financial reports. responsible for financial and monthly management of accounts – budgets, forecasts, business plans, secretarial duties, insurance, fixed assets and operating equipment. responsibility also extends to the day to day control of cashing up procedures as well as revenue reporting and control of cash management.

eSSential FUnctionS: Development, analysis, and interpretation of statistical and accounting information in order to appraise operating results in terms of profitability, performance against budget, and other matters bearing on the fiscal soundness and operating effectiveness of the organization.

• Maintains the company's system of accounts and keeps books and records on all company transactions and assets for WiV Grand turk along with WiV and tct Provo.

• Perform all payroll functions.

• establishes major economic objectives and policies for the company and prepares reports that outline the company's financial position in the areas of income, expenses, and earnings based on past, present, and future operations.

• coordinates and directs the preparation of the budget and financial forecasts, institutes and maintains other planning and control procedures (including the cost accounting system), and analyzes and reports variances.

• Furnishes internal reports, revises and updates reports to be more useful and efficient, and furnishes external reports as necessary.

• Prepare ad hoc reports for Board Members.

• liaise with internal controller.

• Determines depreciation rates to apply to capitalized items and advises management on desirable operational adjustments as needed.

• evaluates and recommends insurance coverage for protection against property losses and potential liabilities.

• analyzes and interprets financial data and recommends changes to improve systems and financial performance.

• coordinate year end audits • Keen knowledge of Win cable software, lotus notes, Quick Books

Qualification/experience Preferred: Ba/BS Degree in accounting, Finance or related major acca or cPa certification preferred.

10+ years of experience in financial management

contact:

WiV cable P.o. Box 679 Providenciales, turks and caicos islands administrator@wiv.tc or Fax: 649-946-4790

Financial controller

Job Description

the Financial controller will be responsible to direct the financial affairs of WiV cable, Grand turk and Providenciales along with tct/express High Speed internet Providenciales and prepares financial analyses of operations, including interim and final financial statements with supporting schedules, for the guidance of management.

You will also be responsible for the company's financial plans and policies, its accounting practices, the conduct of its relationships with lending institutions and the financial community, the maintenance of its fiscal records, and the preparation of financial reports. all financial and monthly management of accounts – budgets, forecasts, business plans, secretarial duties, insurance, fixed assets and operating equipment. responsibility also extends to the day to day control of cashing up procedures as well as revenue reporting and control of cash management.

eSSential FUnctionS: Development, analysis, and interpretation of statistical and accounting information in order to appraise operating results in terms of profitability, performance against budget, and other matters bearing on the fiscal soundness and operating effectiveness of the organization.

• Maintains the company's system of accounts and keeps books and records on all company transactions and assets for WiV Grand turk along with WiV and tct Provo.

• Perform all payroll functions.

• establishes major economic objectives and policies for the company and prepares reports that outline the company's financial position in the areas of income, expenses, and earnings based on past, present, and future operations.

• coordinates and directs the preparation of the budget and financial forecasts, institutes and maintains other planning and control procedures (including the cost accounting system), and analyzes and reports variances.

• Furnishes internal reports, revises and updates reports to be more useful and efficient, and furnishes external reports as necessary.

• Prepare ad hoc reports for Board Members.

• liaise with internal controller.

• Determines depreciation rates to apply to capitalized items and advises management on desirable operational adjustments as needed.

• evaluates and recommends insurance coverage for protection against property losses and potential liabilities.

• analyzes and interprets financial data and recommends changes to improve systems and financial performance.

• coordinate year end audits • Keen knowledge of Win cable software, lotus notes, Quick Books

Page 38

Republicans in charge take aim at health overhaul

WORLD NEWS

WASHINGTON — Resurgent Republicans rallied Sunday behind an agenda based on unwavering opposition to the Obama White House and federal spending, laying the groundwork for gridlock until their 2012 goal: a new president, a "better Senate" and ridding the country of that demonized health care law.

Republicans said they were willing to work with President Barack Obama but also signaled it would be only on their terms. With control of the White House and the Senate, Democrats showed no sign they were conceding the final two years of Obama's term to Republican lawmakers who claimed the majority in the House.

"I think this week's election was a historic rejection of American liberalism and the Obama and Pelosi agenda," said Rep. Mike Pence, the Indiana Republican who is stepping down from his post in GOP leadership.

"The American people are tired of the borrowing, the spending, the bailouts, the takeovers."

Voters on Tuesday punished Democrats from New Hampshire to California, giving Republicans at least 60 new seats in the House. Republicans picked up 10 governorships; the GOP also gained control of 19 state legislative chambers and now holds the highest level of state legislative seats since 1928.

"It was a very rough week, there's no sugarcoating that," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who led the Democratic Congressional Campaign

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Committee.

Democrats who controlled the House, Senate and White House for two years now must work with Republicans, who have not shied from pushing their agenda.

"I don't see any sign of the president retreating from his principles, but I do see his willingness to reach out, and wherever reasonable and in the interests of moving the economy and jobs forward, he's going to work with the Republicans, as are the Democrats," Van Hollen said.

Republicans have made clear they plan to work stridently against what they view as a White House out of control and out of touch.

"The president did say this week he's willing to work with us," said Rep. Eric Cantor, the Virginia Republican who is in line to become majority leader. "Now listen, are we willing to work with him? First and foremost, we're not going to be willing to work with him on the expansive liberal agenda he's been about."

First target: Democrats' signature health care law.

"This was a huge, huge issue in the election last Tuesday," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, RKy. "A vast majority of Americans feel very, very uncomfortable with this new bill. People who supported us, political independents, want it repealed and replaced with something else. I think we owe it to them to try."

But the reality remains that Republicans do not have enough seats

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NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

to marshal through a full repeal if Democrats remain steadfast in their support. Even if Republicans were able to sway enough Democrats to support their effort, it would face a certain veto from Obama.

"Admittedly, it will be difficult with him in the White House," McConnell said. "But if we can put a full repeal on his desk and replace it with the kind of commonsense forms that we were advocating during the debate to reduce spending, we owe it to the American people to do that."

Rep. Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican who will take leadership of the House budget committee, said the GOP will reign in the overhaul through oversight hearings and cutting off money to implement the law, "but then again, the president has to sign those bills, so that is a challenge."

"You can't fully repeal and replace this law until you have a new president and a better Senate. And that's probably in 2013, but that's before the law fully kicks in, in 2014," Ryan said.

For their part, Democrats, like Republicans, faced their own intraparty challenges: Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina remained a contender for the Democrats' No. 2 position. With Nancy Pelosi looking to remain the top Democrat, as minority leader but not as House speaker, a leadership fight between Clyburn and current Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland was shaping up to challenge party unity.

Van Hollen said he supported

Pelosi's bid for minority leader but declined to choose publicly between Clyburn and Hoyer. "We're going to look for a way to make sure that both those members can stay in the Democratic leadership," he said.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who emerged as a leader of tea party-style candidates, said the GOP was to blame for its loss in Delaware's Senate contest between Republican Christine O'Donnell and Democratic county executive Chris Coons. "Unfortunately, she was so maligned by Republicans, I don't think she ever had a chance," DeMint said of the candidate whom party leaders tried to block from the nomination by highlighting her previous statements on masturbation and evolution.

Rand Paul, the tea party-backed winner in Kentucky's Senate race, said cuts to military spending and programs such as Social Security had to be considered, a break from Republican positions that both are sacrosanct.

"We're coming. We're proud. We're strong. We're loud. And we're going to co-opt. And, in fact, I think we're already shaping the debate," he said of his fellow tea party candidates.

Pence and Paul appeared on ABC's "This Week." Van Hollen spoke to CNN's "State of the Union." Cantor and Ryan were interviewed on "Fox News Sunday" while McConnell and Clyburn appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation."

DeMint spoke in NBC's "Meet the Press."

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Page 39

U.S., Mexican officials seize more than 20 tons of marijuana smuggled through tunnel under border

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

SAN DIEGO -- Federal authorities in San Diego have made one of the largest marijuana seizures in the United States, confiscating more than 20 tons of pot that was smuggled into the country through an underground tunnel connecting warehouses on either side of California's border with Mexico, officials said Wednesday.

Mexican authorities seized more than four tons of pot from the warehouse on their side of the border.

The marijuana is worth more than $20 million if sold on the streets of San Diego, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton. The bricks of pot were packaged for sale.

"This is obviously the work of a cartel," said Morton, who held a news conference outside the warehouse in an industrial park near the Otay Mesa truck crossing, across from Tijuana.

Officials said the lightening-speed, 12-hour operation started Tuesday night when U.S. authorities watching a warehouse under surveillance followed a tractor-trailer as it left the building.

ICE agents called in the California Highway Patrol, whose officers stopped the rig near Temecula, Calif., about 60 miles way. Authorities say they found 10 tons of marijuana inside the tractortrailer. The driver, a U.S. citizen, and his Mexican wife were arrested and will be arraigned in San Diego today.

Authorities quickly obtained a

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Authorities seized an estimated 20 tons of marijuana at the border between the United States and Mexico in San Diego. A 600-yard tunnel used to smuggle pot was discovered in a warehouse in the city.

federal search warrant to enter the warehouse, where they discovered 10 to 15 more tons of marijuana, Morton said.

They also found the opening to the tunnel, which ran the length of six football fields under the border and ended at a warehouse in Mexico, Morton said. The tunnel had lighting, ventilation and a rail system to send loads of illegal drugs into California.

The clandestine passageway was too low to stand up in and was believed to be in operation for only a brief time, Morton said.

Officials said the seizure was the

largest ever in California and was believed to be the second-largest in the U.S. The largest amount of marijuana seized by Drug Enforcement Administration agents was in 2008 in Oregon, where 33 tons were found, DEA special agent Ralph W. Partridge said.

Wednesday's announcement comes only weeks after Mexican officials made their largest marijuana seizure ever, confiscating a massive 134 tons believed to belong to the powerful Sinaloa cartel.

Morton said officials haven't

Mom happy that her 10-y.o-old gave birth

MADRID – A Romanian Gypsy woman whose 10-yearold daughter just gave birth in Spain says she's delighted to have a new granddaughter and doesn't understand why the birth has shocked anyone — let alone become an international sensation.

Spanish authorities have released few details about the case to protect the girl's privacy.

But in comments published Wednesday, her mother told reporters that the baby's father is a 13-year-old boy who is still in Romania and is no longer going out with her daughter.

The 10-year-old girl and her baby daughter plan to stay in Spain because the young couple separated, said the girl's mother. She identified herself only as Olimpia and appeared to be in her 30s but did not give her age.

She also said she didn't understand the attention the case was generating because she and her daughter are Romanian Gypsies, or Roma, and their custom is to allow girls to marry young even though that's against the law in Romania.

"That's the way we get married," the girl's mother told reporters Tuesday outside the modest apartment building in the southern town of Lebrija where the family lives.

Meanwhile, the story was going viral on the Internet and causing an uproar in Spain.

"Mother at 10 years old" blared a headline in Barcelona's La Vanguardia newspaper, which dedicated two pages to the story.

In contrast, news about the 10-year-old mother barely registered in Romania, where stories buried inside newspapers focused on the controversy the birth had caused among Spaniards.

The girl moved to Spain about three weeks ago, her mother said, and her baby was born in a hospital last week in the city of Jerez de la Frontera. There were no complications during the birth, and the 10-year-old and her baby are doing fine, her mother said.

"She's doing well and is very happy with her daughter," the woman said.

The 10-year-old and her baby are living with the new grandmother while Spanish social welfare authorities determine whether the family will be able to provide for the baby.

Leading daily El Pais and other Spanish news media said prosecutors had announced they would investigate whether the parents might be guilty of any negligence if the 10-year-old child was not registered for school or had not been taken to see a doctor in her final months of pregnancy.

No one was available at the prosecutors' office for comment on the matter late Wednesday.

"The case is shocking," said Maria Luisa Cava del Llano, Spain's ombudswoman.

Under Spanish law, having consensual sex with someone under age 13 is classified as child abuse. But a Justice Ministry official said this particular case is complicated, because the alleged father is not in Spain and is also a minor. It is not clear whether he could be charged, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of ministry policy.

Romanian law allows girls to get married at age 16 with parental consent, or at 18 without it.

But arranged "marriages" between teenagers are relatively common among Roma, who make up about 1.5 million of Romania's 22 million people. Families "marry off" daughters when they reach puberty, with the "husband" usually being a couple of years older. The marriages are not recognized by the state.

Roma girls are often not encouraged to pursue a full education, and Romanian authorities do not widely enforce education laws that require children to attend school until age 16.

In 2003, there was an international outcry after the European Union envoy to Romania, Baroness Emma Nicholson, demanded that a 12-year-old Roma girl and her 15-year-old common-law husband separate and cease all intimate relations until they were legally able to be married.

The couple did separate for an unknown amount of time.

WORLD NEWS

determined which cartel was running the drug tunnel.

Officials have found 125 underground tunnels along the border built by Mexican drug cartels to elude detection since the early 1990s, ICE officials said. Of those, 75 have been found in the past four years. Many were discovered before they were completed.

The majority were found along the California and Arizona borders with Mexico.

Morton credited the increase in tunnel discoveries to "good oldfashioned law enforcement" efforts, with agents keeping a close eye on the thousands of warehouses storing goods moved back and forth across the border.

Morton said such a rapid bust, which came after a monthlong investigation, was possible because of cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities. He said that cooperation is better than ever, making it tougher for Mexican drug traffickers to move their loads and forcing their smuggling businesses to move underground.

STARBUCKS DEFEATS WOMAN'S TEA BURN LAWSUIT

A Manhattan woman has failed to persuade a U.S. appeals court that Starbucks Corp should be held liable for severe burns she suffered after spilling tea served in a double cup.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld on Tuesday a lower court's dismissal of a $3 million lawsuit brought by Rachel Moltner against the world's largest coffee chain.

Moltner was 76 in February 2008 when she burned herself at a Starbucks coffee shop on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

She spilled tea onto her left leg and foot when she tried to remove the lid from a "venti"-sized cup of tea, causing burns that required a skin graft. Her hospital stay later resulted in other injuries, including bed sores as well as herniated discs caused by a fall out of bed.

The plaintiff accused Starbucks of serving tea that was too hot in a double cup -- one cup placed inside another -- that was defectively designed. She also said Starbucks should have warned her the tea could spill.

The appeals court rejected her case, saying "double-cupping is a method well known in the industry as a way of preventing a cup of hot tea from burning one's hand."

This is not the first time a restaurant or coffee retailer has faced a lawsuit over hot beverages.

In perhaps the best-known case, a jury in 1994 ordered McDonald's Corp to pay $2.86 million to Stella Liebeck, an Albuquerque, New Mexico, woman who said she scalded herself with the restaurant's coffee. The parties later settled.

Page 40

G20 finds common ground opposing U.S TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

The Group of 20 is beginning to look more like the G19 plus 1 as emerging and rich countries alike accuse the United States of breaking a vow of unity.

This week's G20 summit will require every bit of President Barack Obama's diplomacy skills after the Federal Reserve embarked on a new $600 billion bond-buying spree, sparking criticism from four continents that the U.S. central bank was ignoring the global repercussions.

Officials from Germany, Brazil, China and South Africa were among those expressing concern that the Fed's money printing could weaken the dollar, drive up commodity prices and send uncontrollable waves of investor German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble cash into emerging markets.

If the G20 fails to defuse these global tensions, it may heighten Pravin Gordhan said the Fed's move investor concerns that policymakers "undermines the spirit of multilateral are drifting further apart, leaving the cooperation that G20 leaders have world economy vulnerable to another fought so hard to maintain during the current crisis." bout of upheaval.

German Finance Minister Domestic politics and policies Wolfgang Schaeuble was less make Obama's job tougher.

He arrives in Seoul for the diplomatic. He called U.S. policy November 11-12 summit weakened by "clueless."

It was less than five months ago a crushing congressional election defeat for his Democratic Party. His that G20 leaders gathered in Toronto, primary task will be to convince his talking in warm and fuzzy terms about peers the Fed's actions do not run "collective well-being" and "shared counter to a U.S.-led push for global objectives." cooperation to even out economic "G20 members have a imbalances. responsibility to the community of South African Finance Minister nations to assure the overall health of

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

the global economy," the leaders said in their closing statement in June.

"If we act in a coordinated manner, all regions are better off, now and in the future."

Since that Toronto meeting, the dollar has dropped 11 percent against a basket of currencies, driving up currencies in Japan, Brazil, the euro zone and elsewhere. The biggest exception is China, where the tightly managed yuan has gained a relatively modest 2 percent versus the dollar since late June.

Obama's response to G20 criticism is expected to be that the world needs a healthy U.S. economy, and the U.S. economy needs healthier exports.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke himself said a strong U.S. economy was critical for the global recovery, and his central bank was well aware of the dollar's "special role" in the global economy and monetary system.

Indeed, G20 members all seem to agree that the world needs a better balance between cash-rich exporters such as China and Germany and heavily indebted consumer countries like the United States. The difference lies in how best to accomplish that.

For emerging markets fearful that the Fed's flood of cash will swamp their economies, the United States does not seem to be keeping up its end of the "shared objectives" bargain.

That makes it harder for Washington to push for policy changes

elsewhere, particular in Beijing, which insists the yuan is not the primary culprit behind big global trade gaps.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's proposal to set numerical targets limiting current account imbalances was roundly rejected at a G20 finance ministers meeting last month.

The Obama administration was the driving force behind a proposal adopted by the G20 in Pittsburgh last year to promote more balanced global growth.

That framework may be the best bet for G20 consensus at this week's Seoul summit.

Unlike Geithner's numerical targets, the framework for balanced growth calls for mutual assessments to ensure domestic policies don't disrupt global growth.

G20 countries submitted their medium-term economic plans for International Monetary Fund review last month. Leaders may agree to keep this process going beyond Seoul, keeping the IMF as arbiter.

The Fund told the G20 nations in June that if they adopt mutually supportive policies, they could raise global output by $4 trillion and create 52 million jobs in the medium term.

Unless leaders can put on a convincing show of cooperation in Seoul this week, those loftier economic goals may remain well out of reach.

Google bars data from Facebook as rivalry heats up

Google Inc will begin blocking Facebook and other Web services from accessing its users' information, highlighting an intensifying rivalry between the two Internet giants.

Google will no longer let other services automatically import its users' email contact data for their own purposes, unless the information flows both ways. It accused Facebook in particular of siphoning up Google contact data, without allowing for the automatic import and export of Facebook users' information.

Facebook, with more than 500 million users, relies on email services such as Google's Gmail to help new users find friends already on the network.

When a person joins, they are asked to import their Gmail contact list into the social network service.

Facebook then tells the user which email contacts are also on the social network.

In a statement, Google said websites such as Facebook "leave users in a data dead end." Facebook did not immediately provide a comment on Friday.

While Google framed the move as an attempt to protect its users' ability to retain control of their personal data on the Internet, analysts said the move underscored the battle between Google, the world's largest search engine, and Facebook, the dominant Internet social network.

"The fundamental power dynamic on the Web today is this emerging conflict between Facebook and Google," said Gartner analyst Ray Valdes. "Google needs to evolve to become a big player in the social Web and it hasn't been able to do that."

"If people do search within Facebook, if they do

email within Facebook, if they do instant messaging within Facebook, all of these will chip away at Google's properties."

Google said that while it makes it easy for other Web services to automatically import a user's contact data, Facebook was not reciprocating.

"We have decided to change our approach slightly to reflect the fact that users often aren't aware that once they have imported their contacts into sites like Facebook, they are effectively trapped," Google said in an emailed statement.

"We will no longer allow websites to automate the import of users' Google Contacts (via our API) unless they allow similar export to other sites," Google said.

Some technology blogs were reporting that Facebook still appeared to be allowing users to import their Google Gmail contacts into Facebook as of midday Friday.

A Google spokesman told Reuters that the company had begun enforcing the new rules "gradually."

Google also stressed that users will still be able to manually download their contacts to their computers in "an open, machine-readable format" which can then be imported into any Web service.

Google has coveted the wealth of information that

Facebook's half-billion users generate and amass.

Having access to that data could be especially valuable to Google, whose business model is based on allowing its users to find any information anywhere on the Web. "Google is trying to use the leverage that it has to get as much access to the Facebook social graph (network of friends and interests) that it can, so it can provide the best search function that it can," said Wedbush Securities analyst Lou Kerner. "The more data Google has access to the better its search results are going to be."

Last month, Facebook announced a deal with Microsoft Corp allowing Facebook information -such as Web pages that Facebook users have endorsed by clicking on "like" buttons -- to appear within Microsoft search results.

Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt said in September the company would add social "layers" to many of its existing Web products in the coming months, following its less-than-stellar track record of developing stand-alone social networking products like Orkut and the recently shuttered Wave service.

Google also has acquired a slew of small social networking companies in recent months, including Slide and social payment company Jambool.

Gartner's Valdes said access to the explosion of new types of data generated by Web services, such as location-based services, would provide further flashpoints between Google and Facebook.

"It's one skirmish among many to come," said Valdes.

Page 41

BlackBerry’s corporate dominance seen eroding

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

Shares in Research In Motion (RIM), the makers of BlackBerry, have been slipping as investors fretted the BlackBerry smartphone's stranglehold on corporate communications was being eroded by rival devices.

Bank of America and Citigroup have joined a growing throng of financial institutions eyeing alternatives to the BlackBerry for corporate email.

The banks are testing software designed to make Apple's iPhone secure enough for company messages, Bloomberg said, citing three people familiar with the plan.

A source at Bank of America confirmed the details of the report. A Citi spokeswoman declined to comment.

BlackBerry smartphones have long been the device of choice for bankers, politicians and executives who need secure access to email and the Internet when outside the office.

But the surging popularity of consumer-oriented smartphones such

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

as the iPhone and devices running on Google's Android software, coupled with their makers' moves to boost security credentials, are pressuring RIM's dominance in the corporate sector.

Allowing the rank and file to access corporate email on personal devices also saves companies the cost of supplying a BlackBerry.

"If the IT department's security concerns can be addressed it seems to be a win-win" for employers and employees, said James Cordwell, a London-based analyst at Atlantic Equities.

In a September survey, Bernstein Research found 83 percent of U.S. businesses allow employees to use non-BlackBerry alternatives to access corporate email.

PC maker Dell said it was moving 25,000 BlackBerry-wielding employees over to its own line of smartphones as it eyes gains in the mobile device market.

Dell said the move will save

money, but RIM disputed that, noting the cost of buying, deploying and supporting new devices.

"We find it highly unlikely that they will actually save any money with this move and far more likely they were looking for a little free publicity," Mark Guibert, RIM's senior vicepresident of corporate marketing, said in an emailed statement.

"Plus, consider the fact that BlackBerry smartphones are far more efficient with respect to data usage, which means that their monthly service charges will also likely increase," he said.

The move by Bank of America and Citigroup follows the lead of JPMorgan Chase & Co and UBS, which said in September they were considering allowing employees to use iPhones or other alternatives to the standard-issue BlackBerry.

British bank Standard Chartered already gives employees the choice to use iPhones.

Bank of America has around

Is your laptop cooking your testicles?

Whoever invented the 'laptop' probably didn't worry too much about male reproductive health.

Turns out, unsurprisingly, that sitting with a computer on your lap will crank up the temperature of your nether regions, which could affect sperm quality.

And there is little you can do about it, according to the authors of a study out today in the journal Fertility and Sterility, short of putting your laptop on a desk.

The researchers hooked thermometers to the scrotums of 29 young men who were balancing a laptop on their knees. They found that even with a lap pad under the computer, the men's scrotums overheated quickly.

"Millions and millions of men are using laptops now, especially those in the reproductive age range," said Dr. Yefim Sheynkin, a urologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, who led the new study.

"Within 10 or 15 minutes their scrotal temperature is already above what we consider safe, but they don't feel it," he added.

So far, no studies have actually tested how laptops impact men's fertility, said Sheynkin, and there is no bulletproof evidence that it would. But earlier research has shown that warming the scrotum more than one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) is enough to damage sperm.

Under normal circumstances, the testicles' position outside of the body makes sure they stay a few degrees cooler than the inside of the body, which is necessary for sperm production.

"I wouldn't say that if someone starts to use laptops they will become infertile," Sheynkin told Reuters Health. But frequent use might contribute to reproductive problems, he said, because "the scrotum doesn't have time to cool down."

According to the American Urological Association, nearly one in six couples in the US have trouble conceiving a baby, and about half the time the man is at the root of the problem.

Both general health and lifestyle factors such as nutrition and drug use can influence reproductive health.

However, Sheynkin said tight jeans and

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

briefs are generally not considered a risk factor.

"Clothes should not significantly change scrotal temperature, because you are moving around," he said.

To hold a laptop on your knees, however, you need to sit still with your legs closed. After one hour in this position, the researchers found that men's testicle temperature had risen by up to 2.5 C. A lap pad kept the computer cool and also made sure less heat was transmitted to the skin.

But it didn't do much to cool the testicles, and might give "a false sense of security," according to Sheynkin.

"It doesn't matter what pad you use," he said. "You can put a pillow beneath your computer and it still won't protect you."

As it turned out, leg position played a far bigger role. When the men sat with their legs spread wide -- made possible only by placing the computer on a large lap pad -- they could keep their testicles cooler. But it still took less than 30 minutes before they began overheating.

"No matter what you do, even with the legs spread wide apart, the temperature is still going to be higher than what we call safe," said Sheynkin.

Belkin International, Inc., which sells lap pads and other electronics accessories, did not wish to comment on the new findings.

Dr. James F. Smith, a urologist at the University of California, San Francisco, cautioned that a clear impact of laptop use on fertility had still not been shown, and that it probably didn't play a big role.

Still, he added in an e-mail to Reuters Health, heating up the scrotum is likely to be bad for sperm production. He often asks patients that he sees for infertility if they use a laptop and, if so, suggests that they spread their legs periodically or place the computer on a desk.

Dr. Smith said the consequences of continued overheating of the testicles -- socalled scrotal hyperthermia -- probably weren't permanent, but might take months to go away.

"When interested in maximizing fertility potential," he advised, "minimize harmful exposures, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly."

290,000 employees, while Citi employs some 258,000.

A RIM executive said the Waterloo, Ontario-based company was still adding corporate subscribers and it continues to lead a growing market.

"We believe the opportunities for both corporate-issued and employeepurchased smartphones are growing and that RIM provides the best overall platform for CIOs (chief information officers) to address both scenarios without compromising security or manageability," RIM's senior vicepresident for enterprise and platform marketing, Jeff McDowell, said.

RIM responded sharply in October when Apple CEO Steve Jobs boasted iPhone sales had overtaken BlackBerry sales in the quarter, saying that the Cupertino-based tech giant was surrounded by a "distortion field".

In the third quarter, RIM's global smartphone market share slipped more than 4 percentage points from a year earlier, according to industry tracker IDC.

NO CONTROLLERS!: Eleven-year-old Michael McKoy, left, and nine-yearold Steven Scherrman race while playing the Kinect for the Xbox 360.

Microsoft Corp is expecting to sell 5 million of its new controller-free Kinect gaming systems this holiday shopping season, potentially adding $750 million to the software company's revenue this quarter.

The $150 device, which plugs into Microsoft's Xbox gaming console and allows users to play games simply by using gestures and voice commands, went on sale last week in 30,000 stores across the United States.

Microsoft is hoping to challenge Sony Corp's Move and Nintendo’s Wii in the expanding motion-based gaming market, and reinvigorate the $60 billion global video game industry, which has been hit hard by the economic downturn.

In September, the company forecast 3 million Kinect sales, but the head of Microsoft's entertainment unit Don Mattrick raised the projection to 5 million in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.

"Presales have exceeded expectations," said Mattrick.

"People are coming to us and saying this is must-have holiday item."

High demand for the Kinect may lead to shortages, Mattrick warned, which could crimp sales.

Overall, more than 30,000 U.S. stores will sell Kinect, including branches of Wal-Mart Stores, Target Corp, Best Buy, GameStop and online at Amazon.com Microsoft, which unveiled the system under the project name 'Natal' last year, is selling Kinect for $150 or as part of a package including a 4 gigabyte Xbox for $300.

The device itself is a roughly foot-long, thin black box with three camera sensors, which plugs into the back of the Xbox. It comes with one set of games called 'Kinect Adventures', scenarios where players navigate courses on fast-flowing rivers, underwater and in space.

There will be 16 other games available for the holidays, Microsoft said, including sports, dancing and fitness-themed titles.

Sophisticated shooting games like Microsoft's Halo series are not expected to be available on the Kinect, as the company is aiming to spread the appeal of hands-free gaming to a wide audience rather than attract existing hardcore gamers.

West Indies Masters defeat England in cricket

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Jumping for joy, spectators smiling and players sharing high-fives symbolised the success and spirit of West Indies cricket.

Such spontaneous reactions and unbridled jubilation resonated at Kensington Oval again on Friday night after the West Indies Masters sensationally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, amazingly scoring 20 runs off the final over to beat longstanding arch rivals, England.

Man-of-the-Match Stuart Williams’ superbly struck cover-driven six off England captain Dominic Cork into the Party Stand, set off carnival-like celebrations among the 4 000-plus spectators, bringing the feature CLOBI Cup Twenty20 match of the first day double header to a cheeful climax.

The thrilling four-wicket triumph with one ball to spare over the defending champions had looked implausible and unachievable with the Windies wobbling at 71 for six after 10 overs, chasing England’s challenging 176 for four, which had been built around opener Craig White’s 54-ball knock of 86 with eight fours and three sixes.

White and wicket-keeper Paul Nixon, who made 35 not out off 24 balls beefed up England’s final total with an 81-run fourth-wicket partnership in eight overs after last year’s inaugural MVP Graeme Hick was stumped for 18.

But Nevisian Williams, who hit nine fours and two sixes in his responsible unbeaten 86 off 51 balls

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and Guyanese Mahendra Nagamootoo (39 not out, 2x4, 2x6, 30 balls) featured in a match-winning 106-run seventhwicket stand in the last 9.5 overs.

The partnership took the Windies final score to 177 for six in 19.5 overs, making the crowd forget the disappointment of a first-ball “duck” to their favourite Carl Hooper.

The first ball from Cork off the memorable last over was a waist-high full toss which Williams deflected for four to fine leg, losing his bat in the process but a no-ball for height, surprisingly wasn't called by standing umpire Vanburn Holder. Williams then sliced the second to the thirdman boundary and completed a third consecutive four with a lofted shot down the ground. He then gathered two off the fourth ball before in his characteristic, ice-cool, confident style, came on the front foot and caressed the next ball, fittingly in an area, to start the party.

At least a dozen spectators had earlier left when Hooper gifted his hand, injudiciously trying to walk into a drive and edging Dean Headley to Neil Fairbrother at an extremely wide slip.

It looked even dimmer when locals Courtney Browne was leg before wicket sweeping and Vasbert Drakes run out.

But Williams and Nagamootoo, with a little luck as well, did the unbelievable.

Fast-medium new ball bowler Glen Chapple, had removed Sherwin Campbell and Floyd Reifer, who flattered to deceive with three attractive

NTINI RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini officially announced his retirement from international cricket although he will represent his country one more time.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Gerald Majola announced that the best black bowler produced by the nation would wear the green and gold in a January 9 Twenty20 clash against India in Durban.

"We cannot let a great player like Makhaya say goodbye off the field so we have told the selectors to include him in that match and give fans an opportunity to bid farewell."

The appearance of Ntini will add to the uniqueness of the game as it is to be at the 70,000-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium -- one of 10 venues where FIFA World Cup matches were staged this year.

CSA president Mtuthuzeli Nyoka said Ntini had succeeded against "unspeakable odds" and described him as a man of destiny.

"We salute you as a cricketer, as an

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fours, in his opening spell.

His failure to take a stinging return catch offered by Williams when he was 25 and Mark Alleyne’s simple let-off of Nagamootoo, were costly.

Williams took a liking to Cork, dispatching him for two fours in one over to post the Windies’ 100 in 14 overs and when he pulled Alleyne’s medium pace for six in the next over, it meant 65 runs were required from the last five overs.

Nagamootoo also got into the attack by hoisting Headley for a six in the 17th over and after Alleyne’s blunder at longon off the next ball, he finished the over with a superb straight six onto the sightscreen.

With 39 needed from the final three overs, Chapple, getting the ball into the block hole, conceded just five runs, leaving the Windies to get 34 from the last 12 balls.

Fourteen came from the penultimate over by Headley, a boundary through another misfield by the former Harrison College schoolboy, Alleyne, paving the way for the 4-4-4-26 blitz by Williams.

While it wasn’t a Test or One-Day International, the incredible and almost unbelievable finish, would’ve comforted Caribbean cricket fans, still crestfallen at the passing of late Barbados Prime Minister, David Thompson, whose funeral service was held at the same venue, two days earlier and those tottering from the turmoil of Tomas.

African, and as a man," he said of a star whose international career spanned 11 years.

The first black to respresent his country at senior level, Ntini is the only South African to take 10 wickets at Lord's, considered by many to be the home of cricket.

Domestic South Africa fast bowler newspapers reacted Makhaya Ntini to the achievement by splashing pictures across front pages of Ntini on his knees kissing the hallowed turf after the achievement.

Ntini holds the South African records for the best Test bowling figures — 13-132 against the West Indies in Trinidad — and ODI figures — 6-23 against Australia in Cape Town.

The 33-year-old native of the Eastern Cape made the last of 101 Test appearances in December 2009 after capturing 390 Test wickets and 266 in the One-Day version of the game.

"It has been a wonderful journey for me to represent my country. I have so many great memories which, I will carry for the rest of my life," Ntini said in a statement.

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND G. Thorpe c Ambrose b Walsh 13 C. White lbw b Hurley 86 N. Fairbrother c McGarrell b Drakes 9 G. Hick st Browne b McGarrell 18 +P. Nixon not out 35 M. Alleyne not out 7 Extras (lb3, nb1, w4) 8 TOTAL (4 wkts, 20 overs) 176 Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Thorpe, 3.2), 2-46 (Fairbrother, 5.3), 3-82 (Hick, 10.3), 4-163 (White, 18.3).

Did not bat: G. Chapple, *D. Cork, P. Defreitas, J. Emburey, D. Headley.

Bowling: Ambrose 3-0-23-0 (w1), Walsh 2-0-19-1, Hooper 2-0-15-0 (w1), Drakes 4-0-32-1 (w1, nb2), Hurley 3-0-24-1, McGarrell 4-0-42-1, Nagamootoo 2-0-180.

WEST INDIES S. Williams not out 86 S. Campbell lbw b Chapple 3 F. Reifer b Chapple 14 R. Hurley b Defreitas 0 C. Hooper c Fairbrother b Headley 0 +C. Browne lbw b Emburey 10 V. Drakes run out 1 M. Nagamootoo not out 39 Extras (b1, lb11, w12) 24 TOTAL (6 wkts, 19.5 overs) 177 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Campbell, 1.5), 233 (Reifer, 4), 3-53 (Hurley, 6), 4-55 (Hooper, 6.4), 5-70 (Browne, 9.3), 6-71 (Drakes, 10).

Did not bat: N. McGarrell, C. Ambrose, *C. Walsh.

Bowling: Cork 3.5-0-40-0 (w3), Chapple 4-0-28-2 (w2), Headley 4-0-37-1 (w5), Defreitas 2-0-17-1, Alleyne 2-0-18-0 (w1), Emburey 4-0-25-1.

Toss: West Indies Result: West Indies won by four wickets Man-of-the-Match: Stuart Williams Umpires: Vanburn Holder, Dalton Holder

Ramnarine returned unopposed as WIPA head

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Combative West Indies Players Association (WIPA) head Dinanath Ramnarine has been re-elected unopposed as president.

In a move that was widely expected, the former West Indies leg-spinner once again managed to secure the overwhelming confidence of the players' union membership, at the annual general meeting held during the WICB One-Day Championship in Jamaica last month.

Ramnarine, who also serves as WIPA's chief executive, was first elected back in 2002 when he took over from West Indies fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh.

Discarded West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds was also reelected unopposed as vice-president.

Meanwhile, Jamaican fast bowler Andrew Richardson has replaced Jimmy Adams as secretary, while Trinidadian legspinner Samuel Badree will serve as his assistant, replacing fellow countryman Daren Ganga.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, overlooked for the recent tour of Sri Lanka, has taken over from Ian Bradshaw as treasurer.

WIPA said, however, that despite the departure of Adams and Ganga, the duo would continue to serve in other capacities in the organisation.

During his report, Ramnarine urged members to remain vigilant in the face of many challenges, some of which "threatened the interests and welfare of members and, at times, the fabric of the organisation".

The membership also congratulated new West Indies captain Darren Sammy on his appointment and thanked Chris Gayle for his three-year tenure.

Gebrselassie retires after failing to complete NY marathon; leaves imperishable legacy

NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

Haile Gebrselassie's dream of crowning a glorious career with victory in the 2012 London Olympics vanished on the streets of New York on Sunday.

The 37-year-old Ethiopian, who enjoyed unparalleled success on both the track and the roads, announced his retirement after dropping out of his New York City marathon debut because of a knee injury.

Debutants stole the show at the marathon on Sunday as Ethiopian Gebre Gebremariam won the men's race on his marathon debut and Kenya's Edna Kiplagat took the women's title in her first New York race.

Gebremariam, the 2009 world cross country champion, ran with easy grace through the last hilly stretch in Central Park to pull away from Emmanuel Mutai for a comfortable win in two hours eight minutes 14 seconds.

"I'm so happy here for my first time," Gebremariam, 26, told reporters.

"My first marathon and I'm number one here."

Kiplagat, winner of this year's Los Angeles Marathon, also waited until the latter stages in Central Park to use her strong stride to claim victory in 2:28:20.

American Shalane Flanagan and Mary Keitany of Kenya, both running their maiden marathons, followed Kiplagat over the finish line.

Flanagan, the Olympic 10,000

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Haile Gebrselassie

meters bronze medalist, clocked 2:28:40 with world half-marathon champion Keitany a further 21 seconds adrift.

Mutai, also runner-up in London, finished more than a minute behind Gebremariam in 2:09:18 in the men's race, with Moses Kigen Kipkosgei of Kenya taking third place in 2:10:39.

Gebrselassie had a previous change of mind after calling time on his track career following the 2004 Athens Olympics when he finished out of the medals in the 10,000 meters.

He switched to the road with immediate success but said he would

not run the marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics because he feared air pollution would exacerbate his exercise-induced asthma which had already affected him in London.

However, he did return to the track, finishing eighth in the 10,000, before reducing his world marathon mark to 2:03:59 in Berlin.

The lure of London may still persuade Gebrselassie to carry on once his right knee heals and he recovers from the disappointment of dropping out on his New York City debut.

His tearful announcement to a stunned room of reporters on Sunday, though, was unequivocal.

"I never thought about retirement," he said. "But for the first time, this is the day. Let me stop and do other work after this.

"Let me do another job. Let me give a chance to the youngsters. I did very hard work to win this race, it didn't work."

Gebrselassie, dubbed "The Emperor" in Addis Ababa where he is revered for his commitment in investing his earnings in his home country.

He made his initial impact at the 1992 world junior championships where he won the 5,000 and 10,000 gold medals, a double he was never ever able to replicate as a senior.

Gebrselassie still won four consecutive 10,000 world titles and two Olympic 10 km gold medals, in

Cool Federer wins back Swiss title from Djokovic

Roger Federer won the Swiss Indoors title in his hometown for the fourth time in five years on Sunday when he beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-1 in the final.

The Swiss also recorded his 65th ATP tournament win to move ahead of Pete Sampras, though he still trails Jimmy Conners, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe in overall career titles.

It was Federer's second win over world number three Djokovic in a month and his fourth title of a year, suggesting reports of his demise may have been premature.

"I've played really well all week long," said Federer after his 12th win in 18 matches against the Serb and his third in four this year.

Djokovic, who interrupted Federer's run by beating him in last year's final in Basel, rued the start to the third set, when he said he lost his focus.

"I lost my balance a bit and in a split second I was 5-1 down and there was no way back. You don't get many chances against Roger, if you lose your focus he's right on top of you."

Federer started with a superb service return on the first point and had two break points in the first game but hit both into the

net.

The Swiss himself had to save two break points in the second game, the only glimmer of a chance Djokovic had in the first set, before breaking in the third.

World number two Federer produced some delightful strokes including a superb backhand drop from near the baseline in the fourth game.

But he seemed to lose his composure at the start of the second set and was broken in the second game as he produced a flurry of unforced errors.

There were some outstanding rallies, one ending with a stunning crosscourt drive from the Serb and another a perfect smash by Federer from a Djokovic lob which nearly hit the ceiling.

Federer saved one set point in the eighth game but Djokovic then held serve to level to clinch the set and level the match.

Federer could have fallen apart after missing two sitters in a row in the second game of the final set, over-hitting both with the court at his mercy.

Instead, he produced the decisive break in the fourth game with a superb pass down the line followed by a double fault from his opponent.

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1996 and again at the 2000 Sydney Games.

The latter race provided one of the most thrilling in Olympic history, as Gebrselassie just held off the challenge of his great Kenyan rival Paul Tergat.

Tergat, unchallenged at his peak in the world cross country championships where he won five consecutive titles, was the first to move to the marathon where he set a world record of 2:04:55 in Berlin.

He also had the satisfaction of finishing ahead of Gebrselassie on the latter's marathon debut in the 2002 London event, although both finished behind world record-holder Khalid Khannouchi.

Gebrselassie, showing the same affinity for the roads as he had for the track, reduced Tergat's world marathon record to 2:04:26 in 2007 on the flat Berlin course and the following year broke it again in the same city with a time of 2:03:59.

With his ever-present smile and dedication to both his sport and his country, Gebrselassie was one of the most popular athletes in world sport.

"What he did was to elevate the standard for everyone," USA Track & Field spokeswoman Jill Geer said on Sunday.

"What makes Haile really special is he's not just fast, he's really an ambassador for the sport, one of the most lovable people in the sport. He is a person who lights up rooms."

MICHAEL VICK LEADS EAGLES OVER COLTS: BACK ON TOP It seems like only an injury can slow the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, as every time he is out on the field he continues to dominate and perform unlike any Michael Vick we have ever seen.

Vick stated earlier in the week that he would be more cautious and wear extra padding, but that hasn’t stopped him from being the exciting Michael Vick that we all know and love to watch.

The Eagles quarterback has come back from injury and started right where he left off and that is on top.

Before the injury Vick was averaging 7.2 yards per carry and while many thought we would see a different Vick he has rushed nine times for 75 yards and a touchdown, 8.3 yards per carry.

When he has thrown the ball, his throws resemble bullets and perfect spirals. It almost looks as if Vick just flicks his wrist and the ball comes out perfectly every time.

While his accuracy hasn’t been perfect, he still was 17/29 for 218 yards and one touchdown defeating the Indianapolis Colts 26-24.

Vick is still the only starting quarterback in the NFL not to throw an interception in the 2010 season.

The young and vulnerable Philadelphia offensive line only gave up three sacks against the Colts and did an excellent job protecting Vick. His ability to move around and avoid the sack was the reason Vick was chosen as the starter initially, but he is proving to be the entire package.

There is only one year remaining on Vick’s contract with the Eagles so it is very possible that he will see one more large contract, which years ago no one ever thought was possible.

The question now is who will that contract come from?

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San Fan-cisco: Giants' World Series win sparks biggest celebration in city's history as hundreds of thousands hit the streets

WORLD SPORTS

Tens of thousands of baseball fans flooded the streets of San Francisco to celebrate the Giants' first World Series championship win in more than 50 years with the biggest parade in the city's history.

The team brandished the trophy from the windows of a tram and from the backs of convertible cars as fans climbed trees and streetlights to get the best views possible.

Some die-hard fans had shown up before dawn to secure the best vantage points and proceeded to wave flags and shout themselves hoarse.

Many stayed away from work and some said they had let their children stay home from school so they could catch the a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

'I want to see all the hometown heroes and share the smiles of all the fans who've been waiting their entire lives for this,' said Teddy Hutcherson, 31, an usher at the team's AT&T Park stadium His sentiments were echoed by Steve Williams, 51, who joined his friends at the start of the parade in the financial district.

'This is Christmas, New Year's and your first-born all rolled into one,' he said.

Under a sunny sky, confetti rained on team members, fans and civic dignitaries alike on streets festooned with orange and black - the team's colors.

'I've never seen anything like this is my life,' said Giants center-fielder Andres Torres as he greeted fans.

'The parade has been amazing.'

City officials did not have a specific attendance figure but Tony Winnicker, spokesman for Mayor Gavin Newsom, said they 'believe it is the largest parade and civic event turnout in the city's history.'

Marching bands, floats and costumed mascots added to the street party atmosphere as the parade moved from the financial district to the Civic

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NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 12TH, 2010

Standing room only: Fans gathered hundreds deep on the streets to wave on the players

Center where Mayor Newsom presented the team a key to the city.

Mayor Newsom was giddy as he described growing up as a 'fanatical Giants fan' and dreaming about playing for the team one day.

'I thought I'd see (a World Series championship) in my lifetime, but never thought I'd see it as mayor,' he said.

'It's incomprehensible that this happened.'

This Giants team is a bunch of selfdescribed misfits and castoffs but their achievement in winning the World Series has put them among the most illustrious names in the club's history.

Fans of Brian Wilson, the cult favourite whose facial hair has become a local obsession, paid tribute to him by

painting beards on their faces and wearing T-shirts that read, 'Fear the Beard.' He stoked up the crowd by jumping up and down and giving people high-fives.

Slugger Aubrey Huff, who threatened to unveil his lucky red thong at the parade, made good on his words by waving it at fans. Encouraged by roars approval he later pulled out the 'rally thong' while addressing raucous fans at Civic Center.

Past Giants greats Willie Mays and Willie McCovey attended the ceremony, as did Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Former Journey singer and Giants devotee Steve Perry, whose hit song Don't Stop Believin' has become the team's anthem, waved from the stand

as the song blared from speakers and the crowd sang along.

It was the same spot beneath City Hall's orange-lit dome where fans had gathered last Monday night to watch the team clinch their historic title with a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers.

It put the Giants 4-1 ahead in a best-of-seven game competition against the Rangers, after qualifying for the World Series by securing a play-off berth on the last day of the regular season.

The Giants then beat the Atlanta Braves and twice-defending National League champions Philadelphia Phillies, to go one better than the Giants teams that narrowly missed out on wins in 1962, 1989 and 2002.

Ukraine's cyclist Popovych testifies in US doping probe LOS ANGELES – Ukrainian cyclist Yaroslav Popovych, a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, testified for 90 minutes before a grand jury that is probing doping in the sport, his lawyer said.

Popovych's lawyer, Ken Miller, told the Los Angeles Times that his client was forced to testify on Wednesday after being served while riding in a charity event put on by Armstrong in Austin, Texas.

"How he was served struck me as a little peculiar," Miller told the newspaper. "It was effected on a guy at a charity ride who was going to leave Texas for a vacation with his girlfriend.

A guy from Ukraine who doesn't speak great English and didn't really understand what was going on."

Miller added that he doesn't think

Ukrainian cyclist Yaroslav Popovych

his client has anything to add to the doping probe.

"I don't believe he knows anything

Lance Armstrong

about what the grand jury is investigating," he said.

Investigators want to talk to the 30-

year-old Ukrainian cyclist because he has been a rider on three Armstrong teams since 2005, when they both rode for Discovery Channel.

Federal prosecutors have called several associates of Armstrong, a seventime Tour de France champion, in recent weeks.

Investigators have been interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence in their probe of whether or not Armstrong took banned substances.

Armstrong has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Testimony is kept secret and sessions are closed to reporters.

The federal probe was sparked by allegations from Armstrong's countryman and former cycling teammate Floyd Landis that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs.

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