Volume 7 Issue 10

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

TURKS

e-mail: sun@suntci.com www.suntci.com

tel: (649) 946-8542 fax: (649) 941-3281 Volume 7 no. 10

$1.00

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

THE “UNWARRANTED” PAYMENT of millions of dollars to Public Servants in the Turks and Caicos Islands over the years has caused Government to drastically overhaul the gratuity payment system and tighten up on allowances.

However, under the new system which becomes effective on April 1, 2011, a large number of Civil Servants will not be getting the large amounts of money they were expecting.

In a letter that was circulated to all public servants by Chief Executive Mark Capes on March 10, 2011 and obtained by The SUN, the following important changes were announced: • people receiving both government and NIB pensions will have their government pensions reduced by the amount of the NIB pension rather than receiving both pensions in full; continued on Page 2

uk GrAnts tci us$10m for siPt exPenses ...PG 2

PROTESTORS IN A MILITANT MOOD

Demonstrators calling for an end to British rule in the Turks and Caicos Islands blocked access to and from the Providenciales International Airport via its main access - Airport Road - forcing taxi drivers and others who use that stretch on a daily basis, to seek an alternate route. The protestors used old tires, heavy earth-moving equipment and vehicles to block the roadway. They vow to continue their protest action until His Excellency Governor Gordon Wetherell delivers an election date this year. The road was blocked from Tuesday to up to press time. Tourists, for the better part of Tuesday, were inconvenienced until the alternate route was found.

Anti-britisH Protest in tci– PAGe 5

Helen GArlick PPc And lime Ackee kills GettinG touGH 23 in sAbotAGed .story on PG 12 witH lAwyers ...PG 7 JAmAicA...PG 35

Page 2

Ciil servants to lose gratuity

LOCAL NEWS

Continued from Page 1

• to eliminate the gap between the government and the NIB retirement ages, the government retirement age will increase from 55 to 60, with transitional protection for those who are already aged over 50; • people who retire from the government will no longer be able to draw both a pension and a salary on being re-employed by government; • in line with normal practice for noncontributory pension schemes, people employed by the government before 6 April 1992 will no longer be able to convert part of their government pension into a lump sum; • people employed by the government on or after 6 April 1992 have no entitlement to a gratuity even though they have been paid, erroneously, in the past; the legislation will be properly enforced in future; • in keeping with sound actuarial advice, housing and other allowances will no longer be included in the calculation of government pensions; • existing provisions in General Orders will be applied to cap the level of accumulated leave at 30 days, and no more than 30 days accumulated leave will be paid when an employee leaves the service. A

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

transitional scheme will allow payment for up to 60 days leave where this can be verified by proper records. This will be reduced by 2½ days each month until March 2012 when the 30 day rule will be strictly enforced. Contract workers will no longer be able to accumulate annual leave to be paid this upon completion of their contracts; • The arrangements for housing, transport and other allowances will be tightened up to ensure greater consistency and transparency.

Capes noted that where possible , the aim is to implement the changes from 1 April.

“We fully understand that these are difficult times and so we are making transitional arrangements in a number of cases to ensure that the people affected are treated as fairly as possible. Nor will we seek to recover the many overpayments unless there is clear evidence that individuals receiving such payments acted improperly, or were clearly aware that they were in receipt of payments to which they were not entitled,” he stated.

“I know that these essential corrective measures will not be welcomed by some of those who have been unfairly benefitting from overpayments or other benefits to

which they are not entitled. But for other public servants the changes will bring about a more equitable situation and free up scarce funds for use in other areas of government such as education and primary healthcare.

You and the general public may be reassured to know that measures will be put in place to help prevent any recurrence of this unjustified use of public funds.”

As most of you will know by now, on Friday 4 March the CFO and I met with the Civil Service Association to address the important issues covered in the attached document. Since then a number of commentators have reported a partial or distorted view of the essential changes described in the document.”

He added: “When you read the document in full I think you may see that we have tried to be as fair as possible in our approach to dealing with the failings of the past. Please keep in mind too that our financial position remains extremely serious; we are duty bound to make sure that every government dollar is spent correctly.

The Interim Government is committed to ensuring that all public servants receive the pay and allowances to which they are entitled.

At the same time we must be equally sure that public servants are not receiving payments to which they are not properly entitled. To achieve this would be an important objective at any time to safeguard and properly account for public money, but the crisis in TCIG finances means that it

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Mark Capes, CEO

is now essential that we do so; and we must act swiftly. Failure to do so would require severe and immediate cuts in public expenditure elsewhere.”

“The TCIG payroll has been thoroughly reviewed to ensure that all payments are properly made and accounted for. The exercise identified a disturbing number of significant anomalies which have cost the hard working taxpayers of TCI many millions of dollars in unwarranted payments to public servants. We can resolve this in large part simply by applying existing laws properly and removing inconsistencies. This will ensure that all public servants are treated fairly while generating significant savings that will help to reduce the need for cuts in the size of the public service. It is important to note that this exercise is largely about compliance with existing rules and regulations.”

STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR ON UK GOVERNMENT GRANT TO THE TCI GOVERNMENT I AM PLEASED to confirm that the British Foreign Secretary has today announced that he has approved a discretionary grant of £6.6m to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG). This exceptional grant will reimburse TCIG for money spent during this past financial year (2010/2011) in dealing with corruption and violent crime.

This one-off grant will cover the full costs incurred by the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) and by EAPD, the firm of lawyers engaged on civil recovery work; as well as costs incurred by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) for their work to tackle violent crime.

The RTCIPF have worked hard to combat last yearʼs spike in violent crime. I am grateful to them for their hard work and dedication in difficult circumstances. The grant provides a significant contribution towards the costs of the two operations mounted by the police force to clamp down on crime, and gun crime in particular.

Though it is an integral part of good governance for any Territory government to ensure that its criminal justice system is properly funded, the UK Governmentʼs grant recognises that the burden in the TCI this past year has been exceptional. It will supplement the financial support package put in place by the UKʼs Department for International Development to enable future costs in this and other areas to be met from the Turks and Caicos Islands Government budget.

GORDON WETHERELL Governor

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Local

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

After nine years of operation, Digicel Group Limited has 10.8 million customers across its 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific.

With revenues of US$2.2 billion, the company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network. !S PART OF THIS 'ROUP $IGICEL 4URKS #AICOS IS LOOKING FOR ENTHUSIASTIC INDIVIDUALS TO JOIN OUR TEAM WITH THESE EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES

BILLING AND COLLECTION SPECIALIST/EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT: Digicel Finance REPORTS TO (TITLE): Financial Controller Primary objective of the job: s 0ERFORMS A VARIETY OF ACCOUNTING ACTIVITIES RELATED PRIMARILY TO BILLING AND COLLECTION BANK AND RECEIVABLE RECONCILIATIONS s %NSURE THAT MONTH END REPORTS AND RECONCILIATIONS ARE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED ON TIME TO FACILITATE MONTH END CLOSING OF ACCOUNTS Main Duties and Responsibilities: s ,EAD THE POSTPAID COLLECTION TEAM nMAILS ACCOUNT STATEMENT AND MAKES FOLLOW UP PHONE CALLS FOR UNPAID BILLS #OORDINATE WITH 0AYABLES TO ENSURE OUTSTANDING BILLS ARE OFFSET BEFORE PAYING SUPPLIERS s -ANAGE AND MAINTAIN POSTPAID RECEIVABLES TO BE WITHIN TO DEBTOR S DAYS s 0ROVIDE % #ARE BILLING SUPPORT WITH REGARDS TO CUSTOMER BILL PAYMENTS

QUERIES ON THE BILLS AND WRITE OFFS %NSURE THAT QUERIES OR ISSUES RELATING TO BILL PAYMENTS ARE RESOLVED ON TIME s 0ERFORM BANK AND CREDIT CARD RECONCILIATIONS s 2ECORDING AND RECONCILIATION OF POSTPAID RECEIVABLES CUSTOMER DEPOSITS

RETURNED CHECKS AND CLEARING ACCOUNTS WITHIN DEADLINES s 4O ASSIST $EALERS #ORPORATE AND #USTOMER #ARE ON POSTING PAYMENTS AND BY RESPONDING TO THEIR QUERIES s 3UPPORT &INANCE $EPT FOR INTERNAL EXTERNAL AUDIT s 0ERFORM A DAILY REVIEW AND MONITORING OF (IGH 5SAGE 2EPORT (52 Academic qualifications and experience required for job: s "3C "USINESS !DMINISTRATION !CCOUNTS OR -ASTERS IN !CCOUNTANCY s 0URSUING OR NEAR ENDING #0! !##! #)-! s !T LEAST &IVE YEARS EXPERIENCE IN A LARGE CUSTOMER BASED 4ELECOMMUNICATIONS .ETWORK BANKING AND RETAIL CATALOGS s 7ORKING KNOWLEDGE OF -ICROSOFT /FlCE SUITE WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON %XCEL IS ESSENTIAL s 7ORKING KNOWLEDGE OF -ICROSOFT 'REAT 0LAINS AND 2EDKNEE WOULD BE DESIRABLE BUT NOT ESSENTIAL Functional Skills: s %XCELLENT COMMUNICATION AND NEGOTIATION SKILLS s !BILITY TO WORK ON OWN INITIATIVE AND ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS s 3UPERB ATTENTION TO DETAIL STRONG ANALYTICAL SKILLS AND THE ABILITY TO DELIVER RESULTS WITHIN TIGHT DEADLINES s !BLE TO WORK OUT OF HOURS

IP/VAS ENGINEER DEPARTMENT: 4ECHNICAL REPORTS TO (TITLE): 4ECHNICAL -ANAGER Primary objective of the job: s %NSURE REVENUE DUE TO $IGICEL FROM )NTERNATIONAL #ARRIERS IS CORRECTLY BILLED AND COLLECTED IN A TIMELY MANNER s %NSURE THAT DISPUTES RAISED WITH CARRIERS ARE WITHIN CONTRACTED TERMS AND RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER s #O ORDINATE COLLECTION OF ROAMING REVENUE WITH -!#( OUTSIDE #OLLECTION AGENCY

s ,IAISE 7ITH #ORE %NGINEER FOR )SSUES RESOLUTION s #OMPLETE 0REVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND ROUTINE ASSIGNMENT s #OMMISSIONING NEW NODES s 0REPARE AND )MPLEMENT NETWORK CHANGE s !NALYSE TRAFlC STATISTICAL DATA ENABLE EARLY FAULT DETECTION Academic qualifications and experience required for job: s "ACHELOR S $EGREE Skills: s 3ELF -OTIVATED s !BILITY TO WORK ON OWN INITIATIVE s !BLE TO WORK ON WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS WHEN NECESSARY

TECHNICAL MANAGER DEPARTMENT: 4ECHNICAL REPORTS TO (TITLE): #%/ Primary objective of the job: s -ANAGE THE OVERALL OPERATION OF THE .ETWORK 3WITCHING )0 4RANSMISSION

2& ENSURING A HIGH QUALITY OF SERVICE FOR THE $IGICEL NETWORK s /VERSEE CAPACITY PLANNING FOR THE VARIOUS NODES WITHIN THE $IGICEL NETWORK s /VERSEE BUDGET SPEND FOR THE VARIOUS NODES OPERATION OF ABOVE RESPONSIBILITIES s 'OOD KNOWLEDGE OF !8% FOR '3- -3# "3# (,2 3#0 s 'OOD KNOWLEDGE OF '3- VOICE AND $!4! ROAMING s 'OOD KNOWLEDGE OF #HARGING SYSTEM AND 6!3 PLATFORMS s 'OOD KNOWLEDGE OF 340 AND )NTERNATIONAL SERVICES VOICE Main Duties and Responsibilities: -ANAGE ALL .ETWORK #ORE %LEMENTS -3# "3# (,2 3$0 !IRSERV ##. ) 'ATE

!TRAM )40 63!4 AND 0OWER UNITS Academic qualifications and experience required for job: $EGREE DIPLOMA IN %LECTRICAL %LECTRONICS %NGINEERING #OMPUTER 3CIENCE OR SIMILAR YRS EXPERIENCE IN THE 4ELECOMMUNICATION )NDUSTRY YEARS EXPERIENCE IN -ANAGEMENT ROLE Functional Skills: s %RICSSON !8% TRAINING s 6ERAZ 4RAINING s 'ENERIC 4ELECOMMUNICATION 4RAINING s 7ORKING KNOWLEDGE OF '3- #$-! s 5NDERSTAND 33 SIGNALING s 5NDERSTANDING ). PLATFORMS s KNOWLEDGE OF '023 AND %$'% WITHIN THE '3- NETWORK s 7ORKING KNOWLEDGE OF 3-3 --3 AND 6-3 s "ILLING FUNCTION s -EDIATION s )NTERNATIONAL ACCESS s 2OAMING 6OICE AND $ATA s 340 s 3##0 s 'OOD TROUBLE SHOOTING AND PROBLEM ANALYSIS SKILLS s 'OOD COMMUNICATION SKILL s 3$0 AND 0$( TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS

Main Duties and Responsibilities: s $EPLOY $)! 0"8 s 3UPPORT 6!3 NETWORK

4O APPLY FOR THESE POSITIONS PLEASE SEND YOUR RESUME NO LATER THAN -AR

PREFERABLY BY EMAIL TO HRTCI DIGICELGROUP COM !LTERNATIVELY PLEASE MARK IT FOR THE ATTENTION OF (2 $EPARTMENT $IGICEL 4#) 'RACEWAY (OUSE 0ROVIDENCIALES

4URKS #AICOS )SLANDS

Page 3

Page 4

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011 TURKS & CAICOS SUN

‘

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Page 5

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Protestors militant

PROTESTORS ANGRY AT the direction the UK Government was taking the country, remained militant, refusing to dismantle a barricade mounted along the Airport Road in Providenciales, which, from Tuesday, March 8, was rendered impassible, as a means of heaping pressure on the Interim Government for an early election date this year.

Their theme was simple: “Give us an election date this year and we will remove the blockade from the roadway.”

In 2009 when the Interim Government took over the running of the Turks and Caicos Islands, it promised that elections would be held by 2011. The election date remained on track until late last year during UK Minister Henry Bellingham’s visit. The UK Minister explained to the country that as a result of the probing scope by the Special Investigations and Prosecution Team’s (SIPT), coupled with the chiseling of a new Constitution, holding of elections in 2011 was not

possible.

The protest was staged by a group calling itself TCI United for Justice and Equality which notified the Governor’s office on Friday 4 March, that unless an announcement was made by 4pm on Monday 7 March setting a date for general elections to be held in the TCI, a ‘sustained campaign’ would begin. That demand was not met and was regarded by the Governor’s office as “unrealistic”.

In addition to using vehicles to block the main road, some of the demonstrators chained themselves to the parked automobiles.

The protest action left scores of tourists stranded at the airport and along the streets of Providenciales. Visitors eager to catch their flights were seen dragging their luggage along the road trying to make the quarter mile journey to the airport.

Taxi operators who ferry tourists between airport and the hotels did not join in the protest, but instead were seeking ways to get their clients to their

CIVIL SERVICE ASSOCIATION PRESS STATEMENT

March 8, 2011 ON TUESDAY MARCH 8th the President and Vice President of the Civil Service Association met with the Consultative Forum in a closed door session to discuss the proposed changes to Civil Service pensions and payrolls intended for implementation by the Interim Administration on April 1st, 2011.

The CSA expressed its dissatisfaction with the majority of proposed changes outlined in the document entitled “Essential Pension and Payroll Changes” and pursued the support and representation of the Consultative Forum to help address these unacceptable proposals. The Forum meeting can be described as one in which there was overwhelming support of the CSA in regards to the issues of concern and the CSA welcomes the representation to be made by the Consultative Forum on its behalf on these matters.

On Friday March 11, 2011 the CSA will submit to the Interim Administration a counter proposal, listing demands and making recommendations for new and revised revenue measures so as to prevent the implementation of the proposed changes to pension and payroll. The Administration will be given 7 days in which to respond to the CSA’s counter proposal. Failure to respond in a favorable manner in the spirit of negotiation will lead to the taking of any and all actions necessary to obtain fair and just treatment.

The current frustrations of our members have been of paramount importance to the CSA Management Council. CSA members are assured that every effort will be made so as to avert the implementation of these proposed changes to pension, gratuity and payroll. The CSA Management Council respects the constitutional rights of individuals as citizens to freedom of assembly within the confines of the law and regulations. The Management Council is however reminding its members to remain patient during this necessary period of negotiations with the Administration and we ask that our members closely follow and monitor all events and CSA press statements for further updates and instructions.

The Lord is our light and our salvation; whom shall we fear? The Lord is the strength of our life whom shall we be afraid?

Protestors erect a brockage along Airport Road

destinations using an obstacle coursetype access road located north-west of the terminal.

Having learnt that taxis were using pothole-riddled access dirt road, the protestors converged on the spot and blocked off that point, too, by chaining the area, resulting in visitors who had just alighted from airlines delayed at the airport.

Free passage was eventually realized when riot police intervened, and even at that point there were levels of resistance, which resulted in minor scuffles between police and a handful of protestors.

Williams, along with two other protestors, Llewellyn ‘Blow’ Basden and Curtis ‘Rambo’ Rolle were arrested and charged with obstruction the flow of traffic. Both were taken before the court and were granted bail to return at a later date.

Rolle said his attorney was finalizing a plan to bring abuse charges against members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force for physically harassing him at the time of his apprehension, to the extent that he had to seek medical attention even while he was in custody.

Rolle said he was kicked, punched and had his fingers crushed into the asphalt by the boots of police officers during his arrest. According to him, the penalty for obstruction is $100, yet his bail bond was posted at $3,000, claiming that the prosecutor wanted the three to remain in custody until their next court date, which is almost a month away.

It was a mixed bag of reaction to the protest from the different sectors, as while some condemned the effort of the protestors, others praised it, saying it was the first time since the demonstrations began last year that the TCI people had gotten the full attention of the Governor’s Office.

One of the leaders for the movement, Devon Williams, apologized to the tourism sector even while claiming that such action was necessary, since it was and avenue to reclaim the TCI people’s human rights, explaining that all other means exhausted.

“We apologize to the tourists and citizens of our country for the inconvenience imposed on them by this protest. Our protest is not directed at you and we profoundly regret any hardship that this situation has caused.

We felt compelled, however, to stage this protest in this manner as all our efforts to get the attention of the Governor's Office and the British Government have been ignored.

“Their dismissal of our concerns can clearly be seen in how they have

handled the amendments to our Constitution and in their style of governing. This situation in our country cannot continue and could readily be resolved with the British Government setting a reasonable date for democratically-held elections in our country in 2011. Their failure to do so will only intensify our efforts in this protest,” Williams warned.

Williams pointed out that there were some key elements that Government failed to address on behalf of the people. They include: • Taxation without representation; • The denial of democratically held elections in the country; • The unchecked expenditure and blatant human rights violations by Helen Garlick and the SIPT • Unfair treatment of the civil servants; and • Lack of inward investment for job creation and business Another member of the group Euwonka Selver, claimed that TCI United for Justice and Equality dispatched a letter to the Governor’s Office a few weeks ago, requesting a date for elections this year, clearly stating that it needed a reply on, or before March 7. According to her, a reply was not received hence the planned demonstration.

Meantime, an InterHealth Canada spokesman said: "Like all businesses and service providers in the TCI, InterHealth Canada is monitoring the present situation very closely.

“At the moment the impact on the services provided in our hospitals have been minimal. However there is concern that should the protests continue, services at both the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Provo and the Cockburn Town Medical Centre in Grand Turk could become compromised.

“Presently we have noted minor disruptions only, such as cancelled appointments and the delay of some regular treatments.”

The spokesman added that with the main route to the international airport in Provo currently blocked, there are fears that emergency patients may not be able to reach the centres for vital treatment.

Also essential equipment and supplies may be unable to be transported between hospitals.

The spokesman said: “Obviously the longer the protest goes on the more serious InterHealth’s concerns will become.

“It is imperative for proper and safe functioning of the hospitals’ and that supplies, such as sterile equipment, is processed and delivered on a regular basis.

“InterHealth Canada and its staff are here to serve all people of the TCI and provide a quality healthcare service and so we would urge all residents to please respect the hospitals’ requirements as it goes about its daily business of caring for those in need.”

Page 6

Is the West Indies West Indian?

(Part II) LOCAL NEWS

By Sir Shridath Ramphal

Nothing speaks louder of CARICOM’s current debilitation than our substantial denial of the Caribbean Court of Justice. The Bar Association of Grenada is host to this Lecture Series which is a memorial to a great West Indian lawyer.

It is poignant that the Inaugural Lecture in this series delivered in 1996 was entitled: Essentials for a West Indies Supreme Court to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final Appellate Court for Commonwealth Caribbean States and Territories.

Fifteen years later, it is still apposite that I address this issue when we talk of being West Indian.

In 2001, twelve CARICOM countries decided they would abolish appeals to the Privy Council and establish their own Caribbean Court of Justice serving all the countries of the Caribbean Community with both original jurisdiction in regional integration matters and appellate jurisdiction as the final court of appeal for individual CARICOM countries.

As of now, only Guyana (which had abolished appeals to the Privy Council on independence, believing it to be a natural incident of ‘sovereignty’), Barbados and now Belize – have conferred on the CCJ that appellate jurisdiction.

Constitutional amendment is required for the abolition of appeals to the Privy Council. In practical terms, this means bipartisan political support for the CCJ. In Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago (where the Court has its much sought after location) that political consensus does not exist – because the political party now in office in each of those two major regional jurisdictions has turned its back on its regional court. In St.Vincent and the Grenadines, a referendum last year rejected the transference of appeals to the CCJ. The situation has been complicated by the issue of the death penalty on which the Privy Council, reflecting contemporary English (and EU) mores and jurisprudence, has been rigorous in upholding Caribbean appeals in death sentence cases.

Someday, the Caribbean as a whole must accept abolition of the death penalty; I believe we should have done so already; but, in a situation of heightened crime in the region, popular sentiment has induced political reticence.

Even so, however, the Privy Council’s anachronistic jurisdiction persists; and the Caribbean Court of Justice remains hobbled in pursuing its enlightened role in Caribbean legal reform.

It is almost axiomatic that the Caribbean Community should have its own final Court of Appeal in all matters – that the West Indies at the highest level of jurisprudence should be West Indian.

A century-old tradition of erudition and excellence in the legal profession of the Region leaves no room for hesitancy.

As a West Indian I despair, as a West Indian lawyer I am ashamed, that the West Indies should be a major reason for the unwelcome retention of the Privy Council’s jurisdiction within the halls of the new Supreme Court in England.

Having created our own Caribbean Court of Justice it is an act of abysmal contrariety that we have so substantially withheld its appellate jurisdiction in favour of that of the Privy Council – we who have sent Judges to the International Court of Justice, to the International Criminal Court and to the International Court for the former Yugoslavia, to the Presidency of the United Nations Tribunal on the

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Law of the Sea (from Grenada); we from whose Caribbean shores have sprung, in lineal descent, the former and current Attorneys General of Britain and the United States respectively.

As I recall this register of West Indian legal erudition let me pause to pay tribute to the memory of Professor Ralph Carnegie who left us this month – a veritable icon of learning in the law and of service to it – and always a West Indian. As CCJ Judge Winston Anderson acknowledged at his funeral service last week, he died sadly without attainment of his vision of a fully functioning Caribbean Court of Justice, and fearful of the prospects for the legal monument he strove so hard to build. We owe him a more lasting memorial.

This absurd and unworthy paradox of heritage and hesitancy must be resolved by action. In law, as in ourselves, the West Indies must be West Indian.

Those countries still hesitant must find the will and the way to end this anomaly, and perhaps it will be easier if they act as one. The truth is that the alternative to such action is too self-destructive to contemplate.

The demise of the Court itself is not an improbable danger when in both Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago the creation of a local final Court of Appeal is being canvassed. Loss of the CCJ will almost certainly frustrate progress on a Single Market and Economy – the vision of Grand Anse.

We will have begun tearing up the Treaty of Chaguaramas whose Preamble recites “that the original jurisdiction of the CCJ is essential to the successful operation of the CSME”.

If West Indian lawyers, in particular, remain complacent about this absurdity much longer – and I am afraid some are – we will begin to make a virtue of it, and in the end dismantle more than the Court.

So grave and present is this danger that in August last, five West Indians to whom the Region has given its highest honour, the Order of the Caribbean Community, took the unprecedented step of warning publicly “with one voice of the threat being posed to the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Community’s goals more generally”. I was among them.

“We warn against these developments” we wrote, “which, as in an earlier era, could bring down the structures for advancing the interests of the people of CARICOM … carefully constructed and nurtured over many decades by sons and daughters of all CARICOM countries”.

We were warning of the mire of despond we would stumble into if in this matter the West Indies ceased to be West Indian.

But let me add what we all know, though seldom say: to give confidence to our publics in their adoption of the CCJ as the ultimate repository of justice in the West Indies, our Governments must be assiduous in demonstrating respect for all independent West Indian constitutional bodies (like the Director of Public Prosecutions) lest by transference, Governments are not trusted to keep their hands off the CCJ. And Courts themselves, at every level, must be manifestly free from political influence and be seen to be sturdy custodians of that freedom.

In the end, the independence of West Indian judiciaries must rest on a broad culture of respect for the authority and independence of all constitutional office holders – for the Rule of Law. We must not forget that the structure of the CCJ goes further than does that of any court in the Region, and most courts in the Commonwealth, in

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

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 Rigby Distribution Manger: Kelano Howell Advertising and Marketing ManagerPatrina Moore-Pierre

The Turks and Caicos SUN is a subsidiary of The SUN Media Group Ltd. We are committed to excellence in journalism, educating and informing our readers, serving and satisfying our advertisers and assisting in the overall development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

securing independence from political influence, much less political control. It is at least as free of such local control as is the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; and freer than any national or subregional Court. West Indian people who want such a Court that is beyond the reach of politics must understand – and must be helped to understand – that they have it in the CCJ. The question, therefore, cannot be avoided: is a regional political leadership that conjures with rejecting the CCJ doing so because it is beyond political reach?

I cannot believe that; but in my own judgment, with the Privy Council no longer a realistic option, the CCJ is the most reliable custodian that West Indians could have of the Rule of Law in the region.

Despite this, will we once more, with the gains of oneness in our grasp, forego being West Indian?

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.

Special Prosecutor Helen Garlick getting tough with lawyers

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

SPECIAL PROSECUTOR HELEN GARLICK says it is inevitable that within the next months, the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Team (SIPT) will be obliged to inform certain firms and individual attorneys that it is not prepared to deal with them, either at all or without assurances with regard to confidentiality.

The SUN obtained a copy of a February 23rd letter from Garlick to President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Council, Sara Knight, in which Garlick referred to letter on September 20, 2010 when the Special Prosecutor raised concerns about “conflicts of interest and their potential to prejudice the investigation”.

Garlick noted that in the intervening months the investigation has developed considerably and the concerns that she expressed last year have grown.

She wrote: “Recently, an attorney who is a close family relative of two suspects accompanied a client to an interview under caution, where one of the suspects was named by the questioning officer and questions were put concerning the client's knowledge of offences alleged to have been

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

committed by him. On a separate occasion, also involving an interview under caution, it became apparent as the interview progressed that the attorney should himself be regarded as a suspect and that the interview could not continue. More than one practising attorney is now implicated in this investigation and others are likely to be material witnesses.”

The two-page letter continued: “In my letter of 20 September I hope that I expressed clearly my wish to conduct this investigation in a manner that protects the rights of suspects and defendants and that demonstrates a proper level of appreciation of the problems that arise when a large investigation is carried out in a jurisdiction with a relatively small criminal bar. If necessary the SIPT must and will exercise the right to refuse to deal with individual attorneys, or to allow them to accompany clients during interviews, if in all the circumstances his or her participation constitutes an unacceptable risk of prejudice to the investigation. I believe that this would be consistent with the Judges Rules, although in my experience it would be exceptional and something that I

would be very reluctant to authorise.”

Garlick added: “This situation is only likely to arise if the attorney also appears to be in breach of one or more sections of the Legal Profession Code, notably Article 6, the duty to uphold the interests of the client; without regard to his own interest or to any consequences to himself or to other persons.

I am also concerned that situations are likely to arise where, perhaps by reason of the close family or other personal ties between other members or employees of a particular firm and suspects, prejudice may inadvertently be caused to an investigation, if an individual attorney is not prepared or is not able to preserve the confidentiality of information that be may receive through acting for a suspect or witness.”

She stated that Article 14 of the Code seeks to stress the importance of preserving confidentiality, whilst accepting that in normal circumstances an attorney must be free to disclose Information to fellow members of his firm and to employees.

“I anticipate that situations will arise where the SIPT will be justified in asking for an assurance that if a particular attorney continues to act for a client, he will not disclose any information,” she added. “I am afraid that it is inevitable that within the next months, the SIPT will be obliged to inform certain firms and individual attorneys that it is not prepared to deal with them, either at all or without

Page 7

LOCAL NEWS

Special Prosecutor Helen Garlick

assurances with regard to confidentiality. If necessary I will take responsibility for those decisions.

However my purpose in writing to you again is to engage with the Bar Council, in the belief that we share the aim of ensuring that witnesses and suspects are properly represented, that where possible, firms can continue to act for existing clients and that, looking forward to any trials, defendants can receive the best representation.”

Garlick’s letter ended by saying: “I anticipate that the Bar Council and the profession as a whole has for some time now been considering the implications of a series of trials of multiple defendants and that thought has already been given to some of the professional conduct issues that I have raised, possibly including admission to the Bar and authorisation for firms outside the jurisdiction to practice. If the Bar Council has issued any additional guidance to its members or is considering doing so, I would be grateful to know.”

The SUN understands that the Bar Council held a meeting last Sunday to discuss Garlick’s letter.

SHANDA’S RESTAURANT Seeks

2 LABOURERS Salary $5.00 per hour

SALON DE MARINA

Seeks 2 LABOURERS Salary $5.00 per hour 244-0979

Page 8

Provo Chamber of Commerce lashes protestors

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

By Vivian Tyson SUN Senior Editor

THE PROVIDENCIALES CHAMBER of Commerce is not only dousing the TCI United for Justice and Equality protest with cold water but is out-rightly pouring condemnation all over it.

Describing the protest as “irresponsible behaviour”, the Chamber noted that the antigovernment protest was beginning to drain the blood from the Turks and Caicos Islands economy, since the protestors blocked off the main route – Airport Road - which is the man traverse route for visitors into the country from the Providenciales

International Airport.

From early Tuesday morning to press time, protestors voicing their opposition to the current steering of the country by the United Kingdom Government, blocked off the Airport Road preventing any form of vehicular through traffic to and from the airport.

“The protestors said they would not relent until Government gave them an election date to be held no later than December this year. The protestors were also demanding that the proposed 10 percent tax on electricity and water be yanked as well as the 10 percent chopped from civil servants’ pay.

But while it acknowledged the demonstrators’ right to protest, the Chamber was not amused by the method taken and lashed those behind it. It stated that their action could result crippling effect on the commerce, the tarnishing of the Turks and Caicos’ image in the overseas tourism market as well as fallout in the sector.

“Irresponsible behaviour will only be to the detriment of the business sector and the Turks and Caicos Islands reputation and economy on a whole. The fallout from this type of action could be devastating to the economy. The Chamber feels obligated to admonish these demonstrators to conduct their protest

PPC WINS BEST ROUND-A-BOUT CONTEST

Provo Power Company (PPC) was adjudged winner of the Providenciales Christmas Round-a-bout Contest organized by the 911 Programme, during the month of December 2010. The presentation of the prize – a plague, one month of advertising from local TV station, a voucher for advertisement placement in Times of the Islands Magazine and dinner for some of the staff at the Regent Palms – took place at PPC’s corporate office, Butterfield Square in Providenciales on Thursday, March 3, and was done by 991 Programme Manager, Juliet Gooding (left). Receiving the award on behalf of PPC is the utility company’s Manager for Corporate Communications, Daphne Penn. Looking on are other PPC employees. PPC is the sponsor of the Cheshire Creek Round-a-bout situated along the Five Cays main road.

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

in a responsible manner that will achieve their objectives while respecting the rights of others.

“The Providenciales Chamber of Commerce acknowledges that it is a basic human right for individuals and groups to air grievances and make demands by way of peaceful demonstrations.

However, when demonstrations begin to threaten and directly impact businesses and our main industry, the tourism industry, through the blocking of major roads, such as the Airport Road, it threatens the economic lifeblood of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” the Chamber said in a statement.

The Chamber said since it was seeking civility on the matter, it has decided to side with the Government in its efforts to return calm and bring the situation to a close.

“The Chamber of Commerce supports the Government in their efforts to contain this situation to allow the safe and free movement of tourists and residents,” the Chamber further noted.

Three of the protestors were arrested and hauled before the court for preventing free passage along Airport Road on Tuesday evening, March 8. They three are Devon Williams, Chairman for TCI United for Justice and Equality; Llewellyn ‘Blow’ Basden; and Curtis ‘Rambo’ Rolle. The three managed to post bail and have been released by the authorities.

However, the trio who appeared to have been wearing their detention and what they regarded as the authorities’ attempt to silence them, as a badge of honour and have vowed to rejoin other protestors in continuing their protest action until a compromise was reached.

ALBERT PENN Is seeking

One Mason

Salary $300 per week Interested applicants contact 241-9774

ELITE SECURITY Is in need of

Two Security Officers

Kindly contact 231-0047

Protests risk hurting businesses and TCI’s reputation, says Governor Wetherell

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

GOVERNOR GORDON WETHERELL says protestors have the right to peaceful demonstration, but they must also respect the rights of others, including that of access to the Airport Road.

In a press statement, the Governor said: “:Not only is blocking Airport Road illegal, it is also damaging to the TCI’s tourist industry causing hardship to local businesses and the many individuals employed in the industry. I encourage protestors to engage with the police and ensure their actions are lawful and peaceful.”

The Governor said he was grateful to the police for ensuring that other access routes to the airport remain open; and that all those wanting to fly into or out of Providenciales International Airport can confidently do so, adding that the Turks and Caicos Airport Authority have confirmed that flights are operating as normal.

“However, it remains important that the main access route to the airport should be reopened as soon as possible, and I hope that this can be done without police intervention. This will enable us

Governor Gordon Wetherell

to return to working together on the task of reaching the milestones set out

by UK Ministers in December 2010 so that a date for elections in 2012 can be set. I remain open to a dialogue with responsible community representatives to discuss their concerns and the best way of achieving our common goal,” he said.

Caicos Marina Shipyard Seeks

one (1) qualified heavy equipMent painter

to work six days per week. Salary will be paid base on experience and quality of work. applicants should apply in writing or email by March 18th 2011 premier Contracting Services Suite 200 Graceway house, providenciales email: hr@gracewayiga.com

Page 9

In a separate release from the Governor’s office on March 8th, the day of the protest, it was stated that although protestors have a right to peaceful demonstration, ultimately, targeting the tourist industry is “selfdestructive”.

The release said: “It risks damaging the TCI’s reputation as a top destination and represents a serious threat to the jobs of many hard working Turks and Caicos Islanders employed in the tourism sector.

The demonstrators present a distorted and negative impression of an otherwise friendly and hospitable people. Their actions show no respect for the right of law-abiding people to go about their legitimate business.”

According to the statement, the Interim Government was notified on Friday 4 March by a group called Turks and Caicos United for Justice and Equality, that unless an announcement was made by 4pm on Monday 7 March setting a date for general elections to be held in the TCI, a ‘sustained campaign’ would begin.

“They will have known that this request was unrealistic,” the statement said.

It was noted that the UK Government Ministers published a statement on 9 December 2010

specifying the milestones that have to be met before elections can take place.

Broadly, these address the TCI’s deep crisis in public finance and need to achieve a fiscal surplus, and the need to significantly strengthen the governance of the Territory to prevent a repeat of the widespread mismanagement seen under previous administrations.

Ministers were clear that they hoped elections could take place in 2012.

The UK Government, the statement added, has been consistent in its support for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands during this difficult time.

“The Interim Government continues to work hard towards the fulfilment of these milestones and is grateful for the contribution made by the Advisory Council, the Consultative Forum, and members of the public who have taken part in the consultations we have held so far. Like the governments of many countries, we have had to take difficult decisions made against the backdrop of the continuing world economic downturn that has further damaged the local economy. Nevertheless, the Interim Government appreciates the general support it receives from the wider TCI population.

Page 10

Protests have no effect on tourism say Police, Hotel Association

LOCAL NEWS

THE ROYAL TURKS and Caicos Islands Police Force is corroborating statements by the TC Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) that the sector has not been affected despite the blockade mounted along Airport Road in Providenciales by anti-government protestors demanding early elections especially.

Protestors voicing their disgust with the way the country was being run, blocked the roadway with motor vehicles, heavy machinery and old tyres, as they pressed their demand for a number of things including elections by December this year, a roll-back of the 10 percent cut in civil service pay and a call for the scrapping of the proposed introduction of a 10 percent electricity and water tax.

While a number of persons have been claiming that certain businesses, including tourism were beginning to feel the effects of the demonstration as a result of the Airport road blockade, the TCHTA said its members were not affected by the protest actions, as tourists were able to travel to and from the Providenciales International Airport with little or no effect, courtesy of an access road north west of the of the airport terminal.

A statement from President of the TCHTA Karen Whitt, noted that despite the sustained process it was business as usual for the sector.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Riot police maintained a presence at the Providenciales Airport to ensure that tourists were not harrassed

“The peaceful demonstration located approximately 0.5 miles from the Providenciales International Airport has caused the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA), the TCI Tourist Board and the TCI Airports Authority (TCIAA) to identify an alternate access route, allowing persons to travel quickly to and from the airport.

The demonstration has not compromised the safety of TCI’s visitors and residents and The Turks and Caicos Islands remain a very safe and well-

sought after destination,” read a part of Whitt’s statement.

Whitt pointed out that the Hotel and Tourism Association was ensuring that the sector remained undisturbed, saying that Grace Bay, which is the main tourism area was not affected.

“Tourism agencies are working arduously with the Interim Government on the matter and all businesses throughout the islands continue to function as normal. We encourage all tourism partners worldwide to continue

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

to choose Turks and Caicos as your destination,” Whitt noted.

The police, who also issued a statement on the protest, declared that it did not upset the equilibrium of the sector, adding that for the most part, the demonstration was peaceful.

“As have been widely reported, protesters blocked part of Airport Road, Providenciales on Tuesday, 8th March 2011, which hindered access to the Providenciales International Airport.

“However access to the terminal building has been maintained via an alternative route. The Police have been redirecting traffic and passengers are experiencing a slight delay in their journeys but are otherwise not affected,” said Detective Sergeant Calvin Chase, the police media liaison officer.

He also said that the demonstration were noisy but non violent, as the protesters directed their anger at the island's administration, and that the police, at this point would only be monitoring the situation so that it does not escalate into anything serious. He said tourists and visitors should not feel threatened as there has been not threat to their well-being.

“Peaceful protests are a recognized part of any democratic society. The Police are monitoring and communicating with the persons involved and there is no threat to public order. Every effort is being made to ensure that tourists and visitors to the islands are not affected by these protests and should not feel at risk from these events,” Sergeant Chase said.

INTERISLAND AVIATION SERVICES COMPANY SEEKS:

ONE ASSISTANT MAINTENANCE MANAGER The Engineering Manager is responsible to the Chief Operating Officer for: • ensuring that all aspects of the company’s maintenance activities in relation to its AOC comply with the requirements of the applicable legislation • the maintenance of the company aircraft and equipment in accordance with the approved maintenance schedule (s) • discipline of all engineering staff • coordinating maintenance arrangements with Aircraft Maintenance Organization (s) ensuring that the facilities are JAR145 approved or DCA authorization is obtained prior to work being undertaken • maintaining facilities (office/working environment/storage facilities) appropriate to the planned work (s) • tools, equipment and materials to perform the planned task (s) • all necessary airworthiness data from Regulatory Agencies and aircraft and component manufacturers as appropriate to the task being performed, and for notifying the Accountable Manager whenever deficiencies emerge which require his attention in respect of finance and the acceptability of standards • ensuring that maintenance procedures are established and published within the Company, to achieve good maintenance practices and compliance with DCA requirements and for establishing a Quality System in the organization to ensure that work is accomplished to the highest standards of airworthiness and workmanship • ensuring that all maintenance is correctly certified and that records of maintenance carried out are retained safely and securely for the statutory period (s) • for reporting to the manufacturer and the DCA any condition of the aircraft (or a component) which could hazard safety • keeping aircraft historical records (logbooks0 and maintaining the currency of the Technical Library • maintaining aircraft and component service history so that maintenance periods are not exceeded • liaison with the DCA as necessary on all maintenance matters • the organization of maintenance courses and training as required by the Company or the DCA to ensure that the Company maintenance personnel are qualified and competent to carry out the duties assigned to them TWO AIRLINE EXECUTIVES • 10-15 years related experience in Commercial flight operations.

• Must have a demonstrated knowledge of weight & balance, flight planning and ETOPS operations.

• Knowledge of the practices and procedures of all airside and landside activities and functions as outlined in Ground Flight Operations Manual and Regulations.

• Competency in PC Windows, Email, Databases and Microsoft Office tools is expected.

• Ability to develop and train workforce, build relationships, utilize skills in the workforce that is most appropriate.

• Ability to execute functional aspects relating to domestic travel transactions and maintain records and documentation.

• Ability to operate all equipment relating to the job.

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, understanding manner, and listen attentively to others, understands material, and provides instruction to employees.

Schedule the appropriate staff compliment to ensure the smooth and effective operation of shift.

• Coordinate with authorities in all International/Domestic Stations, Security measures affecting aircrafts, passengers, luggage and goods.

• Manage local and International carriers contracts.

(3) RAMP ATTENDANT • Over 5 years experience in Ramp Supervising.

• Over 5 years experience in maneuvering heavy duty equipment e.g. (pushing and towing aircraft).

• Experience in general handling of General Aviation. Narrow body and wide body aircraft.

• British Airways, JAR OPS, Supervisor Aircraft loading qualified.

• US Airways fleet service door opening trainer.

• Awareness Certification of acceptance/refusal of hazardous material as per IATA regulations.

• Comprehensive knowledge in the operation of all Ground Service Equipment (GSE).

TWO DISPATCHERS Must be familiar with the navigation facilities over airline routes and at airports as well as the take off. Must be competent in airline communication and meteorology.

Experience with monitoring, analyzing and/or calculating various flight factors such as weather reports, runway performance and weight balance issues.

Salary commensurate with experience.

All positions require the following: Excellent command of the English language – reading, writing and speaking.

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

Clean police record Able to work under pressure Belongers need only apply.

Interested person should apply to HR@flyairtc.com or via fax to HR Department 649946-4040.

No phone call please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interview. Application deadline September 30, 2010

Think about it

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

By Drexwell Seymour

Thank you very much for allowing me space in your newspaper for this article.

I am writing primarily in response to the demonstration that started on the island of Providenciales on March 8th 2011.

God has given us all of us a mouth to talk, ears to listen, a nose to smell, eyes to see and a tongue to taste. Of course God has given us a free will.

Therefore I know that everyone has a right to exercise freely how they feel and perhaps should do so, but to demonstrate at the “entrance and exit” of the country’s only livelihood is not only unacceptable but very dangerous.

If you want to demonstrate and you want the Governor to advise you of a date for the election, then go to Waterloo or any other site where the offices of the government are located.

The fact of the matter is, it is not about the British, it is about the residents and the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The British is here on temporary basis and can leave whenever they wish to. However, many of us cannot leave and many of us do not want to leave because of our commitment and loyalty to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Therefore, I encourage anyone that wants to take matters into their hands like what was done on March 8th , think about the consequences of your actions, think about our hotels, our restaurants, think about the workers at

Page 11

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

the hotels, think about the waitress, think about the immigration officers, think about the custom officers, think about the taxi drivers, think about the accommodation tax, think about the airport departure tax, think about the airport workers, think about our stores, think about our car rental companies, think about our apartments, and villas, think about all the government workers that have to get pay from these tourism dollars.

My point is that everything in this fragile country of ours is interrelated and should not be taken lightly. You may think you are hurting the British, but you are hurting yourselves and you are hurting us, the residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Think about what else would we do had we not have tourism. Think about what can we do right now in TCI for survival other than tourism. Think about it.

If we truly care about our country, then we would not wait on the British Government or any political leader or political party to direct our path. If you want investment, then you should form a group and take several trips abroad seeking investment. You should also design a realistic plan as to how you think the government can improve its budget. You should also encourage others to become entrepreneurs and be innovative at this time because there is great potential in all of us.

Are we afraid? If so, is it because our former leaders have instituted a culture in which they believed they

VACANCY FOR ACCOUNTANT PROVIDENCIALES The Turks & Caicos Islands National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) invites applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of

ACCOuNTANT

Purpose and Scope of Job The position holder will be required to: • Maintain and Supervise the General/Financial Ledger and the sub ledgers (the fixed asset register, accounts receivables, accounts payables, cash and banks); • Assist the Chief Financial Officer in the preparation of appropriate, timely and accurate financial statements on a monthly basis or when requested; • Assist the Chief Financial Officer with the preparation of the monthly and weekly payroll; • Assist the Chief Financial Officer in the preparation of the annual and revised budgets; • Assist the Chief Financial Officer in the preparation of the annual financial statements for auditing; • Supervise all account reconciliations; • Assist the CFO with the preparation of yearly budgets and operational forecasts; • Other administrative duties as required Minimum Qualification & Experience Required • A Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy or equivalent qualification plus five (5) years post qualification experience in a senior management position in Accounting/Finance.

Minimum Technical Skills • Must be able to use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point etc) • Excellent team player with team building skills.

• Excellent writer and oral communication skills.

• Ability to deliver to strict deadlines and to work under pressure.

Salary • Salary will be reflective of qualification and experience within the range $36,000 to $48,000 per annum.

Deadline for submission: March 15, 2011 All applicants should be addressed to: Brian Hogan Chief Executive Officer National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza, Providenciales Turks & Caicos IslandsBritish West Indies Email: info@tcinhip.tc Cell: 649-231-1808

Drexwell Seymour

must think and do everything for us? It is time we open our eyes and see the true picture of what is going in these Turks and Caicos Islands.

Why did we not demonstrate against the former administration? Is it because we were blind and could not see? If so, how is that we can see now, that the British is here. We still cannot

see. If we could see then we would not be in a demonstration with some of the same folks that caused us to be in the position we are in today. (For the record, the same way I wrote this article is the same thing I did with our former administration. I was not quiet. I went directly to them but of course they did not listen) I know many do not want to talk about the past but “you have to know the past to understand the present” (Carl Sagan) In conclusion, People of the Turks and Caicos Islands, don’t kill our only industry. Your actions of March 8th have resulted in attempted murder of our tourism industry. Tourists do not have to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands. They came here of course because of our beaches but also because we promote this place as a quiet and peaceful place, not a place where they have to walk on the streets with their luggage, not a place where there is demonstration on the airport road.

Think about everything I have in the aforementioned. Think deeply about it.

Wanted

ONE PAINTER

Salary: $7 per hour Interested applicants contact Claudette Gibson at 941-5853

Page 12

PPC and LIME claim sabotage

LOCAL NEWS

By Vivian Tyson SUN Senior Editor

THE ROYAL TURKS and Caicos Islands Police Force are currently carrying out investigations into the suspected sabotage on two of the country’s most prominent utility companies – LIME Telecommunications and Provo Power Company (PPC).

Both entities have lodged

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

complaints with the police after what they deemed to be clear evidence of vandalism to their system early Tuesday morning in Providenciales.

Two of PPC’s poles were allegedly set ablaze, while a cell site for LIME was said to have been vandalized.

The entire island of Providenciales was plunged into darkness for almost three hours before dawn on Tuesday following what was later learnt to be fire on two of its poles across from the power

plant and the construction of its corporate. Island-wide power was restored almost ten hours later.

Courtesy of a statement, PPC said they believed that the fire to the utility poles was an act of arson and had therefore filed a complaint with the police.

“At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 08, 2011, PPC Ltd received a report that two utility poles located opposite the power plant on Leeward Highway were on fire. The fire caused intermittent outages to occur throughout Providenciales from 2:00a.m until 11:45 a.m. Service was restored to all affected areas by 11:45 a.m. on the same day.

“Given PPC’s initial assessment, an official report has been filed with the TCI Royal Police Force and their CID team is currently investigating the matter. PPC Ltd apologises for any inconvenience caused to its customers and will update everyone accordingly once they have more information on the matter,” the statement read.

Similarly, LIME noted that the alleged attack upset the full function of its operation, as The SUN understands that its telephone and internet services were affected. The

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

company, along with PPC, also believed that the damage to its cell site was an act of sabotage owing to the consideration that forced entry on the cell site’s cabinet was clearly detected.

“LIME advises that a cabinet and a cell site were vandalized early this morning in Providenciales resulting in degradation of services. Technicians are working diligently to restore these services. LIME thanks customers for their patience in this matter and will advise once normal service levels are returned,” a statement said.

It is not clear whether or not the two incidents have been linked to antigovernment protest in Providenciales

by Turks and Caicos Islanders who are demanding an end to direct British rule before December this year. Protestors used old tyres and vehicles to block Airport Road – the main thoroughfare to and from the Providenciales International Airport – preventing tourists from using that strip.

Three of the protestors, Devon Williams, who chairs the TCI United for Justice and Equality; Llewellyn ‘Blow’ Basden; and Curtis ‘Rambo’ Rolle were arrested and taken before the courts after being accused by the police of preventing free passage.

TWO DOMESTIC WORKERS Responsible for cleaning and the general upkeep and some landscape duties.

Salary $6.00 per hour.

CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENTS: 3-5 years experience as a customer service agent. Quali4ied in but not limited to Customer Service Agents servicing Delta, US Airways and Air Canada.

All positions require the following: • Excellent command of the English language – reading, writing and speaking.

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

• Clean police record • Able to work under pressure

Belongers need only apply.

Interested applicants should apply to HR@4lyairtc.com or via fax to HR Department 649-946-4040.

No phone calls please. Quali4ied candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Page 13

We are engaged in a struggle - it is the price of progress for our people.

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

By Clayton Greene

TO THOSE WHO condemn the protesters I have a word: There was a time when one quarter of the map was painted red.

That was a time when British Empirical colonialism ensnared 458 million people stretching from Canada to Australia. In those days the Englishman had the world as his playground with first class citizenship in 52 countries while hundreds of millions of 'subjects' became foreigners in their homelands.

Fortunately for many that time has now past.

As we Turks and Caicos Islanders face the same arduous task of breaking the yoke of bondage that the United States, India, Kenya and Island nations across the Caribbean have already succeeded in doing, have we disregarded history. Have we forgot the colonial tactics of “divide and rule” historically employed by the British? In a climate of helplessness is there something we can all do to regain control of our country? In 1835, politician Thomas Macaulay articulated the goals of British colonial imperialism most clearly:"

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation…because if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them to be, a truly dominated nation."

It has become overwhelmingly evident by our response to the illegal re-colonization of our Turks and Caicos Islands by the British, that indeed when history is ignored, it has a tendency to repeat itself with devastating accuracy.

We have been divided, and are being conquered by an experienced oppressor who in the name of our own benefit has branded us unfit to govern ourselves, stripped away our rights to vote in our own country, and repossessed the land we’ve built our homes and invested our lives on.

The British have systemically

NAVA JEWELERS LTD dba EFFY JEWELERS

Affiliated with world renowned jewelers EFFY Jewelers with stores throughout the Caribbean and the World is now accepting applications/resumes for SALES ASSOCIATES. Requirements:

• A minimum of two 2 years jewelry sales experience or equivalent together with a proven track record of employment in a related field of business as well as a positive attitude and aptitude toward work in a customer service oriented business. Suitable candidates that do not possess the relevant required work experience but display a clear willingness to learn quickly on the job and/or benefit from the Company’s in house training initiatives may be likewise considered in exceptional circumstances • Exceptional communication and customer service skills • Trustworthy and dependable

• Must be willing to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays and irregular cruise ship schedule • Clean criminal record

• Unblemished employment history

All candidates must be fluent in English and only Turks and Caicos Islands citizens need apply.

Applications/resumes should be forwarded by e-mail to: resume@effyjewelers.com or hand delivered to the Company’s Resident Manager at the Grand Turk Cruise Center

demoted and removed us from positions in the public sector in favour of their countrymen, economically terrorized and sabotaged the progress and potential of this country, all the while encouraging us to watch silently as they rape this nation and assure it will all be over soon. One would think the British imposed dictatorship governing these islands would face protest and condemnation in every faction, every corner, nook and cranny of society where they seek to extend their tyranny, but they do not.

When we are most desperately in need of patriots, rebels, revolutionaries, and fighters we have become a nation of finger pointers, cynics, cowards and individualists.

We have played into the hands of the British by defeating ourselves from within, failing to recognize the classic colonial tactic of divide and conquer, failing to stand united, to recognize that there is power in numbers and obligation to protest where there is wrong. Last evening in response to a peaceful protest the people who had gathered in furtherance of noble objectives were put upon by a gang of riot police whose apparent mandate was to incite chaos and violence instead of ensuring that the peaceful nature of the protest was maintained.

I was insulted by the Governor’s press release yesterday in that it failed to give any credence to the concerns of the protestors. I understand, as we all do, that Tourism is vital to the

LOCAL NEWS

Clayton Greene

continued health of this nation.

I was there at the protest and I saw persons genuinely concerned for the inconvenience that tourists in particular were experiencing. Tourism is equally vital to the Egyptian economy. They lost a reported $1billion during their 18 day struggle for freedom.

Egyptians however are still celebrating their freedom and relishing in the national pride of having ousted a regime that ignored the impoverished cries of its people.

Is this not an example to us that freedom and democracy is indeed priceless? We must continue to peacefully demonstrate. We must continue to peacefully protest. We must use every avenue at our disposal to advise the tourist of the nature of this struggle and reassure them that our protest is not directed at them. I am sure that they will understand and will in most cases gladly suffer the inconvenience.

We are engaged in a struggle - it is the price of progress for our people.

Page Page 14 14

LOCAL NEWS NEWS LOCAL

TURKS & CAICOS SUN TURKS AND CAICOS SUNMARCHMARCH 11TH - 11TH MARCH 18TH, 2011 - MARCH 18TH, 2011

NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Scotiabank (Turks & Caicos) Ltd. of Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice of its intention to sell by Public Auction the following properties pursuant to its power of sale as registered Chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands:

GONE FOR GOOD

1. 60701/36 Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, Providenciales comprising 1.43 acres of land on which is constructed a three bedroom, three bathroom house.

Registered proprietor: Kenneth Norman Russell 2. Parcel 61112/50 & 52 Long Bay Hills, Providenciales comprising of two adjoining parcels with an existing two bedroom and one bath residential house, plus guest building.

Registered Proprietor: Hynetta Lenore Stubbs 3. Parcel 60807/172 & 173 ,The Bight & Thomas Stubbs, Providenciales comprising of two adjoining lots of a total of 1 acre on which is constructed a two storey apartment building with two ground level one bedroom apartments and one upper floor two bedroom, two bathroom apartments.

Registered Proprietor: Jacqueline Edna Brown and Latasha Makalia Delancy 4. Parcel 10507/35/K8, South Suburbs Grand Turk comprising of a one bedroom condominium unit at the White Sands Resort.

Registered Proprietor: Wilfred Rattey Jr. 5. Parcel 60400/172 Chalk Sound, Providenciales comprising of 1.05 acres of land on which is constructed a split-level residential development with 11 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, pool and concrete deck area.

Registered Proprietor: Robert Alexander Been 6. Parcel 60715/23 Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill, Providenciales comprising 0.48 acres of land on which is constructed 2 two storey apartment buildings, one comprising of 8 units and the other comprising of 4 units.

Register Proprietor: Thomas Chalmers Misick 7. Parcel 60702/188/K6 Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill Providenciales on which is constructed a building comprising of 1.329 square feet with two bedroom, one bathroom upper floor unit. The unit comprises of a combined living room, kitchen and dining room areas and small laundry closet and has a small external deck area.

Registered Proprietor: Cora Nichole Malcolm 8. Parcel 51203/29 Bottle Creek Central, North Caicos located off Middle Road comprising of four bedrooms, one bathroom, living/dining room and kitchen with approximately 1,155 sq.ft of gross floor areas of residence.

Registered Proprietor: Lionel Henry Bassett 9. Parcel 61112/233 Long Bay Hills, Providenciales comprising of a two storey residential development, upper level residence with kitchen, living room, dining room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Ground floor provides a self-contained two bedroom apartment.

Registered Proprietor Claudette Olivia Blenman 10. Parcel 60900/59 Leeward Going Through, Providenciales comprising of a two storey residential development, upper level three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living/dining room and kitchen, Ground floor provides two bedrooms, one bathroom, living/dining and kitchen. Registered Proprietor Audley Gordon Williams 11. Parcel 60900/225 Leeward Going Through Providenciales comprising of residential development one storey three bedrooms and two bathrooms, living/dining room and kitchen.

Registered Proprietor Narissa Bianca Thomas 12. Parcel 60003/120 North West & North Central Blue Hills Providenciales, comprising of one storey residential development, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, living/dining room and kitchen, a laundry room and an unscreened porch area to the front of property.

Registered Proprietor Jomo Kenyetta Carter and Janet Oreetha Mears-Carter 13. Parcel 60504/130, Blue Hills & Stamers Run, Millennium Highway Providenciales comprising of .44 acres of land on which is an empty lot with a foundation only of two small units constructed on it.

Registered Proprietor Joshua David Harvey and Requel Monique Harvey 14. Parcel 60715/171 Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill Providenciales the property comprises of .50 acres on which is constructed a single storey existing development comprising several rental units.

Registered Proprietor Charles Albert Alexander Stubbs and Karalene Elizabeth Stubbs The auction will be held at the offices of Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Limited, Grace Bay Branch, Providenciales at 11:30 o’clock in the morning on Thursday the 18th day of March 2011 A reserve price will be fixed on all parcels. A deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids.

Terms and Conditions of Sale by Auction are available by request from Scotiabank Collections Manager (649) 946-4750 extension 295 or fax number (649) 946- 4409.

Tourist walking to the Providenciales International Airport

By Patricia Smith They’re gone, taking their wallets with them. And don’t look for them next year.

Every tourist who had to get out of their taxi and drag children and luggage through the crowd down the hill to the airport, or detour through scenic Kewtown and then still haul their possessions through the airport construction zone is gone for good.

And so is the chance that anyone they know will come here.

All that free wordof-mouth advertising is lost opportunity.

I’ve heard some people say that the tourists understand and fully support us. They really don’t mind the inconvenience.

They said.I’m sure.

Isn’t that exactly what you do when you want to be polite? And yes, they probably are interested in the plight of the local residents, and will listen very sympathetically, up to a point. But this is their vacation.

Their hard earned, long awaited, thoroughly planned vacation away from whatever it is that is stressing them out in their own country - kids, work, whether or not Obama will push through affordable healthcare after all.

Maybe they would agree with us that the British colonial system should have died out long ago and those people should go home, but that doesn’t mean they want their vacation ruined because their flight’s been canceled. Or their luggage left because too many flights have been canceled and combined. (Yes, AA, we’re talking about you.) So they wouldn’t come back. And they wouldn’t recommend this country to their friends.

We won’t get their dollars in our restaurants, rental car or scooter companies, food stores, hotels, spas, excursion businesses, golf courses or souvenir shops, so we won’t be able to pay our employees, utility bills, school fees for our kids or purchase groceries, or gas for our cars. Or pay any of the new taxes that have been proposed to raise revenue that might have been gained from tourism.

The demonstrators say they have to be disruptive in order to get international attention. But we can’t focus target the tourists who are the only way out of this economic pit we are in. If we scare them away, it’s a very long road back. We can’t just call them up and say, ‘hey, we’re good, now. We worked it out and you can come back.’ It will take a good couple of YEARS of very expensive public relations to undo the damage we are doing to our reputation as a safe place for people to come with their families.

The Egyptians peacefully overthrew their oppressive government mainly by hanging out in large numbers in Tahrir Square chanting ‘Leave!’ for 18 days. They got plenty of attention without resorting to violence. They used the internet and social networking to full advantage. There are other ways to gain international attention.

Here’s one: let’s not accept Prince William’s wedding day as a national holiday. LET’S ALL GO TO WORK! And don’t ask to be paid double time if you do. Should this really be OUR holiday?

Holding innocent people hostage to your political view through destructive action is nothing but terrorism.

Let’s think it through, talk it out, get on the same page. We can do better than this.

Page 15 Page 15

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011 TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL LOCALNEWS NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Fish stock in TCI could be in danger

Fishery in the Turks and Caicos Islands is said to be on the verge of collapsing unless Government moves with alacrity to implement immediate plans to carry out stock assessment and provide the necessary resource needed.

The SUN has learnt that the DECR has been facing a severe staff shortage which has rendered that department incapable of tackling illegal fisheries activities and to carry-out long-overdue stock assessment within the TCI waters.

As a matter of fact, the assessment which is due every five years is three years overdue, since the last survey was conducted in 2005.

When contacted, Director for the DECR, Wesley Clerveaux confirmed that an assessment was overdue, but said he could not speak in details at this time; neither could he speak on the adverse staff shortage, even though he did not deny that such situation existed.

There is fear in the local fisheries industry that based on the reduced catches being experiencing in recent time, fisheries in the Turks and Caicos Islands fisheries could be on the verge of collapsing, joining the ranks of other countries such as Canadian and Peru, which had seen its once bountiful stock depleted to the point where they had to shut them down and embark on a replenishment process.

In 1992, the devastating collapse of the cod stocks off the east

coast of Newfoundland forced the Canadian government to take drastic measures and close the fishery. Over 40,000 people lost there jobs. The communities are still struggling to recover. The marine ecosystem is still in a state of collapse.

Meanwhile, in the early 1970s, in the Peru, the fishery and the fish meal factories were launched vigorously.

At the time, 10 to 12 million tonnes of fish were caught per year. Research scientists gave warnings, but the political decision-makers, under pressure from the industrial concerns in the sector, did not reduce the intensity of fishing campaigns.

The El Niño event of 1972, which warmed up the coastal waters, then provoked a fall of the anchovy stock.

It took more than ten years to build up again.

Now, a similar warning is being issued for the Turks and Caicos Islands, but this newspaper has learnt that there has been no mechanism at all to properly assess the fish stock in order to figure out what measures to take to proper manage fishing within the TCI waters.

Our sources revealed that the DECR has been without the services of a fisheries manager for the past five years, adding that the department has a 75 percent senior officer shortage, with enforcement officer staff having 53 percent vacancy. All the department boats are also down, meaning that little or no patrol was taking place.

D & D CLEANING SERVICES D & D CLEANING SERVICE IS LOOKING SOMEONE INTERESTED IN A CLEANING JOB. INTERESTED PERSONS CAN CONTACT WAINWRIGHT MISICK ON CELL 231-0195

Such condition, our sources revealed, has crippled the DECR’s ability to properly monitor the waters. “We don’t have the resources to do what we have to do. We are under-staffed significantly and under budget, and it appears that more cutting is on the table for the overall budget. The DECR is one of those areas that they (Government) need to put more resources on.

“The enforcement staff vacancy is 53 percent, so much enforcement cannot be done now. We don’t have any boats because all the boats are in the yard are down, so we can’t do much enforcement. Stock assessment has been overdue since 2008, to understand what the stock is,” one of the sources said.

The sources said up to 90 percent of South Caicos employment comes from fishing directly and indirectly.

“By directly, they are either fishing or they are working in the plant. Indirectly means that they either have a shop, a bar or something that indirectly depend on the fishing industry. If the fisheries collapse, South Caicos might as well turn off

their lights,” another source noted.

One of the sources told The SUN that due to the current model being used to assess the fish stock, officers would have to go out into the water to carry out data collection, saying if that was not done, they would only be assessing in theory only.

“Now, that is dangerous. What makes it dangerous is that, we could be crashing the depleting stock and don’t know it. That is the same thing that happened in Canada. They crashed their fisheries and did not even know it until it was too late.

The local fishing industry contributes about 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). More importantly, the fishing industry plays a leading role in the economy of the less developed islands such as South Caicos, North Caicos and Middle Caicos. And even thought Grand Turk and Providenciales, which depend more on tourism, the fishing industry still play a major role, as the tourism industry depend on it, to a large extent, for supply of fish and other marine products.

Moreover, the fishing industry is the only export industry in the Turks and Caicos Island, and a crash would result in the TCI having no export industry.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY TURKS AND CAICOS NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD The Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board wishes to invite suitably qualified individuals for consideration for appointment to the post of Human Resource Manager at its Grand Turk Head Office.

HUMAN RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGER – TCINIB Duties and Responsibilities Reporting to the Deputy Director Corporate Services, the Human Resources and Administration Manager is generally accountable for the human resource management infrastructure, related institutional policies and support systems which facilitate the attraction, management, development and retention of the human resources required to effectively achieve the stated objectives of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board.

Requirements The successful candidate must be a matured, seasoned and highly motivated, results-oriented team player that is committed to HR development and problem solving. The individual must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Knowledge of National Insurance operations will be an asset. The Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board will consider applicants that possess not less than a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management and at least five (5) years related experience, two (2) of which must be at senior managerial level. Experience must include hands-on responsibility for the full scope of human resources activities.

The successful candidate will be appointed on a permanent basis subject to the completion of a successful period of probation. The compensation and benefits which attend this position will be commensurate with the qualifications, experience and potential of the successful applicant.

Salary will be in the Salary Range Management VI $70,001 to $90,000.

Your application along with detailed curriculum vitae must be addressed in a sealed envelope to reach no later than March 30th, 2011 to: The Secretary Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board Misick Building Church Folly Grand Turk Turks and Caicos BWI.

Page 16

With friends like these...

LOCAL NEWS

By The Torch

SOMEWHERE IN THE bowels of the Foreign Office is a folder marked, "Turks and Caicos Islands."

It contains the complete final policy of the UK regarding the TCI. Open it and you will see a single word, "Independence." It is written directly onto the inside of the folder itself because the FCO did not want to go to the extra expense of a post-it in the fulfillment of its goal.

The UK derives no real benefit from the TCI. Yet it bears all ultimate risk and responsibility for the TCI. Why would the FCO act, against the UK's interests, to extend that utter imbalance of risk and benefit any longer than was practically or legally necessary?

Consider the difficulties faced at home in the UK by our FCO protagonists. They have their own large entitlement class that votes for a living, not to mention their own everdiminishing taxpayer base. The FCO fears both of those groups for different reasons - one feeds the state and the other is fed by it. Do you think that either of those vocal and active groups of Brits back home favor expenditure of "their" money on you? Do you think they are even aware of the expenditure of their money on you?

Two additional factors should be kept in mind regarding the Brit Occupiers' TCI policy. First, no matter where we are in circumstance and time, there is always a path towards TCI independence and they are on it. They cannot be seen to push or advocate it, but they can and do engineer it on a continuing disingenuous basis.

Secondly, while you and The Torch, even in our professional lives, may plan 1, 5 or even 10 years ahead, the Brits plan only long term in their continuing self-extrication from colonialism. A 5-year plan for them would be the shortest frame of reference. They've been engineering independence ever since JAGS came knocking. They will never stop.

In the humble opinion of The Torch, TCI independence would represent a complete economic and political victory for the Brits and a complete economic, political, social and every other type of disaster for the TCI and its residents. Conversely, keeping the UK firmly on the hook represents a valuable strategic victory for the TCI and its residents.

The Torch understands that there can be no direct proof of his theory of FCO policy one way or the other. If it exists, it is possible that only a handful of individuals, likely including Wetherell, know of it. The Brits would deny the existence of such a distinct policy and mumble the standard UN platitudes about colonial independence and self-determination.

However, the UN has no input to Brit foreign policy. Those two groups back home do. Additionally, The Torch

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

functions of immigration should devolve upon local government, the Governor should retain ultimate policy oversight where he considers that external affairs or internal security are factors. Consider how this could have prevented the destruction of the TC job market by the corrupt importation of vast numbers of foreign workers over the past several years.

likes theories that explain most or all existent facts.

If The Torch's theory makes sense to you, do you now think that the Brits are so inept at this game after four centuries of colonialism that their hands-off policies towards the last two TCI criminal governments represented mere dumb negligence on their part?

Do you also think, as the editors of the TCI "free speech as long as it suits us" Journal have for over 2 years, that the current apparent FCO lethargy and stumbling irresponsibility are benign and unintentional - just a wellintentioned friend doing his best under difficult circumstances?

If so, think again. The FCO does nothing without a purpose. The Torch suggests that there are two prime FCO strategies designed to fulfill its purpose. These strategies are not mutually exclusive and they are synergistic. They are: (1) the encouragement of irrational patriotism that might take the TCI independent; and (2) the creation of any circumstances that would tend to lead TCI citizens to think that full independence would be better on the balance than what the UK provides.

Were it not for the fact that the prior criminal government was dumb enough to keep most of their bribe activity and mansion construction right here for all to see and for the "fortuitous" worldwide economic recession, it might just have handed the FCO its complete victory under strategy #1 by now.

Consider now how each of the following FCO failures in the TCI fall into one or both of those strategies, the encouragement of either irrational patriotism or the view that "anything would be better than this:" 1. Failure even to arrest, much less prosecute, Opposition leader Oswald Skippings when he was caught on audiotape on Dec 12-16, 1985 soliciting the deaths by dynamite or silenced pistol of then Chief Minister Nathaniel Francis and other named government leaders. Consider what this taught future TCI political leaders.

Consider the implications for the Rule of Law.

2. Failure at all times to recognize the eminent wisdom of Sir Roy Marshall's recommendation at pages 23-24 of his 1986 Report of the Constitutional Commission that while administrative

3. Failure at all times to administer and review the Register of Interests, a matter of internal security - with obvious intended consequences.

4. Failure at all times to support and empower the government Ombudsman, a matter of internal security thereby depriving individuals of a proper right to redress grievances.

5. Failure at all time to discharge their European Convention of Human Rights, Article 1 duty to secure the basic human rights of freedom of expression and the right to quiet enjoyment of one's property for all immigrant residents (actually all residents) within the TCI. Consider how, in conjunction with #2 above, this has subsumed the human rights of all TCI lawful immigrants to the unaccountable whims and secrecy of the highly politicized Immigration Dept, thereby operating to reduce the wealthy ex-pat full-time population and further diminishing our economy.

6. Failure to exercise reasonable care and skill to protect the TCI and its economy from marauding illegal immigrants, a definite matter of external affairs, in unpowered wooden boats bobbing along at 3-4 knots along a straight line course across 90 miles of open water, thereby further damaging the jobs sector and placing an unfair cost on the public treasury.

7. Failure to maintain an effective police force, a matter of internal security, thereby diminishing the wealthy full-time ex-pat population, further harming the Rule of Law and the economy.

8. Failure to monitor and control the size of the civil service, a Governor responsibility under the Constitution, thereby creating an unreasonably large class of individuals beholden to local government and difficult to terminate.

9. Failure to create or maintain an effective public services commission to ensure prompt, efficient and transparent interfaces with the civil service by all citizens and residents, thereby diminishing further the Rule of Law, the wealthy ex-pat population and the economy.

10. Failure to monitor and prevent corrupt or illegal monopolistic public contracts with regard to electricity

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

provision, stevedoring and health care, all important matters of internal security and general good governance that operate to cause hardship to individuals and a consequent desire for something better.

11. Failed to create and monitor a fair and accountable Crown Land distribution system whereby all awards of land are by open public lottery and wherein all current and future Crown Land transactions must be between named TCI human individuals and wherein all transactions are publicly disclosed in the general circulation newspapers.

12. Failed to monitor said deficient Crown Land system in any effective manner after inexplicably handing it over to the two vote-buying political gangs, thereby causing inevitable and intended harm and suffering to many individuals based solely upon their perceived political affiliations.

Readers will think of more examples. There are many.

Taken together, these and many other TCI civil society failures by the FCO are not multiple examples of mere negligence. There isn't that much stupid in the world. Instead, these represent a continuing pattern of cynical "constructive negligence" designed to get rid of the TCI and to do so at the cost of our Rule of Law and economy.

Nor does this theory hold that the FCO has done absolutely nothing for us in terms of good governance and will not do so again. There is a legal minimum of action below which they dare not go. They must walk a tightrope between their constituents back home and their buds at the UN, EU and the largely compliant and UK funded human rights groups.

The FCO's next civil society "attack" will be the imposition of a VAT and higher work permit fees (in a small island economy where people are nervous to begin with and can leave) so as to even further reduce the number of wealthy economy-pumping ex-pats in the TCI. They've had EU tax experts in to tell them this is a swell idea. So they are covered while our economy will continue to ratchet down. The VAT black market that will develop and the further exodus of money and talent will more than offset the higher taxes collected from those who remain.

This is going to get worse before it gets better. In the face of additional FCO impositions upon us, we must resist the temptation to go independent, strengthen the private sector economy with non-tourism business, reflect upon the wisdom of making teacher training college dropouts, postal clerks, failed hardware peddlers and real estate sales criminals our elected leaders and otherwise await patiently the eventual arrival of a non-criminal, tolerant, human rights-embracing, free-market government the leaders of which have possibly not yet been born.

Page 17

Haitians willing to side with TCI people…but

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

MEMBERS OF THE Haitian Community told The SUN that they stand willing to assist the TCI people to lobby the United Kingdom Government for return to local rule, but in return would want their dignity and human rights to cease being trampled upon.

The members of the Haitian community made the announcement on Wednesday, March 9, at the demonstration along Airport Road in Providenciales, where Turks and Caicos Islanders were demanding an immediate election date which would effectively end direct rule from Britain.

While the protestors made their statement by blocking Airport Roads – the main thoroughfare between the Providenciales International and the rest, a group of Haitian nationals who stood by closely monitoring proceedings approached The SUN and began revealing how they felt about the condition of the country and also the way they were being treated, even while they yearned to make a meaningful contribution to their adopted country.

Spokesman for the group, Felix Altidor, said they were to side with the TCI people, and would not hesitate if called upon to assist, but hastened to say that their efforts would hinge on their rights being respected.

“In the Turks and Caicos, the TCI people, whenever they have a demonstration or anything pertaining to the Government, they always call on or invite the Haitian community to support them. But at the same time, the Haitian Community in the Turks and Caicos, they are the first ones

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

who face all kinds of discriminations and the victim of prejudice and all kinds of humiliation.

“When election time comes around they (politicians), always come around to the community to ask the Haitian people to vote. But the Haitians remain the victims of all kinds of humiliations by the police, by immigration officers and all around. But at the same time they are asking the Haitians to support them.

“I want everybody to know that the Haitians have got their concerns too. The eyes of the Haitians are opened as to what is going on in the country, and we are willing to support the TCI people, but at the same time, they need to know that they need to come to the agreement or the understanding whereby they need to be one with the Haitian people,” Altidor said.

Altidor’s call came just a day after influential Haitian national Eddie Laporte, who was speaking on the first day of the demonstration, made a call to the indigenous populace, to scale back the discrimination against Haitians living here in exchange for them joining the cause.

Altidor also noted that aside from the big investors, Haitians were the main contributors to the local economy, as, for the most part, they spend their money here, instead of travelling overseas to spend.

“The Haitians spend the most at the supermarkets. They are the ones who pay the most for light and water.

They make their money here, they spend their money here, but at the same time no regard is paid to them,” Altidor said.

TRULY NOLEN PEST CONTROL Truly Nolen is looking for a

LabOURER

Person must be able to work flexible hours. Must be serious worker or need not apply.

Contact # 946-4272, 231-0195 or Fax: 941-3450

SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION Pursuant to the provisions of the Registered Land Ordinance, British Caribbean Bank Limited, Governor’s Road, Leeward, Providenciales HEREBY GIVES NOTICE that it will cause to be sold by public auction the following properties:

TITLE

DESCRIPTION

60902/111 Leeward Going Through Providenciales

1 residential luxury home and 1 guest houseon Pinta Lane with canal frontage located on 0.92 acres of land

60904/216,217,218,22 1 222,351,352,514 Leeward Going Through Providenciales

7.65 acres of adjoining raw land located at the entrance of Leeward Development.

Zoned – Hotel/Tourism

REGISTERED PROPRIETOR Henry Clark

Clarke Properties (TCI) Ltd

The auction will be held on Tuesday 22th March, 2011 at 10:00am at the offices of the British Caribbean Bank Limited, Governor’s Road, Leeward, Providenciales. Conditions of sale may be obtained from the British Caribbean Bank Limited and further inquiries may be directed to the Risk Management Unit @ 1-649-941-5028 ext 302.

ALL SALES ARE SUBJECT TO RESERVE; 10% DEPOSIT REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUCCESSFUL BID.

Page 18

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

New fractional property ownership and online gaming rules to be established At their meeting on Wednesday 2nd March the Advisory Council reviewed a number of papers and recommendations presented by Chief Economic Adviser, Brian Titley.

These included (1) Establishing a new ordinance to facilitate the fractional ownership of property in the TCI, (2) Increasing operational flexibility in the TCI fishing industry to enable fleet operators to organize longer voyages into richer fishing grounds, (3) Amending the casino gaming tax régime to reduce the entry barriers for new small and medium sized casinos and introducing new legislation to facilitate and regulate sports betting and online gaming, (4) Amending the Land Holding Companies (Transfer Duty) Ordinance so that duty rates are aligned with the new stamp duty rates and valuation thresholds introduced in April last year, (5) Clarifying and rationalizing rules governing taxes and service charges levied by hotels and restaurants Councillors subjected each recommendation to thorough scrutiny, with the proposed adjustment to the casino gaming tax giving rise to vigorous discussion.

Councillors sought and received assurances that the amendment should not result in a rapid influx of new casinos or a dilution of controls to safeguard socially responsible gaming; rather it would level the playing field for existing operators and for any new investors in future.

In consideration of the proposed adjustment to the Fisheries Protection Ordinance, there was a strong focus on ensuring that Belonger job opportunities would not be jeopardised by the change.

The Acting Governor accepted the recommendations that will soon be brought before the Consultative Forum as necessary.

Mr. Titley said the changes involved modest but nonetheless important adjustments aimed at modernizing the economic and regulatory framework in the country and encouraging new activity’.

‘The great advantage of small economies should be their ability to react quickly and flexibly to changing market conditions.

However, there are many obsolete laws and regulations in the Turks and Caicos Islands that impede this.

Improving the regulation of markets, including through removing or modifying old and unnecessary legislation and restrictions, will

remove some burdens on business and should release their potential for growth in the longer term’.

(1) Fractional ownership is a popular model for second and vacation homes in the US and Canada, and has been gaining interest in the region following the financial crisis and collapse in property markets in 2008.

Fractional ownership overcomes the stigma, risks and complexity of timeshares by allowing purchasers to own part of the title of a property through shared ownership and usage.

This can help boost sales and repeat visitor numbers.

Realtors in the Turks and Caicos Islands have welcomed the introduction of new rules to governing fractional ownership. Kathryn Brown, President of TCREA, said: ‘This is a positive step in encouraging investors to purchase real estate in the Turks and Caicos.

Having a new ordinance in place creates a classification of regulations for the real estate professionals and more importantly, the clientele. For sellers it opens up an option that was not available previously. For the buyer it creates greater confidence to purchase’.

(2) The change to the fisheries protection ordinance will remove the requirement to employ a Belonger on every fishing vessel at all times while leaving open the opportunity for Belongers to work on the vessels and to participate in the wider fishing industry. The requirement for a Belonger to be on a vessel dates back many years and goes beyond current immigration and labour requirements for other business sectors. The industry has argued convincingly that it no longer reflects the economic and commercial realities facing the industry.

A number of industry representatives were invited to the meeting but some were unable to attend.

Mr. Jim Baker, CEO of Caicos Pride Products Ltd., who did attend along with Mr. Norman Saunders and Mr. Edwin Dickenson, said: ‘We are a small island economy and therefore well placed to have a vibrant fishing industry. Yet we have been in decline for years. We need to organize longer voyages to rich fin fishing grounds if we are to grow our industry to the benefit of South Caicos and all Islanders. If we cannot expand we cannot export or meet the volumes required by local supermarkets, households and restaurants, and we cannot provide much needed jobs and incomes’.

Fishing fleet operators have

annual routing fees as a percentage of turnovers of offshore businesses in the sector. Council agreed it was prudent for Government to consider how to best to regulate, tax and encourage socially responsible sports and online gaming, rather than to seek ineffective ways to outlaw it and that long reported problems attracting Belongers to work on their vessels TCIG should therefore investigate and this was impacting severely on the and import international best practice, viability of the industry. The Council including from Antigua and Barbuda, members listened to arguments for Gibraltar, Curacao, Australia, France and against removal of the restriction and the UK. (4) Land transfer duty is currently but agreed the industry should have payable at 8% on the value of transfers the same operational flexibility as others in TCI while underlining the of stock in land holding companies need for immigration and labour but is thought to be routinely avoided.

In November 2009 the Government laws to be adhered to at all times.

Brian Titley also highlighted agreed an additional rate of just 0.2% that he was discussing securing should be introduced on the value of some funding from the Ministry of transfers of new equity issued to raise Finance for a laboratory capable of finance to help retire land holding testing fishery products against a companies retire expensive debt or stringent set of international food fund business expansion.

The further changes announced safety requirements. This could at the Council meeting will now allow locally caught produce to be sold into premium European markets introduced progressive transfer duty and should also give local restaurants rates that mirror those introduced for and supermarkets greater confidence stamp duties in April 2010 and more significant penalties for transfer to stock local fin fish.

(3) The Council membership tax evasion. This move recognizes agreed that modifying the casino that the taxable base under both gaming tax and removing restrictions ordinances is essentially same, on sports and online gaming would notably the underlying property being create a level playing field for inward transferred either through direct investment in these sectors, providing purchase or sale of company stock. an enhanced set of attractions to grow At present rates it means it will be the tourist base with the potential for cheaper to sell the title to a property generating additional employment worth say $1million than to sell $1 opportunities and a flow of public million of shares in the company revenues. Council noted the need for holding the property since the former strong oversight of the casino and is taxed at just 6% on Providenciales or 3% on Grand Turk, as opposed to gaming sector.

The new casino gaming income a land transfer duty rate of 8% on the tax will be progressive with rates latter. The reverse is true for sales rising from 5% on the first $500,000 of property over $3 million in value of monthly gaming table income to on Providenciales. The change will 20% on gaming income over $1.5 therefore remove this anomaly in the million per month. This reverses a tax laws.

(5) Finally, the council noted system first introduced in TCI in 1999 for the American Casino based at the that rules governing hotels and Allegro resort and which closed its restaurants concerning the addition of restaurant taxes and service charges doors for the last time in 2004. to final customer bills needed to be This tax structure is highly clarified to ensure, firstly, that all regressive with marginal tax rates starting at 15% and then falling to large restaurants were compliant 2.5% on higher slices of income. This it and that service charges should be was argued will inhibit the creation of discretionary and added only as new small and medium sized casinos, an optional payment to customer and therefore limit competition in bills, at all establishments except the sector. It is uncompetitive in the those, like Beaches, that sell region and will therefore reduce the accommodation, meals and other attractiveness of the destination to services together as an all inclusive some tourist market segments. The package.

The council agreed that wherever new rising rate structure will be service charges were collected revenue neutral at present but will allow TCI Government to share they should be paid over in full to more in any upside in future casino all employees. This removes the discretion of an employer at a nonrevenue streams. inclusive resort to retain up to 40% The Council also heard how the remote gaming global market of any service charge income and is expanding rapidly and that many also removes the role for a Minister countries, including in the region, of Finance to determine allocation are competing to attract and regulate systems at individual establishments.

Further details of what all these remote gaming operations to boost public revenues flows. These can changes will mean will be released include income from license fees and soon.

Page 19

BACK WITH A VENGEANCE

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

By Royal S. Robinson MBE

AS WE FAST approach the 17th anniversary when the Turks and Caicos Islands Government made hundreds of civil servants and waged employees redundant, Thursday, 11th March; this exercise was completed after discussions with the political government, the administration, the UK Government and members of the civil service.

The key agenda at that time was that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands were engaged in the process. It was a raucous affair, because a number of then Chief Minister Washington Misick’s Ministers were not in favour of process. And the people of the country punished Washington and the PNP for their actions at the polls in the 1995 elections. The politicians spoke and the people had the last word!

Today we have a dictatorial Interim Administration that is not answerable to the people, now or, at some future date - that is driving the process without any meaningful input by the people of this country. We cannot say that the Advisory Council represents us, because the Governor advises them of what he wants and the Consultative Forum is consulted on the things he and Mark Capes want to achieve!

As I have said before, this Interim Administration is hell bent on making Turks and Caicos Islanders “hewers of wood and drawers of water”! All you have to do is look at their approach to things. They have ensured that there is no inward investment is taking place in this country.

All of the projects that could have provided jobs and opportunities for Turks and Caicos Islanders have been stopped in their tracks and there has not been any replacement to fill the void!

However, there are a lot of advisors finding work here at the behest of this Interim Administration, yet they cannot advise a cat out of a wet paper bag! It is important to note here that this administration is sourcing persons from all over the globe and trying things that have failed years ago, all because they don’t feel that they should engage the local experts in the process! This is foolhardy and counter-productive at best.

The Customs system has been completely mangled by one expert and, in quick succession, another has been brought in to rectify the situation and his only response is to add a customs processing fee on all imported items to get us back to some semblance of the revenue that has been lost by juggling with what really

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

works without first appreciating how it really worked!

It is embarrassing that these guys’ only response to bridging the gap in revenue is to tax the people. That does not take a genius to do, and it is the lazy way out.

To get investors interested in coming back to the Turks and Caicos Islands take a lot of thought and the creation of a policy that would encourage those persons to come here.

These ill-apt advisors have no clue as to how a bourgeoning micro economy functions, let alone that of a prestigious destination and investment capital such as ours.

Three things essential to everyone in this country: food, power and water!

So it was easy for these overpaid advisors to say tax them to get revenue. Food, by tacking on a 4% customs processing fee on all imported items. Water and power by adding a 10% surcharge on consumption.

When there is no work in the country that would give persons a living wage, where do these people think that the money to pay taxes is coming from? This is certainly an exercise in trying to get blood out of stone! These advisors are certainly not creative, innovative or seeing the picture clearing. They are merely responding to flawed brief, providing inadequate advice!

People are already choosing between keeping a refrigerator on full time or better still, buy a piece of meat, take it to the neighbor, pay five dollars for it to be kept. That is one less customer for PPC or TCU! Consumption is base on confidence and the availability of capital. Right now, those two items are in short supply in the Turks and Caicos Islander communities. So where does this Wetherell Administration think the money to pay all these added taxes is going to come from? People will have to be doubling down and tightening their belts to supply the totally essential services to their families.

No matter how you look at it, it is imperative that jobs are created and people put to work and thereby giving the economy a shot in the arm. This would create a base against which revenue can be raised. Fearing to do this would mean a further shrinking of money available in the country and more people leaving for greener pastures!

I am sure that many of us have heard the lamenting of the shipping companies that they are shipping out more containers than they are bringing in. This is a clear indication that the country is being depopulated of the persons that can share the tax burden,

Royal S. Robinson MBE

that coupled with a “brain drain”. And soon whatever “voodoo” economical numbers the Interim Administration works up will be proven to be wrong, as all of their predictions and pronouncements have been thus far!

In the face of all of this, this Interim Administration has embarked on an exercise to slash and burn the civil servants. In 1994 when the reform took place, the British Government provided assistance to the tune of some $34M, to assist with the payments of pensions (gratuity) and redundancy pay!

What is happening now is that the Interim Administration is cutting salaries, reneging on its responsibility to pay pensions, take away gratuities and all other financial benefits, and then cut 25% of them from the establishment and send them on their merry way with nothing in their hands.

They intend on amending the Pensions Ordinance to the detriment of persons currently in receipt of Pensions as well as those that can potentially receive pensions!

This certainly cannot be right! It

must be remembered that most persons who joined the Civil Service received less pay in comparison to their private sector counterpart! The only thing that leveled the playing field a bit was the benefits package that civil servants received such as longer vacation periods and a lump sum payment upon retirement (gratuity). These were some of the incentives that were given to persons as a means of attracting them to sometimes mundane and unattractive tasks. When they have put in almost 40 years of their productive lives, the only reward is to know that during the twilight period of their lives, they would be able to eke out some semblance of an existence from the monthly payments of that pension cheque!

There is a totally sinister plot a foot to make sure that Turks and Caicos Islanders leave the Civil Service and repopulate it with expatriate staff. The Interim Administration wants to preserve the benefits of contract workers while simultaneously reducing significantly those for Turks and Caicos Islanders.

Don’t forget that they are fixated on enlarging the franchise and this is certainly one way in which to do it!

Remember that the British Civil Service is being largely reduced.

Where better to send them but to our paradise, at our expense! There is going to be an expensive over sight presence, but are we going to get value from that? Our people will be walking around without a job and no prospect of getting one, while these guys are living in condos at total cost to us.

We have to vigorously oppose this Occupation and threat to our country and sustainability! Bit by painful bit we are seeing the true colours of the occupiers and that is not pretty!

Windsong Resort seeks to $ill the following position:

2 BARTENDERS 3 COCKTAIL WAITRESSES 1 HOSTESS

The successful candidates must have at least 3 years experience in the same or similar position(s), customer service oriented, willing to work weekend, holidays, and evening shifts.

Forward resumes to : info@windsongresort.com

Page 20 Page 20

LOCAL LOCALNEWS NEWS

MARCH - MARCH TURKS & CAICOS SUN TURKS AND CAICOS SUN MARCH 11TH11TH - MARCH 18TH,18TH, 2011 2011

Ferry service eyes Middle Caicos and Grand Turk Caribbean Cruisin’ – operators of the only ferry service between Providenciales and North and South Caicos is seeking to expand its service to Middle Caicos and Grand Turk, but according to its current operators, those services will come as soon as it fortifies its operation within three islands and fully establishes its private charter service.

In an interview with The SUN, Operations Manager and Captain, Roger Halliday, said the aim is to bridge the gap between the islands so that tourists and locals alike would have the opportunity to not only travel among the islands, but get an opportunity to experience the natural beauty that the islands have to offer.

“Basically, we are trying to promote the ferry service more. We are basically trying to build a bridge not just between North and Middle (Caicos) but in the future to South and maybe Grand Turk. That’s all in the big picture, but we need to work on our boats and so on, first.

“The idea is just to try and build a bridge between all the islands, and give the chance not just to the local people but tourist also, to visit different islands, and see how beautiful this country is because it is amazing,” Halliday said.

Caribbean Cruisin’ and TCI Ferry have been under new ownership from September 2010. Some of the new owners are John Lawson, Keith Burant and Algie Missick. The ferry service currently provides service between Providenciales and North and Middle Caicos.

Halliday said that the new owners From left – Roger Halliday, Trenton Garraway, Philippe Pedor and Kirkley Taylor after receiving have been working hard to promote their official captains’ epaulettes. the ferry service so as to make it more vibrant in the market place. He said certification presentation at the Roger Halliday. She said the course Caribbean Cruisin’ was also working former Nikki Beach Hotel in was divided into two segments – to develop its private charter service Leeward last week. The presentation practical and theory, which involved with the three boats that the company of first aid training certificates took classroom work as well as the now owns the form of a cocktail. Among the physical aspect of the delivering first Halliday was speaking with awardees were Lisa Guerrero, Herby aid.

The SUN during a staff CPR The occasion was also used to Jean Baptise, Loudwige Alcineus, (Cardiovascular Resuscitation), Franky Louis, Joseph Andre Darlyn, present the captains with their official captains’ epaulettes. Receiving Phillipe Pedar.

The emergency response badges were Roger Halliday, Kirkley training was conducted by Emma Taylor, Philippe Pedar and Trenton Halliday, wife of one of the captains, Garraway.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Page 21

LOCAL NEWS

Page 22

LOCAL NEWS

The 2011 staging of the Ministry of Education Science Fair was held at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex between Wednesday, March 9 and Thursday, March 10. The fair was sponsored by Provo Power Company (PPC).

Clement Howell High walked away with the prize for the best display.

They also took the quiz competition and placed second in the poster contest behind H.J. Robinson from Grand Turk.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

CAPTIONS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

This poster was design by the Visual and Industrial Arts Department at the Clement Howell High School and served as the marquee for the science fair Holy Family Academy Catholic School display being viewed by person who attended the event The New Age Academy and Language Centre display The British West Indies Collegiate display The PPC display excited the children Members of the Enid Capron Primary School

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

and their teacher Dwight Sanderson on the steel pan A display by PPC representing power generation The Marjorie Basden High School display A solid waste management display The Clement Howell High display booth The National Trust booth The Holy Family Academy Catholic School display The Raymond Gardiner High School display The HJ Robinson High School display booth

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Page 23

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Protestors in Providenciales took to the streets on that Island on Tuesday, March 8 to press the Government for an early election date. The protestors blocked Airport Road, which is the main thoroughfare for vehicular traffic between the airport and other parts of Providenciales, including the resort areas. The barricade comprised heavy equipment, vehicles and old tyres. The protestors also called for the scrapping of the proposed 10 percent electricity and water tax, and the reinstatement of the 10 percent that had been cut from civil service salary. At press time the road was still being barricaded. On the first day, tourism was affected, but an alternate route has since been secured for free passage of visitors and tourists alike. Also on the first day, three of the protestors were arrested and charged with obstructing free passage of motor vehicles along the Airport road. They were taken before the court where they have been given bail to return at a later date. The police have been keeping a close watch on the situation, even while issuing a statement that the protest has so far been peaceful. Photos follow below and continue on pages 24 and 25.

Well-know community activist Luckner Toussaint address the protestors

Visitors and residents were forced to walk from the Airport past the barricades

A section of the crowd at the demonstration on Tuesday

Llewellyn ‘Blow’ Basden chains himself to a vehicle that was parked along the roadway blocking access along Airport Road

Taxis drove in circles in a futile effort to find an alternative route

Riot Police stand guard at the Providenciales Airport

Mark Durliat, owner of Grace Bay Cub returns to proidenciales rfrom an overseas trip

Police keeping a watchful eye at the Providenciales International Airport

Tourists walk towards an entrance at the airport

One of the protestors – Devon Williams – did not hide his stance at the protest

Former Premier Michael Misick (left) and former Deputy Premier Floyd Hall (right) observe the protest

Demonstrators gather in the road during Tuesday’s protest

Page 24

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Page 25

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Euwonka Selver, a member of the group, TCI United for Justice and Equality bears a sign to tell of the protestors’ plight

Former Premier Michael Misick was on hand to support the protesters Euwonka addressing the crowd at the protest Well-known businessman Alden ‘Smokey’ Smith pickets how he feels about the Tourist Board along Airport Road

Riot police stand guard outside the Providenciales International Airport

Protestor Llewellyn ‘Blow’ Basden is carried away by riot police

Protestors link themselves in a show of unity in their demonstration against the Interim Government

Pastor Reuben Johnson addresses the protestors

This protestor bears a placard that lists the current quality of life in the TCI

Protestors listen to a speaker on the floor Police monitor the protest

Talk show host Robert Hall addresses the protestors

Bystanders join in the protest

Ron Higgs addresses the protestors

Police at the Providenciales International Airport

The demonstration attracted scores of people some of whom came as bystanders

Bishop Dr. Coleta Williams (arms fold) observes the scene at the Providenciales International Airport

An elderly male tourist who was held up due to the protest is being assisted along a pathway on Airport Road

Protestor Curtis ‘Rambo’ Rolle (hands in air) is engaged by the riot police at the Providenciales International Airport

Old tyres were also used the block the passage way along the Providenciales International Airport

There was strong police presence throughout the demonstration

Rev. Dr. Conrad Howell (left) and former Premier Galmo Williams show their support for the protestors

Jermaine Rowley uses the signs to tell how he feels

This protestors vouches for the Community College

Tourists pull their luggage along Airport Road from the Providenciales International Airport on Tuesday

These two ladies stand in support of the protest

Noted attorney Berth Belle displays a sign under the watchful eyes of the riot police

Bishop Dr. Coleta Williams addresses the demonstrators

Old tires and large vehicles were used to block the roadway, making it impassable

This protestor did not hide how he feels about British rule of the TCI

Page 26

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Page 27

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

SANDALS’ SUCCESS IS BEACHES’ SUCCESS BECAUSE IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY!

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

JAMAICA • ANTIGUA • SAINT LUCIA • BAHAMAS • TURKS & CAICOS

:SXIH 8ST %PP -RGPYWMZI &VERH F]

8LI ;SVPH¸W 8ST &VMHEP 1EKE^MRI

:SXIH 8ST %PP -RGPYWMZI &VERH

BRIDES Magazine — the world’s top publication for weddings and honeymoons h as voted Sandals Top All-Inclusive Brand for Honeymoons 2011. This unprecedented accomplishment is attributed to the extraordinary power of the Caribbean as a destination... and to the magnitude and power of the Sandals brand —the resorts made for love. Most importantly, behind every great brand are great people and the dedicated Sandals and Beaches staff are no exception. Since success often runs in families, Beaches Turks & Caicos—a part of the Sandals family—shares the same standards of hospitality excellence as one of the World’s Best Family Vacations. So everyone at Sandals and Beaches can feel proud for having achieved the highest recognition in the bridal industry, and proud to be part of the only brands that give guests more quality inclusions than any other resort on the planet.

:SXIH 8ST 6IWSVX 'EVMFFIER Sandals Emerald Bay

Sandals Resorts ®

The Luxury Included Honeymoon ®

Unique Vacations, Inc., is the worldwide representative for Sandals and Beaches Resorts.

Call your Travel Agent or 1-888-SANDALS • sandals.com 6$1 %ULGHV $ZDUG QW LQGG

30

Page 28

MORE Watch me as I dance under the spotlightListen to the people screaming out more and more, 'Coz I create the feeling that keep 'em coming back, Yeah, I create the feeling that keep 'em coming back, So captivating when I get it on the floor.

Know y'all been patiently waiting, I know you need me, I can feel it, I'm a beast, I'm an animal, I'm that monster in the mirror, The headliner, finisher, I'm the closer, winner.

Best when under pressure one second's left I show up.

[CHORUS x2] If you really want more, scream it out louder, If you're on the floor, bring out the fire, And light it up, take it up higher, Gonna push it to the limit, give it more.

Get up both your hands, I'm in the zone, tight!

Put 'em in the air, if you want more (and) more, Cos I can't wait to feel it.

I go hard, can't stop, But if I stop then just know that imma bring it back, Never quittin' on believin' that.

USHER USHER USHER USHER USHER

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Know y'all been patiently waiting, I know you need me, I can feel it,

I'm a beast, I'm an animal, I'm that monster in the mirror, The headliner, finisher, I'm the closer, winner.

Best when under pressure one second's left I show up.

[CHORUS x2] If you really want more, scream it out louder, If you're on the floor, bring out the fire, And light it up, take it up higher, Gonna push it to the limit, give it more.

[VOCAL SEGMENT]

[CHORUS x2] If you really want more, scream it out louder, If you're on the floor, bring out the fire, And light it up, take it up higher, Gonna push it to the limit, give it more.

[VOCAL SEGMENT]

Gonna push it to the limit, give it more.

Page 29

50 Cent joins "Gaddafi performance regret club"

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

ENTERTAINMENT

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

U.S. rapper 50 Cent has joined what one entertainment website called the "Gaddafi performance regret club," making a donation to charity after news emerged that he performed for the clan of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

"In light of the ongoing events in Libya, 50 Cent will be making a donation to UNICEF, which is providing vital relief supplies to meet the needs of women and children at risk during this crisis," a spokesman for the artist told E! News.

50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, joins a growing list of pop stars who performed for members of Gaddafi's family at exclusive parties around the world, sometimes commanding seven-figure sums in the process.

Charlie Sheen outranks Obama and Lady Gaga in social media

The appearances have become a major source of embarrassment since the Libyan leader's brutal response to a popular uprising against him in Libya.

Beyonce, Nelly Furtado, Mariah Carey and Usher have all issued statements saying they would donate or had already given money to charities after they appeared for the Gaddafi clan in recent years.

50 Cent did not name the amount of money he earned from a private concert given during the 2005 Venice film festival.

Media reports said that some artists were paid by Gaddafi's family merely to attend the parties.

On the Twitter social networking website, Furtado said recently that she was paid $1 million for a 45 minute set before the Gaddafi clan in Italy in 2007.

If you think Charlie Sheen has been "winning" media attention these past few weeks, you'd be right.

The now former "Two and A Half Men" star has topped all Internet and social media discussions since the beginning of 2011, beating out buzz and controversy surrounding the iPad, singer Lady Gaga and U.S. President Barack Obama, according to a survey released on Tuesday by the Global Language Monitor.

"Charlie Sheen...is everywhere. The growing pervasiveness of social media only enhances this global echo chamber," said Paul JJ Payack, president and chief word analyst for the Global Language Monitor.

Payack used an algorithm to analyze the top 20 persons (or things) of interest on blogs, Internet-only news sites and social media sites like Twitter and YouTube between January 1 and March 8, 2011. Sheen was first, followed by Apple's iPad, Lady Gaga, Obama and Tea Party favorite Sarah Palin.

But the wayward TV star ranked just 18th among the top 75,000 traditional print and electronic media sites covered in the survey.

Still, after weeks of bizarre behavior, insults to producers of his old show and boasts about having "Adonis DNA" and "tiger blood," pop culture and social media users just can't seem to get enough of the 45 year-old actor.

Meanwhile, as broadcaster CBS and "Two And A Half Men" makers Warner Bros. TV pondered whether to continue production next season without Sheen, sportsbook website JustBet.com posted odds on what would might happen next in the saga.

Most bets are on Sheen getting arrested for driving under the influence (56 percent) or cocaine possession (33 percent).

Sheen has insisted that he is clean and sober, and that the only drug he is on is "called Charlie Sheen."

50 Cents

JULIANNE MOORE TO PLAY SARAH PALIN IN HBO FILM

Julianne Moore

LOS ANGELES - Julianne Moore will play former Alaska governor Sarah Palin in "Game Change," an HBO movie about John McCain's unsuccessful presidential campaign.

Based on the bestselling book of the same name by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, the film will center on McCain's selection of Palin as his running mate and their defeat in the 2008 election by Barack Obama.

Jay Roach will direct from a script by Danny Strong. They previously worked together on HBO's 2008 political movie "Recount," which followed the nail-biting conclusion to the 2000 presidential race.

LADY GAGA MAY SUE OVER BREASTMILK ICE CREAM NAME

Pop singer Lady Gaga has threatened to sue a specialist ice cream parlor in London for naming its breast milk ice cream "Baby Gaga," the shop's owner said on Wednesday.

Matt O'Connor, founder of The Icecreamists in London's Covent Garden, said he had received a letter from Lady Gaga's lawyers informing him that the singer planned to sue him over the name.

"She's threatening to bankrupt us and she's also threatening me personally, saying she'll seize my personal assets and property," he said.

Lady Gaga's London solicitors, Mishcon de Reya, said they would not comment.

O'Connor denied the flamboyant singer -whose meat dress and other strange outfits have promoted her quirky image and delighted her fans -- had inspired the name he chose for the dessert made from breast milk blended

with Madagascan vanilla pods and lemon zest.

"It's just the first noise a baby makes -- it's nothing to do with anyone else," he said, adding that he was working on a response to the letter.

London's Westminster Council briefly confiscated supplies of "Baby Gaga" ice cream last week on health concerns, but gave it the all-clear on Wednesday.

"We're pleased that the safety checks we've undertaken on the products have come back clear," Westminster Council's cabinet member for business Brian Connell said in a statement.

O'Connor told Reuters he was considering taking legal action against the council for damage to his reputation.

"They made the damaging assertion that breast milk ice cream isn't safe," he said, adding that it was an overreaction to the safest food in the world.

Chris Brown done apologizing for Rihanna assault

Chris Brown is done apologizing for assaulting Rihanna, the R&B singer says in a new interview.

"People are always gonna talk. But I'm in a positive place," Brown told the New York Post's Page Six Magazine in its latest issue, out tomorrow. "I consider myself a grown-ass man. And at the end of the day, if I walk around apologizing to everybody, I'm gonna look like a damn fool."

Brown acknowledged those that supported him during the domestic

"mishap," as he refers to it, including Pitbull and Pharrell Williams of N.E.R.D. "A handful of people stuck by me, but when [most] people see certain things happen to somebody, they usually turn away," he said. "They don't want to get involved with it because they don't want their name attached to anything negative. Unknowingly, they kind of show their true colors when they do that. But you can't blame people for how they want to be

portrayed or if they don't want to be associated with somebody who had a particular mishap."

Without naming names, Brown also noted that some of those people who turned their backs on him during his low point have reached out again now dust has settled. 'Everybody who dissed me now wants to say 'Hey.' They wanna get on a record. They wanna let me back in the door. The last two years, everybody dissed me," he said.

Brown, whose "Deuces" single

spent ten weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart last year, says his upcoming "F.A.M.E." album (out Mar. 22) is for the fans who have stood by him.

"My fans were so dedicated. The way I look at it is, you can't walk around mad, because then you just prove everybody right that you're an angry person," he said. "So 'F.A.M.E.' means 'Forgiving All My Enemies,' and also 'Fans Are My Everything.' I'm dedicating it to my fans."

KFWS • MindGym March 7, 2011

Page 30

FUN & GAMES

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

—2—

Page 31

King Features Weekly Service

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

March 7, 2011

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

FUN & GAMES

March 7, 2011 March 7, 2011

King Features WeeklyService Service King Features Weekly

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) The week promises a calmer aspect. Although there might be some lingering effects of a recent job problem, things should continue to ease up. Also expect a change in a home-based situation.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) If you feel uneasy about a colleague’s suggestion, it might be that your wise inner Taurean guide is alerting you to a potential problem. Stepping away could turn out to be the right thing to do.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A family get-together opens up new opportunities for renewing ties. It can be especially effective in dealing with disagreements that should have been, but never were, fully resolved.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You might be surprised at the response you get to a recent decision. You might be even more surprised by the reasons behind it. In any event, you’ll learn something important.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your aspects favor resolving any tensions left over from a recent incident. You might want to consider having a “clear the air” talk as soon as you can. A call can lead to a change of plans.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Avoid repeating yourself. If your first few efforts fail to connect, maybe it’s because you haven’t found the right way to get your message across. Try changing your approach.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Good intentions —13— plus a strong resolve to suc-

YOU CAN’T PLAY BY ROTE

The problem of which long suit to establish in notrump play, when there is a genuine choice, does not always lend itself to hard and fast rules.

While general bidding principles can be memorized to help one arrive at the proper contract, there are relatively few corresponding principles to direct declarer to the best line of play.

Take this case where South —13— is in three notrump and starts with seven sure tricks. The two more he needs must come from either spades or clubs. In selecting which suit to attack, South should not be influenced by generalities

ceed can take you where you want to go. Don’t give up just because someone suggests you might be pursuing an impossible cause.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) An unexpected setback can be a blessing in disguise. Use it to recheck your facts and how you’ve presented them. Meanwhile, look for ways to expand your contacts.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You should finally be seeing a positive change in a recent personal situation. However, an on-the-job matter might need more attention than you realized. Stay with it.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) While you should be close to completing an important matter, you still need to focus on being focused. But things ease up in time for weekend fun with family and friends.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A certain matter might take an unexpected turn. Don’t simply accept it; ask for an explanation. What you learn might be helpful in shifting the situation around to your benefit.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Projecting a positive attitude helps restore calm even when you’re confronting some pretty stormy situations. Stay the course.

The outcome will be well worth your efforts.

BORN THIS WEEK: While you enjoy tradition and stability, you also appreciate the good things that change can bring.

• Ge nov wri wh obs enc and ad and dic to w • Pon ryin We ard pou •I mo ma • dic cou Par bla tory of his wa a 1 Rac the mis hus ally sec • chu

© 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

such as always attacking the longest and/or strongest suit.

Instead, the decision should be based on plain common sense — that is, which suit is more likely to produce the desired result.

If spades are attacked, he should ask himself, will nine tricks surely materialize?

The answer is probably, but not certainly. Thus, in the actual deal, if South wins the heart lead and finesses the jack of spades, he will go down after East wins with the queen and returns the ten of spades. Dummy’s strong spades eventually prove to be declarer’s weakness.

But if South takes the time to ask himself whether he should attack clubs instead, he finds that making 10 tricks is an absolute certainty. Regardless of how the East-West cards are divided, declarer cannot be stopped from scoring three clubs, three hearts, two diamonds and two spades after forcing out the ace and queen of clubs.

In this particular case, simple logic leads South to conclude that the clubs are a safer bet than the spades.

This time, the seemingly weaker suit gets the nod. © 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

Swa

by K (Kn Rev

Th tree land tina Flor park Wit perf lost live also and they seam Fa real Wes ed futu app pera brot mai high hell way Ba siste who that — just so s tling

lle is m ut a mis ut ut a ur et or

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

King Features Weekly Service

FUN & GAMES

March 7, 2011

gs ’t et o bo es id

Page 32

ed n s, o e, r-

h ns e, al y or o e:

nof s,

wd —2— —2—

ts ly s, m er n k5, 5, e-

—23—

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

US assails Caribbean for money laundering and financial crimes

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Page 33

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WASHINGTON– The United States has assailed a number of Caribbean countries for what it describes as their continued engagement in money laundering and financial crimes. In the second part of the 2011 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), the State Department was particularly concerned about efforts made by Antigua and Barbuda, the Cayman Islands, Belize, the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas in addressing these crimes.

It said Antigua and Barbuda is a “significant offshore center” that, despite recent improvements, “remains susceptible to money laundering due to its offshore financial sector and Internet gaming industry.

“Illicit proceeds from the transshipment of narcotics and from financial crimes occurring in the US also are laundered in Antigua and Barbuda,” it said.

The report said while the Baldwin Spencer administration has taken steps to combat money laundering by passing relevant legislation that applies to both domestic and offshore financial institutions, and establishing a “thorough regulatory regime,” it urged it to “implement and enforce all provisions” of its anti-money laundering laws.

The State Department said the government is yet to prosecute a money laundering case, noting that there are few arrests or prosecutions.

“More comprehensive investigations could lead to higher numbers of arrests, prosecutions, and convictions,” it said.

On the Cayman Islands, it said most money laundering is primarily related to fraud and drug trafficking.

Due to its status as a zero-tax regime, the State Department said the Cayman Islands is “also considered attractive to those seeking to evade taxes in their home jurisdiction.

“While the country has increased both its regulatory and law enforcement staffing, the number

of prosecutions and convictions is extremely low, given the vast scale of the country’s financial sector,” it said, stating that only six successful prosecutions for money laundering and only one in the last four years have taken place.

In addition, the report said the “lack of penalties” for failing to report ownership and identity information “undermines the effectiveness of these obligations.

“This is a problem in particular for an estimated 3,000 unregulated mutual funds resident in the Cayman Islands,” said the INCSR, adding that there appears to be no requirements for companies, trusts and partnerships to retain records for at least five years.

It urged the Cayman Islands to continue computerizing various registrations, such as those for mutual funds, adding that there is “a need to pay greater attention to the risks and proper supervision of non-profit organizations.”

While not being a major regional financial center, the State Department said Belize is an offshore financial center that encourages the growth of offshore financial activities that are “vulnerable to money laundering, including offshore banks, insurance companies, trust service providers, mutual fund companies, and international business companies.”

It said most money laundering is “largely thought to be related to proceeds from US residents participating in unlawful internet gaming.

The INCSR said that Belize lacks the resources to effectively enforce anti-money laundering rules, pointing out that Belize’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has a “broad mandate” that is “severely understaffed.”

“The FIU staff does not have sufficient training or experience in identifying, investigating, reviewing, and analyzing evidence in money laundering cases,” it said.

It, therefore, urged the Barrow administration to let the CFZs be reporting entities, and that the government becomes a party to the UN Convention against Corruption.

The State Department said the British Virgin Islands (BVI) “unique share structure” that does not require a statement of authorized capital, as well as the lack of mandatory filing of ownership, poses “significant money laundering risks.”

It said the BVI remains vulnerable to money laundering practices “through its drug trafficking trade and the exploitation of its offshore financial services.

“BVI’s proximity to the US Virgin Islands and the use of the US dollar for its currency pose risk factors for money laundering,” it said.

“The BVI are a major target for drug traffickers, who use the area as a gateway to the United States.

Drug trafficking in general is a serious problem,” it added.

It said while BVI legislation has strengthened due diligence requirements, “these laws are too new to be evaluated.”

The State Department said money laundering trends in the Bahamas include the purchase of real estate, large vehicles and jewelry, as well as the processing of money through a “complex web of legitimate businesses and international business companies registered in the offshore financial sector.”

It said drug traffickers and other criminal organizations “take advantage of the large number of international business companies and offshore banks registered in the Bahamas to launder significant sums of money,” despite strict reporting requirements.

The report urged the Hubert Ingraham administration to “provide adequate resources to its law enforcement, judicial, and prosecutorial bodies in order to enforce existing legislation and safeguard the financial system from possible abuses.”

It also urged the government to continue to enhance its anti-money laundering/counter-terrorist financing regime by, among other things, implementing the National Strategy on the Prevention of Money Laundering and by implementing a system to collect and analyze information on the cross border transportation of currency.

Ja. PM Golding was aware of ineligibility of Gov’t MPs to sit in House

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Prime Minister Bruce Golding admitted yesterday he had been aware that members of his party were ineligible to sit in the House of Representatives, but asking them to resign en bloc could have caused a collapse of his Government. Golding made the revelation to journalists after Everald Warmington resigned as member of parliament for South West St Catherine because he had pledged allegiance to the United States and was a citizen of that country at the time of his nomination for the 2007 general election.

"We have been aware of the status for some time, but you will appreciate ... Everald would be the fifth of five ... I don't need to spell it out that we could not have all five departing the House at the same time," Golding told journalists during a press briefing convened in the Government's conference room while Parliament sat yesterday.

"You are aware of the arithmetic of the balance in Parliament," the prime minister added.

Golding's Jamaica Labour Party

(JLP) won the September 2007 general election with a razor-thin majority, taking 32 of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives. The People's National Party (PNP) won the other 28 seats.

However, immediately after the election, the PNP's Abe Dabdoub dragged Daryl Vaz, who beat him in the race for the West Portland seat, to court claiming he had dual citizenship and was not qualified to sit in the House.

The court agreed with Dabdoub and booted Vaz in 2008. Gregory Mair, who had Venezuelan allegiance, resigned in 2009 and, like Vaz, was returned by way of a by-election. Michael Stern, also in 2009, and Shahine Robinson, in 2010, were also disqualified for having offended the Constitution.

Golding said he could not have allowed all the MPs on the Government side with dual citizenship to resign at once.

"Let's be practical. We have a majority in the House of four. If three of those four, four of those four, five of those four were to

depart the House at any particular point in time simultaneously, under the rules of Parliament a certain number of members can convene the House, can pass a no-confidence motion on the Government; can cause the Government to collapse," Golding said.

He added: "That's not something that one would want to invite on himself. That would be a technical way of defeating the will of the people as expressed in the elections on September 3, 2007 ... . It had to be handled in a particular way."

Golding also said the Government had priorities which could not be sidelined to deal with by-election matters.

Noting that Warmington was the only government member who had remained in breach of the Constitution as a result of his dual allegiance, the prime minister challenged the Opposition to clean its House.

"I believe the spotlight must now turn to the opposition benches, where there are at least two for which the evidence we have is proof positive

Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding

and, therefore, to the extent that they are the ones who have been so aggressive in pursuing these matters, I think there is a certain cleaning of stables that needs to be done on that side. And, to the extent that they don't seem inclined to do it voluntarily, we intend to assist them through the courts," Golding said.

Opposition members Sharon Hay-Webster (South Central St Catherine) and Ian Hayles (West Hanover) have been hauled before the courts by defeated JLP members who are seeking to have them disqualified from sitting in the House for similar reasons as Vaz, Mair, Robinson, Stern and Warmington.

Page 34

Royal Caribbean leaving region; officials concerned

CARIBBEAN NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados- Royal Caribbean cruise line is slashing a major part of the region's summer cruise business come summer 2012.

The company has announced that it's repositioning its ship, Serenade of the Seas, from the Caribbean to Europe, and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has expressed concern about the loss.

Secretary General Hugh Riley said the CTO is aware that repositioning is a normal course of business within the cruise sector, particularly during the summer months.

However, members of CTO’s Executive Council of Ministers at a recent meeting, indicated the need to discuss the matter of summer cruising with some of the industry’s key

players, with a view to developing strategies for improving the competitiveness of the Caribbean for summer cruising.

“We recognize that the strong comparative advantage that we have

in the Caribbean in the winter months changes in the summer," Riley said.

But he added that while seasonal adjustments in cruise traffic to the Caribbean region are not uncommon, the situation now merits closer

attention, particularly in the southern Caribbean where winter cruising continues to be strong, but summer traffic has become the victim of high fuel costs and geography.

The cruise industry is a significant component of the region’s tourism mix and the Caribbean remains a highly desirable cruising destination.

In 2010 the region’s cruise passenger arrivals grew by six per cent, continuing the phenomenal growth experienced over the past four decades with the numbers climbing from just over one million cruise visits in 1970 to over 20 million last year.

CTO leaders want this strong consumer demand for the region in the cruise industry to be developed year round, with more summer business resulting.

NEW YORK, United States, Wednesday March 9, 2011 - The 3,500-strong United Nations police force in Haiti is planning to reinforce its support of national police for the presidential run-off election on March 20, although it does not expect trouble, according to the head of the contingent.

“I don’t see any major risk for this second round,” said Marc Tardif, head of the police component in the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

“Clearly it’s going to be a tense period but I don’t think we will have big trouble. We have a good working relationship with the national police and our robust presence will deter anybody wanting to create problems,” he added, noting that in the first round in November the two forces worked together, and despite some incidents, the poll took place in much greater calm than previous elections.

“Still, we’re going to reinforce our

positions at those places that were unstable during the first round."

Trouble broke out after the announcement of provisional results last December from the first round, with thousands of protesters rampaging through the streets of Portau-Prince, the capital, accusing the ruling coalition of rigging the polls, after tallies put former first lady Mirlande Manigat and outgoing President Rene Préval’s party candidate Jude Celestin in first and second place, thus qualifying for the run-off.

Popular musician Michel Martelly was less than one percentage point behind in third place, but thus excluded from the run-off, and his supporters set up burning barricades of timber, boulders and flaming tires.

After a re-examination of the ballots, the Provisional Electoral Council last month announced that Martelly had come in second and would thus face Manigat in the runoff.

Apart from its police component, MINUSTAH, which has been on the ground in Haiti since mid-2004 after then president Jean-Bertrand Aristide went into exile amid violent unrest, fields some 8,500 peacekeeping

troops in the impoverished country.

CAPTION: Popular musician Michel Martelly was less than one percentage point behind in third place, but thus excluded from the run-off.

Police reinforcement for Haiti run-off election

VACANCY FOR ACCOUNTING CLERK PROVIDENCIALES

The Turks & Caicos Islands National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) invites applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of:

AccountInG cLERK

Purpose and Scope of Job The position holder will be required to: • Process Administrative and Claims payments for vendors • Reconcile Payables Accounts on a monthly basis • Settle disputes with vendors, and maintaining the accuracy of their statements • Maintain Fixed Assets Register • Filing of all documents within the Accounts Department • Other administrative duties as required

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required • An Associate’s Degree in Accountancy or equivalent qualification plus five (3) years experience in Accounting/Finance.

Minimum Technical Skills • Must be able to use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point etc) • Excellent team player with team building skills • Excellent writer and oral communication skills • Ability to deliver to strict deadlines and to work under pressure

Salary • Salary will be reflective of qualification and experience within the range $26,760 $30,000.

Deadline for submission: March 15, 2011

All applicants should be addressed to: Brian Hogan Chief Executive Officer National Health Insurance Board Salt Mills Plaza Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands British West Indies Email: info@tcinhip.tc or djames@tcinhip.tc Cell: 649-231-1808

Page 35

Jamaica ackee kills 23 and sickens 194 in less than 3 mths

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

CARIBBEAN NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

With 23 confirmed deaths and 194 suspected cases of ackee poisoning in less than three months, government chemists are now conducting intensive testing on the fruit to determine the reason for the unusually high number of fatalities linked to it.

Speaking at a press conference at the Health Ministry's head office in downtown Kingston Tuesday, Director of Health Promotion and Protection Dr Eva Lewis-Fuller said that while the cases were initially being reported in St Mary and St Ann, the ministry has since received reports from other parishes as well.

"At this time, all parishes are involved in the outbreak, mainly parishes of the north-east region and some parishes of the west," she said.

"We have been investigating this, because there has been some unusual characteristics of this outbreak. It is not following the pattern that we are used to in the old days when we have ackee poison, when it affected mainly child[ren] over five and it was evenly distributed between men and women," Lewis-Fuller added.

Dr Lewis-Fuller said that men accounted for 60 per cent of those cases reported to the ministry — the majority of them being between the ages of 25-44. The last confirmed death was that of a 52-year-old man

JAMAICA RENEWS EFFORTS TO CLEAR MARCUS GARVEY'S NAME

Ackee can be poisonous if the pods are forced open

from St Mary on February 10 at the Port Maria Hospital.

Tuesday, the ministry said that it is no closer to finding out the reason for the increase in ackee poisoning, but has been cautioning persons — through advertisements — about the proper preparation of the fruit as well as warning against forcefully opening the ackee pods.

"We do have some theories and hypothesis," said

KINGSTON, JamaicaThere's been a renewed thrust by the Jamaica Government to have the criminal record of its first National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, expunged.

Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in the United States of America (USA) in 1923.

In a statement to the House of Representatives at Gordon House, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Grange said the conviction tarnished his Marcus Mosiah Garvey reputation and slowed his global movement, although it did not diminish the impact of his message on black people, worldwide.

“For his contributions to the upliftment of his race, Garvey was named a National Hero but, in the Court records, he is still a criminal,” she noted.

Grange said she wholeheartedly agreed with those before her who sought to have his name cleared, and lamented their lack of success.

She pointed out that in 1983 then Prime Minister Edward Seaga had asked President Ronald Reagan to grant a full pardon to Garvey, to no avail.

Since then, other efforts have been made. In 2004 the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, under the impetus of then board member Professor Verene Shepherd, initiated a project to obtain the transcripts of the trial that led to his conviction.

Minister Grange presented three sets of the transcripts to Prime Minister Bruce Golding; the Leader of the Opposition Portia Simpson-Miller; and the Speaker of the House Delroy Chuck.

“In making these presentations, I hope that we will be able to breathe new life into the discussions and movement to have The Rt. Excellent Marcus Garvey’s name cleared in the annals of history,” she said.

Several Opposition MPs, including Simpson-Miller, as well as Government members have supported Government’s continued efforts to clear Garvey’s name.

Dr Lewis-Fuller. "We had very cold weather during December and there are theories surrounding the delayed opening of the ackee and, therefore, persons might have been stimulated to do their own thing with opening the ackee."

Ackee contains hypoglycin, which is known for lowering the blood sugar to lethal levels. Symptoms of ackee poisoning include uncontrollable vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and drowsiness.

The ministry has assured that there has been no suspected case of ackee poisoning in countries where the fruit has been exported. They believe this is due to the fact that ackee prepared for export is tested for hypogylcin.

In the meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry Dr Sheila Campbell-Forrester said ackee poisoning has now been upgraded to the status of a reportable condition, although there has been a tapering off of reported cases in the past few weeks.

"Ackee poisoning was really not a reportable disease and so we may have been having cases of ackee poisoning in the past, which were not been reported or recorded or may have been missed [or] thought to be gastroenteritis," she said.

ST. KITTS GRANTS HIGHEST HONOR TO TAIWANESE PRESIDENT

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Thursday March 10, 2011 – St. Kitts and Nevis bestowed its highest civilian honour on Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou today.

The Order of St. Christopher and Nevis was bestowed by St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Taiwan’s capital.

“Being a great statesman of brilliant knowledge and experience and of profound vision and competence, His Excellency President Ma Ying-jeou’s devotion to and accomplishments in the practice of flexible diplomacy, the peace of EastAsia region by way of the improvement of bilateral relations between Taiwan Strait and the cordial cooperation between the Federation of St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis and the Republic of China (Taiwan) have been admired and hailed by the people and government of the Federation of St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis,” said the Citation.

US approves more airports for Cuba flights

WASHINGTON- The United States has approved eight more airports for charter flights to and from Cuba, permitting more Cuban Americans to travel to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean country. Obama administration officials said the airports include Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, the world's busiest, and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

The other airports approved include those in Baltimore, Maryland; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Tampa, Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Prior to Wednesday’s decision, flights to Cuba were only allowed from Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; and New York.

The expanded flights are in keeping with President Barack Obama’s decision, announced earlier this year, to further reach out to the Cuban people.

“As Hartsfield-Jackson is the largest hub in the United States, this new service will allow tens of thousands of Cuban Americans across the country to easily reunite with their friends and families, whom they may not have seen for many years,” Louis Miller, aviation general manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, told reports.

The expanded flights also come as the United States awaits a verdict in the case of an American government contractor charged with

crimes against the Cuban state.

The argument phase of the trial of Alan Gross, 61, ended last Saturday, and Cuban officials said the verdict is expected in the coming days. If convicted Gross faces up to 20 years in prison.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called on Cuban authorities to release Gross unconditionally.

Gross' family and State Department officials say he was in the country on a US Agency for International Development contract to help the country's 1,500 Jews communicate with other Jewish communities using the Internet.

The main Jewish groups in Cuba have denied any contact with or knowledge of Gross or the programme.

Even after Gross’s arrest, however, Obama continued with his policy of engagement, lifting limits on remittances for people with relatives on the island and loosening restrictions on travel for scholars, artists and business groups.

On Monday, Obama reversed his two-yearold order halting new military charges against detainees at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, permitting military trials to resume.

The president, however, said he remains committed to closing Guantánamo someday and to charging some terrorism suspects in civilian criminal courts.

Hundreds killed in tsunami after 8.9 Japan quake TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 36

TOKYO – A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, March 11 killing hundreds of people as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control.

Hours later, the tsunami hit Hawaii and warnings blanketed the Pacific, as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast.

Police said 200 to 300 bodies were found in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai. Another 88 were confirmed killed and at least 349 were missing.

The death toll was likely to continue climbing given the scale of the disaster.

The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks for hours, many of them of more than magnitude 6.0.

Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter.

"The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference.

The government ordered thousands of residents near a nuclear power plant in Onahama city to evacuate because the plant's system was unable to cool the reactor. The reactor was not leaking radiation but its core remained hot even after a shutdown. The plant is 170 miles (270 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.

Trouble was reported at two other nuclear plants as well, but there was no radiation leak at any.

Japan's coast guard said it was searching for 80 dock workers working on a ship that was swept away from a shipyard in Miyagi prefecture.

Tsunami tidal waves hit houses after a powerful earthquake in Natori on Friday, March 11

Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was of horrific proportions because of the tsunami that crashed ashore, swallowing everything in its path as it surged several miles (kilometers) inland before retreating.

The apocalyptic images of surging water broadcast by Japanese TV networks resembled scenes from a Hollywood disaster movie.

Large fishing boats and other sea vessels rode high waves into the cities, slamming against overpasses or scraping under them and snapping power lines along the way. Upturned and partially submerged vehicles were seen bobbing in the water. Ships anchored in ports crashed against each other.

The highways to the worst-hit coastal areas were severely damaged and communications, including telephone lines, were snapped. Train services in northeastern Japan and in Tokyo, which normally serve 10 million people a day, were also suspended, leaving untold numbers stranded in stations or roaming the streets. Tokyo's

Narita airport was closed indefinitely.

More than 300 houses were washed away in Ofunato City alone. Television footage showed mangled debris, uprooted trees, upturned cars and shattered timber littering streets.

The tsunami roared over embankments, washing anything in its path inland before reversing directions and carrying the cars, homes and other debris out to sea. Flames shot from some of the houses, probably because of burst gas pipes.

"Our initial assessment indicates that there has already been enormous damage," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said. "We will make maximum relief effort based on that assessment."

He said the Defense Ministry was sending troops to the quake-hit region. A utility aircraft and several helicopters were on the way.

A large fire erupted at the Cosmo oil refinery in Ichihara city in Chiba prefecture and burned out of control with 100-foot (30 meter) -high flames whipping into the sky.

NHK said more than 4 million

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

buildings were without power in Tokyo and its suburbs.

Jefferies International Limited, a global investment banking group, said it estimated overall losses to be about $10 billion.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the 2:46 p.m. quake was a magnitude 8.9, the biggest earthquake to hit Japan since officials began keeping records in the late 1800s, and one of the biggest ever recorded in the world.

The quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), about 80 miles (125 kilometers) off the eastern coast, the agency said. The area is 240 miles (380 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.

Atsunami warning was extended to a number of Pacific, Southeast Asian and Latin American nations, including Japan, Russia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Chile. In the Philippines, authorities ordered an evacuation of coastal communities, but no unusual waves were reported.

Thousands of people fled their homes in Indonesia after officials warned of a tsunami up to 6 feet (2 meters) high. But waves of only 4 inches (10 centimeters) were measured. No big waves came to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, either.

The first waves hit Hawaii about 1400 GMT (9 a.m. EST) Friday. A tsunami at least 3 feet (a meter) high were recorded on Oahu and Kauai, and officials warned that the waves would continue and could become larger.

In downtown Tokyo, large buildings shook violently and workers poured into the street for safety. TV footage showed a large building on fire and bellowing smoke in the Odaiba district of Tokyo. The tremor bent the upper tip of the iconic Tokyo Tower, a 1,093-foot (333-meter) steel structure inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Rebels retreat from Libyan oil port amid barrage

RAS LANOUF, Libya — With fierce barrages of tank and artillery fire, Moammar Gadhafi's loyalists threw rebels into a frantic retreat from a strategic oil port Thursday, March 10 in a counteroffensive that reversed the opposition's advance toward the capital of Tripoli and now threatens its positions in the east.

The rout came as the U.S. director of national intelligence stressed that Gadhafi's military was stronger than it has been described and said that "in the longer term ... the regime will prevail."

Hundreds of rebels in cars and trucks mounted with machine guns sped eastward on the Mediterranean coastal road in a seemingly disorganized flight from Ras Lanouf as an overwhelming force of rockets and shells pounded a hospital, mosque and other buildings in the oil complex. Doctors and staff at the hospital were hastily evacuated along with wounded from fighting from the past week.

The opposition, however, made some diplomatic gains. France became the first country to recognize the rebels' eastern-based governing council, and an ally of President Nicolas Sarkozy said his government was planning "targeted operations" to defend civilians if the international community approves.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she would meet with opposition leaders in the U.S., Egypt and Tunisia. In Tripoli, Gadhafi's son Seif al-Islam

vowed to retake the eastern half of the country, which has been in opposition hands since early in the 3-weekold uprising.

"I have two words to our brothers and sisters in the east: We're coming," he told a cheering crowd of young supporters.

The son depicted Libyans in the east as being held "hostage" by terrorists. Gadhafi's government sent a text message to Tripoli residents, warning imams at mosques against allowing protests after Friday prayers. The message quoted Saudi cleric Sheik Saleh Fawzan, a member of the Saudi Supreme Scholars Council, as saying it was "unacceptable" for any imam "who incites people (or) causes disturbances of the society in any mosque."

There were demonstrations after prayers for the past two Fridays, and militiamen used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowds who had gathered in mosques. There were an undetermined number of deaths after the Feb. 25 demonstrations.

The retreat was a heavy blow for the ragtag rebel forces of armed civilians and mutinous army units that only days before had confidently charged west, boasting they would march the hundreds of miles (kilometers) to "liberate" Tripoli.

There were no concrete signs of Western moves toward military assistance that the opposition has been

pleading for. A rebel spokesman went beyond repeated calls for a no-fly zone to prevent Gadhafi's air force from harrying opposition fighters and said the West should carry out direct strikes against regime troops.

"We have requested for all steps to be taken to protect the Libyan people. We believe the U.N. can do that. The bombardment of mercenaries and Gadhafi troop camps are among our demands," Abdel-Hafidh Ghoga, a spokesman of the governing council, told reporters in the opposition's eastern bastion of Benghazi.

"We need help from the international community, but we just hear promises," said Mohammed Ali alZwei, a 48-year-old rebel fighter. "They are doing nothing."

Taking back Ras Lanouf would be a major victory for Gadhafi, pushing his zone of control farther along the coast. His regime has also claimed a victory in the west, saying Wednesday it recaptured Zawiya, the closest rebel-held city to the capital, after a six-day siege.

Western journalists in Tripoli were taken late Wednesday to a stadium on the outskirts of Zawiya that was filled with Gadhafi loyalists waving green flags and launching fireworks. But the journalists were not allowed to visit Zawiya's main square, and the extent of government control was not known in the city, located on Tripoli's western doorstep.

Page 37

Tears and shouts as terror hearing becomes political MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

WORLD NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WASHINGTON — Congress pushed deep into a raw and emotional debate Thursday over American Muslims who have committed terrorist attacks in the name of religion, in a hearing punctuated by tearful testimony, angry recriminations and political theater.

Republican Rep. Peter King declared U.S. Muslims are doing too little to help fight terror in America. Democrats warned of inflaming anti-Muslim sentiment and energizing al-Qaida.

Framed by photos of the burning World Trade Center and Pentagon, the families of two young men blamed the Islamic community for inspiring young men to Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the only Muslim in Congress, becomes emotional as he testifies commit terrorism. On the other side, before the House Homeland Security Committee one of the two Muslims in Congress on the extent of the radicalization of American wept while discussing a Muslim Muslims firefighter who died in the attacks. community leaders need to speak out The sharp divisions reflect a more loudly against terrorism and country still struggling with how best work more closely with police and the to combat terrorism nearly a decade FBI. Democrats wanted the hearing to after the September 2001 attacks. Alfocus on terror threats more broadly, Qaida has built a strategy recently including from white supremacists. around motivating young American "This hearing today is playing into Muslims to become one-man terror al-Qaida right now around the world," cells, and the U.S. government has said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Dwrestled with fighting that effort.

Texas, who said the committee was King, a New York congressman trampling the Constitution. and the new chairman of the House Republicans said that was nothing Homeland Security Committee, said but political correctness. he called the hearing because Muslim "We have to know our enemy, and

IMMEDIATE OPENING

Owner Liaison/ Assistant to GM

Requirements: • Establish and maintain solid working relationship with unit owners by providing excellent service in the management of their property.

• Ensure owner units are ready for arrival, by anticipating needs and through well-organized use of information and systems; communicate with owners frequently during stay to ensure total satisfaction.

• Monitor and resolve any guest service issues and queries quickly and effectively.

• Document, track and report on deficiencies, progress and follow up; maintain guest history and profile and utilize to ensure excellent service.

• Support and direct unit quality inspections process • Support the General Manager in administration as necessary.

Qualifications: • Must have proficiency with hospitality operating systems.

• Must have 3-5 years experience in luxury hospitality with proven expertise dealing with luxury guest service and issues.

Salary commensurate with qualification and experience

Interested applicants should apply to the Regent Palms, Human Resources Department, Monday through Friday between 9AM and 5PM and bring along a recent C.V., or by sending your resume to mdorsett@regentexperience.com

it is radical Islam in my judgment," said Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas.

Thursday's hearing was the first high-profile event for the new Republican majority in the House, and it roused the city. The room was packed, and officials steered onlookers into an overflow.

At one point, an exchange between Reps. Tom Marino and Al Green grew loud as they talked over each other. Green, a Texas Democrat who is black, said the terrorism hearing should have included discussion of the Ku Klux Klan. Marino, a Pennsylvania Republican who is white, said the subject of the day was terrorism, prompting the chairman to rap the gavel repeatedly as the two argued over whether the KKK was a terrorist organization.

Despite years of government focus on terrorism, dozens of unraveled terrorism plots and a few successful attacks have suggested there is no one predictable path toward violence.

Thursday's hearing offered no insight into those routes.

Homegrown terrorists espousing their Islamic faith have included high school dropouts and college graduates, people from both poor and wealthy families. Some studied overseas.

Others were inspired over the Internet.

That has complicated government efforts to understand and head off radicalization. It also reduced some of Thursday's debate to a series of anecdotes: Islamic terrorists on the one hand, an Islamic paramedic on the other.

Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to Congress, wept as he discussed Mohammed Salman Hamdani, a Pakistani-American paramedic who died responding to the World Trade Center attack.

"This committee's approach to this particular subject, I believe, is contrary to the best of American values and threatens our security, or could potentially," Ellison said.

After the hearing, the White House repeated its position that America

should not practice guilt by association.

"And we also believe that Muslim Americans are very much part of the solution here and not the problem," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Further complicating any broad discussion, the Muslim community is diverse and widespread. No single organization speaks for everyone, and the religion itself does not have a leader, as Catholics have the pope.

Some groups that dominate the discussion represent a relatively small number of people and have varying degrees of credibility.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, for instance, has launched one the most aggressive media campaigns in the country, often making itself the public face of the Muslim community when talking about fighting terrorism. The group has an extremely strained relationship with law enforcement. The Justice Department has linked the group to a terror financing case, and the FBI will not work directly with its members.

The group's California chapter recently put up a poster reading, "Build a wall of resistance. Don't talk to the FBI." When young men have embraced a radical, violent view of Islam in the United States, they have sometimes done so in secret, without the support or knowledge of local religious leaders or their families.

Melvin Bledsoe, whose son, Carlos, is charged with killing an Army private at a recruiting station in Little Rock, Ark., testified about his son's conversion to Islam and isolation from his family. Bledsoe said he didn't fully understand what was happening as his son became increasingly distant, stopped coming home for holidays and changed his name. He said the United State is not being aggressive enough about rooting radical elements from the Islamic community.

"We're talking about stepping on their toes, and they're talking about stamping us out," Bledsoe said. "Why don't people take their blinders off?"

SaleS PerSon/ SaleS aSSiStant Blue ltd is looking for a sales Person with at least 3+ years experience in the retail and service industry • Person must be mature, reliable, have a very strong knowledge of the related products and industry as well as be able to understand the variety of trips and tours in order to book excursions • Person must be able to kiteboard/ stand up paddleboard as well.

• individual must be extremely self motivated and self driven, be prepared to work all holidays no exceptions 6 days a week and often late hours • He/ She must have experience in managing stock/ inventory and Quickbooks PoS/ and ordering • tasks to include: sales, stock, presentation, layout/ aCCUrate CaSH FloW, posting, balancing etc • this person must be mature, responsible, organized, tiMelY, extremely tidy, show initiative and be VerY personable Fax resume to: 941 8672 or hand deliver a resume to the owner with a cover letter as well as CV. only strong applicants need apply.

Page 38

WORLD NEWS

Dalai Lama plans to quit as Tibet political leader

DHARAMSALA, India – The Dalai Lama said on Thursday he would step down as Tibet's political leader, a move seen as transforming the government-in-exile into a more assertive and democratic body in the face of Chinese pressure.

By devolving his powers, the Dalai Lama would give the prime minister greater clout as the region seeks autonomy from China. Tibetans will vote for a new prime minister this month, with the elections seen as ushering in a generation of younger, secular leaders and strengthening the movement's global standing.

"As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power," the Dalai Lama said in his annual speech marking 52 years since he fled Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese.

"Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect," he told a subdued crowd of 2,000 monks and Tibetans.

The Dalai Lama, whose announcement was widely expected, will remain Tibet's spiritual leader and continue to advocate "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet from the northern Indian town of Dharamsala, where he has lived in exile since 1959.

The prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Samdhong Rinpoche, told reporters on Thursday it was not clear if the parliament would accept the Dalai Lama's resignation and warned of a constitutional deadlock.

China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist responsible for stirring unrest in Tibet, denounced his resignation as a "trick".

"The Dalai Lama uses religion as a disguise and he is a political exile who has been carrying out separatist activities for a long time," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu. "For years he has been expressing his intention to retire. We think these are tricks to deceive the international community."

UNREST IN TIBET By divesting his political powers, Dalai, 75, Lama has made it more difficult for China to influence the course of the independence movement after his death, analysts say.

The Chinese government says it has to approve all reincarnations of living Buddhas, or senior religious figures in Tibetan Buddhism. It also says China has to sign off on the choosing of the next Dalai Lama.

Tibetans fear that China will use the thorny issue of the Dalai Lama's succession to split the movement,

with one new Lama named by the exiles and one by China after his death. A new Dalai Lama would need decades before they could lead the movement.

On Monday, China insisted the Dalai Lama had no right to choose his successor, but must follow the historical and religious tradition of reincarnation.

"There is a lot of talk that the Chinese are waiting for the Dalai Lama to die, thinking that without him the movement will stall," said Kanwal Sibal, former Indian foreign secretary.

"By democratizing the movement, he is trying to steer Tibet's leadership in a direction that will make it difficult for the Chinese to dictate the dialogue."

Some Tibetans fear that a reduced role for the Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace prize in 1989, could diminish the larger independence movement.

The charismatic and media-savvy leader balances his spiritual duties with courting high-profile support from Hollywood superstars.

But analysts say he is still likely to wield a large amount of power over the parliament-in-exile due to his global renown and the devotion of ordinary Tibetans.

The three main contenders for the prime minister's post, to be contested later in March, are all secular, not monks like the incumbent, adding to a sense of modernization of the exiled movement.

The favorite is Lobsang Sangay, a Fulbright scholar with a doctorate in law from Harvard. In 2007, he was selected as one of the twenty-four Young Leaders of Asia by the Asia Society.

China has ruled Tibet with an iron fist since Communist troops marched in 1950. It says its rule has bought much needed development to a poor and backward region.

Rights groups accuse China of failing to respect Tibet's unique religion and culture and of suppressing its people.

By devolving his political

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

leadership, it could also make it easier for the Dalai Lama to travel and be hosted by leaders in Western capitals, where often there is reluctance to meet amid worries it could upset diplomatic and trade ties with Beijing.

Tibetan protests led by Buddhist monks against Chinese rule in March 2008 gave way to torrid violence,

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

The Dalai Lama

with rioters torching shops and turning on residents, especially Han Chinese, who many Tibetans see as intruders threatening their culture.

At least 19 people died in the unrest, which sparked waves of protests across Tibetan areas. ProTibet groups overseas say more than 200 people were killed in a subsequent crackdown.

Islandcom Telecommunications – Positions available Islandcom, the exciting mobile phone provider in the Turks and Caicos Islands, is looking for high quality, motivated candidates for the following positions.

Chief Executive Of icer

The Chief Executive Of8icer is responsible for management of all functional areas including sales and marketing, 8inance, operations and engineering. The position reports to the Board of Directors.

Job Responsibilities • Work with Board to establish strategic and 8inancial performance goals • Set objectives for each functional area with measurable performance metrics • Develop team capable of delivering world-class service and value to subscribers • Maintain relationships with key stakeholders including government, key customers and partners • Establish Islandcom as a leading mobile telecommunications operator in the TCI Required Quali8ications & Skills • Ten years of executive experience in cellular telecommunications • Demonstrated leadership skills and successful delivery of results that exceed budget • Experience in building successful, high-performance cross functional teams • University degree in business or engineering discipline Experience with mobile telephony products and services are a plus.

Salary is commensurate with experience.

To apply for the position, send cover letter and resume to cv@islandcom.tc by March 18th, 2011 Islandcom Telecommunications Ltd. P.O. Box 1122, Graceway House A-108 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI

Page 39

Carlos Slim increases lead as world's richest man

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

MEXICO CITY, Mexico's – Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim widened his lead over other billionaires of Forbes magazine's list of the world's richest people yesterday – the same day his flagship company said he is a victim of monopolistic practices His fortune was estimated to have risen to US$74 billion well ahead of Bill Gates' US$56 billion and investor Warren Buffett's US$50 billion. French luxury-goods magnate Bernard Arnault was fourth with US$41 billion.

Slim gained the most in the past year. His wealth increased US$20.5 billion from last year's estimate of $53.5 billion by Forbes, which attributed the increase to a rise in Mexican stock prices as well as successful mining and real estate projects carried out through his Grupo Carso conglomerate.

A total of 332 Asians made the list, surpassing Europe's 300 for the first time. Moscow, with 79 billionaires, racked up more berths on the list than any other city in the world. The United States still has the lead in total number of billionaires, with 413 of the 1,210 on the list.

Despite Slim's wealth, his flagship company, Telmex, alleged yesterday that he is a victim. Telmex filed a complaint with Mexico's regulatory agency alleging that two Mexican TV networks allied with his competitors in the cell phone business squeezed his

WORLD NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Mexican telecom magnate Carlos Slim

company out of television advertising.

The television networks, cell and cable carriers countered with their own complaint, accusing Slim's Telmex of using its control of the country's landlines to charge high fees for completing cell calls to competing carriers.

The Federal Competition Commission estimates Telmex's interconnection fees are 43.5 per cent higher than in other developed countries. It says that makes cell phone calls 18.3 per cent more expensive than necessary and may cost consumers as much as US$6 billion a year.

But the commission also notes that Mexico's two big TV networks control

96.8 percent of television audiences and almost all TV ad revenues.

The commission has not yet ruled on either of the two complaints filed yesterday.

Mexico has such a highly concentrated economy ˜ in which one or two firms control a sector such as cement, tortillas, beer or television programming ˜ that many critics see the telecom dispute as the pot calling the kettle black.

"It is like watching a battle between Godzilla and King Kong," said Daniel Gershenson, a founder of the consumer advocacy group Alconsumidor. "The truth is that we consumers can't find a good guy in this battle. We hope they both lose."

He called the public dispute between the telecom and TV titans "pure theatre" and doubts it will benefit consumers much, unless the government starts regulating the companies more closely.

Slim built his fortune in a country where most people – 59.5 per cent – are paid US$15 a day or less, and 38.7 per cent get US$10 or less.

He did so in part by focusing on selling services to the poorer and underserved parts of the market. For example, he sells prepaid cell phone service in amounts of as little as US$2 or US$3, a service widely used by people whose income is too low or variable to afford a monthly calling

Source: Giffords to attend husband shuttle launch

HOUSTON – Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords plans to attend the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour next month to see off her astronaut husband, a person close to the family told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the family and doctors have not yet publicized the decision. A news conference was scheduled for Friday morning at the Houston hospital where Giffords is undergoing rehabilitation.

Giffords was shot in the head Jan. 8 at a political event outside a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store. Six people died in the rampage, and 12 others were wounded. Giffords has been slowly recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

Her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, will be the commander of Endeavour when it launches in April, and his identical twin brother Scott is the current leader of the International Space Station crew. Mark Kelly has been training for the mission and said earlier he hoped his wife would be able to see him off.

But despite seemingly steady improvements — the latest include singing with her husband and chanting Hebrew healing prayers — doctors have been cautious.

Last month, Dr. Gerard Francisco, the head of the team of doctors overseeing Giffords' rehabilitation, said

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords left, is shown with her husband, NASA astronaut Mark Kelly.

a medical decision on whether she could attend the launch would be based on a variety of factors, including how independent her movement is, how much help will be available from friends and family and whether she could handle the commotion of traveling.

At the time, Francisco said getting Giffords to the launch was the goal, but it was too early to say if was realistic.

The suspect, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, has pleaded not guilty in federal court. Authorities described him as a mentally unstable college dropout who became obsessed with carrying out violence against Giffords.

plan. Still, the per-minute price of prepaid calls is often higher.

"The worst thing about this is that it is the poorest people who are paying the most for telephone services," said Alejandro Calvillo of the group Consumer Power, noting the fight between industry titans illustrated the need to break up the monopolies and duopolies.

"What we are seeing is they are fighting to divide up the country, while the government, which represents the public interest, is largely absent from the battle," Calvillo said.

Slim, 71, is the son of an immigrant shopkeeper who amassed a range of retail, industrial and telecom holdings and has ventured into oil, construction and infrastructure sectors.

A civil engineer by training, he has bought up troubled or governmentowned companies of all types, fixed them and resold them for huge profits.

He has made some public interest gestures. He recently opened a Mexico City art museum that will charge no entry fee for access to Slim's vast art collection, including pieces by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, French sculptor Auguste Rodin and Italian master Leonardo da Vinci.

And he says Telmex provides telephone service to isolated, poor and rural communities where there isn't much profit and his competitors don't even bother to go.

Teen in U.S. charged in death of family hamster

NEW YORK– A U.S. teenager has been charged with a felony, and could face a two-year prison sentence if convicted, for killing her family's pet hamster, authorities said.

Monique Smith, 19, of Brooklyn was arguing with a family member in June when she reached for the hamster, choked it and threw it outside the house, police said on Wednesday.

She was arrested following an investigation after Smith's father contacted the America Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, according to the society's assistant director Joe Pentangelo.

Smith is charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals.

"Sadly, very often, pets find themselves in the middle of these situations," said Pentangelo. "A family will have a disagreement and unfortunately the animal is the recipient of misdirected or redirected rage."

The hamster died from blunt force trauma, liver damage and a brain hemorrhage, he said.

Bank robbery thwarted when teller says no

NEW YORK- A would-be thief's attempt to rob a suburban New York bank was thwarted when the teller refused his demand for money.

Police said the man remained at large after the attempted robbery on Wednesday in New Rochelle, about 25 miles (40 km) north of New York City.

"He slipped a note through the teller's slot that said 'money in bag,'" said police Captain Joseph Schaller said. "She refused and with that, she activated the alarm, turned away from the window and he ran out the door."

The bank closed briefly but soon reopened for business, police said.

China and Russia drive growth in world's billionaires

Page 40

NEW YORK – Rising steel and oil prices in Russia, more honest disclosure in Brazil and booming economies in China and India have fueled a spike in billionaires in the socalled BRIC countries.

Moscow is now home to the most billionaires with 79, followed by New York with 58, Forbes said in its annual list of the world's richest people.

The world's richest man, Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, retained his crown for the second year in a row and made more money than any of the other 1,209 billionaires in the past year: $20.5 billion, taking his fortune to $74 billion.

The magazine said China nearly doubled its number of billionaires to 115, while Russia and Brazil posted two-thirds jumps to 101 and 30, respectively. It was the first time countries outside the United States produced over 100 billionaires.

India added six billionaires, taking its total to 55, "but the average net worth ... is huge -- $4.5 billion for an Indian billionaire versus $2.5 billion for a Chinese billionaire," said Forbes Chief Executive Steve Forbes.

Russia's billionaire growth was attributed to a commodities boom.

Brazil's increase came from stricter disclosure rules and a stronger currency. In China and India, strong economies helped create billionaires from a range of industries.

"The bottom line is BRICs, commodities and Asia Pacific," Forbes told a news conference on Wednesday.

"There is a global commodities boom.

But as we should have learned ... commodities can go up very sharply, they can go down very sharply."

The Reuters Jefferies CRB

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

commodities index rose 17 percent last year and is up another 8 percent this year as copper and gold hit record highs, grains are near their 2008 peaks and, most recently, oil surged beyond $100 a barrel.

Brazil, Russia, India and China produced half the world's 214 new billionaires, double last year's 97 newcomers. The Asia Pacific was home to 105 newcomers, threequarters of whom earned their fortunes from stakes in public companies.

Around the world, the top industries for producing new billionaires were energy, fashion and retail, manufacturing, finance and diversified, Forbes said.

RICH AND GENEROUS Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates held on to second place, growing his wealth to $56 billion from $53 billion last year, and investor Warren Buffett again came in third with $50 billion, up from $47 billion.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc has fared better than Gates' Microsoft.

Microsoft shares now trade about where they were a decade ago, while Berkshire shares have roughly doubled. Slim's major companies, which include Mexico's former state telecoms monopoly Telmex, have also seen stock price gains.

Forbes said that Gates would have still been the richest man in the world if he had not so far given $28 billion of his wealth to his foundation. He was only knocked off the top spot on the list twice between 1995 and 2010.

The wealth of the world's billionaires jumped 25 percent to $4.5 trillion and their average net worth rose to $3.7 billion from $3.5 billion.

There were 47 people who dropped off the list, 42 who returned and 10 people who died. The number of women grew to 102 from 89 last year.

While positions have shifted, the top 20 was largely unchanged. New this year were Russian steel baron Vladimir Lisin, U.S. casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and manufacturing and energy billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch.

Adelson -- whose Las Vegas Sands Corp came close to defaulting on its debt last year -- posted the biggest increase in wealth behind Slim. His fortune grew to $23.3 billion from $14 billion, and he soared to No. 16 from No. 73 last year.

The Asia-Pacific's growth in wealth has also fueled a luxury goods demand, helping grow the fortune of Europe's richest man, LVMH Chief Executive Bernard Arnault, to $41 billion from $27.5 billion. He rose to No. 4 from No. 7.

The number of U.S. billionaires rose to 413 from 403, including three new Facebook billionaires -- Sean Parker, Eduardo Saverin and Dustin Moskovitz -- who join founder Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook investor Peter Thiel.

Moskovitz is also the youngest billionaire in the world at 26 and with a fortune of $2.7 billion, while the honor of being the oldest goes to Swiss tech billionaire Walter Haefner, who is 100 and worth $4 billion.

Canadian David Thomson, who owns Thomson Reuters, widened his lead over his financial news and data rival, New York City Mayor and Bloomberg owner Michael Bloomberg. Thomson rose three spots to No. 17 with $23 billion, while

AOL to cut 20% of global workforce

AOL Inc. , the Internet company that agreed to buy the Huffington Post last month, said it will eliminate as many as 900 jobs as the company integrates the news website and restructures to try to return to revenue growth.

The company will cut as many as 700 jobs in India and 200 in the U.S., Chief Executive Officer Tim Armstrong wrote in a memo to employees today. In India, 300 of the affected employees will move to outsourcing partners and continue to do work for AOL, he said.

“The changes for me today are very personal,” said Armstrong at the Bloomberg Media Summit in New York.

“AOL employees deserve a tremendous amount of credit because I don’t think it’s easy to go from managing decline to managing growth.”

Armstrong said he would discuss the job cuts with employees later today.

“Our strategy remains clear: create high quality content experiences for consumers, at scale,” Armstrong wrote in the memo. “Today, we are announcing an organizational structure that will significantly improve AOL’s ability to focus on growth.”

The company had 5,860 employees at the end of last year, according to regulatory filings. If the company sheds 900 jobs, that would be 15 percent of the total.

Declining Revenue

AOL, whose sales have declined for four straight quarters, agreed to buy the Huffington Post for $315 million, aiming to increase online content to help boost advertising revenue. In India, the company is outsourcing back-office work to cut costs and focus on increasing consumer product sales.

Arianna Huffington, co-founder of the Huffington Post, joined AOL as president and editor-in-chief of a newly formed media group, which includes other AOL content. Her website will serve as the model for other journalism efforts, Armstrong said in the memo.

“AOL will invest more heavily in our in-house editorial team and transition away from a reliance on freelance journalists,” he said. “Journalists are the heart and soul of a media company.”

Armstrong said he recently made a personal purchase of $10 million in AOL stock. In May, the former Google executive, who became AOL’s CEO in 2009, bought $11.1 million worth of stock.

“AOL will turn around,” he said. “I have no doubt about that.”

AOL, based in New York, fell 34 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $19 at 4:01 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have fallen 20 percent this year.

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Bloomberg fell seven spots to No. 30 with a fortune of $18.1 billion.

Forbes ranked the billionaires' fortunes at the close of global stock markets on February 14, 2011. The full Forbes ranking of the world's billionaires can be seen at www.forbes.com/billionaires

YouTube growth sparks hiring binge

SAN FRANCISCO– Googleowned YouTube said Thursday it plans to increase its staff by nearly a third in what will be the online videosharing star's biggest hiring year.

"2010 was a bang-up year," Jeff Ferguson of YouTube human resources team said in a blog post.

"And in 2011, we plan to grow the number of people working at YouTube by more than 30 percent!"

Since being founded in February of 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim, YouTube has become a global stage for sharing video.

An average of 35 hours worth of video are uploaded to YouTube each minute and two billion videos are watched daily at the website, according to Ferguson.

"It's been amazing to watch an idea become a platform that turned into a stage for hundreds of millions of people to express themselves," he said.

"We now have aspiring filmmakers and musicians building their careers on YouTube, activists opening our eyes to global issues and individuals telling their stories in ways that only video can capture."

YouTube also announced the launch of the first "YouTube Creator Institute" in conjunction with the University of California School of Cinematic Arts and Columbia College of Chicago.

Institute programs will combine online and on-campus components aimed at teaching aspiring filmmakers how to thrive with digital age tools.

Page 41

21 airlines fined for fixing passenger, cargo fees

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

WASHINGTON – When the airline industry took a nose dive a decade ago, executives at global carriers scrambled to find a quick fix to avoid financial ruin.

What they came up with, according to federal prosecutors, was a massive price-fixing scheme among airlines that artificially inflated passenger and cargo fuel surcharges between 2000 and 2006 to make up for lost profits.

The airlines' crimes cost U.S. consumers and businesses — mostly international passengers and cargo shippers — hundreds of millions of dollars, prosecutors say.

But the airlines caught by the Justice Department have paid a hefty price in the five years since the According to federal prosecutors, when the airline industry took a nose dive a decade ago government's widespread investigation industry executives tried to fix it, with a massive price-fixing scheme among airlines the world over, that artificially inflated passenger and cargo fuel surcharges to help companies make up for became public. lost profits To date, 19 executives have been The price-fixing unraveled largely passengers. charged with wrongdoing — four have Investigators eventually found a gone to prison — and 21 airlines have because two airlines decided to come coughed up more than $1.7 billion in clean and turn in their co-conspirators. detailed paper trail laying out In late 2005, officials with agreements, stretching back to 2000, to fines in one of the largest criminal antitrust investigations in U.S. history. German-based Lufthansa notified the set passenger and cargo fuel The court cases reveal a complex Justice Department that the airline had surcharges The probe expanded to web of schemes between mostly been conspiring to set cargo airlines doing business between the international carriers willing to fix fees surcharges. By Valentine's Day 2006, U.S. and Europe, Asia, South America, in lockstep with competitors for flights FBI agents and their counterparts in and Australia.

Europe made the investigation public The Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic to and from the United States.

Convicted airlines include British by raiding airline offices. After those mea culpas allowed them to take Airways, Korean Air, and Air France- raids, British-based Virgin Atlantic advantage of a Justice Department KLM. No major U.S. carriers have came forward about its role in a similar leniency program because they helped scheme to set fuel surcharges for crack the conspiracies. been charged.

Former Associate Attorney General Kevin J. O'Connor, who oversaw Justice's antitrust division in the late 2000s, said he doesn't know why they confessed, but the result "demonstrates the effectiveness of that amnesty program."

Now in private practice, O'Connor said companies that confess for amnesty may be wisely trying to limit liabilities from illegal conduct.

"Generally speaking, if they have an inkling they might get caught, they come in," O'Connor said. "The theory might be that eventually these things will be exposed and why risk continuing."

Federal prosecutors and investigators declined to discuss details of the cases because they are still investigating.

"Lufthansa Cargo fully cooperated with the investigation launched by DOJ," Martin Riecken, Lufthansa's director of corporate communications for the Americas said. Virgin Atlantic referred all questions to the Justice Department.

Airlines and executives who didn't come forward were charged with violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. Two former airline executives were sentenced to six months in prison; two others were ordered to prison for eight months. Charges are pending against 15 executives, nine of whom are considered fugitives.

Moody’s cuts Spain rating, cites higher bank costs

MADRID – Moody's downgraded Spain's sovereign debt rating by one notch on Thursday and warned of further cuts to come as it expects bank restructuring will cost more than twice what the government expects. "(Moody's) believes there is a meaningful risk that the eventual cost of the recapitalization effort could considerably exceed the government's current projections," the ratings agency said in a statement.

The cut in the rating -- to Aa2 from Aa1 -- drove the euro to session lows against the dollar and the premium investors charge for Spanish 10-year debt instead of German Bunds expanded to its widest point in two months at 232 basis points before narrowing again to 226.

The Bank of Spain will release its own report on banks' capital needs after markets close on Thursday.

The European Central Bank backed Spain's planned measures to shore up the sector, while Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero defended Spain's economic fundamentals as reasonable.

The government and central bank have forecast no more than 20 billion euros would be needed to recapitalise weak banks.

But Moody's said the overall cost was likely to be nearer 40-50 billion euros. In a more stressed scenario recapitalization needs could even rise to around 110-120 billion euros, it said.

Ratings agency Fitch later estimated at 38 billion euros the shortfall in Spain's banking system in a base-case stress test it conducted separately.

Moody's still rates Spain as a high grade investment proposition. By way of comparison, the agency rates Portugal two notches lower and Greece far down with junk status.

Spanish sovereign debt prices had stabilized after months of volatility, as investors became less

concerned that Spain could follow Greece and Ireland in needing a financial bailout from the European Union.

A bank bill at the higher end of forecasts could change that.

"I think there are a lot of uncertainties about the bank shortfall, but given the cost of bailouts in countries like Ireland, the forecast given by the government looks low," said Ben May, economist at Capital Economics.

European shares slid as the downgrade raised concerns about the health of peripheral euro zone economies. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was down 0.55 percent at 1,138.5 points.

GOVERNMENT SURPRISED "We are surprised that Moody's has taken this decision before knowing the details of the (Bank of Spain's) report on the recapitalization of the Spanish financial sector," Spanish Treasury Director Soledad Nunez told Reuters.

She said Moody's had had until March 15 to take its final decision after putting Spain on credit watch on Dec 15.

The Moody's rating is now in line with the Standard & Poor's rating of AA. The other major ratings agency, Fitch, has a rating one notch higher, AA+, but last Friday revised its outlook on Spain to negative.

Spain is vulnerable to the tightening cycle because of its high percentage of floating rate mortgages, low economic growth and fragile banking sectors.

Many of its banks have been blighted by huge loans to property developers, many of whom went bust after Spain's real estate bubble burst.

Measures taken by the government to force savings banks, known as cajas, to seek private capital have helped calm market fears, and funding costs for the sovereign have shrunk since the beginning of the year.

SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY RETIRES

The space shuttle Discovery lands at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, March 9, 2011. The space shuttle Discovery capped a successful 13-day spaceflight with a smooth landing in Florida on Wednesday, ending a 27-year flying career for NASA's mosttraveled spaceship as the agency prepares for an uncertain future

Page 42

Cash money at stake in TCI Biggest Loser challenge

LOCAL SPORTS

The John Wright-run Wrightfully Fit Fitness Center is inaugurating the TCI’s Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge and the top three finishers are in with a chance of taking home a total of $5,000.

The contest will be run from March 21 to June 4 this year, and according to Wright, it will be a contest in which everybody will win, some twice, by losing weight and gaining cash.

Wright noted that the first prize winner will walk away with $3,000; the second place getting $1,500; while the third prize winner will get $500. There will be an entrance fee of $100 for each contestant; coupled with three-month discounted gym membership which will include recommended fitness programme and weekly fit camp on Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 7pm., and 8pm.

He noted that there will be bi-weekly weighins. He said also that there will be no disadvantage to

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

any of the contestants, since weight loss will be calculated on a percentage level of total body weight.

Initial weigh-ins will be on Saturday, March 19 between the hours of 11a.m., and 1p.m; Sunday March 20 between the hours of 11a.m., and 1p.m, with the competition beginning on Monday, March 21.

Registrations are held at Wrightfully Fitness Gym off Suzie Turn in Provo.

Wright noted that the idea behind the TCI Biggest Loser Challenge is to get more people motivated to start working out to get fit, reduce their body fat and stay healthy.

“It is a twelve-week programme, and you can literally change your life in just 12 weeks if you dedicated yourself to a good 12 weeks to three months. I am doing what I love to do and just putting a little bit of money behind it to make it a little more exciting and motivating for most for most people to

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

get out and get involved in this competition.

“The weight is going to be measured by percentage, so that gives everybody a fair chance to win, because a heavier person can lose weight a lot faster than somebody that is smaller. So we are going to go by your initial weight – whatever you weigh- on your first weigh-in, and at the end of the competition we are going to weigh you, and depending on how much weight you have lost, we are going to do a percentage of your (initial) body weight, to the weight that you have lost (to determine the winners),” Wright said.

The fitness guru said he was wishing that one of the TV stations in the TCI would gravitate towards airing the contest on a scheduled basis since it promises to be exciting and fun-filled.

He said the prize monies have already been secured, so the prizes are guaranteed.

Bight United lead Sailrock U14 Female Football

BIGHT UNITED LEAD the Sailrock Turks and Caicos Islands FootballAssociation Under 14 Female competition on goal different despite tying on four points with three other sides in the five-team competition.

Bight United, Five Cays FC, Blue Hills Sharks and Leeward Knights are all tided on four points apiece, but Bight United boast a superior goal difference. Bight United has a plus two goal difference, while second place Five Cays FC have a plus one goal difference.

Blue Hills Sharks are third on zero goal difference, while Leeward Knights have a minus one goal difference. Languishing at the bottom of the table are Long Bay revolution without a points. Bight United, Five Cays FC and Long Bay Revolution have all played two games, while Blue Hills Sharks and Leeward Knights have played three games.

In week one the Knights edged the Revolutions by a goal to nil; Bight United beat Knights 3-1; Sharks lost to the Knights 1-2; Revolution came out 1-2 on the losing end against the Sharks, while a game between the Sharks against Knights and Five Cays Bight United ended goalless.

Waldine Pierre and Sydney Lawson lead the goal-scoring table with two goals each.

Britney Bien-Aime, Rhys Davies, Shinaydine Pluviose, Raynin Lightbourne, Sherline Pierre and Makayla Ellis all scored one goal each.

Long Bay Revolution U14 Girls

Bight United U14 Girls

Leeward Knights U14 Girls

Five Cays FC U14 Girls

Blue Hills Sharks U14 Girls

We have a must-win attitude, says West Indies coach

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Page 43

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

CHANDIGARH, India -- West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson says there is no room for complacency while playing in the ICC Cricket World Cup and his team would be approaching each game with a “must-win attitude”.

“Nowadays you can’t be complacent... we can’t take any opponent lightly. We have to approach every game with a must-win attitude and go and put up good performances every time,” Gibson said.

“We have been working very hard and I like what I’m seeing from our players. We are moving forward with every day and the players have a very positive outlook. We have to continue to put together those good

performances as we build towards the business end of the tournament.”

West Indies are third in Group B with two wins and one defeat and will have their fourth match on Friday against Ireland at the Punjab Cricket Association Ground in Mohali. It will be the first day game for the Windies.

The Windies had a full four-hour training session on Wednesday as they prepare for the contest. A win on Friday would see them moving closer to a spot in the quarter-finals.

Gibson said he always felt that Group B was tough and his team would need to play well to qualify for the next stage.

On facing the Irish, he said: “I don’t like calling them minnows”, and

Guyana Cricket Board President resigns West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson

After two decades in office, Chetram Singh, 20 years,” he said.

Meanwhile, despite the adversities facing president of the Guyana Cricket Board, said he is walking away from the job. Singh took the West Indies team at the ongoing World Cup, Singh has backed the regional side to over the presidency in 1991, but with elections set to take place within the coming do well at the tournament. days he says he will not be returning to the “Realistically, according to the stats we might not have much of a chance but I think polls.

Singh was nonchalant when quizzed the West Indies team is going to surprise everyone,” about his achievements during his tenure.

“Well I am not sure if I left a legacy but I “I hope that they reach the Super Eight and take it a step from there. I think they are have left my mark on the administration and Chetram Singh I am just hoping that whoever takes over will going to do well at the World Cup. The team, add to what I have done in Guyana because cricket is not to the best of my knowledge, is united and they are playing doing as well as it should be…but I think I left a mark in for the cause of West Indies cricket,” Singh said.

Usain Bolt signs up for Ostrava meeting

PRAGUE- Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt will compete at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava on May 31, meeting organisers announced on Wednesday, March 9.

Bolt, who holds the World record in both the 100 metres and 200m sprints, raced over 300m last year, but is yet to confirm which distance he will contest this year, with organisers saying there are three events open to him.

The Olympic and World champion

can run over the 100m, 200m or even 300m dashes at the 50th edition of the Czech meeting, which serves as part of the IAAF World Challenge series.

“I love coming back to Ostrava,” Bolt said.

“The organisers are always very welcoming and the crowd is one of the best on the circuit. The meet usually has a lot of energy and this helps me run fast.

“2011 will be the fifth time I run in the Golden Spike meeting. I have

four Golden Spike trophies from winning previous meets and would like to get a fifth on May 31.

“Previously I competed in the 100m, 200m twice and 300m in Ostrava. I have not yet decided which event I will run this year. My coach will decide closer to the competition.”

He clocked 30.97seconds in rainy conditions over 300m in Ostrava last year, just missing Michael Johnson’s world record of 30.85secs set at altitude in Pretoria in 2000.

Executives of the West Indies Cricket Board have confirmed that Marlon Samuels was their original pick to replace the injured Dwayne Bravo in the regional squad competing in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup underway in South Asia.

Samuels turned down the

selection for unstated reasons.

Samuels, who was banned for two years for links to an Indian bookmaker, is the leading batsman in the current Regional Four Day Championship.

He has scored 595 runs in four matches for defending champions Jamaica.

noted that every team playing in the event were worthy contenders. Gibson said the Windies had seen what Ireland did to England and they played well against India.

“I am not surprised by what Ireland have done. They have a very good coach, Phil Simmons, a strong competitor. We played against Ireland in April last before the Twenty20 World Cup and they did pretty well. They have been showing signs of improvement and we certainly won’t be taking them lightly.

“We saw signs that they can be a very competitive team and they have some competitive cricketers in their side. We know what to expect and we can’t take it lightly,” Gibson added.

JAMAICA BREAKS INTO FIFA TOP 50 COUNTRIES

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Latest Caribbean Football Union rankings released yesterday. * FIFA rankings are in brackets.

1 Jamaica (48) 2 Cuba 64 3 Grenada (94) 4 Trinidad and Tobago (95) 5 Haiti (99) 6 Antigua and Barbuda (101) 7 Guyana (109) 8 Suriname (114) 9 St Kitts and Nevis (119) 10 Dominica (130) 11 Puerto Rico (131) 12 Barbados (137) 13 St Vincent and the Grenadines (148) 14 Cayman Islands (158) 15 Bermuda (165) 16 Dominican Republic (166) 17 British Virgin Islands (177) 18 St Lucia (182) 19 Turks and Caicos Islands (193) 19 Bahamas (193) 21 Aruba (199) 22 US Virgin Islands (200) 23 Anguilla (202) 23 Montserrat (202)

Samuels turns down offer to join WI World Cup team

His decision has given Guyanese leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo an opportunity to make his West Indies debut.

Bishoo, 25, is on his way to Dhaka, Bangladesh to join the other players preparing for Friday's clash against the tournament co-hosts.

Page 44

Serena Williams makes plans for July return

WASHINGTON– Serena Williams, recovering from the removal of a blood clot in her lung as well as a nagging foot injury, plans to play tennis in July for the Washington Kastles of World TeamTennis.

The nine-team US league, which will stage a 36th season from July 424, announced on Thursday that Williams is scheduled to play in Washington on July 7 against the Boston Lobsters and when the Kastles visit Sacramento on July 9.

The reigning Wimbledon champion had said after her surgery for a blood clot that travelled from a leg into her lungs that she was hopeful of a summer return, but was unsure exactly when she might be back on the court.

The former world number one, a 13-time Grand Slam champion, would need to be ready by June 20 to defend

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Serena Williams

her Wimbledon title. The women's final is set for July 2.

Williams has not played a toplevel match since last year's Wimbledon final after cutting her right

USOC PUTS 2012 LONDON TICKETS ON SALE MARCH 15 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – United States residents will have a chance to buy tickets for the 2012 London Olympics through the U.S. Olympic Committee's ticket seller on March 15.

More than 58,000 tickets will be made available through an online request process that runs through April 22. The USOC said more than half the tickets offered during the initial phase will be priced at less than $150.

A second phase is scheduled to begin in June. It will include unsold tickets from the first phase and other tickets the USOC's contractor, CoSport, acquires from the London Organizing Committee.

MAYWEATHER HEARING POSTPONED IN VEGAS FELONY CASE

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas judge postponed an evidence hearing for boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a felony domestic violence case.

Mayweather didn't appear Thursday with his lawyer while Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa set a new date of April 28.

Mayweather is accused of hitting and threatening his ex-girlfriend, stealing her cell phone and threatening two of their children during an argument at the woman's home last September.

His lawyers deny wrongdoing on his behalf.

Mayweather could face 34 years in state prison on the felony charges, which include grand larceny, coercion and robbery.

The case is separate from a misdemeanor battery charge alleging that Mayweather poked a homeowner association security guard in the face during a November argument outside his home. That case is due for trial April 25.

foot on broken glass at a restaurant last July.

Williams suffered a pulmonary embolism and underwent an emergency operation at Cedars-Sinai

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Medical Center in Los Angeles last week, a health scare she called "the scariest moment in my life".

"Luckily enough, I was able to catch it soon enough that my career won't be affected," Williams told NBC on Wednesday. "I love tennis and now more than anything I have so much to look forward to just playing.

"I really just want to come back and do well."

Venus Williams, Serena's elder sister and a five-time Wimbledon winner who has seven Grand Slam titles overall, plans to play for the Kastles on July 5 against visiting Kansas City despite being sidelined currently with an injury.

Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open with a right hip injury and has not played since, unable to defend her only titles from 2010 last month at Dubai and Acapulco.

Police open investigation of hit by hockey player

QUEBEC CITY – Montreal police started a criminal investigation Thursday into the on-ice hit by Boston's Zdeno Chara that left the Canadiens' Max Pacioretty with a severe concussion and cracked vertebra.

Police said they are acting on a request by Quebec's director of criminal and penal prosecutions, Louis Dionne. They added that after evidence is collected, it will be determined if there are grounds for prosecution.

Chara took part in the Bruins' morning skate before Thursday night's home game against the Buffalo Sabres.

He did not speak at length on the investigation, but did acknowledge it.

"I got some media information on that this morning," he said. "But like I said, right now, I'm focusing on playing my game, and playing hockey."

The NHL said on Wednesday it would not suspend Chara for Tuesday night's hit, when he slammed Pacioretty into a glass partition.

Pacioretty, a left wing from Connecticut, is a regular top-line player for Montreal. With he and Chara racing for the puck near the player benches, Chara checked Pacioretty into the boards, sending him slamming into a stanchion supporting the glass.

The hit drew criticism from Gary Lunn, the minister of state for sports, and others outside the league. Lunn called it unacceptable.

But the league deemed it "a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface."

Chara, who said he had no intent to hurt Pacioretty, was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct on the play.

The Bruins' captain has never been suspended in his 13-year career.

Montreal Canadiens' Max Pacioretty hits his head on the glass partition between the benches on a hard check from Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara (33)

Pacioretty told TSN he was "upset and disgusted" that the league had not suspended Chara.

"I'm not mad for myself, I'm mad because if other players see a hit like that and think it's OK, they won't be suspended, then other players will get hurt like I got hurt," he said.

Pacioretty has not forgiven Chara.

"I understand, he's in the hospital, he has a right to be emotional and I respect that," Chara said. "I obviously feel bad that he got hurt. As a hockey player, we all feel bad that something like that happened — doesn't matter if you're the home team or the visiting team. I'm wishing him a fast recovery and hopefully he can be back on the ice soon and that's all we love to do. We love to play hockey. Obviously, when we go out there, we take risks. And sometimes, we do get hurt. But, it's just very unfortunate."

Several legal and former law-enforcement experts expressed doubt a police investigation would result in criminal charges.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

Page 45

Page 46

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011 TURKS & CAICOS SUN

TURKS & CAICOS SUN MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011

TURKS & CAICOS SUN& CAICOS SUN TURKS

TURKS TURKS & & CAICOS CAICOS SUN SUN

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011 JUNE 18TH - JUNE 25TH, 2010

MARCH 11TH - MARCH 18TH, 2011 JUNE 18TH - JUNE 25TH, 2010

Page Page 47 45

Get Social!

SCAN ME

FOR INFO

Access your email, browse the internet, social networking sites & more!

Simply dial *136# to get the data bundle that fits you best!

Signup today! | Digicel’s terms and conditions apply. QR code compatible with Blackberry Messanger 5.0 -5.0.1. application. To download the QR code application reader, visit www.getscanlife.com . Data charges apply.

Published by SUN MEDIA GROUP, TURKS AND CAICOS SUN Tel: 649 946 8542 | Fax: 649 941 3281