Volume 8 Issue 2

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

VOLUME 8 No. 02

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PLANS TO SELL

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AIRPORTS DROPPED

BY HAYDEN BOYCE PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

An ambitious plan by the cash-strapped Turks and Caicos Islands Interim Government to sell the country’s six airports, including the lucrative Providenciales and Grand Turk has failed to take-off.

Well-placed sources told the SUN that at the last meeting of the Advisory Council on Wednesday January 11th, a paper was formally presented by the Governor to consider selling of the airports in order to raise desperately needed funds.

However, according to sources, this proposal was overwhelming rejected by the Advisory Council.

“It was totally ridiculous, absurd and outrageous for the Governor to even contemplate coming with this proposal in the first place,” a source told The SUN. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Prepare for more taxes

Governor Ric Todd (standing) explains the financial situation to the Chamber of Commerce. Looking on at left is President Tina Fenimore and Vice President Allan Hutchinson

Governor Todd says: ‘If you want money for the things you want to spend them on, you have to raise taxes’

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For many years, one of the main attractions of the Turks and Caicos Islands was the fact that it was a low-tax or no-tax jurisdiction.

However, Governor Ric Todd, to use his own words, “put it cruelly and cruelly” when he told the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce at their

DELTON JONES SECRETLY APPOINTED ACTING GOVERNOR – PAGE 5

monthly meeting on Monday, January 9th, that as long as the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands want improved infrastructural development they have to prepare for tax increases and that they should make a clear choice which they prefer at this time.

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LILLIAN MISICK THE COST OF SIPT – PAGE 15 WRITES STRONG LETTER TO GOVERNOR 700 CIVIL SERVANTS INTERESTED IN VOLUNTARY SEVERANCE – PG 10 RIC TODD – PAGE 8

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Plans to sell airports dropped

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Prepare for more taxes ...Cont’d

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“There seems to be some sinister plot behind the Interim Government’s agenda. It is as if they want to strip the Turks and Caicos Islands of everything valuable, so that the country will not be in a position to sustain itself. The airports are part of a perpetual revenue stream that guarantees you income because tourism is the mainstay of the economy, so why would you want to sell them?”

Another source, who also asked not to be identified, told the SUN that if any of the political parties had considered selling the airports, there would be national outrage.

“If the Progressive National Party (PNP) or the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) was in power and tried to sell the airports, there would be all this talk about corruption and about selling-off the crown jewels of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

In fact, when there was talk about Mike Misick (former Premier) trying to sell the airports, there was a lot of criticism about that. Now look at what they were trying to do. This is so hypocritical!”

When contacted, Neil Smith, the Governor’s Spokesman, said, “I can confirm that that Providenciales International Airport is not being sold. This proposal had not left the drawing board.

No studies, investigations or consultations had yet been undertaken – the proposal was no more than an idea and a two page scoping paper at this stage.”

He added: “The Governor was correct, however, in these difficult times, to look at any measure which could bring in additional revenues to the TCI Government. It is right for any administration to consider the balance between the value of selling an asset or retaining it. Clearly, the sale of an international airport could potentially raise millions of dollars for the public coffers. This is why the Governor placed a scoping paper in front of the Advisory Council this week set out how such a measure might be further developed.

“However, the initial consensus view of the Advisory Council was that such as sale should not be progressed. The Governor has listened to this advice and any proposed sale of the Airport is now off the cards.

Government recently spent around $40million extending the runway of the Providenciales International Airport so that it will be in a position to accommodate larger aircraft.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority (TCIAA) is currently undertaking minor refurbishment work on the existing terminal, leading into the development work required to facilitate Phase 2, the terminal and car park project. Phase 2 is estimated at around a $30-$40m investment with a construction time frame of two years.

The airports are among the main money-earners for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, with revenues in excess of $28million.

According to Government’s second-quarter financial report, Airport Authority Excess Revenue was $5.5m, $4.4m above last year, but $2.1m below budget.

Overall, at the end of September 2011 TCIG’s revenue and expenditure showed a deficit of $14.9m, $7.6m higher than the budgeted deficit of $7.3m.

The reports said first quarter’s results showed good progress in starting to put TCIG’s public finances on track to achieve a fiscal surplus in the financial year ending March 2013, however, the second quarter was met with many challenges particularly in the area of expenditures which were $9.5m (11%) above budget.

Members of the Chamber of Commerce listen attentively at the recently held meeting

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The packed Windsong Resort conference room comprised mainly of Chamber members was dominated by investment and taxes concerns and suggestions, and Governor Todd was forced to navigate them.

But in blunt a response to the Chamber members, Governor Todd said, in no uncertain terms that if taxes are not raised at this time, the level of infrastructure that the people are clamoring for, will not be realized.

“The people of these islands are faced with two fundamental choices in, how much spending do they want, and how much taxes they are prepared to pay. And that is the question, I think, which the political parties, who will stand in front of you on elections, which, I hope, will take place before the end of this year, will have to set out what they want to do. “And you, the voters, will have to decide what you want. But you can’t have continually growing public spending unless you are going to have continuing taxes. That is the simply fact. I am sorry to put it cruelly and crudely,” Governor Todd said.

Governor Todd added: “Everyone knows that raising taxes has a damaging effect on the economy, but what I want to also say is, when I drove around the islands, more people say to me that ‘we really must have money for this, and this, and this, and this area of public spending’.

“So, there is a very strong consensus on these islands that public spending must be increased.

There is also a strong consensus on these islands that taxes can’t be increased. Now, that is a problem, and it is not possible to do one without the other.”

Saying that Government is well aware of the debilitating effects that raising taxes would have on the country at this time, Governor Todd said, due to austerity measures taken recently, signs of the coffers beginning to grow is evident.

“I am not saying that the British Government is necessarily right in its economic policies and other governments are necessarily wrong. But the fiscal situation is the key to the long term stability of the economy. If you want money for the things you want to spend them on, you have to raise taxes.

“I do think that the difficult and painful decisions taken over the last few months are now going to have a beneficial effect, in terms of; we now do have a solid and slightly rising tax base.

We do have money to spend on the things we think are most important,” he revealed.

Governor Todd explained to the Chamber of Commerce that evidence showed that the few years of prosperity experienced by the TCI, for the most part, emanated by artificial means, which he said was proven in the bursting of the bubble.

“When the TCI did have apparently very high growth in the past, we now know it was the product of a number of short term and artificial factors. Actually, it had the effect of creating the boom which then led to the bust.

So, for me, of what I have said all along, to actually help this country create sustainable growth, we have to be fundamental. The way you

get to sustainable growth is not by any form of tricks; it’s by keep on doing the fundamental things: trying to make it easier for businesses to operate; keeping the economy open; and creating the right atmosphere for investment, and not only from abroad, but locally-generated. And I think what the Government should do is keeping doing those things,” Governor Todd explained.

A number of ideas on how TCIG could raise well-needed revenue, instead of piling on more taxes on the living population were fleshed out during the meeting. One chamber member urged Governor Todd to increase the side the of tax base by allowing more people to come to the country while diversifying the economy.

“If we have another 10,000 people living on this island (Providenciales) as full time residents; if there were incentives to the construction industry; and if we had more residents on the island working in new industries i.e. internetrelated, then we could increase the tax base and create more money from taxation,” The Chamber member said.

Some Chamber members also argued that instead of raising more taxes on the people that are living here, Government should seek to up tourism taxes on the grounds the TCI is a high-end destination, and whether or not taxes are high, visitors would come here.

Governor Todd was also urged to increase TCI’s competitiveness in the off-shore business area, as some members of the Chamber believe that the off-shore banking ratio of the TCI in comparison to others in the Caribbean is woefully inadequate.

However, on the matter of increasing the population size, Governor Todd explained that he was not aware that locals want their size of the TCI population to increase, and so that would not be a viable proposition at this time.

On the matter of introducing new taxes, Governor Todd said, there has also been no consensus with the people of the country to have income, land or other new taxes to come on stream “And again, a fundamental question of that sort is not one, which the Interim Government, me, as Governor, can impose over the next year. They are fundamental choices for the elected Government of this country.

“Another question is, how much are people willing to pay for their health service? And how much more money are they willing to pay to make their pensions more sustainable and stronger?

Those are fundamental choices. These are choices that people of these islands will have to make through their elected government,” Governor Todd pointed out.

Addressing the idea of raising taxes on tourists, Governor Todd declared that he did not feel it was a good idea, and stated furthermore that he did not think that the hotel sector would sit comfortably with such an agreement.

On the matter of attracting offshore banking business, the governor informed the meeting that when places such as the BVI was developing its offshore banking base, the laws were not as tight as they are now, and so, it would be extremely difficult for the TCI to attract meaningful business in that field at this time.

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JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Delton Jones secretly served as Governor during Christmas holidays

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Delton Jones was acting as Governor over the Christmas holidays, but it was keep a secret from the public of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

It was only brought to the public’s attention when SUN Publisher Hayden Boyce broke the news and posed the question to Governor Ric Todd during a post Advisory Council news conference on Wednesday, January 11, at the Office of Disaster Management in Providenciales.

It is customary for the Governor to announce whenever he is leaving the country and for how long and who would be acting on his behalf. However, this was not done by Todd who was taken to task at the press conference by Boyce, Weekly News publisher Blythe Duncanson and Blaze FM’s owner Devon Williams for breaking with tradition and protocol

while at the same time not being transparent.

However, Governor Todd told the news conference that at the time he did not deem it important to make such announcement.

“It is not our practice to make announcement of who is governor or anything like that. Delton Jones was acting as governor for the period I was in the UK. I don’t have any problem with the public knowing that Delton Jones was acting governor while I was away.

“It so happens that I had to be in England for the Christmas and New Year for family reasons. I would have preferred to be here,” Governor Todd said.

Under the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution, when the Governor is out of the country, the Deputy Governor acts in that role and if he or she is not here, the next in line would be the Attorney General, then

Collection arm of NHIB, NIB could merge soon

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

The collection arm of the National Insurance Board (NIB) National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) could merge in the near future as to provide a one stop shop for employers, according to His Excellency Ric Todd, who was fielding questions from journalists at his post Advisory Council new conference on Wednesday, January 11 on Providenciales.

He said the proposed amalgamation of both collection arms should, among things augment the collection efforts of both bodies and better serve the interest of both employers and employees.

“What we have done is that, the chairmen of NIB and NHIB have set up a group, who are examining the feasibility of amalgamating the collection arm of NIB and NHIB. And I think everyone agrees that is potential worth doing, because at the moment if you are, say, an employer, you have to make separate payments to separate organizations.

“So, this group, which will be jointly run by the NIB and the NHIB, will be looking at the possibility of amalgamating, therefore making them more effective and, I hope, cheaper service, which will reduce the administrative cost and give it better service to customers,” Governor Todd said.

He asserted that the structure is expected to establish in a fashion that there will not be a mix-up of funds, saying that while there will be a mingling of the collection, there will not be a mingling of funds. “There is no proposal to mingle the funds. At the moment

there are four funds. The NIB has three funds, and as you may know, it is illegal for the NIB to move money within its three funds.

Therefore, the suggestion that the NIB might move money from say, its Employment Injuries Branch to its Long Term Pensions Branch is impossible because it is illegal,” Governor Todd pointed out.

In the meantime, Governor Todd said discussions are taking place between the National Insurance Board (NIB) and the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) on the proposed transfer of $10 million from the NIB to TCIG. The Government had announced sometime late last year that it intends to transfer $10 million from NIB to the NHIB, but there was a pushback led by Chairman for the NIB Ervine Quelch, who said such transaction would be illegal, pointing out further that the public could bring litigation against Government for trying to embark on such a sojourn.

But apparently the Government has identified a loophole through which to take the legal checker flag.

“As you know, it is provided for by law at present that a transfer can be made from the NIB to the TCIG. It is perfectly legal; it is the law at the moment. The law states that it is legal and possible to transfer the money from the NIB to the TCIG. That is the law, and that is what I am currently discussing with the NIB and the NHIB,” Governor Todd disclosed.

In the meantime, Governor Todd said with merger of both entities, Government will be in a better position to tackle what described as impaired and delinquent loans, as it intends to work with a commercial partner find of way to settle the loan book.

the PS Finance.

There is presently not a Deputy Governor in the TCI and Todd confirmed that Attorney General Hew Shepheard was also out of the country and that Martin Stanley’s stint as Chief Executive had ended.

That left Jones to act as Governor, but there was not even a press release from the Government to reflect that.

Governor Todd continued: “Since I have been Governor of the TCI, I have been off the islands twice; the first time was in November, when Martin Stanley was acting Governor.

The second time was over the Christmas period when Mr. Delton Jones was Acting Governor. In neither case did I issue a press release before I left the country; I didn’t think that was necessary.”

Sky Cruise could operate locally

by Easter

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

By Easter of this year, the Turks and Caicos Islands could have an additional domestic air carrier, as by that time the operators of Sky Cruise Airways are expecting that all of the regulation and operational hurdles should be overcome.

Local businessman Shawn Malcolm, who is one of the partners in the new airline company, confirmed that the Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) has already given Sky Cruise Airways clearance, making their operation a step closer to reality.

The airline will now apply to the local Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for its final clearance for operation, and Malcolm believes that based on its level of preparedness there should be little or no hiccups in Sky Cruise being shown the green light by that regulatory body.

“We have just gone through the ATLA process, which is more like the political arm of the aviation industry. We were hoping that that process would have taken 30 to 40 days or maybe two months. We didn’t envision that it would be over eight months. So, therefore it is a good thing that we have committed investors, as you can imagine waiting around on a license that should not have taken that long?

“But nevertheless, we have now gotten past that point and we are going into the second phase, which is to secure AOC, which is Air Operation Certificate, which will enable us to begin as scheduled locally,” Malcolm said In addition to flying locally, Sky Cruise plans to fly within the region and between the TCI and the United States. But according to Malcolm, those processes will take a little longer than its local roll-out, as it will depend on how long the CAA of those countries will be able to grant approval.

“We envision that by Easter – late March, early April – to begin our local operation. We will have to go into the region and secure AOC in every individual country (that we intend to fly) – Jamaica, Antigua, the Bahamas (etc) – that is a process within itself. We also envision that there are some countries (in the region) that it will be relatively shorter to gain the AOC, but we have to plan accordingly.

“Then, of course, our US operation; we have to deal with the State Department and the FAA, to secure the licenses, to operate into those territories, which is a five to six month process. And there is nothing you can do about it, that’s just the process,” Malcolm explained.

Malcolm revealed to The SUN that Sky Cruise has already received more than 200 applications for different areas of operation, including from pilots. Almost all the applications are from local applicants. He said the airline is now busy developing its marketing and operations capabilities so as to iron out the glitches before its roll out date.

Malcolm said Sky Cruise plans to operate Beech 1900Ds for local flights, the roomier ATRs for regional flights and for the Miami/Fort Lauderdale route, it plans to utilize 737s and 300 series, which similar to those being flown by American Airlines.

Malcolm said the start up cost for Sky Cruise surpasses $10 million.

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MANDATES AND AGENDAS: PROCESS AND SUBSTANCE IN TCI POLITICS.

BY C. WASHINGTON MISICK CONTRIBUTER

The concept of a government having a legitimate mandate to govern via the fair winning of a democratic election is a central idea of democracy. Any other form of government, whether by means of coup d'état, appointment, electoral fraud, conquest, right of inheritance or other means does not qualify as a democratic government. Colonial governments earn their authority to govern by means of conquest. Can government by conquest be legitimate, and can an unelected government have a mandate?

Absurdly, yes.

In politics, a mandate is consent granted by a constituency to act as its representative. In my view a constituency gives consent expressly or implicitly.

"Consent of the governed" embodies the concept that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and legal when derived from the people or society over which that political power is exercised. Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that: "The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government."

To the extent that we the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands have not chosen to join the nations of the world our implied will is to be governed by Britain. Until we opt for self-determination, any local government: corrupt or honest, serve at the pleasure of politicians in Britain. It is for precisely that reason that Britain should take full responsibility (financial and otherwise) for the alleged wrongs of successive past Turks and Caicos Governments. Its knee-jerk tendency to react in overly passive or excessively controlling ways – currently demonstrated by excessive compliance, and control, is largely responsible for the continuing economic stagnation.

The Interim Government enjoys a defacto mandate similar to that of an oligarchy. This political oligarchy headed by the governor acts as game keeper and poacher at the same time: An oligarchy is not responsible to the governed, and is not obliged to make its agenda public. While one may question the process or even-handedness of the last elected administration political agenda of Belonger Empowerment – “Turks and Caicos Islanders First” the agenda was made public.

Is the achievement of the milestones the only agenda of the Interim Government? The British Coalition government has as its’ agenda many of the people empowering objective of the previous Turks and Caicos administration, which have are ignored by the interim administration. These include: • Targeting educational resources on pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• Ensuring that lower earners do not have to avoid the brunt of taxation, • Tax system reformed to create the "most competitive corporate tax regime in the G20".

• Further de-centralisation of government • Main burden of deficit reduction to be tackled by spending cuts, rather than tax rises.

• Established fixed-term, five-year parliaments.

• Bring in referendum on voting reform.

• Give voters power of recall, forcing by-election where MP found to have done wrong.

• Speed up voter registration.

• Stop MPs accused of serious wrongdoing using parliamentary privilege as a defense.

• Fund 200 all-postal primaries for parliamentary seats which have not changed hands in many years.

Britain should come clean, and admit that, it is responsible for the accountability lapse which took

place at an accelerating pace over a long period of overly passive engagement with the islands. It is therefore dis-ingenious for it to absolve itself from blame, and punish the innocent people of the Turks and Caicos Islands for its failures.

We at the same time must share the responsibility for the break-down in good governance because of lack of our own passive engagement and the low standards of expectation demanded from our leaders.

Unfortunately, under the Interim Government transparency is also in question if for ample members of the consultative forum is not informed of government position, including who pays SIPT. Since the message from Britain is that public accountability is the most important plank of democracy – the country must now demand accountability from Waterloo.

After two years and six months it is time that the interim administration takes ownership of the economy, and government expenditure. How deep are the desk drawers in government that they continue to find new unpaid bills from the last administration every quarter?

That excuse is now tired. The serial backtracking on government financial position does not instill confidence; neither does the continued moving of the goal post for elections. Britain’s contingent liability for securing TCI loan from should not be the main financial objective of government, and should not ignore the need to stimulate economic growth.

So far the main accomplishment of the wholesale take-over of the island by the UK has been its success in persuading us to turn on each other. It is time for all who call these islands home; regardless of how we come to claim that right, to recognize that all our hopes and dreams are inextricable bound together. Whether one supported the wholesale take over by Britain, or not, one has to agree that the results have been disappointing.

Recognizing our common destiny, the New Year is a good time to engage in collective soul-searching so that together we may tap into the core traditional decency that makes these islands special. We need a new sense of neighborhood, one that is not defined by physical boundary, but by the actions of the Good Samaritan as we prepare to face the challenges of 2012 and beyond.

In that regard, justice requires even-handedness in arriving at impartial verdicts for those who are accused of crimes associated with the usurpation of representative government. Imposing outcomes from above or manipulating legislation and the justice system to achieved desired outcomes is not a solution, but part of the problem of political tyranny.

Ironically, Britain has become involved in regime change in several places recently for precisely these reasons. In the end fairness dictates, that large businesses, (however important to the economy) as well as wealthy individuals, go through the same due process, as the politicians they are accused of corrupting. It is unjust that approximately 10% of the local GDP should go towards the payment of criminal investigation of corruption in a government constitutionally headed by Britain as the administering power of these islands. "If democracy does not promote justice, it cannot be defended to the people who become victims of injustice.” True democracy values, both process and substance.

Britain in my view has failed on the issue of process.

Let’s demand that they get the substance right.

Let us vow in 2012 to no longer behave like

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

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. victims, for if we do we will continue to be victimised, and marginalised. Political Patronage by any name, practiced by any individual or group is still political patronage, and our own people should be careful not to be used as agents of deceit by the interim administration.

To that end, I am happy that some members of the consultative forum are at last finding their voices.

Maybe for the first time at last we can all put aside our parochial politics, and find our collective voice, or become endangered species in our own home.

Let’s make it our Christian duty to objectively condemn wrong in government and in society in general, without the subjective hate of individuals or groups of individuals. There is no reason we should allow Britain or any other group to impose collective quilt on the entire Belonger population. The accused among us should be given the opportunity to face their accusers with dispatch, and let the business of the country, including the return to representative government proceed without delay. Justice demands no less.

• Washington Misick was a former Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands under the Progressive National Party (PNP). He is also a prominent businessman.

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-inChief, 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.

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TC Invest to be closed down

The Turks and Caicos Islands Investment Agency (TC Invest) has “run its course” and will be closed down, Governor Ric Todd announced on Tuesday.

He said that a review of the statutory body found that in spite of the best efforts of its staff, too many of TC Invest’s internal systems have not kept pace with the modern needs of an increasingly sophisticated business community.

According to the Governor, the accrued losses from TCInvest’s social lending strategies, although “laudable as an endeavour”, have left a widening financial deficit, which could well leave TCIG with liabilities approaching $10 million if “action is not taken quickly”.

TC Invest, which has a department in the islandcapital of Grand Turk and one in Providenciales, became fully operational in 1995 and employs about 20 staff.

“It has become clear that TCInvest has run its course,” Governor Todd said in a press statement issued on Tuesday January 10th. “However, its key function of economic development is important to the future of TCI. A new inward development team will be created at the heart of government as part of the CEO’s Office, capable of developing with the five new ministries a tailored set of services to offer to local and international developers.”

Todd added: “I respect the achievements made by TCInvest staff but time has come to look at doing things differently. I hope we can draw upon the knowledge of its staff in different ways in the future and combine this with better organisational arrangements and more innovative ways of working in TCIG. This is the start of the statutory bodies’ reforms. I expect everyone to be able to demonstrate a clear reason to continue in their present form, show relentlessly they offer better value for money compared to services being performed in some other way, and display an efficient delivery services to citizens and businesses.”

According to the institution’s website, TC Invest is an independent agency in the islands with a mandate to attract new offshore investment, encourage entrepreneurship amongst the residents and provide financing to the local population.

TCInvest said it has responded to enquiries, been involved in investment proposals and negotiated agreements with investors, including several hotel resort complexes, expansion of the world's only commercial conch farm in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, establishment of a brewery facility, development of craft cooperatives, opening of an aircraft parts manufacturing concern and erection of a hydroponic garden.

Governor Todd stressed that an in-depth review of TCInvest has concluded it was established with the best of intentions to promote business development both within TCI and from outside investors. In its earlier years, he said, it was instrumental in building the relationships that encouraged new investments and entrepreneurs.

He added, however, that in more recent years, during elected Government, its ways of working become less effective and its financial difficulties from past lending decisions have placed an increasing burden on the ability of TCInvest to achieve its aims.

“The worsening financial situation has had to prompt swift action, in order to protect public finances and ensure the key functions of TCInvest could be carried on effectively,” the Governor said, adding that he concluded that the essential functions of TCInvest, inward investment, business licensing, small enterprise support and loans, can be delivered more effectively through other TCIG or external means.

TCInvest will therefore be wound down as a statutory body, with a small inward investment team moving to the CEO’s Office. Its first task will be to extend and rebuild productive relationships with local and international developers.

A streamlined business licensing function

will be moved back to the Ministry of Finance to benefit from the economies of scale within the ministry. TCInvest will continue to manage an approximately $21m loan book and small business loans, where poor repayment records from some of the loans have undermined the capacity of the organisation, until they are moved on to other financial institutions and the underlying TCIG liabilities to the Caribbean Development Bank and European Investment Bank are repaid. The loans from other creditors will also need to be addressed.

It is estimated the winding up process may take three months.

Later, once more clearly defined, a business training and support function will be moved from TC Invest into the inward investment unit in the CEO’s Office, the Governor’s release said.

Todd said the intention is for some members of staff to be transferred quickly into the new inward investment and business licensing functions within TCIG, others may well be offered or find positions elsewhere in Government or chose to leave the public sector.

“Assistance to all members of staff to find a clear pathway for the future will be an important part of winding up the organisation,” he continued.

“In addition, to limiting a future deterioration of the financial position of TCInvest, further savings in Board, office and travel costs in the order of $200 000 should be possible.”

The review of TCInvest is part of a wider examination underway in the Governor’s Office on the achievements, roles and value for money encompassing, eventually, all 37 existing statutory bodies. The work commenced in 2011 and is still in progress. It is likely to result in an overall reduction in the size of the statutory body landscape to one that is more affordable and more sharply focussed on adding value to the work of TCIG. Some functions may be returned to the newly reformed TCIG ministries; others may cease or be undertaken in a different way.

More statutory boards to be abolished the review, as Governor Todd disclosed that a review conducted

BY VIVIAN TYSON by a consultant proved that the SUN SENIOR EDITOR entity was becoming archaic in its operation.

It appears that there are Governor Todd pointed out impending cuts or possible that the Policy on Statutory bodies abolishment of a number of was partly set out in April last year the 37 statutory bodies in the when it was explained that such Turks and Caicos by the Interim boards would have to apply the Administration over the next few same standards of efficiency and months, as government embarks spending reduction as in line with on an audit to determine whether all of TCIG. or not some of those entities are He pointed out that statutory efficiently serving the interest of bodies consume about $11 million the public. a year of taxpayer’s money, which His Excellency Governor represents eight percent of the Ric Todd made the revelation national budget. while addressing a post Advisory “Let us be clear, statutory Council news briefing held at the bodies are being paid for by Office of Disaster Management taxpayers of the TCI, and on Providenciales on Wednesday, taxpayers of the TCI has a right to January 11. expect that every statutory body is Already TC Invest, the business efficient as possible and does the development arm off Government, best possible job. will become the first casualty of

“Equally, I think it makes sense, given that there are 37 statutory bodies, which is quite a lot for a country with 35,000 people. It makes sense to look at those in turn and to decide, whether the work which they do can best be done by statutory bodies, whether it should be done by TCIG or whether their role does not need to be done at all.

So, that would be a careful piece of work that would be done over the next few months,” Governor Todd said.

Speaking specifically to the TC Invest issue, Governor Todd declared: “The point of this change is to ensure that the services of TC Invest are done as well as possible, and that the taxpayers of the TCI are protected from a further deterioration in the value of the TCI loan book.”

He disclosed that unlike other

statutory bodies, employees of TC Invest stand the possibility of continue to working at the entity when the changes are made, only that they would be working in a different environment.

Governor Todd also disclosed that the investment-attraction arm of the TC Invest will now be placed in the office of the chief executive of the civil service, while the business licensing and small business support bits will be returned to the Ministry of Finance.

The governor shied away from being drawn into whether or not he will make new appointments for, especially, NIB, only disclosing that the individuals that are serving on the boards are on contracts and when those contracts are expired, he would make the necessary decisions whether or not to retain them.

Page 8

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Consultative Forum Chairperson Lillian Misick writes strong letter to Governor Ric Todd about abolishing TC Invest Dear Governor Todd I feel compelled to state for the record how truly dismayed I am by the way you have gone about making, and informing us of, your decision to abolish TCInvest.

Many of us greeted your inaugural promise to run a collaborative and transparent administration in good faith and with goodwill. And even though I have been moved on a few occasions since your inauguration to challenge you to honour it, that promise has never seemed more hollow than it did during the Forum’s closed session this morning.

I was so caught off guard when your Director of Strategy Philip Rushbrook informed me in the parking lot on Friday of your decision to abolish TCInvest that I requested an urgent meeting, which you graciously granted yesterday afternoon.

At that meeting you explained the reasons why you thought this decision

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was necessary. I countered by explaining that your reasoning was fundamentally flawed because it focused entirely on the mismanagement and abuse of the agency; i.e., to coin the phrase you used, perhaps unwittingly, you were throwing out the baby with the bath water.

To be fair, I gathered that you were basing your reasoning on a report by UK Advisor Stephen Turnbull, a copy of which you were kind enough to present to me midway through our meeting. But I felt constrained to question the reliability of its findings after glancing a section on the Business Development Center : I served as chairman of TCInvest for 5 years and director of the Business Development Center 10.

I thought it would give you pause when I pointed out that it strains credulity to think that any advisor could produce a comprehensive report on the functioning of this agency, let

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Interested person should apply to HR@flyairtc.com or via fax to HR Department 649-946-4040.

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alone my department, without speaking to me.

In fact you paused long enough to reassure me that it was only a draft report and that you were quite prepared to grant my request for the Forum to hold a public hearing so that the proffered reasons for closing TCInvest could be properly examined.

Yet less than 24 hours later you were insisting in our closed session that there was no need for further discussion because your mind had been made up, presumably based on Mr. Turnbull’s flawed and incomplete draft report.

Let me hasten to clarify that I have never questioned your authority to make this or any other decision. Which makes me wonder why you continually assert - with the gratuitous force of a parent asserting her authority to discipline her child - that you have this authority.

My sole purpose for appealing to you on this and other matters was to get you to demonstrate that your talk about making your interim administration the most honest, open, and transparent in the Caribbean is not just hot air.

Alas, that you were adamant to the point of appearing defiant this morning about your decision to abolish

Lillian Misick - Chair TCI Consultative Forum

TCInvest, despite the earnest pleadings of members for just a chance to be heard, made it clear to all present that my appeals to you have been in vain.

I hope you appreciate how much credence this gives to those who dismissed the Forum from the outset as nothing more than a rubber-stamp for the neo-colonial machinations of British interlopers.

This is profoundly regrettable and portends dire consequences for our UK-TCI relationship.

Sincerely, Lillian Misick Chair TCI Consultative Forum

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 9

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Five Permanent Secretaries announced The Interim Government has retained three of ten Permanent Secretaries and promoted two heads of department to that post as part of the scaled-down top management of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Judith Campbell, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Clara Gardiner, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Border Control and Immigration and Susan Malcolm, Permanent Secretary in the Office of Public Sector Management, have been retained, while Chief Budget Analyst Anya Williams and Director of Environmental and Coastal Resources, Wesley Clerveaux have been elevated to the post of Permanent Secretaries.

They were selected from a list of 33 persons who applied for the senior management posts which new Governor Ric Todd announced since last year would be slashed from ten to five as part of a cost-cutting and efficiency exercise.

“This is fantastic news as we begin what will be a momentous year for the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Todd said in a press release issued on Monday January 9th, after he ratified the successful candidates. “Reform of the public sector is one of the eight milestones that will allow UK

(L-R) Wesley Clerveaux, Clara Gardiner, Susan Malcolm, Anya Williams and Judith Campbell

ministers to determine if elections are held here in 2012. The appointment of these five individuals, and the central role that they will be playing in Civil Society here in the Islands, is a key step on the journey that will allow public services to be reformed and to focus more on what everyone here tells me are their priorities – education, health, infrastructure and the economy.”

He added: “I am hopeful that by clarifying the process used for the selection process, it will scotch the mischievous, politically motivated rumours that the Interim Administration had a pre-determined result in mind: I am confident that the process was open, objective and transparent.”

New TCI Government Chief Executive Patrick Boyle, one of the interview panel members added: “I was extremely impressed by the standard and professionalism of the final ten candidates who played their part in the selection process. They can all feel justifiably proud of their personal commitment to outstanding public service.

“I spoke to all ten of the candidates over the weekend, both successful and unsuccessful, and relayed just how impressed I was with each of them. I have offered a meeting to the five unsuccessful candidates to determine how we may continue to make use of their competence and experience for the greater good of the TCI. And, of course, I will be working

hard with Judith, Wesley, Clara, Susan and Anya to continue to transform our Government services for the better.”

The current Permanent Secretaries are: Border Control & Labour - Clara Gardiner; Education, Youth, Sport and Culture - Beatrice Fulford; Environment and District Administration - Mary Harvey; Finance - Delton Jones; Health and Human Services - Judith Campbell; Home Affairs and Public Safety Denise Saunders; Office of Public Service Management - Susan Malcolm, Trade, Tourism and Communications - Arthur Been , Works and Housing - Desmond Wilson, and Kingsley Been, in the Governor’s Office.

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

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

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

COME AND JOIN OUR WINNING TEAM!!!

SECURITY DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Security Officer Requirements include but are not limited to: • Responds rapidly to all incidents.

• Ability to write reports.

• Identify and eliminate risk.

• At least 2 years relevant experience The rate for the position listed above is $6.00 to $7.00 an hour.

THE CONCIERGE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Butler Requirements include but are not limited to: • Certified English Butler • Attention to detail The rate for the position listed above is $6.00 to $7.00 an hour.

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Stove Technician/ gas mechanic Requirements include but are not limited to: • Analyze, troubleshoot, install, rebuild, adjust and replace kitchen appliance equipment.

• Performs major and/or minor repair, as well preventative and corrective maintenance of kitchen equipment.

• Order and maintain inventory of appliance parts as needed.

• Inspect and verify the operation and safety of commercial kitchen appliances.

• Responsible for coordination and prioritizing repair tasks to respond in a timely manner and provide timely repairs and reduced downtime.

• Responsible for training staff and demonstrating proper safe use and operation of equipment to staff. Identify and correct unsafe conditions and practices. Identify, document and notify supervisors of damage, abuse and negligent use of equipment.

• Commission new kitchens and equipment installation.

• Track work orders and communicate status to

appropriate personnel.

• knowledgeable of kitchen fire suppression system • Servicing and maintaining kitchen exhaust systems The rate for the position listed above is $8.00 to $13.00 an hour.

THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: English Pub Manager • 5 years’ experience as a English “Style” Pub manager • Knowledge of Beer, Wine and Spirits.

• Knowledge of English Style Pub food.

• 5 years’ experience as a bartender in a high volume bar/lounge • Able to lift 50 lbs.

The salary for the positions listed above ranges from $30,000 to $50,000 per annum Servers Requirements include but are not limited to: • One years experience in a restaurant with seating for over 100 persons an asset.

• No food allergies • Physically fit

BAR DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Bartenders Requirements include but are not limited to: • Ability to mix a variety of drinks alcoholic and nonalcoholic.

• Outgoing personality • Physically fit The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $6.00 an hour.

HOUSEKEEPING DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Room Attendants/ Domestic Worker Housemen Public Area Attendants Requirements include but are not limited to:

• One years experience in a hotel environment an asset.

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

STEWARDING DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Steward Requirements include but are not limited to: • Physically Fit • Ability to carry out labour intensive cleaning task The rate for the position listed above is $5.00 to $6.00 an hour.

ENTERTAINMENT DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: Fun pals/Players/ Dancers/ Clowns Requirements include but are not limited to: • An outgoing personality required • Ability to sing and dance The rate for the positions listed above is $5.00 to $6.00 an hour.

Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road and The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and should reach not later than January 14th 2012.

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

Page 10

LOCAL NEWS

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

700 Civil Servants expressed interest in voluntary severance

The Public Sector Severance Scheme that Government’s announced several months ago, which it said is aimed at reducing the size of the civil service as a costcutting measure, is to take place before the end of January.

This was announced by Chief Executive Officer for the Turks and Caicos Islands Patrick Boyle, during a post Advisory Council news conference at the Office of Disaster Management in Providenciales, on Wednesday, January 11.

A little over 700 public sector workers have opted for the scheme, which represents 30 percent of the

2,300 workers within the sector.

“The Voluntary Severance Scheme is currently on the way. We have about 700 expressions of interest from staff across the civil service, and we are in a process now of receiving applications from individuals who having received their quotations in terms of their severance payments.

“We see that closing on the 17th or on the 18th of January for the monthly paid staff and early in February for weekly-paid staff. In think by early in February, we will have an indication of the people who have applied, and to leave the service,” Boyle said.

Boyle, however, hastened to state that not all of the 700 workers that Chief Executive Officer for the Turks and Caicos Islands Patrick Boyle applied under the scheme will be axed, as there will have to be talents in the pool that the sector would need.

“It is clear that we still have got to run an efficient public service, so if we let 700 members of our staff go I think we would probably have some difficulty doing it. So, we don’t expect to let 700 go. The 700 that have expressed their interest, just merely want to know what their severance payment might be, to enable them to

make a decision on whether or not they want to leave,” Boyle said.

Explaining the process, Governor Ric Todd noted: “We have asked people to express an interest for voluntary severance. We are then giving them the terms they could get if they took that up. It is for them to decide whether they want to take advantage of those terms. Those terms are generous as we feel the people of the TCI can afford, so people who take those terms, I would not characterize them as being on the bread line.

“They are people who have taken a decision take the package and leave the public sector, and it is up to them as to what plans they intend to make for the rest of their lives. But you are quite right to say that there are potential social and economical situations in that, and we take that quite seriously.”

Governor Todd also said he had discussions with a number of civil servants who expressed eagerness in taking the package because they see it as an opportunity for them to retrain and do other things with their lives.

PRESS RELEASE

Financial Services Commission Clico (Bahamas) Limited (In Liquidation) ••On Thursday, January 19,2012, at 12:00pm, the Official Liquidator, Craig A (Tony) Gomez of Baker Tilly Gomez, Chartered Accountants will be meeting with the policyholders of Clico (Bahamas) Limited.

The meeting will be held at the Tropicana, Ledeck Road, The Bight, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands.

The Liquidator will discuss and give important information to policyholders on the status of the liquidation and the status of their policies with the Company.

The Turks & Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission encourages all policyholders to make every effort to attend this important meeting.

Interested parties may contact the Insurance Department of the Financial Services Commission, at Caribbean Place, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Island or at Telephone #(649)946-5314 or (649)941-8311 and Fax#: (649)941-8379.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 11

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Five unsuccessful short-listed applicants for Permanent Secretary jobs named

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

There are areas of importance in the civil service for the five unsuccessful applicants who failed in their bid to secure the five Permanent Secretary opened positions, as the collective talents are tremendous; this is the word coming from new Chief Executive Officer for the Civil Service, Patrick Boyle.

Despite not being successful, Denise Saunders, who is the current Permanent Secretary of Works; Ian Astwood of the Planning Department; Dr. Virginia Clerveaux, Deputy Director for the Office of Disaster Management; Kingsley Been, who works out of the Governor’s Office and Mary Harvey, will not be discarded, but will still serve in the public sector.

“I think it is important for us to have as much talent and experience in the Government as possible, so, I am about to embark on having discussions with the five people that were

unsuccessful about their futures, and those meetings will be scheduled to take place in the next week or so. I am not in a position to comment on those private discussions,” Boyle said.

Boyle said current Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Delton Jones, did not apply, and he, too, will be meeting with the Interim Administration to discuss his future in the sector.

The five successful applicants are Judith Campbell, current Permanent Secretary for Health; Clara Gardiner, current Permanent Secretary for Border Control and Labour; Susan Malcolm, retired Permanent Secretary in the Office of Public Sector Management; Wesley Clerveaux, Director for the Department of Environmental Coastal and Resources (DECR); and Anya Williams, Chief Budget Analyst.

In the meantime, both Boyle and Governor Todd defended the decision to bring back Malcolm into the public sector, saying that she still has a lot more to offer.

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Grace way IGA Supermarket is seeking a:

GROCERY MANAGER

This position is responsible for the management of the Supermarket’s Grocery operations. Requirements include:

• Over five (5) years experience in Supermarket Retail with a minimum of three (3) years in a managerial position to include management of individual departments, including overnight stocking procedures • Excellent people skills, including the ability to teach and train staff • Must have computer knowledge in areas such as Microsoft Excel and Inventory management programs • Skilled in ordering methods and practices for inventory control and wastage reduction • Ability to utilize computer systems/information for improved operational results • Strong current product knowledge of the retail industry and knowledge of Supermarket facility management • Will be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays $45,000.00 – $50,000.00 per Annum

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“I think all of the existing serving permanent secretaries were given the opportunity to apply with a fair and open process, and I don’t think anyone can distinguish between them in any way. She applied for the post, she performed exceptionally well in the selection process and she was successful,” Boyle said.

For his part, Governor Todd said: “We had an open competition, people applied for the job and the best candidate won. I absolutely share your (journalists’) view that young people should be given a chance, but old people have a lot to offer too.

“In the UK, and also here, and across the world, the idea that when somebody gets to a certain age they no longer capable of doing a job, I think we need to challenge that, and every society needs to benefit from the talents of its older people as well as its younger ones.”

Governor Todd also believes that the retirement age limit in the TCI should BE abolished as is the case in the United Kingdom. He pointed out that in

the UK there can be arrangements regarding the uniform services.

“While we may be comfortable to have a 75 year-old judge or permanent secretary, we may be less comfortable to having a 75 year-old policeman,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Todd expressed vindication to at conspiracy theories which indicated that the Interim Administration was on a mission to stuff the local government system with retired Britons.

“I might go back to a number of conversations that we have in this room, when we first explained that our intention was to recruit five permanent secretaries by open competition. There were many stories about sinister British plots to replace Belongers with imported rethreads or British failures. I hope that now all will see that the process was always what we said it was, which is an open and fair process designed to select the best people to be permanent secretaries, and I think we have,” Governor Todd said.

Page 12

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Criminal background checks on illegal Haitian immigrants to Turks and Caicos to be implemented

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Deputy Commissioner of Police Brad Sullivan said that captured Haitian Migrants that come to the Turks and Caicos Islands by boat are finger-printed to ascertain whether or not they have been involved in prior criminality in the TCI. However, he said that the process of cross references between Haiti and the TCI, to determine whether or not any of those held locally committed crimes there, is still being worked on.

The police reported that between December 30 and January 3, two boats loaded with illegal Haitians heading to the TCI were accosted and towed ashore by coast guard vessels.

The first boat was laden with 139 Haitians, while the other had 125.

Local Haitians said while they understand that many people who arrive on these boats are attempting to escape abject poverty in their homeland, are concerned that that the vessels could also be ferrying

criminals into the TCI. They said also that many of those boats carry guns and drugs with them.

To this end, they are calling for closer working relations between the Haitian and the TCI Governments, as to stem the flow of those boats. They are also calling for background checks to be carried out on the detainees to determine whether or not they have been involved in any serious crimes back home, so as to return them to authorities instead of merely dropping them off at the airport and leave them to wander.

But Sullivan said, such plans have been advanced, but were not been fully-implemented, as talks continue between the two countries.

“We are definitely doing fingering printing and photographing when they get here. As per the comparison with the Haiti record, that is something that we are working on with the Haiti Authority, and will be working at with them to have a better working relationship, so we can share this information.

“Up to this time, it is not a

common practice, but it’s something that we definitely need to put in place.

There are good people trying to escape the living conditions in Haiti and, there are others that are just escaping – they are running from the law – so we need to work closer with our Haitian neighbours, that’s for sure,” Deputy Commissioner Sullivan said.

Deputy Commissioner Sullivan said that record shows that some of the Haitians that have been apprehended recently have made similar trips to the TCI before after being repatriated by the authorities.

“Some of them, this isn’t their first trip to our islands. We now have to share with the Haitian representative and say, ‘okay, does this person, who comes here, interest you? And they would know when we are sending them back so they could meeting them when they return,” Deputy Commissioner Sullivan said.

The trip by Haitians between the Haiti and the Turks and Caicos has proven to be a dangerous proposition, as hundreds lose their lives trying to

Deputy Commissioner of Police Brad Sullivan

get here in recent times. In 2007, more than 90 Haitians lost their lives in a predawn attempt to enter the TCI, when their boat overturned about two miles off South Dock. Many of them were eaten by Sharks, as the authorities were only able to salvage mangled body parts.

In the summer, 10 Haitians drown about a mile off South Dock, while being loaded onto a wooden boat from a cargo boat.

That has however, not stopped the boats from coming, as each year scores of Haitians packed themselves in rickety sloops, many of them, in an attempt to escape their povertystricken lives there.

JUDY STUBBS SEEKS

1 LABOURER

Salary $5.00 per hour 6 days per week Interested person should contact 243-3559

North Caicos Contracting Ltd seeks

2 LABOURERS - BASIC WAGE 1 PAINTER Minimum 5 year experience, specialized in finish technique Contact 946 7437

HOLIDAY VILLAGE is seeking

Spa Turkoise is seeking a

MASSAGE THERAPIST for massages and body treatments. The spa operates at two locations and offers a mobile service, so transportation is a plus.

Applicants must show qualifications. Pay is competitive and commission based.

Please call 332-1171 for an interview, or send CV’s to spaturkoise@gmail.com

A Domestic Worker Weekly salary $215.00 Working six days per week contact: 946-5500

Carambola Grill and Lounge is seeking a suitably qualified individual to fill the following position. Only candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be considered.

CHEF

Job Description The Chef will be responsible for all aspects of managing the kitchen and kitchen staff, ensuring the quality preparation and presentation of all food for the restaurant.

Main Duties - Responsible for the day to day food and beverage operation of the restaurant.

- Develop creative menus and catering packages to assure maximum appeal to customers.

- Hire, supervise, schedule, train and develop kitchen staff.

- Must maintain a clean and orderly kitchen and conform to all local sanitation standards and regulations.

- Oversee the inventory process for food and beverage products.

Requirements - Must have ten (10) years or more culinary experience from an accredited culinary school or equivalent work experience.

- Thorough knowledge of food preparation, purchasing and inventory procedures.

- Must be proficient in MS Office application and QuickBooks.

- Good organizational and administrative skills required.

- Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.

- Must be willing to work a variety of day/night and weekend shifts.

- Excellent people skills in order to communicate well with guests and staff.

The salary for this position will be commensurate with experience, training and education. Interested applicants should contact 946-4701 or email info@carambolatci.com

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 13

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Bringing illegal Haitians to Turks and Caicos Islands is a criminal enterprise, says Governor

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

There is a flourishing criminal corporation between the Turks and Caicos Islands and Haiti that indulges in trafficking of Haitians from that impoverished nation to these shores, from which people are reaping the financial windfall.

This is the view of His Excellency Governor Damian Roderick ‘Ric’ Todd.

Governor Todd made the disclosure while hosting his post Advisory Council news briefing on Wednesday, January 11, at the office of the Disaster Management in Providenciales.

“I don’t want to trespass on the grounds of the police and the Ministry of Border Control, but I think it is clear that there is a criminal cooperation and collusion between people on the island and off the island, to bring about illegal migration.

“And also, from something which happened on my first weekend here; often, the people who try to make their way illegally are victims of crime, and as you know, a number of them died.

So, it is quite clear that this is a difficult and potentially tragic business. It is a criminal enterprise,” Governor Todd insisted.

Governor Todd, said in the meantime, that the local authorities have

been working to bust the trade ring and to bring those responsible to justice, so as to stem especially, the loss of life that often occur when illegal migrants set out on such voyage.

In the meantime, Governor Todd said that the security at the Detention Centre in Five Cays, Providenciales will need to be strengthened in the wake of 10 illegal migrants who came here by boat between late December and the New Year and were captured, escaped custody. Nine of the 10 are still at large, as one was captured shortly after the Detention Centre break out.

Governor Todd also told the news conference that the majority of the migrants have been repatriated.

Some members of the TCI society argue that it is common knowledge that different individuals benefit from the boat-loads of people who braved the high seas to come to the Turks and Caicos Islands in search of a better life.

It is said that contacts are often made between people on both countries as to when and where the boats are to enter the TCI. Often times, it is being said, there are individuals who stand ready to receive them. It is also popular talk among people that the boats are used for the transport of guns and drugs into the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Haitians, whose country is listed as

COME AND JOIN OUR WINNING TEAM!!!

TECHNICAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Applicants should satisfy the following minimum requirements: • Have a First Degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering from a recognized College/University, or equivalent.

• At least ten years’ experience in facilities management in the hospitality industry, with at least five years in senior management • Must be computer literate • Must be experienced in the use and development of building management systems • Be proactive, self-motivated and be ready to work long hours

Major Responsibilities: The successful applicant will be responsible for oversight of all technical operations, including • Development and implementation of cutting edge utilities management techniques • Long term planning and forecasting of major equipment refurbishing and replacement • Developing, guiding and motivating a highly skilled team of engineers and technicians • Budget preparations and stock controls • HVAC & R Systems • Sludge activated waste water treatment plant • Reverse osmosis water plants • Standby generators • Commercial kitchen equipment • Spa, Pools and Jacuzzi equipment • Laundry equipment • Environmental and computerized energy management systems • Preventive maintenance systems and programs Applicants should satisfy the following minimum requirements: • Have at least 15 years’ experience in construction or a related field. Hotel Industry over 5 years • Have a professional designation in engineering or construction • Be knowledgeable of Building Regulations • Be familiar with Design Management • Be able to manage multiple projects in several locations

Dock while being transferred on a cargo boat onto a wooden sloop. The authority also found drugs on the cargo boat and arrested two Bahamian siblings. They were however, not charged with relation to the trafficking or drowning of the men. They later faced the TCI courts where they were sentenced.

Tci red cross resumes weekly community & farmers’ market The Turks and Caicos Islands Red Cross resumes its Weekly Community and Farmers’ Market this Saturday, January 14th, 2012.

Taking place at the Red Cross headquarters opposite Lime on the Leeward Highway in Providenciales from 10am to 2pm, patrons will be able to purchase freshly grown produce and locally sourced items, meet the farmers and shop at our thrift store.

The Community & Farmers’ Market brings people together in a fun way that promotes a safe and healthy community environment. Arrive with your shopping bags, and save money on goods and services. And, while there, learn more about the TCI Red Cross products and services.

What is more, coordinators are calling for more farmers and persons that make bake goods, delicious jams and other treats to get involved. As this a community spirited initiative, they are also inviting schools to bring their artwork, wood work and crafts to make the event a real fun day for all.

For more information on the Weekly Farmers Market call (649) 247-8911. With regard to the TCI Red Cross, our services and how you can volunteer or donate, contact our Provo office on (649) 941-8056 or email redcrossprovo@tciway.tc OR for Grand Turk call (649) 9462761 or Email: tciredcross@tciway.tc

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

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

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

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUIRES:

THE PROJECTS DEPARTMENT REQUIRES: PROJECT MANAGER

the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, often make treacherous voyages to the TCI, risking their lives in search of jobs.

However, over the years, many have lost their lives during the two to three day journey.

On September 10, 2011, 10 Haitians drowned off the coast of South

• Be an initiator, able to achieve deadlines • Software knowledge: ACAD, Microsoft Projects, MSWord, MSExcel, Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat • Work and communicate with all GM’S, HM’S , CE’s and HOD’s

PROJECT COORDINATOR/ ADMINISTRATOR (Regional) Requirements include but are not limited to: • Prepare budgets, programs and monitor expenditure • Working experience over 20 years. Hotel Industry over 5 years • Review all design drawings, and prepare design drawings where necessary • Inspect and set out all FF&E for pools, restaurants, hotel rooms and Public areas • Co-ordinate all shipments, and quantify and orders FF&E items • Strong Knowledge of BMS, RO plants, Fire, Chill Water System and irrigation system • Co-ordinate ALL Local building approvals eq Health, Planning, Environmental, Fire • Co-Ordinate all warehouse inventory for installation • Train Project Co-ordinators and Local tradesmen • Travel to Nassau, Exuma, Fowl Cay and Jamaica to review all room upgrades • Software knowledge: ACAD, Microsoft Projects, MSWord, MSExcel, Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat • Work and communicate with all GM’S, HM’S , CE’s and HOD’s The salaries for the positions listed above are dependent upon experience and qualifications (negotiable) Applications giving full details of qualifications and experience should be sent to: mmvaughn@grp.sandals.com or Fax to: 941-4870 Attn: M McClean-Vaughn The Human Resources Department Beaches Turks and Caicos P.O. Box 186 Lower Bight Road and The Labour Commissioner Labour Department Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands

and should reach not later than January 14th 2012 Otherwise, please call for additional information tel # 649-946-8000 ext 4138

Page 14

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

e stripping of the wings of Turks and Caicos Islanders by the Interim Administration Every Turks and Caicos Islander must now see for themselves that the British Government and its agent, the Interim Administration is systematically stripping us of all of the institutions that have been put in place to promote and protect us.

They started with TCI Bank. That was closed with plenty money belonging to us and we do not know when and if any of that would come to us at any time in the future.

The foreclosure of TCI Bank has created a lot of hardship for us, because, in most cases, our total life’s savings were deposited there and we can as it now seems, kiss the whole lot goodbye. The Liquidator had promised to start paying us something in December of 2011, and to date, nothing is forthcoming. That is totally unacceptable and continues to create hardships for us. But does anyone in the Interim Administration care? On the face of what has been happening, I must say a resounding no.

Our NIB pension is now under attack by “Ric” and his wrecking crew.

They see a pot of money at NIB and feel that they should spend it however they want, whether it benefits us or not.

TCIG deducted 3.6% of our salary as part of its legal obligation to satisfy its statutory obligation. That they failed on a number of occasions to forward our contribution along with their 4.4% resulted in late payments. The sum of some $11M had accrued. A commitment was made to pay at least the 3.6% as that was actually deducted from civil servants’ salaries, and should have been easily available for payment to NIB. What these guys are doing is to renege on that commitment and change the legislation at their whim and fancy to make stealing our money legal. That is $11M that is taken from the fund and can make it reach a point of equilibrium quicker than necessary. Added to that, they produced two fictitious bills for payment. One for $10M that they say is owed for the services to NIB members for employment injuries.

They are saying this in face of the fact that NIB had paid an assessment of over $800K covering the period 1992 to 2010 and $600K from then to 2011.

Then there is the rabbit out of the hat $5M that is said to be owed TCIG for some activity that has never been defined, when in fact it is TCIG that owes NIB $5.2M for rent of the Hilly Ewing and N J S Francis buildings. As NIB Chairman Quelch categorically said on Tuesday last at a Forum meeting, let TCIG properly invoice NIB and once it is verifiable, they would be immediately paid. But until then, NIB does not owe TCIG a single red cent!

This is the type of obfuscation that the Interim Administration is engaged in and calling it transparency! Even John Phillips, a member of the Forum was moved to say that the use and operation of word “transparency” by the Interim Administration do not jibe with his Oxford dictionary version of the word! The scales are finally coming off the eyes of the majority of the people as it relates to these dictators.

The Development Board was formed by statute in the mid 1970’s to

aid in the development of indigenous businesses, assist in the provision of shelter, assist in scholarships and set aside money for agricultural development.

The Board was restructured so as to provide inward investment services so that potential developers could have a point of contact that would vet their proposals and their ability to carry out the project. After 1991, the Development Board evolved in TC Invest with a new mandate and additional resources. The core functions were enhanced and its service delivery functions were augmented so as to effectively deliver the services as envisaged.

During the National Conversation last year, I was asked to, and prepared a paper on how best to refocus TC Invest and I did that and made a number of recommendations. Now all of a sudden, “Ric” and his merry band have determined that that organization should be disbanded and its core functions be transferred to the CEO’s office.

It does not take any imagination to see what is happening here! It is another power grab by these guys and designed to further marginalize us in our country. What would happen here is that some functionary of questionable background would be brought in to lead and direct that organization and would determine what is best for us. What is best for us has never been the province of a civil servant.

That in this day and time is left to the political directorate of this country.

These usurpers are taking every available lever of power from the

ROYAL ROBINSON CONTRIBUTER politicians and policy makers and keeping them unto themselves in the guise of good governance! But to date, we have not seen anything that would give us comfort that these people know what they are doing or are acting in any semblance of our best interest! What is happening is that these guys are pushing a greater wedge between us, while creating for themselves a “blanco con blanco” situation for themselves!

Those of us that listened to or watch the Forum’s meeting of Tuesday this week must come away with the clear understanding that these people are nothing more than thieves and liars!

The Forum’s Chair, who had previously been a staunch supporter of the Interim

Administration, could not come to any other conclusion but that these people are here to relegate us to the dung hill of history.

When you lie about someone, that is one thing, but when you lie to someone, that is a coat of a different color! They have lied to the Chair and really ticked her off! They have directly challenged her sensibilities and credibility! That, as she said do not bode well for any further fruitful relationship!

I was heartened to see two pieces on TCI Post by Mr. Peter Forbes. This shows that more serious Turks and Caicos Islanders are coming out of the woodwork to condemn the actions of these people and to question their competence and truthfulness! I am sure that when the next push comes as it will, more Turks and Caicos Islanders will be on board to rid us of this plague of an Interim Administration that came here by invitation, but clearly under false pretenses.

Legitimate and proper advice from the “natives” is not some that these people ascribe to! Look at how dismissive Rushbrook was of Dr. Linda Williams when she told him that there were a number of things that could and should be done to facilitate the voter registration process. He wanted none of that, even though he is not an elections “expert”. For the life of me, that lady was a former Supervisor of Elections in this country! This arrogance and nonsense cannot be allowed to continue in our country. If that is done, then when they do turn this country back over to us, it would be completely tattered and disfigured!

Squeezing blood from a stone

BY PETER FORBES CONTRIBUTER

Amendments to the Companies Ordinance now require companies, in addition to keeping proper books of accounts, to keep underlying documentation including invoices and contracts for a period of no less than five years. Failure to keep those records will render a company liable to a fine of up to US$50,000.00. That’s right, $50,000.00! Those amendments to the legislation came into force on 29 July 2011, but most people are not aware of their obligations under the legislation.

Similarly, an amendment to the Customs Ordinance on 10 November 2011 requires all importers to retain all records of imports for a period of five years, with a fine of up to $5,000.00 for failure to do so.

On 31 August 2011 Government released a statement saying that import duties were much lower than budgeted and that Government feels the reason is because there might be under declarations by importers. The release went on to say that Government will be looking into declarations currently at the Customs Department, and pursuing importers where they find that items were under declared.

On the same day Government issued a release by the Attorney General in relation to stamp duty, indicating that the “Attorney General” is expanding the scope of the SIPT’s investigation to include an investigation into whether there was/is a widespread practice of evading the payment of stamp duty, and that additional investigators will be secured to deal with the expanded workload. That is correct. Additional staff to deal with the expanded role of the $11,000,000.00 a year SIPT and CR teams.

Similarly, on 6 September 2011 another Government

press release quoted the new CFO as indicating that “The country’s finances have been stabilised thanks to the UK Government providing guarantees for the refinancing package and the process of modernising the country’s… revenue collection system.”

If readers have not yet felt the pain and figured this out, the above measures are preparation for a more onerous tax regime. It appears, also, that despite all the expertise that Government and its many foreign advisors claim, they lack a basic understanding of what locals refer to as an inability to get “blood out of stone”, or what economics call an elastic demand curve, which is that in some cases minor increases in the price of goods or services will lead to a relatively large number of individuals choosing not to consume those goods or services. What that means is that Government can increase taxes as much as it likes, but if individuals don’t have the money they might not consume as much goods or services, with a possible reduction in total tax revenue for Government, defeating their very objective.

It appears that until we return to elected Government, and possibly for some time after that, the idea that Government should actively facilitate and promote business, that it should create incentives for inward investment, and that it should be an active salesman of the unique advantages of this destination is likely to be an idea that is less popular than efforts to create and promote a robust and expansive revenue collection regime. From all indications it appears that we need to get used to the idea of having Government’s hands deep inside our pockets and then being hunted down and treated as crooks and criminals if there is a shortfall in Government revenue.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 15

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

e cost of the SIPT and Civil Recovery Team I am pleased to see that the Chair and other members of the Consultative Forum (“CF”) have finally begun to question the considerable expenditure of the TCI Government (“TCIG”) on the Civil Recovery and Special Investigation and Prosecution teams (“CRSIPT”).

Every dollar that is spent on CRSIPT is a dollar that can be spent on education, healthcare, and on redeploying the many workers than Government intends to make redundant in its rightsizing exercise.

Much good can be done with the money that we are spending on CRSIPT and, at an admitted expenditure of almost a million dollars a month, an audit of CRSIPT is long overdue, and the people of this country along with the Consultative Forum and Advisory Council must “demand” one. It is our money and we have an absolute right to know how every dollar of it is being spent.

While I welcome the new perspective of some members of the Consultative Forum, their objections have entirely missed the real issues.

Instead of asking the U.K. to cover the costs of the CRSIPT we must, instead, ask whether we are, as the Governor is suggesting, getting value for money. We must demand answers to whether the considerable costs of the CRSIPT is reasonable and necessary.

Someone needs to publically answer how much it is costing the TCI public to accommodate the CRSIPT at the Veranda (a five star resort!) and let’s be clear about it. This type of lavishness at the public’s expense is an abuse, it is unprecedented, and it is an example of the very practice that the current Governor is so keen to criticize when referring to local Government.

Let us also be clear that if CRSIPT’s accommodation expense is unreasonable it is not sufficient for the Governor to say that CRSIPT’s expenses will be recovered several times over by what they collect. These are the public’s funds and the Governor must account for how he is spending it. The Government’s response to that question to date has been patronizing and less than forthcoming, which is that Government has worked out a very good rate with the Veranda. A very interesting response when you consider that the carrying cost alone for accommodation at the Veranda, even if the developer is giving it to Government at its costs, is around $14.00 to $16.00 a square foot per annum, a considerable sum when compared to reasonable alternatives like Leeward Landing and the Golf Course apartments, or even better, the many debt ridden rental properties that are owned by residents and that have been left vacant in the wake of the collapse of the construction industry. That is not even to mention the considerable nightly rates that the

BY PETER FORBES

cheapest rooms at the Veranda fetch, particularly at this time of year.

In what other country, if any, is an investing team being accommodated in a five star ocean front resort? Why are we, as broke as the Governor and his team of experts claim we are, the first to allow it (and why is most of our press mincing their words, and not clearly pointing out hypocrites for what they are)?

If Government is indeed getting a sweet heart deal, as it has suggested, what is the true cost of such a deal?

Most resorts are now running at very high occupancy rates (indeed most were full during the Christmas and New Year period and had to turn guests away). That is not only a loss of revenue for the Veranda but it is also a loss of accommodation taxes for the country, as some guests would have most likely had to go elsewhere for the Christmas period. If a resort manager in this environment is giving Government resort accommodation at a considerable discount, that makes no financial sense for the resort and the public must be told what is the real cost?

Is the manager or developer of the Veranda getting some form of concession in payment for the sweetheart deal? Has the SIPT been reluctant, for instance, to investigate the developer or the property manager of the Veranda, who had a very close relationship with the administration they are currently investigating and who now, apparently, also has a very cozy relationship with this current Administration?

That might seem a scandalous and far-fetched suggestion, but don’t believe for a minute that inappropriate arrangements are the exclusive domain of local Governments. The last Governor, for example, entered into a sweetheart deal for the long term lease of Crown land adjacent to the Providenciales airport to an entity owned by, among others, the father of his goddaughter and a person with whom he had a very close personal relationship. That group, however, had absolutely no financial resources to execute on the arrangements they entered into with the Governor.

Instead, they flipped the majority of the equity in the company holding the benefits of the agreement to foreign investors.

This type of “empowerment” was of course the official policy of local Governments and the principal justification for the Commission of Inquiry and CRSIPT and, while you may or may not take issue with it, there is little substantive difference between securing freehold title to Crown land and flipping that asset and securing long leasehold title to

Crown land and flipping the majority of the equity in that asset. I highly doubt the former Governor was paid a kickback for the arrangement, but in both cases a public resource is being disposed of at an undervalue by Government, principally for the benefit of connected individuals, and to the detriment of the country as a whole. Why are these arrangements acceptable for the Governor and the Interim Administration? A proper response to that question would be greatly appreciated?

Accommodation, however, is not the only expense that is apparently abused by the CRSIPT. Reports are that lavish sums are spent on travel, telecommunications, specialist legal support, and other expenditures.

Without a proper audit I acknowledge that those are all rumours but they raise additional questions about the fairness of the process when the prosecution is spending so much on this investigation, and the obligation of Government to guarantee a fair trial. Will that obligation create a contingent liability and require Government to financially assist defendants that can’t afford the same level of expense on their defence, particularly if any apply for legal aid?

That is not even to bring into the mix the manipulation of the legal system.

These are perhaps too philosophical to examine here.

Those are not the only costs, however, worth consideration.

Reports are that the CRSIPT has been questioning foreign purchasers of local real estate, presumably to determine if they are real or if they are merely proxies for gifts to Ministers.

Perhaps that’s not why they are interrogating foreign property owners; maybe they are investigating one of the many wrongs they allege they have uncovered while digging through people’s closets.

Just ask yourself: What is the likely collateral damage of that line of inquiry? What is the likelihood that a foreigner owner of real estate, most of whom value their privacy, will refer friends to purchase property in the TCI or, indeed, purchase second and third properties themselves after being grilled by the CRSIPT about their foreign ownership of land. What is the extent of the collateral damage to the economy of the CRSIPT’s investigation and can we afford that type of damage? Do these people even care?

Further, if no one has picked up on it there is a subtle, if not overt, suggestion in all of this that corruption is so pervasive and widespread in the community that it is a cultural and social norm that generally characterize the local population. At the level at which the Court is rubber stamping licenses for the SIPT to go rummaging through people’s closets, in the form of Production Orders, you would expect that we are all corrupt. What is the

short term collateral damage of having a reputation of being corrupt to the bone.

The Governor has suggested that Government will be recovering several times the expenditure of the CRSIPT against those that have been accused and that will be accused.

Even if he is correct that does not license the CRSIPT to a free for all at the public’s expense nor does it remove the need for an audit into the reasonableness of their expenditure.

For starters we have to pay for the CRSIPT’s extraordinary expenditure today, with only a hope of recovering an equivalent sum in the future.

More importantly, in addition to assuming that we are all corrupt, does the Governor also assume that we are also all stupid? At a minimum anticipated expenditure of $33,000,000.00 the Governor is suggesting that Government will recover at least $66,000,000.00 from those who have been accused and who will be accused. Is the Governor serious?

Despite the utter inappropriateness of those comments from someone with absolute power has the Governor considered what equity there might be in assets that could be available for forfeiture?

What is the likelihood, for instance, that individuals, who the Governor claims have been financially reckless and has left the country in considerable debt, have been better guardians of their own personal affairs?

Or perhaps the Governor is including in his reckless calculations inappropriate valuations on properties like Joe Grant Cay (ie $130,000,000.00, a sum that no one has come close to paying for any Island in this region, let alone one that is totally undeveloped and far away from any utilities). If the Governor is indeed including such ridiculous estimates in his calculations it is imperative that the public know the true likely cost of the CRSIPT, whose rumination apparently also includes a provision for payment based on a percentage of the assets that they recover. If those rumours are correct, and if the Governor is making such utterly reckless estimates, the likely annual cost of the CRSIPT is wholly unreasonable. It certainly isn’t $11,000,000.00 a year given such wild and utterly ridiculous estimates.

With all that said, who exactly are the members of the CRSCIPT connected to because this makes very little sense, on any criteria?

I can only hope that no one is accepting for one second what the Governor says. If he represents the caliber of individual that the UK is sending here to help us out of this mess we can do much better cleaning it up ourselves. The Advisory Council, at a minimum, should be demanding detailed monthly expense reports and should be critically questioning the extraordinarily large expenditure on the CRSIPT for such a small country.

Page 16

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Veranda is currently seeking qualified candidates that have the requirements listed along with an outgoing professional manner. Our ideal candidates must love to work with different types of people, meet challenges with a positive attitude and live the standards of our organization.

LAUNDRY AND KITCHEN EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN

Job Purpose: To service, repair and maintain all Laundry and Kitchen Equipment, so as to ensure operation and functionality encounter minimum or no down time.

Key Responsibilities and accountability: • Display, effectively communicate, and hold self and all employees accountable to our Credo, Basic Standards and our Lifetime Experience Steps • Complete data log of all Laundry and Kitchen Equipment • Carry out day to day routine equipment checks and PM as scheduled • Data entry of all equipment status and operating parameters into master database • Troubleshoot and Repair all breakdowns in a timely manner • LPG /Electric equipment and their system functions • Provide Detail information on findings and/or repair and replacement of all equipment • Self driven, result oriented with a positive outlook, and a clear focus on high quality service and performance. Mature, credible and critically assesses own performance.

Basic Requirements: • Trade Institute technical training with minimum of 6 years working with laundry and kitchen equipment • Excellent writing and verbal communication skills, • Know and understand the fundamental principles of gas/electric designed systems, • Ability to read schematic diagrams proficiently. Candidate must be able to perform electrical equipment troubleshooting and maintenance. Extensive Knowledge of spark igniters, thermocouple, and electronic gas valves is required.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE:

You will assist the Director of Finance to supervise all members of the Accounting Department, provide functional guidance to Executive Committee and Department Heads, interact with hotel's legal counsel, insurance companies, tax consultants, auditors, commercial and government banks to effectively control the assets of the business and to provide business support.

Key Responsibilities • Assists and provides financial guidance in the formulation and implementation of Hotel Business, Plan, Budget and Key Performance Objectives.

• Ensures an up to date cash flow projection is maintained and maximises cash flow performance of the hotel through controls on inventory, credit and collection, disbursements, deposits and remittances.

• Ensures excess cash is managed to maximise earning potential.

• Prepare outlooks for forthcoming months and forecasts for the remainder of the year.

• Prepare monthly position of actual results against budget, analyse & recommend to Executive Committee measures required to meet budget.

• Prepare consolidation quarterly position assessments for the Executive Committee.

• Distributes outlook and forecast information as an up to date management tool for operating departments.

• Implement and review financial controls and policies.

• Analyse financial and management reports.

• Employ adequate internal control procedures to ensure correct authorisation for payment procedures.

• Manage internal and external audits when they occur.

• Follow up on all capital expenditures to ensure compliance with original justification.

• Ensure all accounts are reconciled on monthly basis, review and approve those reconciliations.

Basic Requirements • 2 -3 year experience in a similar position • Bachelor of Business, Accounting, Finance or Commerce.

• Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) qualifications desirable.

• Excellent knowledge of hotel accounting software(s).

• Basic knowledge of hotel reservations system(s).

• Basic knowledge of hotel point of sales system(s).

• Negotiation and effective presentation skills Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience Interested persons may contact our Human Resource Manager No later than January 19, 2012 Email: deleria.simms@verandatci.com Or hand deliver to our office at Veranda Resort and Residences Princess Dr. Lower Bight, Providenciales

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 17

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Chief Crown Counsel JoAnn Meloche gets Deputy Director of Public Prosecution appointment

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

JoAnn Meloche, who was appointed by the government some three years ago as Principal Crown Counsel in charge of Criminal Prosecution in the Attorney General Chambers has now been appointed Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions designate.

Meloche, who confirmed the appointed to The SUN, said for now, she would still be working out of the Attorney General Chambers.

Meloche’s appointment came in line with government’s attempt to move through legislation to establish an office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), in a bid to strengthen the judiciary in the Turks and Caicos and to make it more effective.

In response to questions posed during a post Advisory Council press briefing on Wednesday, January 11, at the office of Disaster Management in Providenciales, His Excellency Governor Damian Roderick “Ric” Todd said steps were being taken to advance legislation to establish a DPP

JoAnn Meloche

office in the TCI. Meloche, a Canadian, told The SUN that following the end of her contract, she was offered the position by the Government.

“My previous position when I first came here; I was the Principal Crown Counsel (in charge of) criminal (prosecution). Every department in the Attorney General’s Chambers has a principal crown counsel, and I was the criminal crown counsel for the criminal section.

A MAID

ANTOINETTE PEAN Is looking for Salary: $5.00 per hour Work 5 days per week Contact: 343-1263 Deluxe Business Centre Requires

1 Qualified Technician

Must have over fifteen years experience in the repairs of all business machine repairs and electronics.

Person must hardworking and honest needed to work Mon-Fri with some weekends required.

Salary $8.00 per hour Contact 941-5190

Maitre D’

Busy Provo Restaurant needs a Job Requirements: •Minimum of 2 years experience in similar position.

•Must be computer & P.O.S system literate.

•Wine knowledge & bar skills essential.

• Experience in F.O.H training a bonus.

• Job requires a six days work week including weekends & public holidays Please send resumes to: PO Box 782, Providenciales or email magnolia@tciway.tc BELONGERS NEED ONLY APPLY

Small Retail Store seeking a

RETAIL SALES CLERK $6.00 per hr, hours 9-10, mon - sat.

Call 2417278

“My three-year contract expired, and then they offered me to come back, and in recognition for the change in the new legislation that’s coming up, I was given the position,” Meloche explained.

She told The SUN that her office will remain under the purview of the Attorney General’s Chambers until the new legislation to establish the DDP office is passed. The creation of the position effectively phases out the position of principal crown counsel in charge of crime in the Attorney General’s Chambers, and so, when the DPP is fully established, the Attorney General Chambers will no longer be in charge of that prosecution arm. ”It is still under the ruberk of the Attorney General Chambers until such time as division is actually made when the Constitution is implemented, and that division is actually carried out. But for the time being it is still operates under the Attorney General,” Meloche explained.

An office of the Director of Public Prosecution is in charge of all the prosecution carried out in a country, and so, she will be in charge of all public prosecution in the Turks and

Caicos Islands.

“So the previous position of Principal Crown Council in charge of criminal prosecution; there is no longer such position, but I am still in charge of criminal prosecution,” she further pointed out.

Explaining her new role, Meloche said that her office is designed to prosecute overall criminality and not just persons in public offices.

“Whenever you hear the name ‘Public Prosecution’, it is in relation to who is prosecuting. We prosecute for the public. My position is that, I am to serve the public. And so, what we do is prosecute any criminal offense. The police would investigate, and they bring the charges to us, and then we prosecute.

“There is such a thing as private prosecution; so you, yourself, as private citizen, if you want to charge somebody else and the police are not investigating or weren’t going to do it, you have a right to bring a private prosecution. You are not acting for the Government, you are acting in your own capacity as a private citizen,” she said.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC ANNOUNCMENT FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT OF TCINVEST

The public is hereby advised that until further notice the offices of TCInvest in Grand Turk and Providenciales remain open for business during regular business hours.

Please note further that all debtors to TCInvest are required to continue making regular payments on their indebtedness with the Agency, at the respective office in Grand Turk or Providenciales.

Management and staff look forward to serving you with the same level of customer service that you have become accustomed to over the years and we apologize for any inconvenience you may experience in dealing with the Agency during the transition period, as outline by the press release issued by TCIG on Tuesday January 10.

Please be guided accordingly.

Management TCInvest

Page 18

AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

POSITION AVAILABLE

Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking a suitably qualified applicant to fill a post on Ambergris Cay. The available post is for a

MECHANIC

The Gansevoort Turks & Caicos a Wymara Resort is actively looking to fill the following positions:

• Ability to trouble shoot & repair Hydrostatic & Hydraulics • Ability to repair both aspects of power generators: mechanical and electrical • Perform routine maintenance of power generators • Trouble shoot & repair diesel fuel injection system • Chassis repair, including springs, shock & drive shaft

The applicant must be able to perform the tasks given by the GM, briefs and updates him daily; Well organized, articulate, confident and friendly, take initiative and be a problem solver; Applicant must have experience in administrative support; project management & report development. Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office; excellent communication skills; must have the ability to multitask and remain calm under pressure. A degree in hospitality Management will be an asset.

Daily tasks will include, but are not limited to:

GOLF CART MECHANIC:

• Keep golf carts available for use by conducting inspections through preventive maintenance.

• Maintain golf carts condition by reviewing shop orders; listening to operators’ complaints; repairing failures.

• Must be able to work and repair a 1-2 stroke engine.

• Must be familiar with Yamaha and Kubota engines.

• Must keep records of all repairs and services to carts.

• Maintain appearance by cleaning and painting.

• Must keep a clean working environment; keep shop equipment operational by calibrating electrical test equipment; following operating instructions; troubleshooting breakdowns, maintaining supplies, performing preventive maintenance and follow-ups.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS: 1. High School Diploma or equivalent required.

2. Minimum of 3 to 5 years experience as a Mechanic, preferably with Yamaha/Suzuki and Kubota engines.

3. Must possess some knowledge of computer literacy.

4. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

5. Have good working knowledge of electrical, hydraulics, and HVAC Systems 6. Have ability to troubleshoot and make necessary repairs to equipment SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT: 1. Must be attentive to details, reliable, hard working and enthusiastic 2. Must be able to work under little or no supervision 3. Must produce a clean Police Record and TCI Driver’s License 4. Will be required to work and live on Big Ambergris Cay with rotated weekends off Salary scale: $40,000 to $50,000 per annum Closing Date for Applications is Wednesday January 13th, 2012 Applications must be in writing addressed to: Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd Unit 51, Salt Mills Plaza, Grace Bay Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands E-mail: heather.allen@ambergristci.com Tel: (649)-941-3777 Fax: (649)-941-3778

ROSEMARIE HIGGS SEEKS

1 LABOURER SALARY $5.00 PER HOUR CONTACT 242-6014

QUALITY SUPERMARKET

Is recruiting an experienced Manager to manage the entire business activities of quality supermarket ltd. Suitably qualiied belongers who possess the requirements listed are encouraged. Salary is based on the experience and the qualification.

MANAGER

Suitable candidate must have 10+ years of experience in the business management - Must have degree from a reputed university preferably in area of business/science or maths Must have an extensive experience and knowledge of preparing business plans and budget - Must have extensive experience in managing foodservice business - Must have experience in working with POS systems - Extensive knowledge working with QuickBooks Pro is must - Must possess a strong IT & HR background - Must be Fluent in English.

Managing Director Quality Supermarket Limited Leeward Highway Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands Tel:941-7929

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER.

CORPORATE HOTEL MANAGER The Applicant must have at least 3 to 5 years experience in New York City as a Department Head in a Luxury 5 Star Resort. The hotel manager must be responsible to the General manager on Property and the Corporate Office of Gansevoort Resort in New York.

The Corporate Hotel manager must be responsible for: • Upholding the Corporate Brand standards and policies and that they are being followed and plans are being implemented; • ensuring security is effective; • carrying out inspections of property and services • day-to-day management of the hotel and its staff. Planning, organizing and directing all hotel services, including front-of-house (reception, concierge and housekeeping. dealing with guest complaints and comments; • addressing problems and troubleshooting; The applicant must be able to speak a second language French, Spanish or Portuguese. Applicant must also be familiar with the Opera, Ovos and Concierge Assist operating systems.

SPA MANAGER

The Applicant must possess a degree in Business Management and have no less than 4 years experience in various recordkeeping, conducting promotional campaigns, maintaining stock inventories and payroll management.

Applicant must be responsible for hiring, training and supervision of staff. Create weekly work schedules, train new employees and arrange staff workshops on new techniques and procedures.

All Resumes must be sent to HR@Wymara.com

WEST BAY CLUB

1 BUTLER SEEKS

Salary $8.00 per hour Interested person should contact 941-8867

Quality Supermarket is recruiting an experienced Freezer/Inventory

Supervisor to supervise and operate the activities. Suitably qualiied belongers who possess the requirements listed are encouraged. Salary is based on the experience and the qualification.

FREEZER/INVENTORY SUPERVISOR

Suitable candidate must have minimum of 4+ years of experience in the same field Must have degree from a reputed university preferably a business management degree Must have an extensive experience and knowledge of preparing or purchase orders Must have extensive knowledge in foodservice business Extensive knowledge working with QuickBooks Pro is must Must be Fluent in English Closing Date : July 27th 2011 Suitably qualified candidates should apply in writing or send resume Monday Friday 9 am - 5 pm Managing Director Quality Supermarket Limited Leeward Highway Providenciales Turks & Caicos Islands Tel:941-7929 Email: qualityfs@alliedcaribbean.com

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

Leadership, Integrity, Loyalty, and the Fab Five

BY RYAN GARLAND SUN CONTRIBUTOR

It’s Official! The Fab Five as they will be now known from this day forth have been selected and since I gave my two cents on the Permanent Secretary situation previously, here is the other ninety eight cents so you can have a full dollar. To recap and for context, I argued that this Administration would be looking for Critical Thinkers to revolutionize the Civil Service going forward. Boy was I Wrong!!! They said they wanted leaders and persons of integrity…

Wrong Again… By the selection of the Fab Five it is clear that this Administration wants what every Administration since the being of time wants above all, loyalty.

Let there be no doubt that the Fab Five are all educated, and have numerous years of management experience and if this was a process for selecting the best managers, this writer would not have as great an issue as I do.

I fail to believe that the persons selected were five of the best Leaders of the thirty three persons who applied for the P/S posts.

Before I review some of the history of each individual member of the Fab Five, please keep this in mind, though the Fab Five and Golden Thirteen (U/S’s to be selected) will be highly paid and should be leaders, this Administration still sees it fit to have at

least one UK Advisor for each Ministry.

I write again, there will be a UK Advisor in each Ministry to help someone who will be making $93,000 and at least two persons making $68,000 before a 10% cut. That’s at least $200,000 being spent on a senior management team for each Ministry and a UK Advisor is seen as still needed!! Foolishness!!! Now do you understand why loyalty is needed to do these jobs?

And now to the Fab Five! I will give Mrs. Susan Malcolm a pass because there is enough literature out there for persons to come to their own conclusions and I knew she would be selected no matter what, because she has the inside track on the Deputy Governor’s Post. Sorry Lillian and Doreen, better luck next time.

Anya Williams. Good selection for PS Finance given that the post is now a junior post, and given that all financial authority is vested in the CFO and whichever advisors that will be running the Ministry of Finance. I am sure Floyd Hall is very proud of her selection! I would like to also congratulate proud poppa Pastor Denis ‘Dundy’ Swann and thank him for his critical role in hyping Civil Servants at the Civil Service March for Justice than abandoning them shortly after. Your silence was deafening after publicly accusing members of OPSM and the PSC of receiving hush money. I guess

Vacancy Announcement

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

Applications are invited for the position of Financial Controller Location: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Education Requirements: Postgraduate degree in Finance, Economics or Accounting Business Experience Requirements: Minimum of 10 years working experience in the Financial Services Industry and a minimum of 7 years experience at a senior management level with wide experience developing and implementing strategic plans, receivership of large resort properties.

Experience in the following areas would be a significant advantage: Banking Operations, Regulatory Reporting, Strategic Financial planning, and Corporate Restructurings.

Salary Range: $60,000 to $100,000 per annum, based on experience.

Belongers only need apply.

Please submit applications to: British Caribbean Bank Limited P.O. Box 270 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Phone:649-941-5028 Email: info@bcbtci.com

your hush money was your daughter being selected as a PS. Good to know you are still a strong P.I.P - Party In Power!!!

Judith Campbell. I fail to see how the PS that oversaw the greatest transfer of crown land into private hands, and which resulted in part the Commission Inquiry, could possibly pass the test! This writer is reliably informed that Mrs. Campbell intended to leave TCIG as early as 2007 to open a Real Estate Company. With whose Land?? PS Natural Resources, opening a Land Company?? Right… Is it true that as PS Health now, she has all of her Provo Apartments being rented by InterHealth Canada? If so, isn’t she suppose to be regulating how InterHealth Canada spends millions of dollars of the public purse? Would this not be a conflict of interest? Whatever the overall plan by the Administration with this selection, you cannot reward bad deeds and expect good to follow, even if it is alleged that that person is now the Star Witness for the SIPT’s forth coming prosecutions.

Wesley Clerveaux. Anybody remember the Chalk Sound debacle that saw home owners building in a National Park? The Director of DECR sits on the Physical Planning Board as an Ex-officio Member and must advise the Board on what building activity can take place in the National Parks. Hint: Residential Homes are not one of them. It was his duty to ensure that no permits were issued before the land was rezoned and

this never happened under the Previous Administration. Anybody remember Star Island? Nikki Beach? Leeward Marina?

Is dereliction of duty is once again being rewarded?

Finally, Clara Gardiner. She is definitely along the loyalty lines as she has been carrying the UK’s water ever since she was made PS Border Control which I suspect will also continue to be her portfolio, given the UK will need a good solider to put the final touches on defining the pathway to Citizenship.

Founded or not, this Administration hired KPMG to audit the Scholarship Program which she had oversight for, for many years. There is an obvious disconnect here, in that in one breathe the Administration distrusts her administering of one program, but because of loyal service all is forgiven.

In conclusion, the Administration has missed an opportunity to change the face of Leadership in the Civil Service by the selection of retreads they themselves called incapable of managing the Civil Service. They have missed a golden opportunity to select instead of persons that possessed the crucial characteristics of Good Leadership, Critical Thinking and yes Integrity. I pray that in spite of my reading of the situation that God lays a positive hand on each member of the Fab Five and inspire them to serve first and foremost for the benefit of the Civil Service and TCI as a whole.

JOSEPH CAMPBELL SEEKS

1 Labourer Salary $5.00 per hour Contact 241-0663

HOLIDAY VILLAGE Is seeking

A LABOURER Weekly Salary: $225.00 Working hours: 6 days per week Please contact: 946-5500

BAY BISTRO SEEKS

1 KITCHEN HELPER Salary $200.00 per week 5 days per week Contact 946-5396

POTWASHER NEEDED

Busy Provo restaurant requires a potwasher. Must be willing to work weekends & public holidays.

Job includes washing pots & dinnerware as well as general cleaning duties.

Pay is $5 per hour.

Please send applications to: PO Box 782, Providenciales or email to magnolia@tciway.tc BELONGERS ONLY NEED APPLY

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LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

General Paper Section 2 - Short Answer Questions Study the map of the Turks and Caicos Islands and answer the questions that follow.

1. a. The Caicos Bank is located to the ________________ of the islands (Southeast / Southwest). b. The main fishing island in the Turks and Caicos is ________________. c. Many immigrants who come to the Turks and Caicos Islands are from these two neighbouring countries, located to the South and Southeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands. d. Name two tourist attractions/historical sites in the Turks and Caicos Islands. e. Identify the different body/bodies of water surrounding the Turks and Caicos Islands.

NORTH

WEST

f. name one island in the Greater Antilles and one in the Lesser Antilles.

EAST

SOUTH

g. I am living in North Caicos and would like to visit my father who works in West Caicos.

In which direction should I travel? h. Name three Cays in the TCI on which you would find a hotel.

2. a. Complete the table below.

b. What is migration? c. Give two reasons who people migrate.

3. Write out what these abbreviations stand for: CDB _______________________________ CANA______________________________ OECS______________________________ UWI______________________________ CARIFTA____________________________ UNICEF_____________________________ CARICOM__________________________

5. a. What was the theme for Education Week 2010? b. What is the title of the theme song for Education Week 2010? c. State two reasons why you think it is important to celebrate Education week.

6. Name the Caribbean countries, their capital and currency to which each of these flags belongs.

PAHO______________________________ CSME______________________________ WHO_______________________________ 4. Complete the chart below by selecting the best/correct word or statement from the list to complete the unfinished statements in the Chart.

Expressions Greater Antilles Caicos Pine Middle Caicos Consultative Forum

Lionfish Hispanola Cedar Computer Central America

GSAT continue next week

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LOCALNEWS NEWS LOCAL

SOLICITORS

Rahman Ravelli Solicitors…

Defending people against fraud and corruption allegations in the TCI and around the world Since investigations began into bribery and corruption allegations in the Turks and Caicos (TCI), Rahman Ravelli Solicitors has been advising current and potential clients in need of expert legal advice.

Rahman Ravelli has spent much of 2011 in detailed legal discussion with the TCI authorities regarding the investigation and the interests of its clients. Our feedback informs us that our clients are most attracted to us by our pro-active handling of litigation and our swift, strong and intelligent legal representation that gets results.

Recently, Rahman Ravelli has again received much sought-after entries in legal guides cataloguing the UK’s and the world’s highest-rated legal firms.

In the world’s most prestigious legal directory, The Legal 500, Rahman Ravelli was rated as an excellent firm specialising in fraud and regulatory matters. It singled out Rahman Ravelli’s founder Aziz Rahman for his “first class and highly experienced’’ handling of cases.

The UK’s most authoritative legal guide, the Chambers UK Guide, said of Aziz Rahman:

“He courts growing recognition as a very bright, dedicated and shrewd tactician who prepares all of his cases to an incredibly high standard.’’

The recognition came after a year in which Rahman Ravelli took on high-profile UK and international clients and successfully represented them in some of the biggest fraud cases.

Last year, Rahman Ravelli secured the acquittal in London of the main defendant in the $0.5 billion Imperial Consolidated case – one of the largest ever investment fraud trials.

The firm has a ten-year track record of success in representing clients of all nationalities in courts around the globe.

Rahman Ravelli continues to build on its huge experience of defending clients all over the world who have faced corruption allegations involving billions of dollars.

With a growing number of national state agencies worldwide now confiscating people’s assets, many people need such representation to defend what is theirs.

Rahman Ravelli is going to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to challenge the UK government’s right to make a person forfeit assets without them

having been convicted of a crime.

This forfeiture is possible under the UK’s Proceeds of Crime Act; upon which the TCI POCA Ordinance was based.

Our pioneering ECHR challenge is typical of our “outside of the box’’ thinking that ensures our clients receive fair treatment.

Rahman Ravelli’s worldwide experience, network of expert partners around the globe and record of success make it the logical choice for people looking for legal representation because of the TCI’s fraud and corruption investigation.

Rahman Ravelli represents clients in cases brought by all manner of UK, US, European and worldwide agencies.

Clients gain the expertise and resources of a big firm and yet also benefit from our personal touch. Our international clients can talk to our staff and can access their lead lawyers 24 hours a day. For each client, we assemble a bespoke legal team and devise the most intelligent, appropriate defence case while keeping the client informed clearly of every development.

Rahman Ravelli. Sharp legal minds with a personal touch.

www.rahmanravelli.co.uk | International 24-hour phone number +44 (0)1422-346666 | E: enquiries@rahmanravelli.co.uk

RAHMAN RAVELLI ADVERTORIAL.indd 1

23/12/2011 10:46

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LOCAL NEWS

Fashion for TCI Youth Development An opportunity is being created by a son of the soil Kazz Forbes and the Edward C.Gartland Youth Center, for young people to learn fashion, style and modeling.

Fashion Designer, Photographer and past student of John Casablanca School of Acting and Modeling; South Florida, Kazz Forbes has agreed to lend his services to the youth over the coming weeks,so that they can discover their creative energies and possibly explore another career options.

The Saint George Fashion House’s Principal Designer will be the facilitator of the Edward C. Gartland Youth Center of Providenciales Fashion Club.

Meeting every Wednesday at the Edward C.Gartland Youth Center, the four (4) weeks long Fashion Club program will commence January 11th and end with a fashion show on February 4th.

Mr. Forbes says, “The program will teach basic fashion and style, print and runway modeling, whilst providing an after school activity for young people. Club members will work on design projects and will be given an opportunity to showcase their

Models in Saint George Fashion House Holiday 2011-12 Collection - Brianna Williams, Myles Karam, Brittney Bien-Aime and Ashley Smith

creations in a fashion show.”

Mr.Kazz Forbes is a noted fashion and commercial photographer and fashion designer based in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Forbes has completed campaigns and projects for Digicel TCI, TCI Top Model Contest &

Fashion Extravaganza, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, Jockey, Miss Earth Canada Organization, MTV UK, Bahamas Islands of the World Fashion Week, Mrs. Bahamas Pageant, Miss Turks & Caicos Universe, Mrs. Turks & Caicos Pageant,Montreal Mode & Fashion Festival, Nu Woman

Magazine, Profile 98 Magazine and Royele Model Management, to name but a few. His work has appeared in countless publications, broadcast, print and digital media.

Forbes’ work is featured on: www.SaintGeorgeFashionHouse.com and www.KazzForbes.com

Bryan Ferry marries Amanda Sheppard at Amanyara Resort in Turks and Caicos Islands

Bryan Ferry and Amanda Sheppard

Bryan Ferry has married his girlfriend, Amanda Sheppard, in a private wedding ceremony on the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The 66-year-old singer began dating Miss Sheppard, 29, in 2009 after being introduced to her by one of his sons.

The wedding took place on January 4 at the exclusive Amanyara resort. The bride wore a white dress by Lanvin, and the groom wore a dark blue suit by Anderson & Sheppard.

A spokesman for the Roxy Music star said it was a “simple private ceremony”.

Ferry and his first wife, Lucy Helmore, divorced in 2003 after 21 years of marriage. They have four sons: Merlin, Tara, Isaac and Otis. The singer’s romantic history includes a relationship in the 1970s with Jerry Hall, who famously left him for Sir Mick Jagger.

Explaining the age gap in his current relationship, Ferry said: “You never meet people your own age who aren’t married. Unless they are divorcees knocking about, that sort of thing.”

He has not ruled out having children with Miss Sheppard, a fashion PR and party organiser, saying only: “Oh, I never feel comfortable predicting the future.”

The singer was hospitalised after a heart scare last year, but said he now feels fitter than ever.

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LOCAL NEWS

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HIGHLIGHTS

•Jay Z celebrates new baby with a song •Snoop Dog faces drug charges

se to me Lying here with you so clo lings It's hard to fight these fee breathe when it feels so hard to nt Caught up in this mome ile sm Caught up in your ne I never open up to anyo So hard to hold back my arms when I'm holding you in s We don't need to rush thi w Let's just take it slo Chorus the moonlight Just a kiss on your lips in rning so bright Just a touch of the fire bu thing up I don't want to mess this far I don't want to push too t you just might Just a shot in the dark tha iting for my whole life be the one I've been wa just a kiss goodnight So baby I'm alright with s a little time I know that if we give thi the love we wanna find to r se clo us ing br ly on l it'l It's never felt so real No it's never felt so right

Chorus Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight Just a touch of the fire burning so bright I don't want to mess this thing up I don't want to push too far Just a shot in the dark that you just might be the one I've been waiting for my whole life So baby I'm alright with just a kiss goodnight No I don't want say goodnight I know it's time leave but you'll be in my dreams Tonight Tonight Tonight Chorus Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight Just a touch of the fire burning so bright I don't want to mess this thing up I don't want to push too far Just a shot in the dark that you just might be the one I've been waiting for my whole life So baby I'm alright with just a kiss goodnight Let's do this right with just a kiss goodnight With a kiss goodnight A kiss goodnight

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LOCAL NEWS

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Beyonce’s baby Blue Ivy Carter gets a song from her daddy Jay-Z Blue Ivy Carter, Beyonce and Jay-Z's much-anticipated baby girl, arrived over the weekend and is already making major headlines.

Monday morning saw the release of "Glory," a tribute track from Jay wherein he reveals an excessively adorable amount of excitement over his firstborn -- and that Beyonce suffered a miscarriage before Blue was conceived.

"Last time the miscarriage was so tragic / We was afraid you'd disappear but naw / Baby, you magic," Jay says on the track. The musician born Shawn Carter also mentions "false alarms and false starts / all made better by the sound of your heart."

Now that Blue is here, all is well - and delivered naturally, despite rumors of a C-section. A small sample of her crying appears on "Glory," which we totally qualify as her musical debut. So we should get used to her name, one that's generated much social media commentary and analysis.

The color blue is heavily associated with Jay's career -- from his trademark blue fitted Yankee cap to his earlier series of smash records, "The

Beyonce and Jay-Z

Blueprint." Ivy, suggests the New York Daily News, is taken from "IV," the Roman numeral representing the number 4. Bey and Jay have long been obsessed with the number, as both were born on the 4th and got married on that date. Beyoncé's latest solo LP, her fourth, was titled "4." We think you're getting the picture.

Now, in grand tradition for this chart-topping pair, the good news is always sprinkled with a bit of drama.

Pastor Joel Osteen to Oprah: Homosexuality is sin- but gay people will get into heaven Pastor Joel Osteen has made a name for himself as a positive and uplifting minister who focuses in on life’s pleasantries.

Despite his wild popularity, he‘s also frequently criticized by some who feel he doesn’t address some of the more nitty-gritty issues that exist in both the secular and religious worlds.

When it comes to sin — something Osteen clearly believes in but rarely discusses in his sermons — the faith Pastor Joel Osteen leader is often targeted for not addressing the issue upfront and regularly. On Sunday evening, Oprah Winfrey interviewed Osteen on her new program, “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” where he delved deeply into his views on homosexuality and sin.

“Will a gay person be accepted into heaven, as you see it?,” Oprah asked the famed pastor. “I believe they will,” he responded. “Sometimes we look at gay being a bigger sin than being proud or not telling the truth. I don’t think God categorizes sins.”

Osteen made it clear that he believes homosexuality is sinful.

But Oprah pushed him a bit harder to solidify his stance, asking, “Does that mean that you’re saying that you believe that being gay is a sin?”

“I believe that homosexuality is shown as a sin in the scripture,” he responded. “Oprah, it’s a hard thing in a sense, because I’m for everybody. I’m not against anybody. I don’t think anybody’s second class,” Osteen continued, as he explained that the bible’s message on the matter, in his view, is clear.

One other new parent alleged that access to his child was limited because of the security surrounding Blue and her visitors. "People don't need to be treated like this when dealing with sick children," the angry father told a New York CBS affiliate. He alleged that a hallway giving access to the neonatal intensive care unit, which is reserved for care of premature babies, had been closed to accommodate the star party.

Lenox Hill is denying this.

"No security plan that we or the Carters' security team put in place would have prevented or delayed families from gaining access ... and to date, no families have complained to the hospital about being denied access to the NICU," the hospital said in a statement.

Then there's the case of Beyonce's former Destiny's Child bandmate Michelle Williams, who decided to deliver her congratulations in a form other than Twitter. And that didn't go over well.

After badgering messages from fans who demanded she praise Bey and Blue, Williams struck back by explaining her warm wishes would be made in person.

"I do NOT have to say congrats to someone when they're NOT on twitter...ESPECIALLY when I talk or email them all the time....or when I'll be physically present as well...so [sic] harrassing and stalking my timeline to see if I've mentioned something is POINTLESS!!! My friendship with people aren't always for twitter display," Williams wrote.

Snoop Dog hit with minor drug charge in Texas EL PASO, Texas — Rapper Snoop Dogg is facing a minor drug charge in Texas after border agents say they found several joints on his tour bus.

Hudspeth County sheriff's office said in a statement that Snoop Dogg, whose name is Calvin Broadus, was arrested Saturday at the Sierra Blanca highway checkpoint and cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor typical in cases involving small amounts of marijuana.

According to the sheriff's office, a border agent smelled marijuana smoke coming from

the bus and ordered everyone off so that a dog could inspect the vehicle. A prescription bottle with several marijuana cigarettes was found in a trashcan, and more marijuana was found in two other containers. In all, 0.13 pounds of the drug were found.

Broadus admitted the drug was his and was released, the sheriff's office said.

County Judge Becky Dean Walker says paraphernalia citations are typically handled by justices of the peace in the county and that they are resolved by a no contest plea and a mailed-in fine of up to $500.

Michelle Obama defends her strong support for her husband WASHINGTON- First lady Michelle Obama is challenging assertions she has forcefully imposed her will on White House aides and says people have inaccurately tried to portray her as "some kind of angry black woman."

Mrs. Obama tells CBS News she has not read New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor's new book that characterizes her as a behindthe-scenes force in the Executive Mansion, whose strong views often draw her into conflict with President Barack Obama's top advisers.

"I never read these books," she told CBS's Gayle King in an interview broadcast Wednesday. "So I've just gotten in the habit of not reading other people's impressions of people."

In the book, Mrs. Obama is said to have occasionally bristled at some of the demands and constraints of life in the White House.

In the interview, Mrs. Obama said, "I love this job. It has been a privilege from day one."

"Now there are challenges," she added.

"If there's any anxiety that I feel, it's because I want to make sure that my girls (Malia and Sasha) come out of this on the other end whole."

The Kantor book portrays a White House where tensions developed between Mrs. Obama and former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and former press secretary and presidential adviser Robert Gibbs.

The book, titled "The Obamas," describes Mrs. Obama as having gone through an evolution from struggle to fulfillment in her role at the White House, while labeling her an "unrecognized force" in pursuing the president's goals. Neither the president nor his wife agreed to be interviewed for the book.

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LOCAL HIGHTLIGHTS Stay tuned next week

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NEWS

For our new coloured comics Soap opera previews

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FUN & GAMES LOCAL NEWS

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FUN & GAMES LOCAL NEWS

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HIGHLIGHTS

• IMF Delegation headed to Jamaica • Redjet plans more routes Haiti’s President Martelly: “There is much to do”

Taiwan gave former St Lucia Government MPs $1million a year, claims Prime Minister Kenny Anthony CASTRIES, St Lucia - Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony says he is not convinced that Taiwan is willing to co-operate and provide full disclosure of the use of the funds it provided to the former Stephenson King administration here.

However he said the final decision on the future diplomatic relations will be made following general elections in Taiwan on Saturday.

“My general impression is that the Taiwanese would be unwilling to do so for the very simple reason that they know full well it would be tantamount to admitting that there was illegal behaviour in St. Lucia, so we will have to resort to other means to secure the information,” Anthony said.

Prime Minister Anthony commenting on weekend talks with Taiwan’s visiting Foreign Minister Timothy Yang said that he is convinced that there were protocol and procedure breeches in Ambassador Tom Chou’s tenure in St. Lucia.

Anthony said that he was not pleased with the response to his government’s formal request for

St. Licia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony

“frank and full disclosure” of monies made available to the former administration.

He said that for the past four years, Taiwan had been engaged in the unusual practice of giving every parliamentarian one million EC dollars (US$37,037) to spend in their respective constituencies, as part of a programme that was totally unregulated.

“This means that the

parliamentarians could select their own contractors for the various jobs and they were paid directly by the Taiwanese who claimed that managing the funds through the Consolidated Fund was too cumbersome, which has to be utter nonsense,” the Prime Minister said.

He said although the request was made for transparency, he has little faith that there will be full cooperation by Taiwan, adding that he remains adamant that his administration will not tolerate corruption particularly by agencies that are supposedly on friendly terms with the country. “…that will be a factor that we will have to take into consideration going forward because any country that does not co-operate in another country to protect illegal and unlawful behaviour would be marked against the friendship extended by that country.

“We have made it absolutely clear that we will not tolerate or accept corrupt and unlawful behaviour, and no country in their establishment of diplomatic ties should so design its support for a country to allow for that kind of behaviour in open defiance of

PLP denies cutting deal with FNM over sale of Atlantis Hotel The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in The Bahamas labelled the claim that it collaborated with the Free National Movement (FNM) in keeping the details of the Atlantis sale from the public "a nonsense assertion", according to a report in the Nassau Tribune.

Denying reports that the PLP has remained silent on the sale of Atlantis, chairman Brave Davis said the party made numerous attempts to see the details of the agreement, which transferred ownership of the Atlantis resort from Kerzner International to hedge fund Brookfield Asset Management.

If they were collaborating with the FNM, "why would we be asking for the deal to be put forward and made public?" Mr Davis asked. "It is a nonsense assertion."

Following the announcement of the agreement, Mr Davis said PLP leader Perry Christie "personally called for the release of the asset and transfer agreement between the two parties."

The four-year management agreement recently came under fire when it was claimed by the

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) that if Kerzner International, which continues to manage the resort, fails to meet annual revenue targets, jobs could be lost.

Earlier this week, the DNA claimed for a second time that a secret understanding exists between the leaders of the two major parties and hit out at PLP leader Perry Christie for not creating a "stink" about the agreement.

At a press conference yesterday, Mr Davis said this is the fourth time the party has called for the details of the agreement to be revealed since the sale of the resort was announced in the House of Assembly on November 29.

"The failure of the government to release this agreement demonstrates that they do not respect Bahamians and do not put the welfare of Bahamians first," he said.

It is not enough for Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to say there will be no jobs lost, as the employees of Atlantis have a right to know what is contained in the terms and conditions of an agreement that will affect them, Mr Davis said.

our laws,” the Prime Minister added.

Anthony said that there has not been any discussion with China on the possibility of resuming diplomatic ties with his Labour administration which was broken following the party’s defeat in 2006.

Last week, Foreign Minister Alva Baptiste said that Castries could within the next few weeks make a definite decision as to whether it wants to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

“We have articulated our concerns to the Taiwanese Foreign Minister about the (behaviour) of his Ambassador during the tenure of the UWP (United Workers Party) administration, and indicated in no uncertain terms that Mr. Chou was too deeply involved in the country’s political affairs.

“The behaviour of the ambassador has not been in keeping with the normal behaviour of diplomats in St. Lucia and certainly that was a concern outlined to the Foreign Minister, Baptiste told reporters, adding “the issue of diplomatic relations is a serious one and government does not intend to drag its feet in making a decision,” he said then.

He added: "We call on the government to come clean. Bahamians want to know if there are any guarantees to protect and preserve their jobs, wages and benefits."

When announcing the $175 million debt-forequity swap, which saw Brookfield assume ownership of the Atlantis and One&Only Ocean Club in late November, the government insisted the new owners had no plans to make staff cuts and would continue to make the same level of investment in the second largest employer in the country, as prior to the sale.

Responding to claims over the weekend, president and managing director of Kerzner International Bahamas Limited George Markantonis reiterated the statement made by Mr Ingraham that no employees will be laid off as a result of the ownership transfer of the Atlantis resort from Kerzner to Brookfield Asset Management of Canada.

He said: "As the Prime Minister has stated before there will be no employee layoffs as a result of this transaction. The same management team continues to operate the property and, as always, the employment of labour will be based on the general global economy and, more specifically, how our occupancies are impacted..

We believe there are positive signs the trend will be upward, but time will tell," said Mr Markantonis.

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JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

CARIBBEAN NEWS

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit wins dual citizenship case ROSEAU, Dominica- High Court judge Gertel Thom Tuesday dismissed election petitions filed by the defeated candidates of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) challenging the nomination of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and his education Minister Peter Saint Jean to contest the 2009 general election.

In a 49-page ruling read out by Justice Brian Cottle, the two government ministers were cleared of any wrong doing on Election Day. In an immediate reaction Prime Minister Skerrit said that he was “humbled by the court ruling” adding that “we always felt that we were properly and legally qualified to contest the election.”

Lawyers for the UWP leader Ron Green and Maynard Joseph have already indicated that they will appeal the ruling.

The two opposition politicians had

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit

asked the court to declare that both Skerrit and Saint Jean were illegally nominated to contest the December 2009 general election because they held dual citizenship at the time.

REDjet plans more routes Regional low-fares airline REDjet has cancelled more than 50 flights amid reports of financial troubles. But the airline says it is on budget and on track to deliver new routes and services.

REDjet chairman and chief executive Ian Burns said the current flights in operation put REDjet on budget. "Many of our routes, even though they've only been operational for a short time, are making positive contributions and we've launched service to Antigua, St Lucia and Jamaica," said Burns.

Concern about the company's financial stability arose when an internal memo from the carrier's customer service manager, Roy Norville, was leaked to regional media, stating that 56 flights would be cancelled "for commercial reasons".

The affected flights included stops to Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados.

But Burns said the reasons for the cancellations were to accommodate three new routes, to be launched later this year, and also to improve flight times for consumers.

"Flights are being cancelled but most are being put to a new flight time. Our market research shows that it was inconvenient for people to make it to the airport during high traffic times, especially in Trinidad and Jamaica," Burns said.

He added that the changes will take place from March 1 and will have increased capacity, better flight times and frequency.

Concerns were raised last November about the airline needing a cash injection of Bds$8 million (US$4million).

Ralph 'Bizzy' Williams, the company's largest Barbados investor, had accused the Barbados government of sabotaging the airline's progress through excessive delays and Bds$8 million which was invested for operating expenses in the initial months of the business had to be used elsewhere.

"Our shareholder was very clear that the (Barbados) government did not keep their commitment to regularising the airline, so why should any REDjet investors invest in the country when the country wasn't holding its end of the bargain. We are satisfied that they will and we continue to roll out our services, but it is imperative that the investment climate that was promised by the government of Barbados is delivered so we can keep investments on course," said Burns.

“We are not totally surprised but at this time we are hoping to appeal the matter. We have to sit as a legal team and discuss it and we will move from there,” said attorney Geoffery Letang.

In the ruling, the Justice Thom said that the petitioners failed to show evidence that the two men had pledged allegiance to a foreign power or state and failed to show that they were in possession of French passports.

But the judge said she would not award cost based on the national importance of the case.

As the ruling was handed down, supporters of the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) sang “we shall not be moved” and outside the courtroom jubilant Dominica Labour Party supporters sang, “we shall not be moved.”

Saint Jean told reporters that he

was always confident of victory.

“All along we had affirmed that the opposition had failed to prove a case. Today it has demonstrated clearly that Roosevelt Skerrit, Petter Saint Jean and the people of Dominica have finally been vindicated.

“We were always confident that the opposition had failed to prove a case. We see this as a victory for the people of Dominica, this is not about Roosevelt Skerrit and this is not about Petter Saint Jean,” he added.

Several UWP members who were present when the ruling was handed down left the court building without commenting.

But Letang said that the ruling would not affect the moral of the opposition party.

“That’s a decision of the lower court and if one party is aggrieved the next step is to appeal the matter,” he said.

Trinidad Police Service Commission holds urgent meeting to assess performance of Canadian top cops Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Prof Ramesh Deosaran summoned an emergency meeting, scheduled for Friday to discuss and finalise the appraisal/evaluation of Police Commissioner Dr Dwayne Gibbs and two deputy commissioners, Jack Ewatski and Stephen Williams.

In an e-mail sent to all the commissioners, Deosaran stated: "The Police Service Commission is now compelled to call an emergency meeting...to discuss and finalise several urgent matters, most important of all is the appraisal/evaluation of the Commissioner of Police, Dr Gibbs" and the two deputy Commissioners.

"We must strive to maintain the credibility of this commission and earn public confidence in executing our constitutional mandate. This emergency meeting is to help prevent putting the reputation of the commission and its commissioners in undue jeopardy," Deosaran stated.

He added that while the commission had been doing fairly well so far, "there is now, however, a heightened sense of urgency with regard to the proper finalisation of the appraisal report from the PSC Secretariat and the administrative conditions surrounding the delivery of this important report".

The meeting comes as the performance and conduct of the Police Commissioner is being hotly debated. Canadians Gibbs and Ewatski were appointed in September 2010 without the support of the Opposition, which objected to foreigners holding top posts in the Police Service.

Only Tuesday, acting National Security Minister Herbert Volney stated Gibbs was doing a "good job" and criticism against the Commissioner was entirely "unjustified".

The Prime Minister has commended Gibbs' for the job he is doing. Government spokespersons have pointed out that the statistics show there has been a reduction in serious crime during his tenure (and the tenure of the People's Partnership).

However, questions about his independence and ability to withstand pressures from the political administration have been called into question.

Those claiming he has been willing to please his political masters have cited his role in the unsuccessful arrest and detention of over 400 people under the Anti-Gang Act, as well as the detention and release of 17 men held in relation to the alleged assassination plot against the Prime Minister and three other ministers.

Gibbs gave support to the Prime Minister's announcement of the plot, saying the plot was real and the information credible.

On the release of all those held under the Anti-Gang Act, Gibbs said it was a learning experience. Many have held him accountable for such statements.

On Tuesday, secretary of the Police Association Sgt Michael Seales stated: "Right now, the integrity of the Police Service is compromised, and if the commissioner does not have control of this situation, then we would want to say it's time that we recognise that, and we say it's time for him to go because we are seeing this now becoming a debacle."

Gibbs has not commented directly on the reports that a security evaluation report had challenged the validity and conclusions of the intelli- gence report which identified the assassination plot. Both reports would have been received by the Commissioner of Police.

Gibbs also had the misfortune of being out of the country when the State of Emergency was declared in August 2010.

The Government had given him permission to attend a conference in Brazil.

But the Police Commissioner's absence drew adverse comment from many sectors of the community.

Gibbs, a Canadian, was hired at considerable expense in 2010 amid a spiralling crime wave and in accordance with the People's Partnership's election promise to curb crime.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Haiti president Michel Martelly says there’s much to do, concedes mistakes PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitians still have much to do to recover from the 2010 earthquake, President Michel Martelly said Monday, and he conceded to having made political blunders.

His remarks came as he presented his first government report since taking office in May and took on the task of rebuilding from a disaster that officials say killed more than 300,000 people and flattened the capital and surrounding cities.

"We need to help (Haitians) build back better their communities, give them more support, bring them water, infrastructure, electricity, drainage and police," Martelly told his audience of lawmakers and senior officials. "And don't forget to give them the opportunity for them to gain revenue."

But Martelly, a political neophyte before winning the presidency, conceded he had made mistakes in his first few months in office, saying he was "young to power."

"I have to ensure that all three powers are working together," he said, referring to the executive, legislative and judicial branches. "I'm hoping that in 2012 things will work out much better among the three powers."

Martelly began his five-year term by lashing out at lawmakers and they

Haitian President Michel Martelly

responded by rejecting two of his first picks for prime minister, which hobbled struggling reconstruction efforts. It took six months for him to install a prime minister who then put a Cabinet in place.

Relations between Martelly and Parliament plunged after police locked up an opposition legislator without following the law. Some senators and deputies accused Martelly of abusing his authority as president.

The 30-minute report Martelly

presented spelled out the many challenges his government faces as Haiti enters the third year of recovery.

It noted the need for improved security, more jobs and children in school and help for the countryside's farmers.

Martelly said 800,000 Haitians are living without electricity, 500,000 can't read or write, and eight out 10 live on less than $2 a day. Many educated Haitians have left the country, he added.

The president also mentioned how Haiti is run by a very small group of people but didn't single out anyone.

Just 2 percent of Haitians control 69 percent of the economy, he said.

The controversial issue of Martelly's call to restore the disbanded army as a "national defense force" also came up.

Despite opposition from some Western diplomats and rights group, the leader said the new army would patrol Haiti's borders and protect its few remaining forests. A military, he said, would allow Haiti to regain its sovereignty and enable the withdrawal of a U.N. peacekeeping mission that has helped provide stability since its arrival in 2004.

Critics of the army proposal say money to revive the force would be

better spent on strengthening the national police force, which has 8,000 officers in a country of 10 million, or on reconstruction efforts. The army was disbanded in 1995 because of its involvement in coups and other abuses.

The speech came three days before Haiti observes the second anniversary of the quake. Government officials, Western diplomats and humanitarian groups are spending the week promoting their work, but many Haitians are frustrated over what they see as little progress.

The events surrounding last year's anniversary were fewer and more solemn. The country was still in mourning, coping with a contested presidential election that had sparked tire-burning riots, and trying to control a cholera epidemic that had erupted only a few months prior.

The waterborne disease created a parallel crisis to the destruction caused by the earthquake. Health care workers say Haiti now has the highest cholera infection rate in the world.

Nearly 500,000 people have fallen ill and 7,000 have died because of the disease, health officials say. Studies show cholera was likely introduced to Haiti by a U.N. battalion from Nepal, where the disease is endemic.

IMF delegation to arrive in Jamaica Weapons and ammunition seized in Caribbean waters SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – United States Coast Guard crews along with Caribbean Border Interagency Group federal law enforcement authorities seized approximately US$190,000, a semi-automatic weapon and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition from inside a vessel, northwest of Puerto Rico.

A US Customs and Border Protection Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected the vessel late last week approximately 60 miles northwest of Puerto Rico. The vessel had no visible registration, flag or markings.

Coordinating with watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico, CBP personnel intercepted the vessel at sea. A Coast Guard Air Station Miami aircrew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing then diverted to interdict the vessel.

Once aboard the suspect vessel, Cushing’s boarding team located approximately US$190,000, a semi-automatic weapon and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition.

Cushing’s boarding team took custody of the five suspects aboard the vessel, currency and weapon and transported them to the Marine Interdiction Group of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

“The outstanding actions and coordination between Coast Guard Sector San Juan Watchstanders, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing and our DHS partners from Customs and Border Protection and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, were instrumental in preventing this money, weapon and ammunition from reaching the streets and being used to support criminal activities in Puerto Rico,” said Capt. Drew Pearson, Sector San Juan commander

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrives on Tuesday as the Portia Simpson-Miller administration begins the process of re-stating negotiations with the Washington-based financial institution on a multi-billion dollar Stand Bay Agreement signed in 2010.

A statement from the Ministry of Finance said that the delegation will visit Jamaica from January 17 and will meet new Finance Minister Dr. Peter Phillip “to discuss the current status of the economy and the prospects for the medium term”.

It said that “the exploratory meetings with the Fund’s staff will also include discussions on the Government’s priorities, and will aim at identifying the work plan and modalities of a continued formal relationship with the Fund”.

Phillip said that in this connection, the government’s policy preference is for an arrangement that provides sufficient time to nurture a sustainable acceleration of growth, while completing fiscal and other economic reforms.

The IMF approved a US$1.27 billion standby lending facility for Jamaica in February 2010.

The agreement also paved the way for US$1.1 billion in additional credit from other multilateral institutions. The standby agreement expires in May. Soon after winning the December 29th general election, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller said that her new administration would renegotiate the IMF agreement that was signed with the previous Bruce Golding administration.

Cruise ship casinos could be allowed to open in port in Bermuda Bermuda’s Transport Minister Derrick Burgess says Cabinet will consider allowing cruise ships to keep their casinos open while in port .

He told a press conference he would take the idea back to his Cabinet colleagues after it came up during talks with executives from six major cruise lines last month.

A similar plan was rejected by MPs in July 2009, when they voted against a cruise ship gaming bill tabled in the House of Assembly by former Premier and Transport Minister Ewart Brown by 18 votes to 11.

But the One Bermuda Alliance said last night it would likely support new legislation, provided sufficient consultation took place.

Deputy Premier Mr Burgess told the media he met in Florida with officials from Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, MSC,

Carnival and Regent Seven Seas cruise lines to get feedback on Bermuda’s 2011 cruise ship season.

He said executives raised the issue of onboard revenue, adding: “Bermuda is the one of the few ports in the world where ships routinely have multiple night stays and currently the requirement is that the casinos and shops must remain closed while the ships are in port.

“This has a huge effect on on-board revenue. With this in mind, it has been made clear that the on-board revenue is achieved mainly through their casinos and shops.

The Minister suggested allowing the casinos to open between the hours of 10pm and 5am could be an option and said changing the law could persuade some ships to come a day earlier to Bermuda or leave a day later.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Page 35

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mississipi Judge blocks pardons • Obama Chief of Staff quits Gay marriage a threat to humanity - Pope

Panetta condemns video of urination on corpses WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday condemned as "utterly deplorable" a video that purports to depict four U.S. Marines urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters.

He said such behavior is "entirely inappropriate for members of the United States military" and those responsible will be held accountable.

Panetta said he had ordered the Marine Corps and Marine Gen. John Allen, the top commander of the NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, to fully investigate.

The Marine Corps said Wednesday it would investigate the YouTube video but had not yet verified its origin or authenticity. The case has been referred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Navy's worldwide law enforcement arm.

The video, posted on the Internet, shows men in Marine combat gear, standing in a semi-circle over three bodies. It is not clear whether the dead were Taliban or civilians or someone else. The title on the posting called them Taliban insurgents but it was unclear who added that title, Marine Corps officials in Washington said.

The reaction from Afghanistan was angry.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the video as "completely inhumane." The Afghan Defense Ministry called it "shocking." And the Taliban issued a statement accusing U.S. forces of committing numerous "indignities" against the Afghan people.

"First they killed the Afghans with mortars, and they then urinated on

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta

their bodies," Taliban spokesman Still photo captured from the video appears to show four men in uniform looking around before urinating on three dead bodies.

Zabiullah Mujahid said. "We strongly condemn this inhumane action by the with the insurgents, including the Thursday saying, "This disrespectful wild American soldiers." planned opening of a Taliban political act is inexplicable and not in keeping Panetta said the actions, if true, office to oversee talks. with the high moral standards we were inexcusable.

One of the largest obstacles to expect of coalition forces."

"I have seen the footage, and I find peace discussions has been widespread The actions "appear to have been the behavior depicted in it utterly Afghan contempt for U.S. military conducted by a small group of U.S. deplorable. I condemn it in the tactics that many — both Taliban individuals, who apparently are no strongest possible terms," Panetta's sympathizers and not — see as heavy- longer serving in Afghanistan," the statement said. "Those found to have handed. Opposition to the U.S. and International Security Assistance engaged in such conduct will be held NATO military presence in Force said. The statement did not accountable to the fullest extent."

Afghanistan usually centers on civilian identify the personnel or explain why The video came to light at a casualties from military engagement, the ISAF thought they had left the delicate time in relations among the although the vast majority of those country.

United States, Afghanistan's elected deaths are caused by the insurgents.

A spokesman at Camp Lejeune in government and the Taliban Although the video purports to North Carolina would not confirm insurgency fighting for both territorial show Taliban fighters, not civilians, it reports that the Marines were based control and cultural and religious is likely to resonate with those opposed there. "We have had elements of that preeminence in Afghanistan. to the U.S. presence and to peace with unit that have deployed to Afghanistan The U.S. is trying to foster peace the U.S.-backed Karzai government. In and have returned. However, we have talks between the Karzai government his statement, Karzai called on the not yet confirmed if anyone in the and the Pakistan-based Taliban high U.S. military to punish the Marines. video is from that unit, or whether they command, and has made The NATO-led security force in are attached to a unit from Lejeune," unprecedented offers to build trust Afghanistan released a statement said Capt. Scott Sasser.

Natalee Holloway declared legally dead Six and a half years after she vanished in Aruba, Natalee Holloway was declared legally dead Thursday by a judge in Alabama.

Probate judge Alan King made the ruling at the request of Holloway's father. King had ruled in September that Dave Holloway had met the legal presumption of death for his daughter – and King had set Thursday as the deadline for anyone to come forward and prove she didn't die in Aruba.

Holloway's attorney said there has been no new evidence since then.

The court ruling comes just one day after a longtime suspect in Holloway's disappearance, Joran van der Sloot, pleaded guilty to the 2010

murder of another woman, Stephany Flores, in Peru.

Van der Sloot's lawyer said the 24-year-old Dutchman had killed Flores as a result of the "extreme psychological trauma" he'd experienced in the Holloway investigation.

Dave Holloway, in tearful testimony last fall, said he made the request to settle his daughter Natalee's estate and free up funds set aside for her education. Beth Holloway, Natalee's mother and the former wife of Dave, had opposed the request.

"She was not able to, nor has she ever been able to, produce any evidence that Natalee was alive,"

Beth's attorney, John Q. Kelly, told PEOPLE. "Nor has there ever been any evidence produced that she was dead. Beth's position is that if there's that one sliver of hope that she can carry in her heart that Natalee might be alive somewhere, she wants to do that."

But there was another motivation for fighting the declaration, Kelly said.

"Her life's commitment now is working with other families with missing family members. She would lose her credibility with them if she were to give up hope for her own daughter. How could she tell them to give up hope?"

Natalee Holloway

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WORLD NEWS

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Mississippi judge blocks Haley Barbour’s pardons A Mississippi judge barred the state Wednesday from releasing prisoners newly pardoned by former Governor Haley Barbour, a conservative Republican who outraged some by granting clemency to more than 200 convicts as he was leaving office.

The judge's order blocked the release of 21 inmates still serving time when their pardons were announced and who remained incarcerated, the injunction said. It also ordered five others who already had been freed to appear for a hearing later in January.

The judge acted hours after Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood had sought the injunction to prevent the early release of clemency recipients, some of whom were convicted of murder, rape and armed robbery.

Among those pardoned were four murderers who had been allowed to work at the governor's mansion doing

odd jobs because of good prison behavior.

Barbour's office said a minority of those convicts who received clemency remained behind bars and that 90 percent of them were no longer in prison when the pardons were granted.

"The pardons were intended to allow them to find gainful employment or acquire professional licenses as well as hunt and vote," Barbour said in a statement. "My decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases."

Hood, in challenging the pardons issued as Barbour left office after eight years as governor, had told a news conference in Jackson that some of them did not meet the requirements of the state constitution, according to Hood's spokeswoman.

One of those pardoned was the brother of former National Football

League quarterback Brett Favre.

Earnest Scott Favre was convicted in 1996 of driving while intoxicated after a vehicle he was driving crashed and killed his best friend.

Also included were four men convicted of murder and another convicted of armed robbery, all serving life sentences, who worked at the governor's mansion cleaning vehicles, waiting tables and performing other domestic duties.

During his two terms in office, Barbour often clashed with Hood, the state's only statewide elected Democrat.

Hood said during his news conference that many of the pardoned inmates -- including the five who worked at the governor's mansion -- did not meet the constitutional requirement of having published notice of their request for clemency in local newspapers where the crimes were committed.

Obama sending five US military officers to South Sudan WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is sending five American military officers to South Sudan amid recent outbreaks of violence in the newly independent African nation.

The White House said the U.S. forces will join the United Nations mission in the capital of Juba and focus on strategic planning and operations.

They are not expected to engage in combat operations, but will be armed for personal protection.

Obama issued a memorandum Tuesday declaring that the U.S. officers could not be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court during their deployment because South Sudan is not a party to the ICC. The White House said prior

administrations used similar designations when sending U.S. forces to United Nations missions in Haiti and Liberia.

The first of the small group of U.S. forces is expected to depart for South Sudan later this week.

The Pentagon said there were no plans to expand the U.S. contribution to the U.N. mission.

Since gaining independence in July, South Sudan has been beset by internal conflict. Aid groups estimate that 60,000 people have been affected by recent outbreaks of violence, and the U.N. says tens of thousands have fled their homes and are in urgent need of high-nutritional food, clean water, health care and shelter.

Violence also has simmered on the new border

The injunction issued on Wednesday by Hinds County Circuit Judge Tomie Green bars the release of more inmates until the Department of Corrections provides documentation of the required notification.

Barbour, a former National Republican Committee chairman, had considered seeking his party's nomination for president in 2012 but said a White House bid would have claimed a decade of his life considering the long campaign followed by up to eight years in office.

with Sudan. The two countries have not yet agreed to terms to share the region's oil wealth.

In response to the violence, Obama issued a separate memorandum last week giving the U.S. the ability to send weapons and defense assistance to South Sudan.

The U.S. strongly supported South Sudan's drive for independence and sought to boost the fledgling nation, in part through agriculture assistance and private investment. The Obama administration also has authorized American investment in South Sudan's oil sector.

The small deployment of U.S. forces to South Sudan is in contrast to Obama's decision in October to send about 100 U.S. troops to Africa to help fight the Lord's Resistance Army guerrilla group in Uganda and elsewhere in Central Africa.

The bulk of that deployment was of special operations troops to provide security and combat training to African units as they tried to hunt down the LRA's leader, Joseph Kony.

Judge sets mid-February end date for Mubarak trial CAIRO - A Cairo judge gave the prosecution and defense until February 16 to make their cases in the trial of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, accused of killing protesters during the uprising that swept him from power last year.

Mubarak, his two sons, the former interior minister and six senior police officers face charges ranging from corruption to involvement in the deaths of around 850 protesters during the popular revolt that unseated him last February.

Egyptian prosecutors have demanded the death sentence for the man who ruled the Arab world's most populous country for 30 years.

In a spectacle that mesmerized millions of Arabs, Mubarak became the first Arab leader toppled in the wave of Arab protests to appear in person in a courtroom cage when his trial began in August.

The Cairo criminal court judge, Ahmed Refaat, told Tuesday's session that lawyers defending Mubarak and remaining plaintiffs would have a month, starting January 17, to make their case.

Former U.S. Governor Haley Barbour

Farid el-Deeb, the lawyer defending Mubarak and his sons, will begin his defense, which is expected to take five days. He will be followed by the lawyer defending ex-Interior Minister Habib al-Adli, who will take a further six days to make his case.

The court could issue a ruling after the defense makes closing comments on February 16, or it could set a separate date for a verdict and sentencing.

Many Egyptians hope the trial will heal some of the scars of Mubarak's autocratic rule and help the country find stability after nearly a year of political turmoil under the generals who replaced him in power.

But the multitude of witnesses, complexity of charges and the prosecution's difficulty in obtaining evidence from the security services might make it easier for the defense lawyers to push for lighter sentences for Mubarak and his co-defendants.

Both Mubarak, who was forced to step down on February 11, 2011 after 18 days of public protest, and the other defendants deny responsibility for the deaths and other charges.

US orders expulsion of Venezuela’s diplomat in Miami Venezuela's top diplomat in Miami has been declared to be persona non grata and must leave the United States by Tuesday, the State Department said in a statement on Sunday.

The State Department informed Venezuela of the order expelling Livia Acosta Noguera, consul general to Miami, on Friday, the statement said.

The department declined to comment on details behind the decision.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is a strident critic of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.

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JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

WORLD NEWS

Obama Chief of Sta quits earlier than expected WASHINGTON- In a jolt to the White House, President Barack Obama announced Monday that chief of staff William Daley was quitting and heading home, capping a short and rocky tenure that had been expected to last until Election Day. Obama budget chief Jack Lew, a figure long familiar with Washington's ways, will take over one of the most consuming jobs in America.

Daley's run as Obama's chief manager and gatekeeper lasted only a year. It was filled with consequential moments for the White House, like the killing of al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, but also stumbles with Congress and grumbles that Daley was not the right choice to coordinate an intense operation of ideas, offices and egos.

Obama said he reluctantly accepted the news and at first refused to accept Daley's post-holidays resignation letter last week.

Daley did not waver, expressing to his boss a desire to get back to his

family in Chicago, where Daleys have dominated city politics for decades. But he offered no explanation on Monday about what accelerated his decision; he had committed to Obama that he would stay on through the election.

It apparently became clear that the fit was no longer working for either side. Senior adviser Pete Rouse had already taken on more of the day-today management.

Stepping in is the mild-mannered Lew, who began his career on Capitol Hill, where he spent nearly a decade as principal domestic policy adviser to the late House Speaker Tip O'Neill. Lew, 56, has worked for Obama as a deputy secretary of state before becoming budget director, the same position he held in the Clinton administration.

Daley had been brought in for his political savvy, business ties and experience as a commerce secretary.

Yet as an outsider, he did not personally know Obama well, meaning he was forced to figure out the president and run his operation simultaneously. He

did not seem to mesh as the one, more than anyone, charged with ensuring a smooth operation.

The president delivered the other side of the story, describing Daley as highly influential and effective.

White House officials said that to the degree Daley gets blame for any missteps, he also deserves credit for his work during a remarkably demanding year that ended on a high for Obama, with a political victory over House Republicans in getting a payroll tax cut extended.

Obama now plows ahead in an election year with his third chief of staff — one of the most crucial positions in government and politics.

Daley had replaced the colorful and involved-in-everything Rahm Emanuel, who left the job to run for Chicago mayor, a position he now holds. Rouse also served as interim chief of staff for a stretch.

Those following Washington politics had seen this day coming, especially since Rouse took on more of Daley's traditional role in

William Daley

November. Although Obama praised Daley at length for his help on major decisions in 2011, the West Wing had endured private struggles with coordination and communication, particularly with Congress.

Daley, 63, was not pushed out the door, said a Democratic strategist familiar with the decision The timing was driven by Daley's personal reflection, yet it also only would have gotten more awkward for the White House had he not left before Obama's tone-setting State of the Union, said the strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the personnel matter.

Gay marriage a threat to humanity's future: Pope VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict said Monday that gay marriage was one of several threats to the traditional family that undermined "the future of humanity itself."

The pope made some of his strongest comments against gay marriage in a new year address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Vatican in which he touched on some economic and social issues facing the world today.

He told diplomats from nearly 180 countries that the education of children needed proper "settings" and that "pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman."

"This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society.

Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself," he said.

The Vatican and Catholic officials around the world have protested against moves to legalize gay marriage in Europe and other developed parts of the world.

One leading opponent of gay marriage in the United States is New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, whom the pope will elevate to cardinal next month.

Dolan fought against gay marriage before it became legal in New York state last June, and in September he sent a letter to President Barack Obama criticizing his administration's decision not to support a federal ban on gay marriage.

In that letter Dolan, who holds the powerful post of president of the U.S. Bishops Conference, said such a policy could "precipitate a national conflict between church and state of enormous proportions."

The Roman Catholic Church, which has some 1.3 billion members worldwide, teaches that while homosexual tendencies are not sinful, homosexual acts are, and that children should grow up in a traditional family with a mother and a father.

"The family unit is fundamental for the educational process and for the development both of individuals and states; hence there is a need for policies which promote the family and aid social cohesion and dialogue," Benedict told the diplomats.

Gay marriage is legal in a number of European

countries, including Spain and the Netherlands.

Some Churches that have allowed gay marriage, women priests, gay clergy and gay bishops have been losing members to Catholicism, and the Vatican has taken steps to facilitate their conversion.

In 2009, Benedict decreed that Anglicans who leave their Church, many because they feel it has become too liberal, can

Pope Benedict

find a home in Catholicism in a parallel hierarchy that allows them to keep some of their traditions.

The Vatican has since set up "ordinariates," structures similar to dioceses, in Britain and the United States to oversee exAnglicans who have converted and be a point of contact for those wishing to do so.

China says war over Iran will bring world disaster A top Chinese diplomat said war over the Iranian nuclear issue would bring disaster to the world economy and urged all nations involved to exercise restraint and prevent hostilities.

The remarks by Chen Xiaodong, a top Chinese diplomat on Middle Eastern affairs, came as Iran's showdown with the West slid closer to confrontation as alarm over its new uranium enrichment plant and Tehran's death sentence for a "CIA spy" raised the stakes.

"We urge all relevant nations to remain calm, exercise restraint, refrain from taking actions that will intensify the situation and make common efforts to prevent war," Chen said in an online interview with state media.

"Everyone knows that 40 percent of the oil shipped daily to every part of the world goes through the Strait of Hormuz, so once war starts in this region not only will the relevant nations be affected and attacked, it would also ... bring disaster to a world economy deep in crisis."

The International Atomic Energy Agency's confirmation that Iran had begun enriching uranium in a new, underground bunker southwest of Tehran was seized upon by the United States, Britain, France and Germany as an unacceptable "violation" of UN Security Council resolutions.

On Monday, a Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced an American former Marine, Amir Mirzai Hekmati, to death after convicting him of being a CIA spy.

The United States has called for the release of Hekmati, 28, who also holds Iranian nationality through his family who settled in the United States before his birth.

Chen's statement comes as US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner arrived in Beijing for talks expected to be focused on a new set of sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran late last year.

Energy-hungry China -- which relies on Iran for 11 percent of its imported oil supplies -- has repeatedly said sanctions will not resolve the nuclear issue and urged all sides to seek a diplomatic solution through dialogue.

Page 38

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012 JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

POSTIONS AVAILABLE

Grand Turk Cruise Center LTD is currently seeking qualified applicants to fill the following position:

CARPENTER

•Applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in both rough and finish carpentry and be familiar with the safe and efficient operation of most commonly used power tools.

•Shape or cut materials to specific measurements using hand tools, machines or power saw.

•Interpret sketches or basic plans to prepare project layouts and determine dimensions and materials required.

•Build and repair wooden bridges and buildings.

•Build or repair fixtures and fittings used in buildings.

•Erect scaffolding and ladders for assembling structures above ground.

•Repair or replace damaged or defective parts or sections of structures using hand tools.

•Finish surfaces of woodwork or wallboard in buildings using paint, hand tools and paneling.

•Inspect ceiling, floor tile, wall coverings, siding, glass or woodwork to detect broken or damaged structures.

•Knowledge of plumbing and/or masonry would be an asset.

Applicants must be willing to work nights, weekends and holidays.

Must be able to lift min. of 50lbs, speak English and able to work well as part of a culturally diverse team.

SALARY / WAGES BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE. Interested persons should contact: GTCC Human Resources Fax: (649) 946-1041 or E-Mail: admin@grandturkcc.com

INTERISLAND AVIATION SERVICES GROUP

RAMP AGENTS

is seeking

• 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). Salary commensurate with experience.

ONE ELECTRICAL TECNICHIAN

Must have 5-10 years experience Must have wiring certificate Must be able to prepare electrical materials, lay out electrical materials, perform open and short circuit test, install armored cable metal etc..

Salary commensurate with experience.

TWO SECURITY GUARDS

Must have certificate in Security Tactics Must have 5 years experience Salary commensurate with experience.

All positions require the following: • Excellent command of the English language, 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 649-946-4040.

No phone call please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interview

INTERISLAND AVIATION SERVICES GROUP

FIVE BAGGAGE HANDLERS

1.Over 5 years experience in Baggage Handling.

2.Over 5 years experience in maneuvering heavy duty equipment.

3.Experience in general handling of General Aviation.

4.British Airways, JAR OPS, Aircraft loading qualified.

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

RAMP SUPERVISOR

1. Over 5 years experience in Ramp Supervising.

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

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

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

5. US Airways fleet service door opening trainer.

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

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

MUST HAVE Excellent leadership skills Excellent customer service skills Strong work ethics and team player Track record in successful time Management of schedule ground service projects Excellent supervisory, organizational and management skills Excellent computer knowledge

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 649-946-4040.

No phone call please. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interview.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 39

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

• Microsoft surpasses yahoo in searches • Bank of England continues stimulus New super sized smart phone for the US

FDA halts orange juice imports to test for pesticide The U.S. temporarily halted shipments of imported orange juice from all countries and said it would destroy or ban products containing even low levels of a banned fungicide.

The imports will be held while they're tested and may be sold if levels are below trace amounts, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Wednesday. The fungicide, linked in studies to a higher risk of liver tumors in animals, was found in trace amounts last month in products

from Brazil, which produces almost 1 in 6 glasses of orange juice consumed in the U.S., according to CitrusBR, an export industry association.

Though the chemical, carbendazim, is used on crops in many countries, it isn't approved for use on oranges in the U.S. The agency's announcement spurred calls by a consumer group for the FDA to set standards on chemicals for testing.

"We're glad they will be testing for this fungicide, but we would like there to be standards they could

Mortgage rates in US fall to new lows WASHINGTON — Fixed mortgage rates fell once again to a record low, offering a great opportunity for those who can afford to buy or refinance homes. But few are able to take advantage of the historic rates.

Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 3.89 percent. That's below the previous record of 3.91 percent reached three weeks ago.

Records for mortgage rates date back to the 1950s.

The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage ticked down to 3.16 percent.

That's down from a record 3.21 percent three weeks ago.

Mortgage rates are lower because they track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which fell below 2 percent. They could fall even lower this year if the Fed launches another round of bond purchases, as some economists expect.

Average fixed mortgage rates hovered around 4 percent at the end of 2011. Yet many Americans either can't take advantage of the rates or have already done so.

High unemployment and scant wage gains have made it harder for many people to qualify for loans. Many don't want to sink money into a home that they fear could lose value over the next few years.

Mortgage applications have fallen slightly on a seasonally adjusted basis over the past four weeks, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist, said that until hiring picks up and unemployment drops significantly, the impact of lower mortgage rates will remain muted.

Previously occupied homes are selling just slightly ahead of 2010's dismal pace. New-home sales in 2011 will likely be the worst year on records going back half a century.

Builders hope that the low rates could boost sales next year. Low mortgage rates were cited as a key reason the National Association of Home Builders survey of builder sentiment rose in December to its highest level in more than a year.

But so far, they have had little impact on the depressed housing market.

To calculate the average rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country Monday through Wednesday of each week. The average rates don't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for the 30-year loan fell to 0.7 from 0.8; the average on the 15-year fixed mortgage was unchanged at 0.8.

For the five-year adjustable loan, the average rate declined to 2.82 percent from 2.86 percent. The average on the one-year adjustable loan fell to 2.76 percent from 2.80 percent.

The average fee on the five-year adjustable loan rose was unchanged at 0.7; the average on the one-year adjustable-rate loan was unchanged at 0.6.

enforce for residue levels in food — for this chemical and others, like arsenic or lead that have been found in other juices," said Patty Lovera, assistant director of the Washingtonbased Food and Water Watch, an advocacy group that works to ensure safe, accessible and sustainable food.

"We think FDA needs to do more inspections of imported food, including juice," she said.

Initial tests on Canadian shipments didn't turn up the chemical, the FDA said.

Carbendazim is used to combat black spot, a fungus that doesn't affect taste or crop yields but makes fruits less appealing to consumers, said Brazil's grower-run Fund for Citrus Plant Protection, known as Fundecitrus.

The FDA is also screening juice that's already for sale in the U.S. market, said Siobhan DeLancey, an agency spokeswoman. That's because products often contain a mixture of imported and domestic juice.

Preliminary tests on three Canadian samples were negative, she said.

Americans consumed 1.2 million

The Food and Drug Administration has halted shipments of imported orange juice while it screens for the fungicide carpendazim.

gallons from the 2009-10 growing season, U.S. Department of Agriculture data show. The agency hasn't previously tested for the chemical because it wasn't a risk, DeLancey said. A company recently reported finding the chemical after several years of monitoring, she said.

Concerns about the pesticide started Dec. 28 when the FDA learned that the unnamed juice company had detected low levels in its own and other products.

"Brazilian orange juice is safe and always has been," said Dan Schafer, a spokesman for Atlanta-based CocaCola Co., which owns the Minute Maid brand.

Orange juice futures rose the most in five years after the FDA investigation was announced, combined with freezing weather that has damaged citrus crops in Florida.

Social tensions growing between rich and poor in USA WASHINGTON - Tensions between the rich and poor in the U.S. are increasing and at their most intense level in nearly a quarter-century, a new survey shows. Americans now see more social conflict over wealth inequality than over the hot-button topics of immigration, race relations and age.

The survey released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center highlights U.S. perceptions of the economic divide, an issue that has moved to the forefront in the 2012 presidential campaign amid stubbornly high unemployment, increasing poverty and protests by the Occupy movement.

The Pew survey shows that younger adults, Democrats and AfricanAmericans remained the most likely as in previous years to cite the existence of strong disagreements between rich and poor. But in the last two years, three important swing groups — whites, middle-income Americans and political independents — registered some of the biggest increases in those who now also hold this view.

Still, while overall U.S. awareness of class conflict has grown significantly in recent years, public attitudes toward wealthy Americans remain largely unchanged.

For instance, about 46 percent of Americans hold a disapproving view that rich people are wealthy because they were fortunate enough to be born into money or have the right connections. But almost as many people — 43 percent — say wealthy people are rich "mainly because of their own hard work, ambition or education."

That suggests some people who see more conflict between the classes may believe that anger toward the rich is misdirected.

Page 40

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Bank of England keeps stimulus steady as UK economy slips The Bank of England stopped short of announcing further stimulus for Britain's fragile economy on Thursday, but is widely expected to do so in February as the economy may have shrunk at the end of last year.

Britain is at risk of recession as global growth slows, government spending cuts bite and all-important consumers struggle with high inflation, tax hikes and slow wage rises.

And with the government's hands tied by its pledge to erase the country's large budget deficit in order to defend its top credit rating, the onus is all on the central bank.

British industrial output, which accounts for around 15 percent of the economy, posted a surprise fall in November, data showed earlier on Thursday. According to some economists, that added to signs of an economic contraction in the final quarter of 2011.

However, Britain's National

Institute of Economic and Social Research estimated that the economy still grew in the period, albeit very slightly.

The finance ministry gave a cautious welcome to the estimate, saying in a statement: "We should be realistic about the risks; the uncertainty in the euro area continues to have a chilling effect on the UK as well as elsewhere."

Either way, analysts see a strong case for the BoE to expand its 275 billion pound asset-buying quantitative easing (QE) program, aimed at boosting growth.

"Overall 50 billion pounds more QE next month seems to us to be virtually 'baked in the cake'," said Investec economist Philip Shaw.

"Steep declines in inflation should facilitate a further 50 billion pounds of asset purchases in May, taking the QE target to 375 billion pounds."

The BoE also kept interest rates at a record-low 0.5 percent, where they

have been for nearly three years.

All but one of the economists polled by Reuters had forecast the central bank would keep the target for its asset purchases unchanged, after raising it by 75 billion pounds in October.

Instead, economists expected it to unveil an extra 50 billion pound injection next month.

BoE policymakers have been warning about the risk of an economic contraction and even recession in Britain, amplified by a debt crisis in its main trading partner, the euro zone.

The region's central bank also held its main interest rate at 1.0 percent on Thursday.

Recent mixed economic news in Britain had bolstered the view that the BoE might want to wait until February before deciding on more QE. By then the current round of asset purchases will be concluded and the bank will have its latest growth and inflation estimates.

A profit warning from Tesco, the world's third-biggest retailer, after it reported its worst Christmas sales performance for decades, and other weak retail results have underscored that Britons have been cutting back on spending.

Some of Tesco's limp performance was due to its "Big Price Drop" campaign in September, said chief executive Phil Clarke, adding that the group would cut more prices in coming months.

Centrica, the owner of British Gas, and EDF Energy also announced cuts in utility prices this week after raising them last year.

The news lends support to forecasts by the BoE that inflation still just off a recent three-year high above 5 percent - will tumble early this year and dip below its 2 percent target towards the end of 2012, as economic weakness weighs on prices and one-off effects such as a 2011 sale tax increase disappear.

Microsoft eclipses Yahoo in US search for 1st time SAN FRANCISCO- Microsoft Corp. has finally reached a long-sought and expensive goal — its Bing search engine now ranks second behind Google in the Internet's most lucrative market.

Bing and Microsoft's other websites fielded 2.75 billion search requests in the U.S. during December, catapulting in front of Yahoo Inc. for the first time in the jockeying for runner up to Google Inc., according to statistics released Wednesday by comScore Inc. Bing's December volume translated into a 15.1 percent share of the U.S. search traffic, comScore said. Yahoo processed 2.65 billion search requests, representing 14.5 percent of the U.S. market.

Google remained Internet's go-to place for information, with 12 billion U.S. requests in December. That works out to a 65.9 percent market share.

Other research firms track the Internet search market. But comScore's numbers matter the most to industry analysts and the companies trying to attract queries so they can make more money from the ads that appear alongside the results. Google's dominance of online search is the main reason it has established itself as the Internet's most profitable company.

Analysts have expected Microsoft and Yahoo to flip-flop their positions in Internet search since they announced a partnership in July 2009. The 10-year agreement has enabled Yahoo to save money by relying on Microsoft to provide the bulk of its search technology.

Microsoft wanted the deal so it would have billions more search requests to analyze each year, giving it a better chance to learn about people's tendencies and preferences.

Pursuing Google has come at a huge cost for Microsoft, which still makes most of its money from the Windows operating software and other software it sells for personal computers. Microsoft's online division, which

The Galaxy Note

Carving out 15.1 percent of the market in December, Bing narrowly outstripped the 14.5 percent share eked out by Yahoo.

is anchored by Bing, has suffered operating losses of about $7 billion since June 2008.

Even though it leans heavily on Microsoft's technology, Yahoo hasn't totally abandoned search. It still offers some unique features within its results in hopes of persuading more people to search on its website instead of going directly to Bing. The main reason: Yahoo still gets 88 percent of the ad revenue from searches conducted on its website and receives nothing from queries entered on Bing.

The efforts haven't been enough to prevent a steady slide in searches at Yahoo. The company's share of the U.S. search market stood at about 19 percent when it joined forces with Microsoft, according to comScore.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's market share has climbed from roughly 9 percent.

Yahoo's eroding search share is one of the reasons that its revenue has been falling during the past three years, causing a downturn in its stock price, too. The company just hired Scott Thompson to become the fourth CEO in the past five years to attempt a turnaround at Yahoo.

"Scott Thompson has his work cut out for him," Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney wrote in a research note breaking down comScore's latest search statistics.

Samsung bringing super-size smartphone to US South Korean electronics giant Samsung announced plans Monday to bring its super-size smartphone, the Galaxy Note, which also features a stylus for taking notes, to the United States.

With a 5.3 inch (13.46-centimeter) touchscreen, the Galaxy Note is considerably wider than most smartphones on the market today.

Apple's latest iPhone, the 4S, for example, has a 3.5-inch (8.85-centimeter) display.

In an announcement on the eve of the giant Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Samsung said it will partner with AT&T to sell the Galaxy Note in the United States and it will run on the US telecom carrier's 4G network.

The Galaxy Note, which Samsung describes as a "new category of smartphone," went on sale in Asia and Europe in October. Exact pricing and availability for the US market were not announced.

The Galaxy Note comes with a stylus, called the "S pen," which is housed inside the device and which can be used to write notes on the screen as one would on a piece of paper.

Handwritten notes from the S Pen can also be captured by the device and shared with others.

Samsung is touting the larger, high-resolution screen of the Galaxy Note as superior to standard smartphones for viewing videos, surfing the Web, running applications or reading electronic books.

The Galaxy Note, which is powered by Google's Android software, also comes with front- and rear-facing cameras.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL HIGHTLIGHTS

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Page 41

NEWS

Local sports administrators hail Delano Williams UK move TCIFA focuses on Youth development

Sports Commission recognizes Bien-Aime for World Cup appointment

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

The Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission has lauded TCIFA General Secretary Sonia Bien-Aime for her latest success of being appointed by world football governing body FIFA to its Under 20 Women’s World Cup Organising Committee.

The appointment came on the heels of Bien-Aime being appointed by the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), to its Finance Task Force From left – Sports Commission Director Alvin Parker presents Sonia in December, where she would be perform in a Bien-Aime, TCIFA General Secretary for her FIFA appointment. Looking number of roles, including advisory. are Rodney Cox, Chairman for the Sports Commission and Godfrey Been, Board member.

On Wednesday, the Sports Commission hosted a news conference where its members the reason why we are here today to recognize publicly congratulated Bien-Aime on her latest her. She is very hard-working, I had the pleasure exploits. Not only did they sing her praises, but of working along side her in 2007 and 2008, when also presented her with gifts. she served as Chair to the Turks and Caicos Sports In Hailing Bien-Aime’s success, Alvin Parker, Commission, and her work speaks volume for other the Director for the Sports Commission, pointed Turks Islanders,” Parker said. out that not only is she the female on that panel, Parker argued that Bien-Aime’s ascendancy but also the sole Caribbean representative from will serve as an encouraging factor especially to the Caribbean, which he said speaks volume of the other females in the Turks and Caicos Islands, to level of talent at varying rungs of the administrative demonstrate to them that they can be successful in in addition to sporting rungs of the ladder. whatever field they plan to enter.

“She is the first one to hold such a position Parker said the Sports Commission will be in the Caribbean, and that’s a huge milestone for using Bien-Aime’s success to push Turks and her, as well as the Turks and Caicos. And that is Caicos in sports in general, knowing that her

ascendancy would shine the international spotlight more brightly on the country.

“We always encourage athletes to go out and perform their best, and that’s where pretty much its stops. And we have numerous persons who work within the administrative realm in the Turks and Caicos in various sporting disciplines. I can see this (Bien-Aime’s appointment) pretty much a motivation and testament to them that dedication, hard work, commitment and with a lot of integrity that these types of things can happen for them also,” Parker said.

In the meantime, Bien-Aime said she intends to lend her expertise to sporting bodies in the TCI if they so desire.

“My office is an open door, not only for football, but all sports. And whatever knowledge and expertise I have in other sporting areas I will be happy to share, especially as it relates to administrative work. Football, in my opinion, is not competing with other sporting disciplines in the Turks and Caicos Islands. What I would like to achieve is for us as sports organizations in Turks and Caicos to compete against the region.

In the meantime, Chairman for the TCI Sports Commission, Rodney Cox, as well as board member and Head of the local Softball Federation, Godfrey Been, who were in attendance at the event, also hailed Bien-Aime as someone that the young and not so young could emulate.

Men’s Senior kicks of Jan. 21 Lions, Predators atop Provo

After the recent success of the Unity Cup and the Super 7's Football Leagues the TCIFA is announcing that more senior men's action is on the cards, with the start of the Provo Premier League (PPL).

The league will comprise five teams - Cheshire Hall FC, Pedagogue FC, HAB, SWA Sharks and AFC Academy - and will run until the end of April.

The opening day of the season is on Saturday, January 21, and will see a double header as AFC Academy take on HAB at 4.00pm and Pedagogue FC line up against SWA Sharks at 6.00pm.

TCIFA technical director Matthew Green said he is pleased with the start of the league.

"The PPL is another step forward in the development of football in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We can now ensure that football leagues are played throughout the entire year at several levels.

“This league, as well as the Beach Soccer and 7-a-side formats, give more opportunities for our players, referees and coaches to improve. The league promises to be a closely fought affair although Cheshire Hall FC look as if

they may be the pre-season favourites,” Green said.

Green was also pleased that the league has seen the creation of three new clubs. "Unlike most countries around the world, the TCI does not have an organized club structure.

Hopefully these new teams will be able to set up youth programmes or assist with our own academies in the future".

In order to promote the league their will be a "fun day" on Saturday 14th January from 3.00-6.00pm. During the afternoon's activities teams will play a series of games against each other as well as participate in a series of skill tests.

League president Steve Kendrew was excited about the opening festivities.

"The skill tests will be a lot of fun for the players and it will be interesting to see how well the players do. Hopefully, the day's events will start the league off on a positive note and we can create a fun environment for the teams to compete against each other for the rest of the season," he said.

Basketball League standings

Flyers and Lions were winners in last week games in the playing of the Provo Basketball competition, which is being held at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Complex.

In game one of the tournament, Flyers, with a game high 20 points from Rody Fulford defeated Customs 52 to 40. Fulford also collected 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

Derek Hanna from Customs shot 10 points and had 4 assists. In game 2, Lions defeated Police 64 to 59 in a close contest. Kino Williams and Alanzo Garland led the Lions charge with identical scoring of 11 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Kjuana Doughty of the Police shot a game high 19 points, while collecting rebounds.

Knights overcame Predators 57 to 45 in game 3 of the evening.

Saundro Jennings led the Knights charge with 19 points and 19 rebounds. Alvejes Desir of the Predataors shot 13 points and grabbed rebounds.

In Game 4, Lions walloped Cobras 60 to 32 in what seemed like a one-sided affair. Kino Williams led the onslaught for the Lions with 28 points and 2 assists.

Agino Agenor of Cobras shot 14 points and made two assists.

Customs returned to winnings ways in game 5, by defeating the Steelers in a strong 56 to 36 romping. Derek Hanna was to top gun in that game, shooting 20 points, collected 6 rebounds and made 2 steals for Customs.

Cameron Henry of Steelers shot 12 pts collected 11 rebounds and effected one block shot.

After last week’s games, Lions improve to a 6 and 4 record; Knights are 5 and 4; Flyers 9 and 1; Customs 5 and 6; Steelers are 3 and 6; while Predators are 6 and 4.

The race for the playoff continues with 8 games for some teams and 9 games for some teams remaining. The playoffs are set for the 2 March 2012.

Page 42

LOCAL LOCALSPORTS NEWS

JANUARY 13TH - JANUARY 20TH, 2012

Delano Williams

Godfrey Been

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Alvin Parker

Rodney Cox

Local sports administrators hail Delano Williams UK move

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Local sports administrators are hailing the decision by budding track star Delano Williams, to initiate a move to be part of the United Kingdom team for the summer Olympics later this year.

The Munro College student, who is the 2011 Carifta Track and Field champion and also the champ for the 2011 renewal of the prestigious Jamaica High School Boy’s Champion – the first non-Jamaican national to win that title - announced that he will be taking steps to apply for a British Passport so that he can jockey for a place on that country’s track and field team.

Since the TCI is an overseas Territory, the hurdles immigration hurdles are not that high for Delano to overcome.

His announcement created a Facebook firestorm, with some individuals urging him not to run for the UK based on the current political situation in the TCI, while others are giving him thumbs up for what they term as a wise career move.

Among those in Delano’s corner are Chairman for the Sports Commission Rodney Cox, Director for the Sports Commission Alvin Parker, General Secretary for the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) Sonia Bien-Aime and Head of the Softball Federation Godfrey Been.

Cox told The SUN that while he had not seen nor heard Delano’s statement on his impending move, since TCI does not have an International Olympic Committee (IOC), it would only be prudent at this time for him to run for Britain to shore up is career and also put the talent of the TCI on the international stage.

“I would not condemn him for that, because you must understand that the TCI does not have an IOC, and if that is the only avenue that he sees fit to display his talent, I will support it,” Cox said.

For her Part, Bien-Aime urged Williams not to listen to his detractors, but to make the move which he believes best suits his interest and career.

“Some will talk about he should not run for Britain because of the current political condition, but that should not be his concern. What he should think about is his career at this stage. He should not make politics influence his decision to decide which country to run for,” Bien-Aime said.

Parker, in the meantime, said that Williams’ making the UK Olympics Team could open doors for the TCI and possibly nudge the UK Government to consider allowing the TCI to have its own IOC, so as to participate in future Olympics.

“Delano, running for the UK, could open doors for the TCI. He could assist us to have our own Olympics teams in future games, so I would not tell him not to run for the UK, because that will help his career too,” Williams said.

In the meantime, Been argued that Delano

could be the talisman which will enable the TCI to finally get is deserved break on the world stage, saying that local administrators had been pushing without success for a long time, for the UK to assist in this county gaining Olympics status.

“We have been pushing for the Turks and Caicos to get the Olympics status very hard behind the scenes, with the Bahamas, with Jamaica especially, in trying to get through the back door. But there has been a lot of push backs, and we all know where it is coming from. It’s from the Brits. They said they are not going to help nor hinder… well, that says a lot. “Sometimes you have to, in Delano’s case, take a step back, look at the situation, and attack it from where they don’t see you coming. Delano, I would say, seven or eight years from now or probably earlier, can be a Usain Bolt. Now, tell me, if you can’t get an Olympics status from a person of that nature.

“So if he has to go and join the United Kingdom, and work hard to achieve that goal, so that we can get the Olympics status for our future, well that is exactly what he has to do. There are some fights you have to work from the other side. So I think that he is right to do what he is doing,” Been argued.

Been pointed out that the Turks and Caicos Islands is highly recognised in the world of sports, and so, administratively, the fight has to continue to get the country to attain its rightful place on the world stage in sport, and Delano, in his capacity as a track star could assist in the effort.

TCIFA focuses on Youth development The TCIFA will officially start its football programmes this week as it opens its doors to the youth of the country on Saturday 14th January.

With over 400 hundred registered youth players and over a dozen youth leagues in operation the TICFA said it has no desire to rest on its laurels.

Technical Director Matthew Green outlined the plans for the association in emphasizing that the focus for 2012 will yet again be youth development.

"As well as running our academies and youth leagues the TCIFA will be organizing school tournaments in March and April. We will also be setting up youth Beach Soccer programmes and leagues as soon

as our new Beach Soccer facility is completed in order to allow our players a chance to develop in other football related areas,” he said.

Keeping the momentum going will not be easy, but Green feels the association is well equipped to ensure that players remain excited.

"We have more coaches who are committed to our programmes than ever before and they are improving all the time. This means the players are given the technical and tactical support they need to develop their skills. In addition we intend to stage several international tournaments this year so that players in our Centers of Excellence and National Development teams get a taste of

football at the highest level," he continued.

Under 14 Boys Head Coach Oliver Smith was excited about the prospect of international games.

"It is important that our players are given opportunities to play against the best players in the region.

We have many talented young players in our Centers of Excellence and they are excited about playing football at college level and beyond," he said, adding that "the association realizes how important youth development is in sustaining long term success; the future of football in this country looks very bright".

The TCIFA runs academies in Grand Turk and Providenciales every

day of the week for children above the age of five. Green would like to expand the association's programmes to other islands in the country.

"We want to set up academies in South, North and Middle Caicos and it is one of our main goals this year to find people who are willing to help us set up programmes in areas where we do not have a presence at this time," he said.

Anybody interested in working with the TCIFA can contact the association at 941 5532 or 231 1860.

Green added "We will give all the necessary training and equipment needed to set up programmes, we just need people to step forward and offer their time".

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"I am injury free, working hard and everything is going according to plan...”

- Bolt

Bolt confirmed for June 7 Bislett Games PARIS, France- Jamaica's triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt revealed he would compete in the Bislett Games in Oslo on June 7 as he cranks up his preparations for defending his titles in the London Olympics in August.

The 25-year-old, world record-holder in the 100 and 200m, said that he hoped his run in Oslo would be an important step on his way to London.

"My preparations have been good this fall," said Bolt, who surrendered his world 100m title last year when he was disqualified for a false start in the final.

"I am injury free, working hard and everything is going according to plan. I hope to come to Bislett prepared and ready to run a great race.

"This year is really important for me as it is an Olympic year and I am aiming to defend my three gold medals from Beijing. My 100 metres race at Bislett stadium June 7th will be an important

stepping stone towards that goal."

The meet organisers were ecstatic to have got him to run there.

"We are proud of having the biggest sport stars in the world lined up for our 100 metres race," said meeting director Steinar Hoen.

"There is only around six weeks to go to the London Olympics after this race and there is no doubt it will be surrounded by an enormous amount of interest."

In addition to his three gold medals from the 2008 Olympic Games, the 4x100m relay being the other, Bolt has won five world titles -- two in the 200m and 4x100m relay and one at 100m -and also holds the world record in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay along with his Jamaican teammates.

Somerset sign Chris Gayle for Twenty20 Somerset has signed West Indies opener Chris Gayle as their overseas player for the 2012 Twenty20 campaign.

Kieron Pollard is unavailable due to the Windies' tour of England, but Gayle is not expected to be involved following a contractual dispute.

"I'm delighted to be heading to Somerset," said Gayle.

"Hopefully I can make a key contribution to their T20 campaign this year.

Chris Gayle Left-hander Gayle captained West Indies between 2007 and 2010.

With Marcus Trescothick, Craig Kieswetter, Jos Buttler, James Hildreth and Peter Trego in their hard-hitting top order, Gayle's arrival will only help increase Somerset's chances of winning the Twenty20 this summer.

They have finished runners-up in the past two years, qualifying for the Champions League last autumn in India, where they reached the last four.

Gayle, who spent a short spell with Worcestershire in 2005, now has vast experience in Twenty20, having hit almost 3,000 runs at 39.58 in 85 matches, including 195 sixes, as well as taking 47 wickets at 31.19 at an economy rate of 7.47.

Apart from 20 appearances for West Indies, he has also appeared for Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, Western Australia Warriors and Sydney Thunder in the Australian Big Bash, as well as Matabeleland Tuskers in Zimbabwe.

"We are delighted to have been able to sign Chris for this season," said Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose. "He is a tremendously exciting player and one of the people who would get into any world T20 XI. "Chris is a tremendous all-rounder. His batting is outstanding, he bowls and can open the attack with his off-spinners and he is also a brilliant fielder, so we are absolutely delighted."

FIFA denies Warner’s TV rights claim ZURICH, Switzerland – Union, subsequently FIFA have debunked ploughing the money back claims that the award of into football development in lucrative World Cup TV the Caribbean area,” the rights to former vice FIFA statement said. president Austin “Jack” “Until 1998, TV rights Warner for as low as US $1 were provided by the rightshad nothing to do with his holders for symbolic sums support for current in many territories (for president Sepp Blatter. example in Africa), in order The sport’s World to maximise the worldwide governing body said on television coverage … and Friday Warner’s claim that also to support national he acquired the TV rights associations and for a small fee was confederations with a accurate, but his statement source of revenue for last week was filled with football development.” “several inaccuracies and The FIFA statement “Jack” Warner falsehoods.” added: “In addition, FIFA FIFA said Warner has traditionally (and still received the Caribbean broadcasting rights does), established and applied globally an at a nominal fee from as early as 1986 and exploitation model according to which the not – as he claimed – from 1998 when worldwide TV rights for all FIFA World Cup Blatter was first elected. qualifier matches are vested with such The issue of television rights, it said, national association hosting the respective “Had nothing to do with the 1998 or 2002 qualifying match. election campaigns, or with any other “The income generated through this election campaign. exploitation model is a major source of “To imply the contrary is completely income for each national association and false.” gives each national association the financial FIFA suggested it conducted a detailed means for football development in each research into Warner’s allegations and had country.” done nothing untoward.

FIFA also noted that TV rights for the The governing body said Warner 2002 FIFA World Cup in the Caribbean were himself had explained at a 2001 FIFA approved by the FIFA Executive Committee Executive Committee meeting in Busan, at their November and December 2001 South Korea, that he had acquired the rights meetings, not after the 2002 elections. from the then FIFA vice-president Guillermo Warner was FIFA’s senior vice president Cañedo in 1986. until he walked away from the game in “As is written in the minutes of that disgrace, following a probe into his role in meeting, Jack Warner explained that he then the infamous cash-for-votes scandal that resold the rights to the Caribbean Football rocked the game in the Caribbean last year.

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HIGHLIGHTS

• AC Milan turns down S22M Bid • Sri Lanka has lowest 1 day scores • New Owners for Dodgers?

Pacquiao camp says no fight with Mayweather on May 5 MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao's camp says there is no economic sense in setting up a bout with Floyd Mayweather on May 5 after the unbeaten American publicly challenged the Filipino champion via Twitter.

Pacquiao's financial adviser Michael Koncz told The Associated Press on Thursday that a 45,000-seat boxing arena being built in Las Vegas won't be finished before the end of May and staging the PacquiaoMayweather fight in a smaller venue is "foolish from an economic standpoint."

Mayweather challenged and taunted Pacquiao to a May 5 bout in a tweet on Tuesday.

"Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see," he tweeted.

Mayweather is available for a fight in May at the MGM Grand Garden after a judge agreed last week

Manny Pacquiao

to postpone his jail sentence for domestic violence until June.

Mayweather was sentenced to 87 days in jail, but likely will serve less time.

The MGM Grand seats about 17,000, which could fetch around $20 million in sales, but the larger arena

Floyd Mayweather

could raise an additional $30 million, Koncz said.

"Why would I tell Manny to fight on the 5th and throw away a percentage of 30 million? That's crazy," he said.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum

Betfair and IOC sign deal to monitor betting during London Olympics LONDON - Online gambling exchange Betfair reached a new agreement with the IOC to share information on illegal betting activity during the London Olympics.

Betfair said Thursday it signed a "memorandum of understanding" in London with the International Olympic Committee to monitor any suspicious betting patterns.

Betfair said it will provide betting markets on all gold-medal events during the Games.

The company said it will apply its technology systems and team of experts to "ensure that any suspicious betting activity is investigated and relayed straight to the IOC as required."

Martin Cruddace, Betfair's chief legal and regulatory affairs officer, said the company and the IOC "are completely aligned in wanting to ensure consumers can bet on sporting events in a transparent and secure manner."

The IOC, which also had agreements with Betfair at previous Games, put systems in place to monitor betting at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. No illegal activity was

reported.

IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said the committee has agreements with all betting operators, lotteries, bookmakers and betting exchanges to tackle possible corruption.

"By strengthening its cooperation with operators such as Betfair, the IOC steps up its efforts to protect the integrity of sports competitions through a permanent and efficient system of information exchange," Moreau told The Associated Press.

IOC president Jacques Rogge has frequently cited illegal betting, bribery and match-fixing as being as big a threat to the Olympics as doping.

British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan said in a recent interview with the AP that closer cooperation among intelligence agencies and increased education of athletes is required to protect the integrity of competitions.

"I think it is a really serious issue, particularly for those athletes around the world for whom a bribe of $20,000 is a life-changing amount of money," Moynihan said.

has told the Philippines' GMA television the only reason the fight won't happen is if there is an "economic problem."

He said the fight "could happen very, very easily" at the end of May — enough time to build the outdoor arena "the fight so badly needs."

"I will also guarantee Manny's purse," he said. "In other words, Manny doesn't want to go into the ring and just fight out a percentage."

He said Mayweather is looking for "outside parties to guarantee his end of the purse."

"So, until he finds the angel, there is no fight," Arum said.

In a separate interview with GMA, Pacquiao said that if Mayweather agrees to a "50-50 sharing, there will be no problem."

"The purse is not the issue right now, the date is," Koncz said. "But we don't have a problem splitting it 50-50."

First All Star votes shows four starters from LA LOS ANGELES - The NBA All-Star Game was held in Los Angeles last year, but it could have a distinctly greater Los Angeles feel this year in Orlando.

The NBA released the first returns of the NBA All-Star balloting Thursday and four of the five starters for the Western Conference are from Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant led all players in the West with 690,613 votes (only Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard with 754,737 votes had more overall) and would start in the backcourt alongside Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, who had more than four times the number of votes as the next West guard.

Bryant and Paul, of course, were supposed to form the backcourt of the Lakers this season before Paul's trade to the Lakers was nixed by the NBA and he was later dealt to the Clippers.

Lakers center Andrew Bynum, who is averaging 17.1 points and 13.9 rebounds this season, appears to be a lock to make and start his first All-Star Game, garnering 496,597 votes. The closest center in the West is Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, who is leading the league with 3.38 blocks per game and has 134,961 votes.

Clippers forward Blake Griffin garnered 394,264 votes and looks like he will start his first All-Star Game after making his All-Star debut in Los Angeles last year. He would start alongside Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who has 633,538 votes and would be the lone non-Los Angeles starter if voting ended today.

The starters for the Eastern Conference would be Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, Heat forward LeBron James, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and Howard.

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WORLD SPORTS

Eradicating corruption from cricket is almost impossible, Brearley says CAPE TOWN – Mike Brearley, one of England’s most successful cricket captains, said that eradicating corruption from the game was probably impossible but that was no reason to stop trying.

“There is a ruthless, insidious and dangerous underworld where a lot of money can be made by gambling on cricket. There are some very unpleasant people involved and the world’s professional cricketers need to know that,” said Brearley in his capacity as chairman of the MCC’s World Cricket Committee which met on Sunday and Monday in Cape Town.

Brearley said the committee had spend 90 minutes with the head of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti Corruption and Security Unit,

Mike Brearley

Ronnie Flanagan, discussing how corrupt bookmakers and gamblers operated.

“They will devise new strategies to corrupt players so we must remain vigilant,” he said. “ The committee believe the problem can be contained, but probably not eradicated.”

Fellow committee member and former South African batsman Barry Richards, said: “What’s the alternative to fighting the cancer? Throw our arms in the air and give up?

“Way back in my era we used to say ‘what happened?’ when something unusual happened. Now we say ‘what the hell’s going on?’ We desperately need to fight for the game’s integrity.”

Among the committee’s proposals were the abolition of minimum penalties for offenders and the adoption of ‘Mystery Shopper’ operations in which cricketers

suspected of involvement with bookmakers could be set up with offers of illegal fixing and prosecuted if they accepted.

The committee also endorsed the continuation of 50-over cricket and the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) but criticised the postponement of the inaugural Test Championship from 2013 to 2017.

“In every major sporting contest in the world, the winner gets to hold a cup at the end of it. The sooner we can have that for test cricket the better the game will be,” said Richards.

The ICC said in November that the test tournament between the top four teams in its rankings would not begin until 2017 because of other commitments on the calendar.

AC Milan turns down Paris Saint-Germain's 22 million euro bid for Alexandre Pato AC Milan has rebuffed a bid in excess of 22 million euros from Paris Saint-Germain for Alexandre Pato, RMC claims.

The ambitious French club has been linked with Pato since Carlo Ancelotti took charge of the team, as the 52-year-old worked with the Brazilian striker during his time at San Siro.

Ancelotti stated last week that he had no interest in Pato as Milan was uninterested in selling the player,

who has been out of favor at the club this season.

However, fresh reports claim that PSG has made an initial offer for Pato, which was immediately rejected by Milan as the Italian champions will not settle for less than 30 million euros.t Despite Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri repeatedly saying that Pato will not leave the club, speculation about an icy relationship between the two has been rife, after the Brazil international reportedly

Roy Disney family mulls bid for Dodgers LOS ANGELES — The family of the late Roy E. Disney is in talks with other investors about making a bid to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers out of bankruptcy.

The talks were confirmed Monday by Clifford Miller, managing director of the Disney family's investment vehicle, Shamrock Holdings.

Roy Disney was the nephew of Walt Disney, but the family's investments are not directly tied to the operation of The Walt Disney Co., which controlled the Angels from 1998-03.

Miller said Stanley Gold, the chief executive officer of Shamrock, is seriously exploring investing in the team along with the Disney family and other investors, including several in the Los Angeles area.

Gold has gone through the process of qualifying the investor group to make an initial bid by the Jan. 23 deadline, and the group is examining the team's financial records.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who put the team in bankruptcy last year, agreed with Major League Baseball to sell the team by April 30, which coincides with the deadline

for McCourt to pay former wife Jamie a $131 million divorce settlement.

Among other potential bidders are: — a group that includes former manager Joe Torre and is headed by real estate developer Rick Caruso.

—Steven Cohen of the hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors.

—a group that includes former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson, former Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten and Guggenheim Partners chief executive officer Mark Walter.

—a group that includes former agent and current Chicago White Sox special assistant Dennis Gilbert, talk show host Larry King and Jason Reese of Imperial Capital.

—a group that includes former Dodgers general manager Fred Claire, former Oakland Athletics president Andy Dolich and former Dodgers batboy Ben Hwang, who brought in the financial backers.

—former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley.

—a group that includes former Dodgers stars Orel Hershiser and Steve Garvey, and Joey Herrick of Natural Balance Pet Foods.

—Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Alexandre Pato

ignored the 44-year-old trainer during Sunday's 2-0 win over Atalanta in Serie A. The former Internacional star, who moved to Milan in 2007, has scored three goals in 13 competitive appearances this season.

Sri Lanka has lowest one-day score PAARL, South Africa - Sri Lanka collapsed to their lowest one-day score of 43 on Wednesday when they lost by 258 runs to South Africa in the first one-day international at Boland Park. Their total equalled the fourth previous lowest score ever in 50 overs internationals and the victory margin was the third largest. The Sri Lankans' previous lowest score was 55 against West Indies in Sharjah in 1986.

Pace bowlers Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe claimed seven wickets between them as Sri Lanka, chasing 302 for victory, were shot out in 20.1 overs.

Hashim Amla earlier scored a century at opener before Morkel destroyed the Sri Lankan top-order with pace and bounce to claim four for 10 off six overs. Tsotsobe also created havoc with the new ball, taking three for 19 in six overs with his left-arm seamers.

Kosala Kulasekara was the only Sri Lankan batsman to reach double figures and was the ninth man out for 19.

Amla anchored the South African innings with a determined 112 off 128 balls, stroking eight classy boundaries. It was the ninth century in 53 ODIs for the vicecaptain.

The hosts won the toss and AB de Villiers, leading the team for the first time, chose to bat first.

South Africa scored 301 for eight with Jacques Kallis stroking a fluent 72 off 80 balls, adding 144 for the second wicket with Amla.

De Villiers added a quickfire 52 off 40 balls, before fast bowler Lasith Malinga ripped through the lower-order, taking five for 53 as South Africa lost five wickets for 22 runs in 4.4 overs.

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LOCAL NEWS

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