Volume 8 Issue 1

PNP MUST PAY HALF-MILLION Email: sun@suntci.com

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VOLUME 8 No. 01

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JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

$1.00

TO KEEP HEADQUARTERS

By Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

THE PROGRESSIVE NATIONAL Party (PNP) will have to pay at least $500,000 to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government if it wants to retain ownership of the land and building on Airport Road, Providenciales which houses its headquarters.

According to information obtained by The SUN, the Interim Government has already drafted a legal document which it intends to file against the PNP for possession of the land and damages for trespass, restitution of the $465.083.61 paid by the former PNP Government to Provident Management Services Limited for rent and cleaning services at the headquarters.

Continued on Page 2

REPATRIATING ILLEGAL HAITIANS COSTING TCI MILLIONS Story on Page 7

ABUNDANT LIFE MINISTRIES WATCH NIGHT SERVICE

The Watch Night Service at Abundant Life Ministries International, located along the Leeward Highway in Providenciales, took a different turn this time around, as not only did the church host two other ministries – Restoration Hope Ministries and the Solid Rock Apostolic Church – but after the service, the joint congregation embarked on a restoration walk. The walk took the participants west along the Leeward Highway, turning at the round-a-bout in the vicinity of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank before journeying back to the church grounds. In photo, Pastor for the church Bishop C.A. Williams III, assisted by First Lady, Chiquita Williams asks God’s blessing on the congregation.

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LOCAL NEWS

PNP MUST PAY HALF-MILLION TO KEEP HEADQUARTERS - Con’td

Continued from Page 1

According to sources, late last year, PNP Leader Clayton Greene and Queen’s Counsel Carlos Simons met with Governor Ric Todd to discuss obtaining freehold title on the land.

In an email which was circulated to several senior PNP Members, Greene said: “The Governor has said that the Government may be prepared to accept some figure approaching half of the monies which they contend is due to Provident Management Services Limited. When this sum is paid and the monies due in respect of back rents and the costs of the free hold are paid the cost to the party would exceed $500,000.00.

The Government also seemed disposed to agree a payment schedule in respect of those monies that constitute repayment of the monies due to Provident in the range of between a year to 18 months. In this climate it is doubtful that the party would be able to raise that kind of money even with the time afforded to them to pay.”

The PNP leader added: “The other twist in this matter is the fact that in $2003 the People's Democratic Movement obtained free hold title to the 1.2 acres upon which its headquarters is located for $2,000.00 with a charge of $2,000.00 remaining on the Property.

The Peoples Democratic also has a lease of 4.11 acres of Land in Grand Turk which they have held since 1980 at a rent of $1.00 per year. The Lease was meant to expire in 2005 and do not know whether it was renewed or not but I do know that as at the 22nd of December 2011 the Lease was still registered on title….The Governor had indicated in the meeting that he was not aware of how the PDM was treated in relation to the acquisition of its property. The Governor recognizes the potential for political fall out but I am not sure how much he will allow that fact to influence

By Vivian Tyson SUN Senior Editor

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

him going forward.”

In another email to Greene, former Minister of Public Works McAllister “Piper” Hanchell said: “As I mentioned to you before, The PNP Headquarters is a symbol of our democracy and it belongs to the people of these Islands.

You cannot negotiate in private on this matter with the British Government. It is a matter for the public and you have to make your claim in the public domain and make clear reference to what the PDM got their land for and insist on the same for the PNP. The matter of Provident Management Services Ltd has nothing to do with the PNP land. It is a separate matter of which all constituencies PNP and PDM were funded by Government for the running of their offices and Providenciales MPs combined their resources and Provident Management Services Ltd provided the services. If they want to go after that money than they have to go after all constituencies alike, PNP and PDM.” The six PNP Members of Parliament for Providenciales, Galmo Williams, Lillian Boyce, Wayne Garland, Karen Delancey, Amanda Misick and Greg Lightbourne all had their constituency offices in the PNP Headquarters. The SUN understands that they lawfully allocated their constituency allowances towards paying rent and other services to the headquarters.

PNP Chairman Norman Saunders Snr, also expressed his concern about how the Interim Government is handling the matter.

In his email, he stated: “We must fight this with all the might we can muster. If the matter regarding Provident Management Services has to do with the payment of constituency members staff then I think someone is losing their mind. All Members of the House got the same treatment. The fact that PNP had the majority of Members in Provo and they decided to use the same place, has

nothing to do with it, and if the governor does not see that, then it should be the matter of the Court to decide and, of course, the public should know this. It means that the Governor will do what he wants regardless of the rights and wrongs, and investors should know that they too are at jeopardy. We should give nothing, and the matter must be decided on the basis of the value of the land and lease payments over the years, and PNP and PDM should have equal treatment.”

When contacted by The SUN, former PNP Deputy Premier Royal Robinson said: “It is sad to see what the Interim Administration is trying to do with respect to the PNP Headquarters in Providenciales. It must be admitted that some officials of the party dropped the ball and did not follow through to have all of the paper work done in a timely manner. That however, does not give the Governor or any "Johnny come lately" the authority to want to capture that premises. Churches, Lodges and political parties are given Crown Land on which to erect their buildings. The PDM have a piece in Grand Turk as well as the piece in Providenciales on which their headquarters is erected. Is it that one party should have access to Crown Land and the other none? It would be a cold day in hell if Todd tried to come against our Headquarters! We are not saying that the land should be for free, but what the Governor is trying to do is nothing less than highway robbery!”

In a letter dated April 21st, 2011 from the Attorney General’s Chambers to PNP Leader Clayton Greene, a recent review of Crown lease found that the PNP has not executed a lease on the land (parcel number 60602/79) and “appears to be trespassing on Crown land”.

In 2005, Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) offered a commercial conditional purchase lease (CPL) to the PNP over the land to construct its headquarters.

The lease was never executed by the PNP and there is no record of the party having paid rent, the letter stated. It was also revealed that the registered leaseholder is De-Owen Higgs, who held a lease that expired on November 28, 2004. This lease was never cancelled and the entry remains on the Leasehold Register.

The letter added that there is no evidence to suggest that De-Owen Higgs has retained any interest in the land, since he is “not in occupation and his lease has expired”. “The land accordingly reverts to the Crown,” the letter stressed.

“On the basis of the facts, it appears that the PNP has been trespassing on Crown land. It has not paid rent, so cannot rely on any equitable rights to establish a lease. Furthermore, so far as we have been able to ascertain, the building was constructed without a building permit or planning permission. As the absolute owner of the land, the Crown is entitled to take possession from the PNP and to seek damages for its occupation.”

The letter informed Greene that if he and the PNP intend to dispute the apparent trespass, they should let the AG’s chambers know “as soon as possible”. “If the PNP is unable to provide a legitimate explanation and is unwilling to reimburse TCIG for its losses, TCIG will have to consider what steps to take, and in the meantime reserves all of its rights,” the letter ended.

When contacted by The SUN for a comment on the matter last year, Greene stated: “The facts are that the PNP has made the investment in the property. It would not be fair if the (Interim) Administration were to attempt for any reason to deny our party the benefit of its investment. We feel confident that this matter will be resolved to the satisfaction of all. There has been precedent set in how governments treat land that is being used for political party headquarters and there is no reason to depart from that. Moreover the party has been in touch with the Government on this issue and we were of the opinion that we were moving toward resolution of matters. Political parties are a part of the fabric of our society and for that reason alone we are confident of a just resolution.”

Islands in almost four years.

The now defunct Sky King Airways, which was bought by leading domestic airlines Air Turks and Caicos was the other local airline company that flew regionally.

Secretary for the Air Transportation Licensing Authority, George Garland, confirmed the granting of the aviation business license, further telling The SUN that it is now left to the CAA to decide whether or not to give the airline the green light to operate.

A source from CAA said that they were yet to receive the Sky Cruise application, but said its processing would rest on the information that has been provided. The source also said the application should, among other things,

explain its viability and the kind of craft that the company would employ.

SkyCruise Airways is owned by SkyBlue Aviation Limited, a company which was registered on April 8th 2011 with offices at P.O.B 209, Logberg Corporate Services, Chancery Court, on Leeward Highway, which is the law office of TWA Marcelin Wolf.

If successful in its bid, the new airline will also be operating an FBO in an area close to the proposed new departure terminal. It will also break the regional monopoly of Air Turks and Caicos, which is operated by Lyndon Gardiner.

The SUN has been reliably informed that SkyCruise Airways is being backed by some exceedingly

wealthy Canadians who have a wealth of experience in the aviation industry.

The new airline plans to operate DH6, which have 19 seats, Jetstreams which have 30 seats and CRJ2000/700 which have between 50 and 72 seats.

Sky Cruise, in its initial operation met strong opposition from Air Turks and Caicos, which told an open forum convened by the ATLA and the CAA that the domestic market, especially, could not sustain another airline.

Caicos Express, which originally operated between Providenciales and Grand Turk via Salt Cay, has since been granted the licensed to operate directly between the two major islands.

Sky Cruise Airlines gets licence

SKY CRUISE – A locally-owned airline wanting to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands aviation market - has overcome the first hurdle of operating in the TCI after being granted approval by the Air Transportation Licensing Authority (ATLA).

The airline will now await approval from the local Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in order for it to be fully certified to operate in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Sky Cruise also plans to fly regionally. If approved by the CAA, it will make that airline the third domestic carrier and the second to operate out of the Turks and Caicos

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COMMENTARY

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

WHY THE JAMAICA LABOUR PARTY LOST THE ELECTION

(Reproduced from the Sunday Observer) The Sunday Observer asked two of the country's political analysts Paul Ashley and Troy Caine to weigh in on discussions surrounding the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) crushing electoral defeat on Thursday.

Political historian, Troy Caine pointed to the following as factors that led to the JLP'S demise: Delayed election According to Caine, everything was ripe for Holness to anounce the holding of elections much earlier than December 29 and to delay the election until the publication of the November 30 voters list.

"Unless you are pretty sure that a great majority of these people are going to support you, then politically it really doesn't add up to much. All the other leaders as soon as they are ready to call an election, all they want to know is that the electoral office is ready," he said.

"When Mrs Simpson Miller called the election in 2007, it was in September, the voters list used was the one for May 2007, so that means all those other voters who were registered from April to September were unable to vote but there werent any complaints.

No one likes Christmas polls "I thought that even at conference it was not that late to call the election, and to make sure that the election was out of the way before Christmas, I think that augured against the Jamaica Labour Party because no election in our past has been held in that week. We have had five other elections in December since 1944 and all of them took place in the second or third week of December.

JLP couldn't get voters out "The JLP never got their voters out, that is what accrued to the very low turn out of voters and that resulted in the lowest turn out of voters in the history of elections between the two main parties," he added.

Caine said lack of experience played a role here, since there seemed to be heavy spending on advertising and pre-election campaigns, which may have affected how much was left to spend on election day to get the voters out and take care of the party's workers.

PNP targetted marginal seats Caine emphasized that the PNP employed a good tactic in targeting the marginal seats. The JLP lost some seats which were traditional JLP seats such as Ernest Smith's in St Ann. Chris Tufton barely won his seat despite winning it in 2007 by 1,800 votes.

According to Caine, all the pollsters and the pundits including Don Anderson were wrong with this one because as it turned out it was a wide result, everybody predicted a very close election.

"The incredible thing is that in spite of a 19 seat

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.

margin the fact is that that worked out to 65 to 35 per cent in terms of the share of the seats, but in terms of majority votes there was a difference of just over 57,000 in the votes cast for the two major parties."

There is no 'I' in 'team' Caine also weighed in on suggestions that Holness focused too much on himself. "Andrew — and that came out a lot in the discussions — focused too much on 'I'. That factor played out in 2007 when Portia placed too much emphasis on herself in that campaign.

Bruce Golding spoke more of the party and what other people in the party were doing, you really weren't hearing that from Andrew," said Caine.

For Attorney and political commentator Dr Paul Ashley these factors contributed to the JLP's misfortune.

Bruce Golding "On his re-entry to the JLP, Bruce Golding brought in some interventions that spoke to good governance.

This was substantially higher than what existed and had attractive elements for example term limits, accountability, transparency. Those were very good words, very noble ideals. The campaign was brilliant, he himself raised public expectations of government to a new level. But realty crept in on assuming office, It seemed that Golding, in the attempt to gain political office promised things to everyone and on assuming office was unable to deliver. Therefore there was an increasingly widening gap between rhetoric and reality.

The language used at the Labour Party conference

by Bruce Golding was also damaging, as he suggested that what he had done by his resignation was a master stroke. He described himself as a master strategist who devised a plan, and using his words, under that plan he would now create a situation where the chief scorer (Andrew Holness) would take the ball to the net.

Apparently he (Golding) was still on the field playing.

The strategy claimed by Bruce was rejected and was a contemptuous strategy. It assumed that by changing one man and leaving everything else in place the Jamaican people would vote for the JLP, and would suddenly forget all the damage caused by Bruce Golding, and now Prince Holness would emerge untainted, unaffected to save the day.

Dudus Extradition "In the Dudus extradition saga, Bruce Golding committed what could be termed political suicide, as what was revealed was not only inconsistent and insincere but as KD Knight termed it, he was pathologically mendacious. The Tivoli incursion affected the base of the party as the instructions to invade came from a Bruce Golding led Jamaica Labour Party. The killing of the 73 people as well as the killing of Keith Clarke in his own home in front of his wife and child remains unaccounted for. This is under the regime of a man who promised accountability, transparency, you name it".

JLP Unpreparedness The JLP was not prepared for the election and paid little attention to the enumeration process. Holness was in a quandary whether or not to call the election this year. Holness was facing a problem, as if he had used the old voters list he would disenfranchise 40,000 plus voters who it was said were primarily youth, but on the other hand it was the PNP which did most of the work to get these people. Holness called it too early. The elections were called to vote himself out of office, It was better to lose after 12 months than to lose after two months in office. Because when he lose after two months he will have no record to go on as prime minister.

Holness' sheen rubbed off Holness was placed there to win the election as quickly as possible as the bitter medicine he spoke of was on its way. So the thing was to go to the election and then proceed with the drastic cuts in the civil service etc. The rise in the popularity of Holness was not as a result of Holness himself but it was that people were happy to see the back of Golding. Holness promised too much continuity and was unable to establish himself as being different from Bruce Golding. In addition to that he placed too much

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 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. emphasis on himself. I grew up here, I went to school there I and I and I. Campaign Blunders In the election the elements and symbols that assisted in the demise of Bruce Golding reared their heads on the platform. They included threats against civil servants, getting into needless fights with the media. They (the JLP) demonstrated all the symptoms of old style politics in crisis. Anybody who criticized you was against you.

The JLP was of the view that they were dealing with the stereotypical view of Portia. The fact is Mrs Portia Simpson Miller has benefited tremendously from her years in Opposition as well as from the experience she had in government. It was now between 'Mama P' (Simpson Miller) and 'Baby Bruce' (Andrew Holness) and 'Baby Bruce' had nothing to go on, he had to refer to what 'Papa Bruce' ( Bruce Golding) did. 'Mama P' knew her people, she connected and identified with the suffering and pressures inflicted on the hopeless affected masses. How you doing very well and more people out of work? Who cares about this macro economic stability, who cares about some GDP ratios being maintained. Who cares when stability means that you have stabilised poverty and unemployment. The hard economic reality kicked in. At the same time, JEEP, which was proposed as a temporary solution by the PNP, was ridiculed.

Lack of funding "...The ponzi scheme and other sources dried up. It meant that you could not go to the same sources again to promise what you didn't deliver. Funding became extremely difficult. The cost of the vote also went up, because of the effects of the recession and the decrease in the size of remittances as well as the fact that people had no jobs. Whereas you could buy a vote for probably ten grand it moved to 15.

Global anti-incumbency "The effects of the economic crisis is having an impact on incumbents across the world. When things are hard you blame the government as people believe the government is supposed to provide for your well being. The Government didn't provide the jobs, nor had the resources to provide the social net for those who were displaced.

The Youth Vote "Youth are more impatient than older people. There is a large body of frustrated youth who didn't see a way out and didn't accept the labour party's message about problems in Greece and elsewhere and were therefore told to be thankful even when they didn't have jobs and when education did not give them the social mobility they were told about.

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Repatriating illegal Haitians costing Turks and Caicos Islands millions of dollars

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

By Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

THE TURKS AND Caicos Islands is spending an average of $1million per year to repatriate illegal Haitian immigrants.

Investigations by The SUN revealed that between 2007 and 2011, some $3.6million was spent repatriating Haitians.

Another $750,000 has been allocated for the current financial year to deal with the nagging problem.

Figures obtained by The SUN from the Ministry of Immigration and Border Control, shows the breakdown by year as follows: • 2007/2008 – $946,840 • 2008/2009 – $ 837,418 • 2009/2010 – $ 315,300 • 2010/2011 – $ 1.5million • 2011/2012 – $750,000 (Proposed budget) Officials from the Immigration and Border Control ministry also disclosed that it costs TCIG between $3,000-5,700 per charter flight to Haiti. The cost of a one-way ticket to Haiti from Grand Turk is approximately $297.00 per person from Grand Turk and the cost of a one way ticket to Haiti from Providenciales is approximately $240.00 per person from Providenciales.

Because the search had to be done manually, up to Press time, the Ministry could not provide a breakdown by year over the past five years of the total number of Haitians who were repatriated. However, it was revealed that for Grand Turk approximately 500 persons were repatriated during the period 20062011. The overall figure for Provo will be provided later.

In addition to repatriating the illegal Haitians, keeping them here is also quite costly.

Border Control officials said TCIG pays Arlington “Chuck” Musgrove $20,000 per month in rent paid forward for the Detention Center. The

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

SUN Exclusive

Government also has to pay for 3 Meals per day @$7.00 per person, electricity at $285.00 per day, water at $225.00 per day, and cleaning services at $120.00 per day Over the Christmas holidays two separate boats carrying a total of 25 illegal Haitians were intercepted off Turks and Caicos .

According to spokesman for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police, Inspector Calvin Chase, the first boat apprehended on Wednesday, December 29, while the second was intercepted on Friday, December 30.

Police officers from the Marine Division intercepted the illegal 40ft wooden sloop in the area of French Cay which is within the territorial waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The sloop, according to Chase, was towed to South Dock on Providenciales, where it was Immigration and Marine Police found 117 illegal Haitian immigrants – comprising 90 males and 21 females, including 10 female children – on board.

At press time, 112 of the 117 illegal voyagers were repatriated. The children, who were the first to be sent back, were received on Friday by officials responsible for the welfare of children, in that country. The children are expected to be kempt in a place of safety while awaiting the arrival of their parents, who were said to have taken them on the treacherous trip.

The police also reported that on Friday morning, December 30, 2011, police officers from the Marine Division intercepted another illegal vessel - 45ft wooden sloop - equipped with an outboard engine, two miles off of French Cay which is also within the territorial waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

That sloop was towed to South Dock where final count revealed 139 Haitian migrants including 115 males and 24 females. They were handed

Road fatality on New Year’s Day

TURKS AND CAICOS Islands recorded its first road fatality for 2012, along the Academy Avenue. It took place on Sunday night, January 1.

The victim is identified as Domatona Thomas Pierre, a 21 year old male Haitian national.

over to Immigration Authorities.

On January 3, it is reported that U.S. Coast Guard rescued approximately 125 individuals from what was described as a grossly overloaded vessel transiting in international waters off the north coast of Haiti. They were said to have returned to land and handed over to the authorities.

Meantime, Border Control officials told The SUN that they are looking at improving security at the Detention Centre, especially since a number of illegal immigrants escaped from that facility.

According to the official, TCIG had invited tenders for the Security Services at the Detention Center and will very soon announce the company that was offered the tender.

“A new contract for security at the Five Cays Detention Centre was put out to tender and is still in the process of being finalized. The security last week was not provided by the firm which had been in place in September,

but by another firm which is already used by TCIG via the Ports Authority.

A report into the circumstances of the escape was commissioned and is now being considered. A wash up with the police and other agencies will take place next week and action will continue to be taken to improve the multi-agency response to these events.

Consideration is also being given to the procurement of purpose-built detention facilities for the future, subject to funding,” the Government official explained.

In relation to the long-awaited coastal radar, the official said it is awaiting its replacement parts and TCIG is in the process of recruiting a Radar Operations Supervisor. The post has already been advertised and the candidates are being short-listed.

“As already announced the Coastal radar system has been erected, and technical work is in hand to ensure that it is in good working order. A supervisor is being recruited. The project remains on target to go live at the beginning of the next financial year,” the source added.

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

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER.

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.

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

Page 8

LOCAL NEWS

By Vivian Tyson

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

Burglaries on the increase

The Providenciales Division of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has stepped up is patrol mechanism across that island in the wake of the spate of burglaries which took place over the Christmas and early New Year period.

More than seventy (70) burglaries were reported over the period spanning almost all the communities on that island. Aside from cash, the hoodlums escaped with all sorts of valuable items, including television sets, computers, video games, items of clothing and even groceries.

This has become a worrying trend for a number of householders on that island, triggering fear among a number of persons to wonder whether or not they would be next.

When The SUN contacted Deputy Commissioner of Police Brad Sullivan, he said the police hierarchy has been busy putting in the necessary mechanisms in place to stem the burglary

tide. According to him, patrols have beefed up as well as its intelligence mechanism.

“Whenever there is an increase in crime, we take an analytic look at it. We implement strategic thinking and provide tactical operation in the areas. We want to make sure that our operation is intelligence-led. We want to make sure also that our patrols are well aware of areas that are being affected, and that they are patrolling those areas on a regular basis, along with talking with people in the community,” Deputy Commissioner Sullivan said.

Sullivan once again implores citizens of the community who may have knowledge of the perpetrators of crimes in their neighbourhoods, to contact the police, so as to assist law enforcers to make their areas safe for them and their families.

“I think I am becoming a broken record on this, but the community sees and hears a lot of things, and they have got to trust to speak to us to pass on the information,” he said.

CABLE TECHNICIAN

Primary Duties: The Cable Technician is responsible for the Cable technician services and line building and maintenance to customer in Providenciales and Grand Turk.

Main Duties and Responsibilities: • Knowledge in line building • Proficient in IT and computer systems • Cable/Service Technician • Fiber Optic maintenance • Fiber Optic Splicing and color codes

Technical Skills: • Knowledge in Fiber Cable Interrelation & maintenance technician • Knowledge in installation of cable Lines • Expending key poles • Knowledge of field installation of 8-way expending anchor • Correct earthing system on 11kv & 66kv systems • Changing of insulators on H-pole suspension structure • 2-pole cross arm double dead ends • 3-pole double dead-end • Knowledge of tower suspension • Knowledge of tower double –end Qualification: • Design Installation • Maintenance of Fiber Optic • Fiber Optic Splicing and Color Codes

Salary: Based upon experience Contact: No phone calls please WIV Cable P.O. Box 679 Providenciales administrator@wiv.tc

Sullivan said that they are constantly reviewing the force’s operation to ensure that they have the resources in the right places.

He said also that hotspots and other areas of concerns are always kept under the radar, and that the law-enforcement top brass relies on the commanders to put police officers in the right areas.

“You can take a look at something and say, ‘Monday is going to be the hardest between the hours of 10 in the morning and three in the afternoon’.

Well, common sense says you are going to put officers in those areas at that time, to make sure that the patrols are where they should be,” Deputy Commissioner Sullivan reiterated.

A series of reports from the force’s information officer, Inspector Calvin Chase revealed that a greater than usual number of burglaries took place over the holiday period, with up to 20 incidences of such crimes taking place over at least one 24 hour cycle.

Caicos Marina Shipyard Is seeking applicants to fill the position of a

FINANCE ANALYST Requirements/Duties: 1. CMA/ACA/CPA qualified with a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience in a financial analysis position 2. Operational and financial analysis of key business issues 3. Management and development of accounting system and processes, including chart of accounts, expansion of capability, and relationship management with external parties.

4. Manage systems integration projects in relation to accounting system with operational systems 5. Extensive experience of preparation of Financial Statements, including Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet and Cash flow.

6. Finance team development and training on accounting system and processes.

7. Experience in financial analysis work in a retail/wholesale environment 8. Business process re-engineering experience in implementation of systems or process projects.

9. Strong written and verbal communication skills 10. Attention to detail and flexibility to manage multiple tasks 11. Knowledge of SAGE accounting software essential PLEASE SEND APPLICATIONS TO Caicos Marina Shipyard Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands Fax#: 946-5390

DEADLINE FOR SubMISSION OF APPLICANTS IS JANuARY 2ND 2012

Page 9

Chamber of Commerce predicting another tough year

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

By Vivian Tyson SUN Senior Editor

PRESIDENT OF THE Providenciales Chamber of Commerce Tina Fenimore is predicting another tough year for the business community unless Government eases up on the tax pedal and shifts the lever into the investment incentives gear.

The self described eternal optimist pointed out that in order for investments to spike within these islands the Government will have to start looking at offering incentives to prospective investors so as to lure them to this once economically thriving chain of islands.

“You have to offer incentives to investors; nobody is breaking down any doors to come to the Turks and Caicos Islands, let us be realistic,” said the frank-talking Fennimore.

And while Government is planning to offer incentives to prospective investors on Grand Turk,

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Tina Fenimore President of the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce

North Caicos, Middle Caicos and South Caicos, Fennimore said she would want to know whether or not the rate of such incentives would be enticing enough to successfully bait those investors.

“How much? What percentage?

We have to offer a lot. The (economic) problem has compounded. I am not saying it cannot change, but we have to stay the course. And the one that is going to stay the course, believe it or not, is the chamber,” Fenimore pointed out.

Fennimore is also calling for the diversification of the economy, saying that while tourism continues to thrive, there could be greater boon for the people of these islands if the there was diversification. She pointed out that diversification should also happen in tourism.

“Progress is being made in the tourism sector and it will continue.

What the Chamber is doing is seeking ways to open up the financial sector and other areas. I say we have got to diversify the economy. We have been saying this forever, and there has not been any progress.

“I am not blaming the British on this now. We have got to stop being so insular as a country. As a people, we

do not want to share. And what makes a country great is to have other people contributing. I still have hope; I never give up on hope. But we have got to have our people to start hoping, but not just hoping but doing,” Fenimore noted.

She stressed also that the entitlement syndrome must change, since it is one of the key destructive components to progress.

“The entitlement belief must stop because it is ludicrous; people should earn it. If it continues it will destroy this country. It is good to have national pride, but you have to back it up with something. This has got to get out of our heads; attitudes must change,” Fennimore asserted.

In the meantime, the Provo Chamber Head said that the body would be seeking to come up with ways to enhance investment in the country, pointing out that the board of directors comprised persons of varying backgrounds and professions.

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.

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

Sharp drop in holiday jets at Provo Air Centre

LOCAL NEWS

By Vivian Tyson Sun Senior Editor

CHRISTMAS 2011 AND New Year 2012 holidays were less fruitful for the Provo Air Centre in comparison to Christmas 2010 and New Year 2011, as the FBO experienced an approximate 50 percent drop in business when comparing the two periods.

Debbie Aharon, Operations Manager at the facility, told The SUN that the FBO welcomed about half of the jets that it accommodated between the Christmas period of 2010 and the first week in January 2011.

She was however, quick to point out that it was a normal period in comparison to the recent past, stating that last year was an exceptional year in that business.

“I think we just had a normal Christmas season, and I think that last year was an unusual spike. I think people (travelers) got overly excited last year. We are absolutely pleased with the numbers that we had, there is nothing to complain about,” Aharon said.

She attributed last year’s influx of jets into the TCI to travelers believing that the recession would be short-lived and so they spent liberally.

Debbie Aharon, Operations Manager Provo Air Centre

“Last year everybody thought that the recession was just about over, so everybody said ‘let me take-off in my jet’, and they later understand that the recovery is going to be a lot slower, and so, people are not going back to their spending ways. And they are being a little more careful. So, we had what is considered a normal season.

In the meantime, Aharon said Nassau was busier that the TCI, while Antigua and Anguilla returned to their positions of seeing more activities on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and January 2, than the TCI. She however, noted that even while those

AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD POSITION AVAILABLE

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

CARPENTER

Job Summary: • Maintaining all furniture (wood floors, fences, decorations, lodging) in accordance with international standards • Ordering of spare parts to ensure consistent functioning without discontinuity • Participation training against fire • Any other duties as may be assigned Essential Functions: • Apply preventive maintenance • Ensure all work sites are left in a usable and safe condition • Keep work shop clean and in order • Maintain inventory of spare and repair parts and tools

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

jurisdictions saw more businesses during the periods, overall the TCI could record more business courtesy of a steady stream of private craft landing over a longer period of time.

“We don’t have final numbers and all I am quoting right now is fractional because it is the only report we get on a daily basis. Once we add up the fractional reports of private jets, we may get a better idea where we stood.

But I am sure we are somewhere at the top; we are definitely there, but it is not like last year’s level,” Aharon pointed out.

In the meantime, Aharon said it was totally false that last Christmas, as was reported during the launch of the new FBO late last year, that during the December 2010 and New Year January 2011 period, the Provo Air Centre could not accommodate the volume of private jets, and so, some of the craft destined for the TCI were diverted to the Dominic Republic.

“That never happened. And this year there was all kinds of gossips about people dropping their passengers here, then going to the DR (Dominican Republic) and parking their planes because of excessive fees.

“Not once did that happened. No plane left here and went to the DR to park; not one complaint was received about fees. We had a really good

season, so it was very disturbing to hear that and, I don’t know where that (rumor) was coming from,” Aharon said.

PRESS RELEASE

Financial Services Commission Clico (Bahamas) Limited (In Liquidation) On Thursday, January 19,2012, at 11:00am, 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.

Requirements - Applicants must be and or have: • At least two (2) years of experience in carpentry • A high school diploma or equivalent • Attentive to details and self-motivator • Able to understand and speak english fluently • Able to work with little or no supervision • Physically fit, dependable and hard working • In possession of clean police record and valid tci driver’s license • Willing to reside on ambergris cay

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.

Closing Date for Applications is Wednesday January 13th, 2012

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)9465314 or (649)941-8311 and Fax#: (649)941-8379.

SALARY: $10 - $12 PER hOuR

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

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

Haitian Embassy Agent refutes involvement in illegal Haitian trade

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

By Vivian Tyson Sun Senior Editor

DONALD METELLUS, THE Voluntary Agent for the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in TCI is refuting statement made by sections of the local Haitian community linking him to the illegal migration between the two countries and victimization of children born here to Haitian nationals.

Metellus, via a statement, told The SUN that some Haitians in the TCI have been on a campaign to sully his reputation possibly because of his relationship between the TCI and Haiti governments.

According to him, On Saturday, December 30, 2011, a caller to Horizon 2000 International 106.3 FM – a Creole radio station - wrongfully accused him of involving in illicit activities. He named on of his countrymen, Ronald Gardiner, as the main perpetrator of the rumor.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

“The allegation are as quoted by him that I have being taking money from the Haitian Government on behalf of the illegal Haitians who migrate to the Turks and Caicos Islands by boats on several occasions, to feed them; and also accused me of being dishonest and saying that I have also being paying the TCI Immigration authorities not to issue documents to Haitian children who born in this territory,” Gardiner said.

He continued: “The allegation which I have being wrongfully accused by Mr. Gardiner are false allegations, because I am a man of God who spent most of my times helping people who are in need, by donating money, etc to facilitate their needs.”

Metellus told The SUN that he has been assisting the TCI Immigration Department with the Haitian migrants who illegally come to the TCI, at no time had he requested or received money from the Haitian government or

DISTRIBUTION - MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE

The Distribution – Marketing Representative manages the daily activities and marketing of the Dealer locations, including training for new products and services, and handles customer questions, complaints, and billing inquiries. Oversees the processes and transactions in connection with activation of new customer accounts through the dealer locations.

The DMR demonstrates proficiency in typing and grammar, strong computer proficiency, and the ability to multi-task in a fast paced team environment. This employee has strong marketing skills and works with the Marketing team to organize and execute events and promotions.

Role & Job Tasks • Manages all aspects of the Dealer/Reseller distribution channel • Supports the Dealers and Resellers • Trains, mentors and assist the Dealer channel in becoming successful in marketing and selling Islandcom products and services • Maintains Dealer and Reseller stock as per company policy • Processes Dealer Commissions and tracks channel trending • Complete required training to stay abreast of product, service, and policy changes • Strike a positive and cooperative tone with both customers and coworkers • Looks for additional distribution opportunities to grow business • Deliver timely and accurate reports on a monthly basis

Required Knowledge • Marketing degree or equivalent work experience. Ability to conceptualize marketing opportunities that will result in a positive outcome • Ability to train and mentor employees of the dealers and create a positive sales experience • Inventory control and basic knowledge of computer system for maintaining trending reports • Excellent written and oral communication skills; additional languages a plus • Self-starter with excellent team work skills • Computer knowledge including full command of Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word • Previous consumer sales experience To apply for the position, send a cover letter and resume to cv@islandcom.tc by January 6th, 2012 Islandcom Telecommunication Ltd. P.O.Box 1122, Graceway House A-108 Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI

from the TCI Government, stressing that most times he had to spend his own money to make the lives of detained Haitians, who arrive by boat, more comfortable.

“I have being spending thousands of dollars throughout the years in helping taking care of the illegal Haitian migrants who come here on the illegal vessels. I am not only helping people who come here on these vessels, but, I have been helping anyone who requests my assistance, such as the Haitians, Turks Islanders and other nationalities. I also give voluntary assistance to several local, nonGovernmental and Governmental organizations such as the Red Cross, Disaster management, CAPAA, 911 etcetera,” Metellus revealed.

“With regards to the Immigrations Department; at no time I was engaged in paying any money to Immigration authority. The reason why I have being rendering my assistance to help and

Page 11

LOCAL NEWS

Donald Metellus

assist the people on these Islands, regardless of their nationality, is because I grew up here and I believe that is the only way I can make my contribution to the community of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The accusations, which he described as “attack from the Devil”, will not deter him from assisting those who he is able to assist.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 12

HOLIDAY VILLAGE Is seeking ISLAND VIBES SEEKS

1 First Mate On board 36’ boat 6 days per week and flexible to work holidays Salary $5.00 per hour Contact Shaun Deane at 231-8423

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

NOTICE

Please be advised that British Caribbean Bank Limited (formerly known as Belize Bank (Turks and Caicos) Limited has removed the Joint Receivers over Imperial Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services Limited and handed the Company back to its Directors.

Stewart Howard Senior Risk Manager

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012 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

Deadline for submission of applicants is January 12th 2011 Submit to: Graceway IGA Supermarket main office complex or email: hr@gracwayiga.com Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted to attend interviews

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

SENIOR LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS

(DEPUTY SECRETARY)

Turks and Caicos Islands Government As part of its public sector reform programme, TCI Government is reducing the number of ministerial departments. New Permanent Secretaries are in the process of being appointed and applications are now invited for the Deputy Secretary posts that will help them lead the new ministries through significant change.

These are important senior leadership roles transforming the effectiveness and efficiency of public services. Several positions are available and successful applicants will be appointed to the most appropriate ministries.

Applicants will need to be TCI Belongers or demonstrate strong and permanent links with the islands. Previous government experience is not a pre-requisite and applications are invited from anyone with relevant leadership and management experience. Applications will be welcomed from current TCI civil

servants with relevant experience, skills and potential without regard to current seniority.

Candidates need to be creative and strategic thinkers, with real leadership ability as well as a relevant level of financial understanding.

Change-oriented and with a record of getting things done through people, they will be persuasive communicators, orally and on paper, able to manage complex stakeholder relationships. Above all they will be of unquestionable integrity, with the courage to insist on, and exemplify, the highest moral standards and behaviours.

To download further details, including how to apply, please visit www.gov.tc or telephone Cyre Ferguson +1 649 232 2447 Applications received after midnight on Sunday 15th January 2012 may not be considered.

Page 13

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

President of the Civil Service Association New Year’s Message

By Dr. Rufus Ewing

We give God thanks for bringing us to this point in our lives, to see the dawning of a new day, and a new year.

As we look back on the year 2011, a small footprint in this journey of life, we must take stock of what we have accomplished and what good we have contributed to mankind and humanity.

However, the road that we have travelled thus far to bring us to this place, even though it may have been paved with thorns of discouragement, feelings of hopelessness, fear and bitterness, we need to forge ahead and pave the streets of our journey with hope, love, passion, patriotism, pride, kindness and unity.

My fellow Civil Servants we have accomplished much together as an association during the past year. We have endeavored to gain the respect of the administration to see us as equal and capable partners in the development and shaping of policies for the betterment of the Civil Service and country.

Much work is however left to be done. The many measures that have already been enacted by the British and those which will inevitably come, will continue to have severe and negative impact on the well-being of Civil Servants past, present and future. Many of these issues were late in implementation due to our efforts, but their ratification is predestined in this year 2012, less we stand strongly against them.

The Interim Government has managed the affairs of this country in a manner that is far from fiscally prudent and devoid of social conscience and this incompetence has suffocated any opportunities for productivity and efficiency within the Civil Service and economic recovery on a national level.

The year 2011 was the year that we fought against the reduction of our salaries, the diminution of our

Rufus Ewing

pensions, the unjust removal of our and a toxin that inhibits the progress gratuities and allowances. towards justice and goodness. So It was the year that we fought let us rid ourselves of this element, for our brothers and sisters who fear, and march forward boldly and could not fight or who were afraid proudly with God as our shield. to fight. It was the year that the The international publication, Interim Administration abandoned The Time Magazine, selected “The their professed path of objectively Protester” as their “Person of the and transparency and made clear Year”. This is truly a recognition their true intentions to make Civil that empires, regimes and unjust Servants and Turks and Caicos dictatorships all eventually must Islanders citizens of the lowest class succumb to the will of the people of in their beloved country. any nation.

That was the year 2011. My Many of you as Civil Servants brothers and sisters we are now in the are both as individuals and as a dawn of a new year, 2012. The CSA collective, our “Person of the Year” wishes God’s richest blessings upon as you rallied around the CSA and you all and upon your families. We protested openly and covertly against pray for happiness, health, unity and the retrogressive and unjust policies strength as we cross the threshold of the Interim Administration. into this New Year. We know that Many Turks and Caicos Islanders the Lord will be our light and our and Residents of the TCI are also salvation and we shall have no one “Persons of the Year” as you too to fear. protested against injustice in our Fear is a tranquilizer that beloved country. paralyzes the mind, body and spirit I am honoured to have been

named the Turks and Caicos Weekly News and TCI Post’s person of the year for my efforts in organizing the Civil Service Association and motivating persons to stand up, speak up, speak out and to fight for their rights.

I am humbled in the recognition that such efforts and accomplishments did not come without the support of the members of the CSA’s Management Council, Trustees and Working Group and the dedicated members who recognized that strength comes with unity.

To all of my colleagues I say these words of encouragement; At times the hurdle seems insurmountable, the road gets lonely and one feels weary, but along the way join hands with a fellow Turks and Caicos Islander, an resident, a senior citizen, a family member, someone will be there to hold your hand and say “let’s fight on together, for the casualties of this battle are worth every bit of our sacrifice”.

Turks and Caicos Islanders and fellow residents of this our country, unshackle yourselves from your chains of fear, follow your heart, insulate yourselves from the propaganda, deception and divisive tactics of the Interim Administration and its agents. Be knowledgeable about the issues impacting our country and participate constructively in the development of solutions. Let no man foreign to our soil decide what is wrong or right, or what is or is not in the best interest of the majority of our people. Let no man foreign to this soil determine your children’s future.

I urge you to, stand with your fellow man in the struggle against injustice.

I urge you to stay the course, to keep within focus our common goal, and in all of this let God be your light, your strength and your shield.

May the good Lord bless our country and us all with a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.

Page 14

PARALEGAL

Wanted suitably qualified person to act as paralegal to property/commercial partner at busy law firm in Providenciales. Must have minimum of 10 years experience, excellent communication/English skills, word processing/computer file management skills required and be available to work overtime hours and weekends as and when required. The applicant must also possess excellent communication/English skills.

Applications in writing to: The Managing Partner P.O. Box 260, Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands, BWI

GILLEY’S CAFÉ Is looking for:

1 LABOURER

Suitable person Must be willing to work six days per week Must be honest reliable and proficient Work is mostly manual and lifting inventory is a must.

Hours are from 8:30am – 4:00pm – six days week Some extra hours maybe required at times.

Salary $6.00 per hour Contact: Applications must be submitted via: Email: Discount@tciway.tc or fax 649946-4871

North Caicos Contracting Ltd seeks

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

MANGO BAR & RESTAURANT SEEKS

1 BARTENDER Salary $150 per week 6 days per week Contact 247-0187

POSITION AVAILABLE

The West Bay Club is seeking a suitably qualified applicant to fill the post of:

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER – RESORT & CLUB/PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION (POA)

JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for the introduction, implementation and supervision of the Hotel and Club/POA accounting and financial functions, coordinates budget planning, and complete financial reporting in a timely manner. Oversee the administration and financial controls of the Resort and Club.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1) Manage all aspects of financial and accounting functions for both Strata and Resort/Hotel Operations 2) Fully responsible in the conceptualization, installation of accounting structure and successful implementation of Jonas Property Management & Accounting Software 3) Preparation and timely filing of consolidated financial reports, various budgets, reviews, updates, analysis and reports, including but not limited to, Cash Management, Bank Reconciliation, monthly accrual and prepaid schedules, Cost Controls, Financial Performance Projections, Inventory, General Ledger, Payroll Administration, tax basis financial statement presentation, and various internal reporting.

4) Prepare monthly statements to condominium owners and provide monthly Financial Statements on the Results of Operations to the Board of Directors 5) Oversee the timeliness of the monthly close process 6) Review financial statements and explain the financial information to senior management 7) Coordinate and comply with external audits 8) Create accounting procedures manual for all processes and functions in the Accounting Department (Systems and Documentation function) with regards the Hotel Operations, ensuring that policies and procedures are align to the Standards set by Authorities in the Lodging Industry 9) Compose and maintain a detailed schedule of responsibilities and necessary

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Administrative Assistant

An Insurance Agency and Brokerage is seeking a dynamic, outgoing proactive person, with a background in Administration and Customer Service with a minimum of 3 years experience in General & Motor Insurance.

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

Kindly send resumes to: Human Resource Manager P.O. Box 355 Providenciales

DIAMOND CLEANING SEEKS

1 LABOURER Salary $6.00 per hour Contact 241-7600

Dock Direct

MAINTENANCE MECHANIC Salary $8.00 5 to 6 days per week Contact 441-6669

deadlines to be met on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.

Manage department personnel to ensure deadlines are met.

10) Implementation and training of automated systems to improve efficiency of the Resort and Club/POA processes within the accounting department in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by Management 11) Prepare accounting procedures manual for all processes and functions in the accounting department related to the Club member billings and the POA utility billings. Oversee the practices and update the manual as modifications to processes are made.

12) Undertake and support any policy change, system or work rules the company implements regarding the purpose of the position. Interface with staff at all levels in the production of projects as requested by Management.

13) Manage preparation of schedules supporting governmental filing requirements, work permits, etc.

14) Any other responsibilities that may be assigned from time to time to achieve company objectives.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS: 1) Accounting Degree required 2) CA, CMA or CPA Preferred 3) In-depth Jonas Property Management System experience strongly required 4) Wealth of experience in Internal Auditing, Systems & Documentation, Finance & Accounts Management 5) 10+ years of related experience required, including relevant Hotel/Resort and Club/POA and utilities accounting experience.

6) Advanced Excel experience required 7) “Hands-on individual” REQUIREMENTS – Successful applicant must: 1) Have a pleasant personality and excellent communication skills 2) Be reliable, hard working and enthusiastic 3) Possess a valid TCI Driver’s License 4) Produces a clean Police Record 5) Be physically fit Salary range is commensurate to experience and qualifications.

Applications must be submitted in written form or via email, addressed to: Dane Underwood Managing Director, dane@thewestbayclub.com The West Bay Club, Lower Bight Road, Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, TCI

Page 15

THE POO OF THE INTERIM ADMINISTRATION

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

THE NEW YEAR is upon us now and we have to effectively start the process of beating back some of the extremist views and policies of this runaway train wreck of this Interim Administration.

Like everything else, they came here under false pretenses like wolves in sheep’s clothing. But if you analyze things properly, you would see that the genesis of their being here is centered around the creation of wealth in the Turks and Caicos Islander community.

Let us take a small step back and look at things in their proper context.

Many of us must remember the days when the likes of Patrick Ellis sold Parrot Cay many time over and made millions of dollars in the transactions.

Or in his selling of properties in North West Point just to name a few. There was also the disposal of the Palms property, 15 acres at that for a mere $300,000.00! These were all initially transfers from the crown to individuals that enriched themselves subsequent to these transactions.

In comes Mike Misick, and he determines and made it Government’s stated policy that there would be no further dealings in Crown Land for commercial purpose unless a “Belonger” was involved in the land.

This policy was designed to spread the wealth through the indigenous population and allow them to reap the rewards of their land, the land that they had protected over the years, by just being here! Because the original plantation owners in the Caicos Islands and the salt merchants in Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos, when the going got tough, had abandoned us and left us to our own devices.

The transfer of such wealth became too good for us to enjoy.

Those that came here to live among us and benefit handsomely from the numerous transactions that allowed them to line their pockets, “jet-set” to a and fro, decided that we should be forever relegated to the bottom rung of the social and economic ladder of this our country, became upset and moaned and groaned that it was grossly unfair for them to have to share what was justly ours with us!

Mind you, there were some excesses or our part, and the distribution could have gone further down the food chain so that more of us could have benefitted. That being the case, the system could have been made to have a mid-course correction without throwing out the baby with the bath water.

Now the wolves had been pacing along the perimeter of this country looking for an excuse to rebalance things in favor of those that had lost their competitive edge because government’s policy to level the playing field. The wrecking crew came in and as a matter of course determined that everything that had been done in the past to give Turks and Caicos Islanders a leg up in their country was wrong and corrupt. We had to be, as a people brought to our knees because we were “living above our means” in our own country. So there was, and still is, a systematic and concerted effort being made to marginalize us in our own country by those that did not in the past lifted a finger to help us develop this country

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

ROYAL ROBINSON CONTRIBUTER to where it is today.

Since the imposition of direct rule, can anyone point out the new policies and plans that have been designed to assist us to weather the global economic storms that have been raging for some time now?

The arrival of the millionth visitor to these shores had absolutely nothing to do with these guys because they have not tried to promote these islands effectively. They have paid scant regard to making it happen for us.

What you see is the spin off from the large promotional efforts by the previous administration, coupled with the combined effort of the private sector, that is now bearing fruit! It has taken a long time in some cases for the trees to bear, but the constant water and fertilizer have now begun to pay off.

But the usurpers continue to try and play mind games with us. First of all, they sent “bush mechanics” to man and operate a luxury vessel.

That in real terms is what Turks and Caicos Islands are. We have from time promoted ourselves as a high end destination with very low taxes and basically crime free. But what you are seeing now are policies that are being put in place in the name of good governance and fiscal management that are designed to get us out of our niche and price us to a point that becomes unsustainable. With the amount of taxes being levied on us every day without our input or consent is horrendous! We cannot keep pace with them, and many of us only know about some of them when we are required to pay them.

We continue to hear about meeting these delusional and ridiculous milestone or more appropriately, millstones, in time for democratic elections to take place in this country by the shifting goal post of 2012.

The one that is now given highest priority is that of bringing the budget into balance! That is the greatest farce perpetrated on us in my lifetime. First of all, they lied to us as to who was going to be paying for SIPT and the Civil Recovery Team. When it became clear that they could not avoid saying that we were paying, they put it down to a misunderstanding of the facts on our part. Just as how it was said by Sparrow in his song that sixty million Frenchmen could not be wrong, then

thirteen thousand, or how many of us, as will be revealed by the census could not be wrong in our understanding that the British Government was paying.

To put more salt on the wound of us paying some $11M a year for those two investigating arms, we are going to be saddled by a bill to the tune of $37.5M to pay to the civil recovery lawyers.

This is so because the Governor has said on a number of occasions that they have recovered some $150M in land value. That number might be right if you were to add the number of the commercial and residential leases that naturally lapsed because of a number of circumstances that had nothing to do with corrupt practices and inflate their value.

This particular exercise was the responsibility of the Crown Land Unit that administered the allocation, administration and cancellation of leases. This supposed $150M will not be lodged in the Treasury or realized unless and until someone else comes along and wants to make use of those pieces of land.

However, by paying out the 25% of value of the land recovered, the Treasury and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands will be swindled out of that $37.5M. That is highway robbery and we should not allow that to continue. These guys did not “throw any hand”, but they sure as hell are taking a big “draw”.

With the year 2012, upon us, now more than ever, we as a people have to put the Governor, the Interim Administration and by extension the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on notice that we are not going to be sitting idly by and allow them to continue to change the goal post in the middle of the game and keep us from the reins of ruling and guiding our own country. We cannot do worst by ourselves than what is being done by this incompetent lot of retreads and nincompoops.

Do not for one moment believe that after this exercise that we are going to kiss and make up or be friends. These guys do not understand that! Do you really think that you could be friends with the descendants of Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, pirates of the highest order, that had been sent to the New world by the then Queen of England to pillage and plunder the Spanish galleons? That is a pipe dream!

The modern day pirates are here amongst us! Wake up my people and let us take back our land in 2012. Do not allow them to keep shifting the goal post while putting us further behind the eight ball!

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

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

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Joan Joyner sworn in as High Court Judge in Turks and Caicos Islands

LOCAL NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

FORMER CHIEF MAGISTRATE Joan Joyner was recently sworn in as a High court Judge in the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court by His Excellency Governor Ric Todd at the Governor’s Office, Grand Turk.

Joyner was the last of three High Court judges who were appointed following on from the Governor’s acceptance of the Judicial Service Commission’s recommendations.

Commenting on her appointment, Justice Joyner said: “I feel humbled and overwhelmed at the same time and I am grateful and pleased at the trust that has been placed in me.”

Prior to being Chief Magistrate in TCI, Joyner served as Senior Crown Counsel and Resident Magistrate.

Joyner was called to the Jamaica bar in 1982 having qualified in law from the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School. She Governor Ric Todd with new High Court Judges Mrs. Joan Joyner, Margaret Ramsay-Hale and CHief Justice Edwin Goldsbrough had already obtained a bachelor of arts degree in English at the Marquette University, Milwaukee. Senior Crown Counsel followed by practice in Texas, she was appointed Magistrate of the She has been admitted as an attorney Director of Public Prosecutions in St. Chief Kitts-Nevis and Senior Crown Commonwealth of Dominica before to the Jamaica and Texas bars. After working in various legal roles in Counsel in the British Virgin Islands. her appointment as Resident Jamaica, Joyner worked in TCI as After a short period in private Magistrate on Grand Turk. She was appointed Chief Magistrate in 2008 when Justice Richard Williams was made a judge of the Supreme Court.

The other judge who was POSITION AVAILABLE sworn in previously was Edwin Goldsbrough, who is the Ambergris Cay Facilities Ltd is seeking a suitably qualified applicant to fill a country’s new Chief Justice. post on Ambergris Cay. The available post is for a Goldsbrough was born and educated in England. He was MECHANIC admitted as a solicitor of the Daily tasks will include, but are not limited to: Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1980 and obtained a post • Ability to trouble shoot & repair Hydrostatic & Hydraulics graduate Diploma in Business • Ability to repair both aspects of power generators: mechanical and electrical Administration in 1988. Having • Perform routine maintenance of power generators worked in courts administration • Trouble shoot & repair diesel fuel injection system in England for some years, he • Chassis repair, including springs, shock & drive shaft worked abroad in various judicial and advisory roles. These GOLF CART MECHANIC: included advising on the • Keep golf carts available for use by conducting inspections through establishment of the Judicial preventive maintenance.

• Maintain golf carts condition by reviewing shop orders; listening to College of Zimbabwe and the operators’ complaints; repairing failures. training of newly appointed • Must be able to work and repair a 1-2 stroke engine.

Judges, training officer and • Must be familiar with Yamaha and Kubota engines.

Senior Crown Counsel on St • Must keep records of all repairs and services to carts.

Helena, Supreme Court and • Maintain appearance by cleaning and painting.

Appeal Court Judge of the • Must keep a clean working environment; keep shop equipment operational by calibrating electrical test equipment; following operating instructions; Republic of Vanuatu and, for the troubleshooting breakdowns, maintaining supplies, performing preventive last six years, High Court Judge, maintenance and follow-ups.

Head of the Civil Division and

AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD

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

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

Mrs. Joan Joyner taking her oath as High Court Judge in the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court

acting President of the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands. He also chaired the National Judiciary IT working group and devised and delivered training on new legislation for judicial officers.

Margaret Ramsay-Hale was also sworn in last year as a High Court Judge.

Ramsay-Hale is from Jamaica where she was educated until attending school in England to take her GCE A-levels. She obtained a bachelor of science in Economics at the London School of Economics and a bachelor of law’s degree from the University of the West Indies.

Following completing her legal education at the Norman Manley Law School in 1991, she entered private practice in London chambers before returning to the Caribbean in 1994.Ramsay-Hale has been Crown Counsel, Judge of the Family Court and Resident Magistrate in Jamaica before she moved to Cayman Islands as Magistrate in 1998. She was appointed Chief Magistrate in 2008 and has acted a Judge of the Grand Court. She had been guest law lecturer in Cayman Islands and the United States. She is, at present, the Caribbean regional member of the Council of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

US Haitian deportees not linked to local crimes

By Vivian Tyson

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police said they have not found any evidence of Haitian deportees from the United States entering the Turks and Caicos Islands or being responsible for any serious crimes committed in recent time.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Brad Sullivan made the disclosure while speaking to The SUN earlier

LOCAL NEWS

The Authorities in the Bahamas thought, declared that investigations have confirmed evidence of the have not pointed to such individuals hoodlums being active in that being in the Turks and Caicos Islands neighboring country, as they have at this time, neither did evidence point to them being responsible for been linked to serious crimes there.

Talk in the TCI is that some of any such crimes here. the serious crimes committed on “Well, we are constantly Providenciales, including the murder dealing with the Americans; we are of a security officer on the premises constantly dealing with the Bahamas of the Royal Bank of Canada, could and all our external partners. We have been orchestrated by the know that a number of persons who deportees. were deported are trying to get back this week.

According to some, the in the States.

In recent weeks, talks have viciousness with which the gunmen We have started to work with our surfaced of Haitian deportees from attacked the two security guards, partners from other countries and say, the US, in attempting to make their resulting in the subsequent death of ‘here is it that we have, and what you way back to that country, have been one of them while being operated have’ and, we try to marry it all up to using the Turks and Caicos Islands on by medical practitioners at the come up with it to see if it is true. and the Bahamas as transit points. Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in “But so far, there is no evidence The men, it has been argued, while Providenciales, was out of character to support the presence of deported waiting to be transported to the US, for local criminals, who they say Haitians from the United States in take the opportunity to stage armed often times fire warning shots to the TCI. Not at this time. robberies, to help them cover final scare their victims into complying We are working with Nassau destination expenses. and Miami, to see what we can get with their request.

But the Deputy Commissioner in place,” Deputy Commissioner Sullivan, while not dismissing such Sullivan said.

Advertise with us today Call 946 8542

HORSE EYE JACK'S ( Blue Hills) JOB FAIR Tuesday January 10th Time: 9am to 1pm

CHEFS, BAR STAFF,SERVERS, HOSTS Must Speak and Understand English madisondrake@aol.com

Club SODAX

is seeking 1 DOMESTIC WORKER Salasr $5 per hour Please contact 9414540

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 18

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 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

Page 19

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

Courtney Robinson appointed as new Director of the TCI Red CrossLOCAL NEWS

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JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Mr Courtney Robinson has been indeed an honour to serve,” said the appointed as the new Director of the TCI Red Cross Director.

“It is my endeavour to be that Turks & Caicos Islands Red Cross, taking up his position on Tuesday, leader that will form formidable partnerships with stakeholders, January 3rd 2012. makers, community Based on Providenciales, decision Robinson will be responsible for groups, volunteers and the general managing TCI Red Cross operations public – thus being that person throughout the whole territory, while who will inspire voluntary action managing the development, delivery to strengthen the Turks and Caicos and sustainability of programmes Islands communities to prepare for within an overall strategic framework. and respond in times of crisis, while What is more, he will plan for and upholding the ethos of the Turks & respond to disasters and emergencies, Caicos Islands Red Cross,” added coordinating with government and Robinson.

A graduate of the London School other actors in accordance with the National Disaster Plan and individual of Economics and Political Science contingency plans; and when the with a Masters of Science degree crisis is over, help persons affected to in Media and Communications recover and move on with their lives. Regulation & Policy, Courtney also “I am humbled by the opportunity holds a First Class honours degree in to not only serve my fellow men, but Public Relations from the University also be responsible for and take the of Westminster, London, UK. Courtney's experience in disaster lead in providing humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable people in our management derives from when he communities. I am indeed privileged served as an executive committee to be working in conjunction with member on the National Disaster Policy Committee the British Red Cross, a global Executive organization that touches on the (2007 – 2009), The Recovery Task lives of millions people throughout Force (2008 – 2009), CARICOM the world, making an incredible Community Climate Change Centre difference in their lives. This is (CCCCC) Committee for the TCI

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

public relations and marketing for Le Reve Gala Ball’s Bollywood Dreams and Diamonds are Forever charitable events. This, along with founding and executive-producing the TCI Top Model Contest & Fashion Extravaganza, an event where he developed programmes and providing mentoring to young people interested in the fashion design industry.

The British Red Cross and TCI Red Cross family welcomes Mr Robinson to his new appointment, and we look forward to your continued support as we build capacity to provide for the most vulnerable people in our communities.

For more information on the TCI Red Cross, our services and how you can volunteer or donate, kindly contact Courtney Robinson, Director, (649) 941-8056 or (649) 232-6797 or email tciredcrossdirector@gmail. com The Turks & Caicos Islands Red Cross is a branch of the British Red Cross; this relationship is articulated in an Establishment Agreement signed in 2000. The branch is also part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

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

(2009) and the Turks & Caicos Islands Government Informal Settlement Task Force (2009). He has also undertaken training in Risk Mapping and Planning in Coastal Zones, Strengthening the Capacity of the Youth Arm of the National AIDS Program, and Media as Advocates for Children – Responding to Child Abuse in Our Communities.

As Director of the Turks & Caicos Islands Government Information Service (GIS), Robinson has a strong background in communications and public relations. There, he effectively repositioned GIS product - increasing productivity, content and dissemination, and publication of material by 500%.

Courtney has organised projects and events for companies such as The Grace Bay Club, The Somerset Resort and The Gansevoort Resort along with non-profits such as the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association, The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Drive, TCI Red Cross Red & White Party, The National Kidney Foundation fundraising drive and the 2008 post-hurricane Ike and Hanna children’s Christmas parties.

He also provided high visibility

• 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

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JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

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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JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

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Patrons comprising local and tourist alike help themselves to memorabilia provided by telecoms company Digicel

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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Party and fun items could also be had

The Rip Saw-playing was among the main attractions at the event

The Annual Maskanoo Parade held along the Grace Bay strip in Providenciales on Boxing Day, December 26, was attended by hundreds comprised of tourists and locals alike. The event saw marking by Junkanoo and Maskanoo bands, cultural performances and giveaways. The following are highlights of the event.

The Turks and Caicos Start Foundation with Tina Fennimore (centre), President of the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce had a display at the event

Scotiabank was on hand to display its product

Some of the Maskanoo costumes were quire interesting

Young contestants participate in dance contests

A variety of locally-designed items were on sale at the event

There were some interesting costumes at Maskanoo 2011

The Junkanoo band in all their glory

Santa helpers from the Patty Place pose with local firefighters

A section of the crowd obviously enjoying the performance on stage

This young lady proudly displays her painted face

Maskanoo in their street march

The face-paintings were elegant

Tourists express their interest in items for sale at the event

The Breezy Beach Dancers were among the cultural presentations

Barbara Johnson, nicknamed ‘the TCI Song Bird’ was the headline act

This pair of young drummers was well received by the massive audience

These bright smiles are a reflection of the good times that these two ladies were having

A local artist brushes a design on canvas for sale

Tourist stock up on masks and other Maskanoo items to participate in the activities

David Bowen (centre) leads the Maskanoo parade

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JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012 TURKS & CAICOS SUN

The holidays have come and gone and the bills are rolling in. This can be an overwhelming time for folks, as the pile of debt seems to be get larger. However, January is a great time to focus on the coming year and to establish your 2012 financial goals. Here’s how to regain financial stability in 3 easy steps.

Due to the fact that some of us might have spent a little bit more money than what we had originally budgeted for, it is time to regain control of our financial lives and create feasible and realistic budgets for the New Year.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

* Establish a $1000 emergency fund by March * Have a monthly budget meeting with my spouse The key to this is to align your goals with your values and your priorities.

Your goal has to be something that will propel you forward and that feels slightly ambitious.

Step 2: WRITE IT DOWN You know the saying, “If it’s not on paper, it never happens.” It’s true; if you don’t plan it out on paper, it will NEVER HAPPEN for you. Unless you write your goal down and plan out the steps to get there, you only have an idea or a dream and “maybe someday it will happen.”

Many have decided that in 2012 they will restructure their finances and plan ahead to be able to rid themselves of high interest credit card debt and other bills which consume most of their disposable income.

If you’re tired of having Christmas bills follow you into the New What most have to realize is that in order to reach financial freedom and deal with financial problems effectively, it is imperative to commit Year, the first thing to do is take assessment of what you spent this year on to fixed budgets, to carefully analyze and consider all of the different Christmas. You should consider both the direct and indirect costs. You have choices available to us, and to make the best decisions available to us gifts, but think of everything else associated with your holiday traditions: after considering all the surrounding circumstances. * Stocking Stuffers * Christmas Cards Once you have evaluated your expenses, take the time to set some * Wrapping Paper goals. The first should be to determine a date when you would like to * Charities have paid back all of the extra money you borrowed or used during * Extra Travel the holidays. Then you will be ready to create a budget. Calculate how * Extra Groceries for Baking, etc. much money you will need set aside each month in order to reach your first goal. This amount will now become a new fixed expense and you The more items that you consider, the more realistic your budget will must view it as such. If you do not plan to pay this amount each month, be. Once you have come up with a total amount, simply divide by 12 and chances are that it will not happen. that is how much you need to set aside each month. You can also figure it Setting goals is important; however, complying with those goals up based on weeks or by paychecks. is equally important. Make it a point to revisit your financial goals periodically, for example on a monthly basis, and assess how you are Step 3: WORK THE PLAN doing. Are you on track? If not, review your goals to see if they are This can be the hardest of the three steps because it involves your realistic and make adjustments as needed. behavior and determination. This is where your small decisions come into play. Seldom is it a single line item in a household budget that you can Step 1: SET CLEAR GOALS point to and say, “that’s where we went wrong.” It’s the small decisions The first part of January is always a buzz with people talking about we make day in and day out that add up and prevent us from achieving our resolutions. We prefer to set goals. The difference is that a goal has financial goals. passion, purpose, and action behind it. A resolution stating you want Remember, this is a process that happens over time. Here’s the kicker… to do better financially is meaningless. Your must set clear, measurable, your plan won’t go according to plan! That’s ok. Don’t be discouraged. and time sensitive goals such as: Make the necessary adjustments and move forward. You can do this. The application of these steps is the hardest part, but easy to do if you desire to * Pay cash for Christmas next year gain great stability in 2012. * Pay off the car by June * Get out of debt by December

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SomEonE LikE you A D E L E

I heard that you're settled down That you found a girl and you're married now.

I heard that your dreams came true.

Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.

Old friend, why are you so shy?

Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.

I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you too Don't forget me, I begged I remember you said, "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead, Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead, " Yeah You'd know how the time flies Only yesterday was the time of our lives We were born and raised In a summer haze Bound by the surprise of our glory days I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.

I'd hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you too Don't forget me, I begged I remember you said, "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

Yeah Nothing compares No worries or cares Regrets and mistakes They are memories made.

Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?

Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you Don't forget me, I begged I remember you said, "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you too Don't forget me, I begged I remember you said, "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead, Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

Gaga wealthiest woman in music

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

LADY Gaga became the highest earning female musician of 2011 with an estimated income of £60million.

The 'Born this Way' singer's earnings more than doubled those of her nearest rival, US pop idol Taylor Swift, according to a survey by Forbes.com.

Gaga's mammoth fortune came about because of multiple endorsement deals and earning a whopping £830,000 a night from concert ticket sales.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Swift earned about £29million, thanks to her hit album "Speak Now", perfume line, and other deals, just ahead of "Teenage Dream" singer Katy Perry with £28million.

Beyonce's 2011 income dipped to an estimated £22million, mostly because of her relatively small amount of touring this year, but her new album "4", fashion line, and two fragrances helped to put her in 4th place.

Rihanna rounded out the top 5,

Adele helps push music biz to first sales jump since 2004 MUSIC SALES POSTED A 3 PERCENT SALES INCREASE LAST YEAR, THANKS IN NO SMALL PART TO 21.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, overall sales were up a modest 3 percent last year, as consumers purchased some 458 million albums — digital downloads of albums rose 20 percent, to 103 million, while sales of compact discs sank nearly 6 percent, to 225 million — and downloaded more than 1.2 billion singles, a 9 percent increase from the previous year. It's all a welcome change of pace for the music industry, which in recent years has been battered by double-digit declines in sales.

And, while there are certainly mitigating factors that contributed to the sales gains — the RIAA's ongoing antipiracy efforts, an increase of consumers with mobile devices, the rise of services like Spotify and Google Music — it certainly didn't hurt that Adele released one of the biggest-selling albums in recent memory last year, not to mention a pair of much-downloaded singles. Her 21 album sold more than 5.8 million copies in 2011 — the most of any album since Usher's Confessions in 2004 (which, incidentally, marks the last year the industry saw increases in total sales) — and her massive "Rolling in the Deep" has also sold some 5.8 million copies. She sold nearly 900,000 copies of her debut album, 19, last year, too.

Big sellers like Lady Gaga's Born This Way and Michael Bublé's Christmas also helped bolster sales. And while it remains to be seen if this jump was just an aberration, you're not going to hear anyone in the music biz complaining. Let's hope Adele will release a new album this year, too.

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ENTERTAINMENT

earning an estimated £18million from sales of her album "Loud", and endorsements from cosmetics company CoverGirl.

And British soul sensation Adele was a newcomer to the top ten list after pocketing £11million after just a few months of album sales.

Celine Dion may not be quite as popular as her British counterpart, but she banked £12million after making £1.4million a night during a run of Las Vegas concerts.

'X Factor' winner still has dreams of nursing

NEW YORK — She's got a $5 million recording contract, but Melanie Amaro still sees herself as a nurse someday.

The 19-year-old was studying nursing in college before her winning run on Fox's "The X Factor." Although she's just signed a deal with Epic Records and is about to start working on her debut album, she said she still wants to pursue the field of nursing at some point.

"To be honest, I still do want to do nursing because I want to help people," she said in an interview Wednesday. "But I think as of right now I want to pursue what I absolutely love, which is my singing first. ... I'll just probably take classes while I'm on the road or something.

I don't know. Whatever comes my way."

If her singing career takes off like she did on "The X Factor," she'll likely never get the chance. Amaro won the talent competition last month on the strength of her big voice and ballad-style singing. But Amaro says people shouldn't expect just slow, anthemlike songs on

Lady gaga

her debut.

"I'll still have the big ballads, but then I'm hoping to throw something out there that fans won't expect so they'll be like, 'Oh my God, there's like different stages of her or different like genres that she can do,'" says the Sunrise, Fla., resident. "So I can do lots of different types of genres of music and I wasn't able to show that a lot on the show, but I'll hopefully be able to do that on the album."

She'll be working on her album with L.A. Reid, the "X Factor" judge who is also chairman and CEO of Epic Records. Although Simon Cowell was her official mentor on the show, she said Reid always gave her confidence. "(He said) trust my voice. ... He always told me like, 'Girl, you can sing. You can sing. You really can sing.' He was like, 'I believe in you,'" she recalled. "Just to hear words like that from L.A. Reid ... that's really big for me, you know."

Her album is set to be released this year.

Kathy Griffin strips down during New Year's Eve Times Square celebration, makes Anderson Cooper uncomfortable

Kathy Griffin isn't known to have much of a filter, and on Saturday night's CNN New Year's Eve broadcast, the comedienne shed any remaining inhibitions - and her clothes.

Griffin, who cohosted the live coverage of the Times Square ball drop with Anderson Cooper, appeared feisty throughout the night, but she had one move up her sleeve that even Cooper couldn't have predicted.

As the camera cut away to shots of revelers and the Swarovski crystal ball, Griffin quickly stripped down to her bra and panties, startling Cooper and

sending him into a fit of nervous giggles.

"Are you freaking kidding me?" Cooper asked, trying to compensate for an uncomfortable situation.

He then waved a "No Nudity" sign in Griffin's face.

Despite the best efforts of Cooper's crew to cover her up, however, Griffin refused to get dressed, instead waving to partygoers in Times Square and flirting with CNN contributor and former presidential adviser David Gergen.

"You're a big square who won't let me have any fun," Griffin taunted a nervous Cooper, trying to get

him to follow suit. "Your turn!"

Only after Cooper cut to a back-and-forth with correspondent Gary Tuchman and his 14-year-old daughter in Central Park did Griffin finally get dressed.

But don't expect the razor-tongued comedienne to apologize for her antics anytime soon.

"I have a no-apology policy," Griffin told CBS news. "No apologies for jokes. I apologize in my real life all the time. I say ridiculous things, I make mistakes constantly.

"But when I'm on stage, I'm at a microphone ... it's a joke!"

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FUNTURKS & &GAMES CAICOS SUN

FUN & GAMES

JANUARY 7TH - JANUARY TURKS & CAICOS14TH, SUN 2011

JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

King Features Weekly Service

January 3, 2011

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Aspects call for care in preparing material for submission. Although you might find it bothersome to go over what you’ve done, the fact is, rechecking could be worth your time and effort.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The week is favorable for Bovines who welcome change. New career opportunities wait to be checked out. You might also want to get started on that home makeover you’ve been considering.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You might have to be extra careful to protect that surprise you have planned, thanks to a certain snoopy someone who wants to know more about your plans than you’re willing to share.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Family ties are strong this week, although an old and still-unresolved problem might create some unpleasant moments. If so, look to straighten the situation out once and for all.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Although the Lion might see it as an act of loyalty and courage to hold on to an increasingly shaky position, it might be wiser to make changes now to prevent a possible meltdown later.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your gift for adding new people to your circle of friends works overtime this week, thanks largely to contacts you made during the holidays. A surprise awaits you at the week’s end.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Don’t hide your talents. It’s a good time

January 3, 2011

King Features WeeklyService Service King Features Weekly January 3, 2011

AN UNUSUAL SAFETY PLAY

—13—

It is sometimes necessary to improvise when faced with a potentially dangerous situation. Almost anything that serves to protect the contract is acceptable, even if it means doing something you would not ordinarily do.

Take this case where West led the queen of diamonds against four spades. Declarer won with dummy’s ace, drew trumps and led a club to the queen. East won with the king and shifted to the —17— jack of hearts, and South quickly went down one.

Granted that declarer was unlucky to find both the club king and heart ace badly placed, the fact remains that he missed a virtually certain way to guarantee the con-

to show what you can do to impress people who can do a lot for you. A dispute with a family member might still need some smoothing over.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Be open with your colleagues about your plan to bring a workplace matter out into the open.

You’ll want their support, and they’ll want to know how you’ll pull it off.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Trying to patch up an unraveling relationship is often easier said than done. But it helps to discuss and work out any problems that arise along the way.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) While your creative aspect remains high this week, you might want to call on your practical side to help work out the why and wherefore of an upcoming decision.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Dealing with someone’s disappointment can be difficult for Aquarians, who always try to avoid giving pain. But a full explanation and a show of sympathy can work wonders.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Getting a jobrelated matter past some major obstacles should be easier this week. A personal situation might take a surprising but not necessarily unwelcome turn by the week’s end.

BORN THIS WEEK: You can be both a dreamer and a doer. You consider helping others to be an important part of your life.

• It was and TV mentator who mad sage obs puters ma lot of thin things the do don’t n • The ic games P Pac-Man though it that on b 256th lev make it un • The examples straws we gold and ancient Su they were drink bee ing the y over from process.

• It ta workers t way grand piano is m 12,000 in • If you of adult received want duri day seaso • If you’

© 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

tract. All he had to do was to allow West’s queen of diamonds to hold the first trick!

The advantage of this play is that it prevents East from ever gaining the lead for the killing heart return. At the same time, it gives declarer time to develop 10 tricks in total safety.

Assume West continues with a diamond at trick two (nothing else is any better).

South wins with dummy’s king and cashes the A-Q of trumps. He then leads a club to the ace and discards his other club on the ace of diamonds.

Now the queen of clubs is led. If East covers with the king, South ruffs, crosses to the king of spades, discards a heart on the club jack and thus ends up losing a diamond and only two hearts.

If East refuses to play the king of clubs on the queen, declarer discards a heart then and there.

The contract is also assured if West holds the king of clubs. After West takes the queen with the king, the defense cannot get more than one heart trick to go with the two tricks lost in diamonds and clubs.

The unusual ducking play at trick one proves to be just the right prescription for assuring 10 tricks. © 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

The Ho

by Tim (Pyr, $1 Review

Every dom kn three b gan, Am who fo its capi But tha Morgan at the brother gone, e

by Al alone r godking Over cults of mirrore Alexian ers and Amonit and bui the only how th so they impriso ganites away, a and eve dedicat the dead Eva i the cul doned

KFWS • MindGym Page 31

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FUN & GAMES

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 6TH&-CAICOS JANUARY 13TH, 2012 TURKS SUN

3, 2011 FUN &January GAMES

JANUARY 7TH - JANUARY 14TH, 2011

—2—

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JANUARY 7TH - JANUARY 14TH, 2011

King Features Weekly Service

TURKS & CAICOS SUN TURKS & CAICOS SUN

January 3, 2011

FUN FUN & & GAMES GAMES

—2— —2—

—23—

JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

Portia Simpson-Miller sworn in 2nd time as Jamaica PM; promises to detach from UK Monarchy

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

Portia Simpson Miller was sworn in for the second time as Jamaica's prime minister Thursday, pledging to ease its deep poverty, boost the sputtering economy, heal political divisions and sever colonial-era links with Britain.

Simpson Miller, whose 1½-yearlong first stint in office ended in 2007, took the oath of office before roughly 10,000 guests on the grounds of the rambling, colonial-style mansion that is the official residence of the governorgeneral.

The 66-year-old politician scored a dramatic victory in last week's national elections, leading her slightly leftleaning People's National Party to a 2to-1 margin in Parliament over the center-right Jamaica Labor Party. Her opposition faction won a dominating 42 seats in the 63-seat legislature, leaving the incumbent party with 21.

The plainspoken, charismatic Simpson Miller, this Caribbean island's first female prime minister, takes over from Andrew Holness, a 39-year-old Labor lawmaker who was leader for just over two months.

"After being tested and tempered, I stand before you today a stronger and better person prepared to be of service to my country and people," Simpson Miller said at the start of a spirited 45minute speech.

She said her government intends to abandon the British monarch as Jamaica's official head of state, and instead adopt a republican form of government.

Jamaica declared independence from Britain in 1962 but remains within the Commonwealth and has Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

"I love the queen; she is a beautiful lady," Simpson Miller quipped, before

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Jamaica's new Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is sworn in at King's House in Kingston, Jamaica.

speaking to the audience in Jamaican patois: "But I think time come."

Simpson Miller also said she will replace the Privy Council in London with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice as Jamaica's highest court of appeal. She said this will "end judicial surveillance from London."

She vowed her government will "ease the burdens and the pressues of increasing poverty, joblessness and deteriorating standards of living" while also pursuing a tight fiscal policy and forging strong partnerships with the private sector and international partners such as the International Monetary Fund.

"My administration will work tirelessly that while we try to balance the books we balance people's lives as well," Simpson Miller said.

Jamaica is a cash-strapped island with a punishing debt of roughly $18.6

Quake hits Dominican Republic, no reported damage

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A 5.3-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern coast of the Dominican Republic without causing any reported damage or loss of life.

Local rescue officials and the U.S. Geological Survey say the earthquake struck at 5:35 a.m. local time Thursday, and its epicenter was six miles deep (10 kilometers) in Ocoa province, 34 miles (55 kilometers) west of the capital of Santa Domingo.

Rescue official Juan Manuel Mendez says his group has not received reports of damages or of people hurt and has not issued any tsunami warning. Mendez says there were reports of hundreds of frightened people rushing out of their houses in various cities, including Santo Domingo.

billion, or 130 percent of gross domestic product.

In the short- and medium-term, the prime minister said her administration will use "state resources" to stimulate jobs through the Jamaica Emergency Employment Program, a centerpiece of her party's campaign manifesto.

Her People's National Party said it will try to renegotiate roughly 25 percent of a troubled $400 million road program financed by China in order to transfer some of the money to the emergency employment program as a way to kickstart the economy.

The prime minister also urged Jamaicans to create a more civil and respectful society and earnestly strive to make the best of themselves.

"We will seek to make this country one of brothers and sisters, not of rivals and victims," she said.

After her speech, Simpson Miller

elicited laughter from the audience by dragging a slightly embarrassed-looking Holness, now the leader of the opposition, to the podium and saying she was his "second mother."

Simpson-Miller says her government intends to remove all ties with the British monarchy.

Jamaica became independent in August 1962 but the Queen still remains the ceremonial Head of State. By removing all ties with the British monarchy, the Queen will be replaced as a figure-head and head of state by a Jamaican who will then perform her ceremonial functions.

“This 50th Anniversary year will be a time for reflection on the lessons of the past; and, as we celebrate our achievements as an independent nation, we now need to complete the circle of independence.

"In this regard, we will initiate the process for our detachment from the Monarchy to become a Republic, with our own indigenous President, as Head of State," Simpson Miller said.

Under the Jamaican Constitution, the country's Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II. The Prime Minister is formally appointed into office by the Governor-General of Jamaica, who represents the Queen.

The Prime Minister also called for the nation to work together.

“I believe that today marks a critical turning point in our journey. You must believe this with me and you must play your part in this process of transformation,” she said.

She said the nation requires the strength, the creativity, the innovation and the steely courage of every Jamaican man, woman, youth and child to place the country on a path to prosperity.

Jamaica to probe case against Guyana police chief GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Authorities in Guyana say Jamaica is sending a team of detectives to probe rape allegations against the South American country's police chief.

Presidential spokesman Kwame McKoy said Thursday the team will arrive by month's end and later present their findings to prosecutors. McKoy said a foreign team was requested because no one has seniority over Police Chief Henry Greene, who has led the department since 2006.

Greene was placed on leave in December after a 34-year-old woman accused him of raping her at a hotel in late November and said officers refused to take her complaint.

The U.S. had revoked Greene's visa in 2006 following drug trafficking allegations that he has denied.

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Former Antigua PM, junior finance minister and UN ambassador named in multi-million dollar fraud probe CARIBBEAN NEWS

Former Antigua Prime Minister Lester Bird, Member of Parliament Asot Michael and former Antigua and Barbuda Government Ambassador to the United Kingdom Sir Ronald Sanders, among others, have been named as persons of interest in Antigua and Barbuda's probe into a multimillion dollar fraud probe in the twin-island nation.

The investigation concerns a US$29.7 million loan with interest from IshikawajimaHarima Heavy Industries Company (IHI Japan) to the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA.) The Antigua and Barbuda government of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer wants to know to what extent repayment monies intended for IHI were allegedly diverted into the possession or for the benefit of other people or corporations and to trace the whereabouts of these monies.

The full text of the statement by the Antigua and Barbuda Police Force follows: Criminal Investigations into the multimillion dollar (IHI) fraud case are progressing at a steady pace; notwithstanding the recent break in and theft of sensitive documents, at the office that housed the detectives who are

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

working on the said case.

Based on the contents of a report, that was done by Financial Forensic Investigator Mr. Robert Lindquist, which was corroborated by preliminary police enquiries, the “persons of interest” in this case are, former Prime Minister, and member of parliament, Mr. Lester Bird, Member of Parliament, Mr. Asot Michael, Patrick. A. Michael & co. ltd. Mrs. Gesel Michael, Sir. Ronald Sanders (a former Antigua and Barbuda Government Ambassador to the United Kingdom) and others.

Currently, most of the “significant persons” or “individuals of interest,” have already assisted the investigations and presented themselves to the police to be interviewed, against such a back drop and in the police’s quest, to advance this gigantic multi-million dollar criminal conspiracy.

The police are making a specific public appeal to Sir Ronald Saunders and requests that he presents himself to the (IHI) detectives to be interviewed; hence his full co-operation for the duration of this criminal enquiry will be appreciated.

All efforts to privately contact Sir Ronald Sanders, have proven futile.

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

BARBADOS IMPLEMENTS SECOND PHASE OF LIONFISH RESPONSE PLAN BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The discovery of the lionfish (Peterois volitans) off the west coast has caused authorities to implement the second phase of a plan developed specifically to respond to the ferocious predators.

The sighting has also sparked an in-depth scientific monitoring and research programme involving the University of the West Indies, the Coastal Zone Management Unit and the Fisheries Division along with several volunteer fishermen and divers.

The Fisheries Division in the Ministry of Agriculture said a rapid expansion is now likely over the next couple of years. “...We are reminding all divers, fishers and sea bathers to be on the lookout for these fish and to immediately report the location of any that are spotted directly to the Fisheries Division, the Coastal Zone Management Unit or through the recently established UWI Lionfish Hotline,” a fisheries official stated.

With red and white stripes and a tall row of venomous spines down their backs, the invasive predator is native to the Pacific Ocean.

It is believed to have entered Caribbean waters in 1992 after Hurricane Andrew smashed an aquarium tank in the US state of Florida.

The Washington-based World Resources Institute said the lionfish, is a serious threat to coral reefs across the Caribbean where states are largely dependent on tourism.

It consumes juvenile snapper and grouper along with algae-eating parrotfish, all of which help keep reefs healthy.

HAB MANAGEMENT LTD.

HAB Management Ltd is seeking applicants for the following positions:

RESERVATION ATTENDANTS (2)

Job Description The successful candidates will be required to welcome and serve guests in a courteous, efficient and friendly manner, both face-to-face and on the phone. The candidates will also be required to take reservations via the telephone, email and walk-in requests. Candidates will also be responsible for promoting the resort at all times.

Requirements Candidates should have seven years or more experience as a Reservation Attendant. Candidates should also have an extensive knowledge of Visual One Property Management System. Candidates must be proficient in Microsoft Office.

Candidates will be required to check guests in and out; perform certain accounting procedures, such as preparing bills for guests, performing audit duties, balancing work and preparing paperwork for the following day; present a friendly, outgoing, energetic and guest service demeanor. Candidates will also be required to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Salary is $14,400 per annum.

BARTENDER (1)

Job Description This is an enhanced position and requires a bubbly personality as well as some guest services experience. The successful candidates should be well versed in bar service and drink preparation.

Requirements Candidates should have six years or more experience as a Bartender. Candidates will be required to solicit guests drink orders from around the pool and on the beach area and deliver drinks to guests when needed. Plan and maintain bar inventory.

Maintain cleanliness of all workplace areas that apply to the bar. Candidates will be required to be able to multi-task and assist at front desk when necessary. The candidates will also be required to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team.

Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Good presentation and a pleasant, friendly personality required. Salary is $12,000 per annum.

HOUSEKEEPERS (9)

Job Description Candidates will be required to clean guest rooms as assigned, ensuring the hotel’s established standards of cleanliness.

Requirements Candidates should have six years or more experience as a Housekeeper.

Candidates must have knowledge of proper cleaning techniques. Maintain positive guest relations at all times. Candidates will also be required to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Good presentation and a pleasant, friendly personality required. Salary is $12,000 per annum.

LAUNDRY ATTENDANT (1)

Job Description Process soiled linen and distribute clean linen in accordance with standard operating procedures in a safe, accident-free manner, as assigned by management.

Requirements Candidate should have seven years or more experience as a Laundry Attendant.

Candidate will be required to receive and sort soiled linen; process sorted linen utilizing the washers, dryers and ironers ensuring finished product meets the quality standards of the resort. Notify supervisor of malfunctioning equipment, supplies needed, damaged linens, to ensure laundry operation is running at maximum efficiency level. Maintain assigned work area in a clean and safe condition. Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Must be well presented and physically fit. The candidate will also be required to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. Salary is $12,000 per annum.

SECURITY OFFICERS (2)

Job Description The successful candidates will be responsible for the safeguarding of the owners property, hotel property, assets, guests, visitors and employees. The Security Officers will also be responsible for insuring a safe environment; patrolling; documenting; reporting; and following-up on safety and security hazards or infractions.

Requirements Candidates should have eight years or more experience as a Security Officer.

Candidates will be required to work flexible hours. Record problems encountered in the area during the course of duty. Check effectiveness and safety and availability of security and safety equipments. Respond immediately to emergency or crisis situations. Candidates will be required to maintain positive guest relations at all times. The candidates will also be required to work cohesively with co-workers as part of a team. Must be able to speak, read and write in English and understand verbal and written instructions. Good presentation and a pleasant, friendly personality required. Salary is $14,400 per annum.

Interested applicants should contact Veronica Rigby via email by January 9, 2012 at ronnie@habgroup.com or by fax 649-946-5191. Only persons selected for an interview will be contacted by email or telephone to schedule an interview.

Page 35

IDB president says Caribbean economies on the right path, but not immune to turbulence

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

WASHINGTON – Latin America and the Caribbean are closing a year marked by economic gains, but the region remains exposed to external shocks, Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno said in a year-end report.

In recent remarks to the IDB’s Board of Executive Directors, Moreno summarized the region’s challenges, the institution’s performance over the past year and its priorities going forward.

He noted that although uncertainty in international markets reduced the rate of the global recovery during 2011, Latin America and the Caribbean averaged a 4.3 per cent economic growth rate.

Capital inflows to the region’s largest countries reached a record $354 billion. The percentage of the region’s population in poverty continued to fall, dropping to about 30.4 per cent. Urban unemployment also dipped, to 6.9 per cent.

“The region is on the right path,”

Moreno said. “We have stronger economies with solid foreign exchange positions, low levels of indebtedness and a sound and well-regulated financial sector. We also have democratic governments that are increasingly effective in reducing structural poverty, expanding the coverage of public services and in building infrastructure.”

However, Moreno added, Latin American and Caribbean nations should not be satisfied with their strong performance over the past few years noting that the region’s outlook is still vulnerable to external factors such as the European financial crisis, the U.S. fiscal deficit or a deceleration of the Chinese economy.

“Although we have reasons to feel good about what we have done, I want to emphasize that the task is not complete. The risks are there and we still have a long to-do list for the region to strengthen its achievements and keep moving forward,” Moreno noted.

Pope to visit Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba - On his upcoming visit to Cuba, Pope Benedict XVI will find a country immersed in dramatic changes, as it "modernises" its socialist system and continues to open up to religion, marking a difference from the society found by John Paul II when he visited almost 14 years ago.

According to the schedule that was released on Sunday by the Catholic Church, the Pope will begin his threeday visit in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, where he will arrive on Mar. 26 from Mexico and will be officially welcomed by President Raúl Castro and the island's religious authorities.

In Santiago, 861 kilometres east of the capital, the Pope will celebrate mass in Antonio Maceo Revolution Square and stay overnight at the El Cobre rectory. The next day he will visit the sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity to pray before the statue found floating on a board in the ocean 400 years ago.

At midday on the 27th, the Pope will continue his official visit in Havana, where he will meet with Castro, who in 2010 promoted channels of dialogue with the ecclesiastical hierarchy that eased internal and external tensions. In Castro’s opinion, the talks strengthened "the unity of the nation."

On the morning of the 28th, the Pope will say mass in José Martí Revolution Square, which on Jan. 25, 1998 was the site of a massive liturgy presided over by John Paul II (19782005), with former President Fidel Castro in a front row seat.

The local Church released the papal agenda, coordinated by the Cuban

CARIBBEAN NEWS

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

“Our worst enemy is complacency. To think we can lower our guard and diminish our drive for reform would be an unforgivable mistake.”

He said that as an institution devoted to development, the IDB must focus on priority issues, taking a longterm view.

In his message to the Board of Executive Directors, which represents the Bank’s 48 member countries, Moreno listed some of the biggest challenges the region faces, issues that will determine the institution’s working agenda over the coming years.

Increasing productivity is one of the region’s strongest imperatives.

Among the problems hindering its progress are the poor quality of education, insufficient spending on scientific research and technological development, and a big backlog in terms of infrastructure.

“Although investments have increased in recent years, they are still not enough to put us on a par with other

Pope Benedict XVI

Conference of Catholic Bishops and Cuban authorities after the conclusion in Havana on Friday of a national tour of the statue of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, part of the festivities marking the 400th anniversary of its discovery.

The 16-month, 28,000-kilometre pilgrimage, which included visits to hospitals, senior citizens’ homes, cultural institutions and even prisons, ended with an open-air mass alongside Havana Bay, celebrated by Cardinal Jaime Ortega. The ceremony was broadcast later the same day on state television.

The most far-reaching change is a major reduction in inflated state-sector payrolls, which began in 2010 with the ultimate goal of reducing public sector employment by more than one million jobs, in this country of 11.2 million people.

emerging economies,” he emphasized.

In terms of social policy, Moreno said Latin America and the Caribbean should not lose their capacity to innovate in social programmes or to take on issues such as informal employment.

He said the region should also learn the lessons from the European crisis, such as the need to build financially sustainable social security systems, including pensions and health care programmes.

Another challenge the region must address is the fight against violence, crime and corruption, Moreno added.

Countries should also strive to set a sustainable development agenda in light of climate change.

“Regardless of the difficulties in reaching a global consensus, we can show the rest of the world that the people of Latin America and the Caribbean are capable of progressing responsibly towards the adoption of sustainable approaches,” he said.

HAITIAN PRESIDENT SAYS COMMISSION RECOMMENDS NEW ARMY

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Haiti’s President Michel Martelly says a government-appointed commission has recommended a new army for the impoverished, French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

“As I promised, the commission for the army that the government has established gave me its report, and it also recommended a new army for the country of Haiti,” Martelly told an independence anniversary rally in the coastal city of Gonaives over the weekend.

He said the army would provide help in times of natural disaster and will work “to safeguard the territorial integrity in a continent where the threats to national security are numerous, threats such as drug trafficking and terrorism.”

Martelly said he would submit the report to all three branches of government, adding that “the three powers, together with civil society and the business sector will look into it, in order to make good decisions.

“The police reform and the creation of the new army are two things that need to walk together, and we ask all friends of Haiti to help us do the things well,” he said.

On the campaign trail, Martelly had promised to restore the army, but has met resistance from foreign diplomats, who suggested that the money be better spent on upgrading the police force.

The president was expected, through a decree, to restore the army in November, but opted instead to appoint a commission to study its feasibility. The army was disbanded in 1995 over allegations of widespread abuse.

Obama vows US will stay world’s top military power Page 36

WASHINGTON- President Barack Obama vowed Thursday the United States will remain the world's preeminent military power even as the Pentagon scales back spending, shrinks the Army and Marine Corps and pulls back from Europe.

In a rare appearance at the Pentagon, Obama said the U.S. is "turning a page" after having killed alQaida leader Osama bin Laden, withdrawn troops from Iraq and begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan.

He outlined a vision for the future that would ensure an uncompromised U.S. military strength operating with less money.

"Our military will be leaner, but the world must know the United States is going to maintain our military superiority," Obama said, with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey at his side.

Obama said his administration would not repeat the mistakes made after World War II and Vietnam when defense reductions left the military illprepared.

"As commander in chief, I will not let that happen again," he said. "Not on my watch."

Both Panetta and Dempsey said

they anticipate heavy criticism of their new strategy, which is meant to guide future defense budgets, including the 2013 spending plan that Obama will submit to Congress in February.

The criticism from Republicans came quickly.

Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, RCalif., chairman of the House Armed Services, issued a statement saying, "This is a lead-from-behind strategy for a left-behind America." He called it a "retreat from the world in the guise of a new strategy."

Dempsey praised the strategy and the work of crafting it, calling it inclusive and comprehensive.

"It's not perfect," the general said.

"There will be people who think it goes too far. Others will say it doesn't go nearly far enough. That probably makes it about right. It gives us what we need."

Obama said the strategy overhaul is designed to contend with hundreds of billions of dollars in budget cuts and refocus the United States' national security priorities after a decade dominated by the post.-Sept. 11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The strategy, devised through a comprehensive review by civilian and military leaders, centered on the

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

military the country needs after the "long wars of the last decade are over," Obama said.

Panetta said that smaller military budgets will mean some trade-offs and that the U.S. will take on "some level of additional but acceptable risk." But Panetta said that at this point in history, in a changing world, the Pentagon would have been forced to make a strategy shift anyway. He says the money crisis merely forced the government's hand.

The president announced that the military will be reshaped over time with an emphasis on countering terrorism, maintaining a nuclear deterrent, protecting the U.S. homeland, and "deterring and defeating aggression by any potential adversary."

Those are not new military missions, and Obama announced no new capabilities or defense initiatives.

He described a U.S. force that will retain much of its recent focus, with the exception of fighting a large-scale, prolonged conflict like the newly ended Iraq mission or the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

"As we end today's wars and reshape our armed forces, we will ensure that our military is agile,

flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies," the president wrote in a preamble to the new strategy, entitled, "Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense."

The strategy strongly suggests a reduced U.S. military presence in Europe, notwithstanding a continuing close relationship with NATO, and says Asia will be a bigger priority. It also emphasizes improving U.S. capabilities in the areas of cyberwarfare, missile defense, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Obama's decision to announce the strategy himself underscores the political dimension of Washington's debate over defense cuts. The administration says smaller Pentagon budgets are a must but will not come at the cost of sapping the strength of a military in transition, even as it gets smaller.

In a presidential election year, the strategy gives Obama a rhetorical tool to defend his Pentagon budget-cutting choices. Republican contenders for the White House already have criticized him on a wide range of national security issues, including missile defense, Iran and planned reductions in ground forces.

More Tests Underway Oklahoma mom Sarah McKinley won't face charges for shooting intruder on Body Found on Queen Elizabeth's Estate

SANDRINGHAM, England -- British police, investigating the discovery of a young woman's body on Queen Elizabeth II's Sandringham estate, in the east of England, were awaiting the results of new tests Thursday after initial DNA samples proved inconclusive.

"Further testing is being carried out, which will take an additional 24 hours before results are available.

Officers will also look at more traditional methods of identifying the victim, which may take longer," a statement issued late Wednesday by Norfolk Police said.

Officers are treating the case as murder and estimate the young victim was aged between 15 and 23. Her body, which may have lain undiscovered for up to four months, was found Sunday by a member of the public who was walking a dog in woodlands near the tiny village of Anmer.

A detailed search of the area was continuing Thursday, as police examined potential links to several missingperson cold cases.

There are currently two high-profile investigations of women who disappeared last August from the neighboring county of Cambridgeshire. Alisa Dmitrijeva, 17, who was born in Latvia and lived in Wisbech, was last seen Aug. 31 in the town of King's Lynn, around 12 miles from the Sandringham estate. Lithuanian mother of one Vitalija Baliutaviciene, 29, disappeared Aug. 12 from Peterborough, around 45 miles west of the royal residence.

Various members of the royal family spent Christmas and New Year at the 19,700-acre Sandringham estate -with the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, reportedly still in residence at the time of the grim discovery.

BLANCHARD, Okla. - Authorities say they won't file charges against an Oklahoma widow who fatally shot a New Year's Eve intruder at her house while she was on the phone with a 911 dispatcher.

Sarah McKinley, 18, asked a Grady County dispatcher for permission to shoot the intruder at her Blanchard mobile home.

"I've got two guns in my hand. Is it OK to shoot him if he comes in this door?" McKinley asked the dispatcher.

"Well, you have to do whatever you can do to protect yourself," the dispatcher is heard telling McKinley in the 911 tape released Wednesday. "I can't tell you that you can do that, but you have to do what you have to do to protect your baby."

McKinley's 3-month-old son was with her when she shot Justin Shane Martin, 24.

Oklahoma law allows the use of deadly force against intruders, and prosecutors said McKinley clearly acted in self-defense. According to court documents, Martin was holding a knife when he died.

"Our initial review of the case doesn't indicate she violated the law in any way," Assistant District Attorney James Walters told The Oklahoman newspaper.

However, prosecutors have charged Martin's alleged accomplice, Dustin Louis Stewart, 29.

Stewart, who called 911 shortly after the home invasion, told a dispatcher he fled the scene when Martin made his way into a Blanchard home, reports CBS affiliate KWTV. "My name is Dusty Stewart and I think it was my friend that got shot."

Stewart reportedly told the dispatcher, "I don't know what he was trying to do. I stood at the fence and told him to come on and I don't know what

Sarah McKinley

he did."

Stewart was charged with first-degree murder.

"When you're engaged in a crime such as first-degree burglary and a death results from the events of that crime, you're subject to prosecution for it," Walters said.

Stewart was arraigned Wednesday and was being held in the Grady County jail. A bond hearing was set for Thursday.

According to court documents, Martin and Stewart might have been looking for prescription drugs. McKinley said it took the men about 20 minutes to get through her door, which she had barricaded with a couch.

She said her husband had died about a week earlier - on Christmas Day - after being hospitalized with complications from lung cancer earlier that month.

Page 37

Prosecutor seeks death penalty for Egypt’s Mubarak

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

WORLD NEWS

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The prosecutor in the trial of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak is seeking a death sentence for the former president and his security chief for killing protesters, the Associated Press reports.

"Retribution is the solution. Any fair judge must issue a death sentence for these defendants," said Mustafa Khater, one of a five-member prosecution team on the third and final day of the prosecution's opening statement. "We feel the spirits of the martyrs flying over this hall of sacred justice, and those who lost their sight by the bullets of the defendants are stumbling around it to reach the judge and demand fair retribution from those who attacked them," he said.

"The nation and the people are awaiting a word of justice and righteousness."

Mubarak's two sons, one-time heir apparent Gamal and Alaa, face corruption charges in the same trial along with their father and a close family friend who is a fugitive.

Mubarak, 83, stepped down on Feb. 11 after a nearly 30-year rule following an 18-day uprising.

Earlier in today's hearing, chief prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman said Mubarak was "politically and legally" responsible for the killing of the protesters and charged that the former president did nothing to stop the killings that he was aware of from meetings with aides, regional TV channels and reports by his security agencies.

He said Mubarak's security chief and co-defendant, former interior minister Habib el-Adly, authorized the use of live ammunition on orders from Mubarak,the AP reports.

"He (Mubarak) can never, as the top official, claim that he did not know what was going on," Suleiman told the court. "He is responsible for what happened and must bear the legal and political responsibility for what happened. It is irrational and illogical to assume that he did not know that protesters were being targeted."

Landslide kills 25 in Philippine mining area

A landslide buried shanty houses in a mining area on a southern Philippine island, killing at least 25 people and leaving dozens missing, local disaster and security officials said on Thursday.

The incident, the second one in Pantukan town in almost nine months, took place near the Kingking area on the southern island of Mindanao, said to be one of the world's largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits.

Government officials said there had been cracks in the mountains, caused by earlier landslides, and rain over the past weeks could have loosened soil. Last month, Typhoon Washi and the flash floods it caused on Mindanao island killed more than 1,200 people.

The latest landslide hit before dawn, burying people under loosened soil and boulder, said Lieutenant-Colonel Leopoldo Galon, an army spokesman. He added that 16 people were also pulled out from under rubble and rushed to a nearby hospital.

Still, about 100 people remained unaccounted for, security and local officials said.

The government's mines bureau has listed the coppergold and gold mining operations in Kingking as one of its priority investment projects.

Restyled Casey Anthony makes video debut, saying things are looking up

A restyled Casey Anthony has says. made a public debut, speaking Anthony does not mention publicly for the first time since her daughter or her parents being released from jail, during the video blog. She is addressing her video diary about estranged from her parents who adopting a dog, paying for her made it clear that she cannot own computer and the optimism come home after Anthony's she feels about her future. lawyer accused her father of "The good thing is things molesting her as a child and are starting to look up and things helping to dispose of Caylee's are starting to change in a good body. way. Let's just hope they stay, During the video, Anthony that things stay good and that makes several comments about they only get better," she says just starting to figure out the new before adding with a whisper, gadgets in her life—a computer, Casey Anthony "They'll only get better." camera and phone.

ABC News confirmed from a source close to "I'm just starting to figure out my new computer Anthony that the video was genuine. and, I don't know, I guess I'm liking it so far. It's In the Oct. 13 video, Anthony, 25, sports a bleached blonde bob that is dramatically different from the long, dark hair she often wore in a ponytail during her sensational murder trial which ended in her acquittal. She also wears dark-rimmed glasses JOHANNESBURG — Against all odds, the and a white tank top and sits in what appears to be a party of Nelson Mandela has transformed a leather office chair in a wood-paneled den or office nation where just 20 years ago black South with photos on the wall.

Africans could not vote, and beaches and "There really hasn't been that much going on except now for this and, you know, I'm extremely restaurants were reserved for whites only. excited," Anthony says. "I'm extremely excited that The venerated party once banned for decades I'll be able to Skype and obviously keep a video log, under apartheid has won every national election take some pictures and then I have something that I since racist white rule ended in 1994, and can finally call mine."

President Jacob Zuma vows the party "will rule Anthony was acquitted last July of murder in the until Jesus comes." death of her daughter, Caylee, but was convicted on South African political analyst Aubrey four counts of lying to law enforcement for claiming Matshiqi praises the ANC for developmental that 2-year-old Caylee had been stolen by a achievements "unprecedented anywhere in the babysitter. She is currently serving one year of world" in its 17 years of governing the country. probation in Florida for a check fraud conviction.

But he noted that many at the ANC After being released from jail, Anthony went festivities will have their joy marred by "a tinge into hiding amid death threats from people who were of disappointment and even sadness" about shocked that she was not convicted of killing her weaknesses and failures. daughter.

The ANC's reputation is being tarnished by In the video, Anthony alternates between a never-ending deluge of corruption scandals, seeming relaxed and happy with being pensive and some involving politicians who sacrificed during serious. She expresses excitement with her new the fight against apartheid and now feel entitled video blog. to luxury cars and financial payback.

"This has just been such a blessing in so many It's created disillusionment, especially for ways and now I, in some ways, have someone to talk those who volunteered to serve as freedom to when I'm by myself so I'm not bothering the poor fighters at a time when many of the ANC's dog who I've adopted and I love and he's as much leaders were imprisoned for their activism. my dog as any of the other pets I've ever had," she

obviously a different ball game for me because I've never used this before," she says. "I've actually now paid for my own computer. The camera was a gift, but these are things that are mine…that I don't have to give back. It's kind of me finally being able to say that I have some belongings that are mine that I'll be able to take with me after I leave here next year."

Anthony must stay in Florida as she serves out her year-long probation and checks in monthly with a probation officer. There is a possibility that she could get off probation early, but she says in the video, "It's going to be a while [before] I leave."

After speaking on and off for just over four minutes, Anthony signs off, but not before suggesting that there will be more to come from her.

"So, this is the end of my first video log. I'll probably do another one later…maybe I'll bring the dog, who knows?" Anthony says. "But this is again the first of many and I'm looking forward to this. It's going to be scary because I hate being on camera, but, I don't know, I need to conquer that fear at some point…this is a good start. So, here's hoping. It's the end of the first, just the beginning."

SOUTH AFRICA’S ANC PARTY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS "I would be nothing without the ANC," Mandela said at a 2008 party rally marking his 90th birthday.

The political party representing South Africa's impoverished majority already has drawn criticism for spending 10 million rand (nearly $1.5 million) of public money to buy the church where it all began.

Until just 20 years ago, blacks were evicted from their homes and herded into separate suburbs, forced to work under slave-like conditions on mines and farms.

The best parks, beaches and restaurants were reserved for the white minority, with signs in Afrikaans saying "Nie Blankies" — Whites Only. Some shops would only serve blacks through a hole in the wall.

Black nannies cared for white children and prepared elaborate meals for white families, then went to hovels in the backyards of mansions to feed their own children "ration meat" — bones and fat less nutritious than the meals served to white families' dogs.

A turning point came in 1960, police turned their guns on about 300 people peacefully protesting "pass laws" restricting them to certain areas and requiring them to leave white areas where they worked by nightfall.

Page 38

Arab monitors to stay in Syria despite "mistakes" WORLD NEWS

Arab League peace monitors will stay in Syria to check on the government's compliance with a promise to end 10 months of violence against prodemocracy protesters, Arab government sources said on Thursday, despite criticism from Qatar's prime minister that they had made "mistakes."

Syria, keen to show it is respecting an Arab League peace accord, said it had released a further 552 people detained during the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad "whose hands were not stained with blood."

The team of monitors arrived in Syria last week to verify whether the government was implementing the agreement to scale back its military presence in cities and free thousands of prisoners detained since the uprising last March The League's special committee on Syria is due to meet in Egypt on Sunday to debate the initial findings of the mission, which has been criticized by Syrian activists who question its ability to assess the violence on the ground.

The activists said the teams did not have enough access and were escorted by Syrian authorities, who were manipulating them and hiding prisoners in military facilities.

Qatar's Prime Minsiter Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, after

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

An Arab League observer speaks with an Anti-Government protestor on the streets of Adlb

meeting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon in New York, said this was the first such experience.

"I said we must evaluate the types of mistakes it made and without a shadow of a doubt I see mistakes, even though we went in to observe, not to stop the violence," he said Sheikh Hamad, who chairs the Arab League committee on Syria, did not elaborate on the mistakes but said he was seeking technical help from the United Nations.

No comment was immediately available from Qatari officials on the report from KUNA, the Kuwaiti state

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news agency.

An Arab government representative told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the monitors could not be withdrawn whatever the contents of the initial report.

Syria said it provided the monitors with all the facilities they needed.

"What we are looking for is objectivity and professionalism," Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdesi told Lebanese Manar television.

State news agency SANA said some 4,000 detainees have been released since November.

Arab League General Secretary Nabil Elaraby said on Monday the

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

mission had secured the release of about 3,500 prisoners. Campaign group Avaaz said on Thursday 37,000 people detained since March were still being held.

Sheikh Hamad said the League would soon hear the monitors' findings and assess the mission's viability: "We are going to evaluate all sides of the situation and we will look at the possibility of the delegation continuing or not and how we can carry on this mission, but we need to listen to the reports of those who were on the ground first."

On the likelihood of Syria being referred to the United Nations Security Council, Sheikh Hamad said: "We always try to create a solution to this crisis within the Arab League, but that depends on the Syrian government and the extent of its clarity with us in producing a solution to the crisis."

If the Arab monitors were pulled out it could open the door for foreign intervention, a scenario many Arab countries want to avoid. Syria is a major player in the region and is strongly supported by Iran and militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.

The League has suspended Syria's membership, citing Assad's failure to adhere to its plan to stop a crackdown which the United Nations says has killed more than 5,000 people since March.

AMBERGRIS CAY FACILITIES LTD 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:

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• Cooperating and coordinating closely with the Employer and Cummins Power Generation so as to ensure the efficient functioning of all generators.

• Any other related duties as may be required to ensure the smooth operation of the Prime Power Generators.

Requirements: Successful applicant must: • Highly technical - possessing a Level three (3) Power Generation certification authorized by Cummins Power Generation • Have at least five (5) full years of direct experience in servicing Prime Power Generators manufactured by Cummins Power Generation.

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New year starts with hopeful outlook on hiring

JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

WASHINGTON — The job market is looking a little brighter at the start of the new year.

Weekly unemployment benefit applications have fallen to levels last seen more than three years ago. Holiday sales were solid. Service companies grew a little faster in December. And many small businesses say they plan to add jobs over the next three months.

The mix of private and government data released Thursday sketched a picture of an economy that is slowly strengthening, stoking optimism one day ahead of the government's important read on December job growth.

"Businesses have increased hiring to meet the underlying pick-up in (consumer) demand," said Neil Dutta, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

The encouraging reports on the U.S. economy gave Wall Street a lateday lift, offsetting renewed concerns over Europe's debt crisis. The Dow Jones industrial average, which had fallen by as much as 134 points at one point in the day, closed down just 3 points. Broader indexes posted modest gains.

Weekly applications for unemployment benefits dropped to a

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

seasonally adjusted 372,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

That's 11 percent lower than the same time last year.

Almost the entire descent occurred this fall. Applications had fluctuated sharply over the first nine months of 2011, falling as low as 375,000 and rising as high as 478,000. By early September, they were at 432,000 — only 5,000 below where they began the year.

Since then, applications have declined steadily. That has pushed the four-week average, which smooths fluctuations, to 373,250 — the lowest level since June 2008.

When applications drop below 375,000 — consistently — they generally signal that hiring is strong enough to reduce the unemployment rate.

U.S. service firms, which employ roughly 90 percent of the work force, grew a little faster in December, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

The trade group of purchasing managers said its index of nonmanufacturing activity rose to 52.6.

That's slightly above November's reading of 52 — the lowest in nearly two years — but well below last year's

Mercedes-Benz sees record sales in 2011 German carmaker Daimler has said it sold a record number of Mercedes-Benz cars in 2011.

Sales of the brand rose 8% to a total of 1,260,912 last year, Daimler said.

Including the Smart car and luxury Maybach brands, Daimler sold 1.36 million cars in 2011. The company had sales records in China, Russia, and India.

Deliveries in the US climbed 13% to 245,231, and in China they were up 31% to 193,339.

But sales in Western Europe, hit by the eurozone debt crisis, fell by 1% over the year.

Demand for Mercedes-Benz's large SUV models broke sales records in each of the 12 months of last year.

"In 2012 we will consequently continue our product offensive and launch additional attractive vehicles on the market, which will give us a further boost," said chief executive Dieter Zetsche.

In November, Daimler announced it will disband its ultra-luxurious Maybach car marque due to poor sales.

Page 39

high of 59.7 recorded in February.

Any reading above 50 indicates expansion.

An increase in new orders and stronger imports drove last month's modest expansion. But a gauge of hiring showed many service firms were hesitant to add workers.

Retailers, meanwhile, reported solid but not spectacular sales gains last month. And much of the increase stemmed from heavy discounting that will likely cut into profits.

Sales rose 3.5 percent in December for a group of 25 retail chains tracked by the International Council of Shopping Centers. Holiday sales, which cover the last two months of the year, rose 3.3 percent, a decent rise but less than last year's gain.

Small businesses remain encouraged about their plans to hire over the next three months. The National Federation of Independent Business says the proportion of those firms that expect to add workers is slightly off from the three-year high hit last month.

Economists are predicting that overall hiring increased in December and will strengthen this year.

John Ryding, an economist at RDQ Economics, forecasts that employers

added 180,000 jobs last month, a big jump from November's 120,000 net jobs.

Economists surveyed by the Associated Press project that the economy will generate an average of 175,000 jobs per month this year. That would be a step up from average monthly gains of 130,000 last year and 78,000 in 2010.

In November, the unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent from 9 percent.

Still, about half that decline occurred because many of the unemployed gave up looking for work. When people stop looking for a job, they're no longer counted as unemployed.

The pickup in hiring reflects some modest improvement in the economy.

Growth will likely top 3 percent at an annual rate in the final three months of this year, economists expect. That would be a sharp improvement over the 1.8 percent growth in the JulySeptember quarter.

Even so, many economists forecast that growth could slow to roughly 2 percent this year. Europe is almost certain to fall into recession because of its financial troubles. And without more jobs and higher incomes, consumers may have to cut back on spending.

That could drag on growth in 2012.

Single tuna fetches record $736k at Japan auction

A deep-pocketed restaurateur shelled out nearly $750,000 for a tuna at Japan's Tsukiji fish market on Thursday, smashing the record price for a single bluefin.

The 269-kilogramme (592-pound) fish -- caught off the coast of Japan's northern Aomori prefecture - stood at an eye-popping 56.49 million yen ($736,500) when the hammer came down in the first auction of the year.

The figure dwarfs the previous high of 32.49 million yen paid at last year's inaugural auction at Tsukiji, a huge working market that features on many Tokyo tourist itineraries.

Thursday's winning bidder was Kiyoshi Kimura, president of the company that runs the popular SushiZanmai chain.

At around 210,000 yen per kilogramme, a single slice of sushi could cost as much as 5,000 yen, but the firm plans to sell it at a more regular price of up to 418 yen, local media reported.

"The flesh is coloured in magnificent red and the quality of fat is very good," Kimura said. "It is very delicious. The taste is unbeatable."

A Hong Kong sushi restaurant owner bought the previous year's record tuna, and Kimura added: "I wanted to win the best tuna so that Japanese customers, not overseas, can enjoy it."

Bluefin is usually the most expensive fish available at Tsukiji.

Emiko Misumi, a 44-year-old woman who tasted a slice, said: "This tuna is so fatty and very delicious."

"It was sweet even without sugar or sake. It was a very delicate sweet taste," said another female customer Noriko Nakai, 63.

Deep-pocketed sushi restaurateur Kiyoshi Kimura shelled out $736,000 on a single tuna fish at Japan's Tsukiji fish market, smashing a previous record.

Decades of overfishing have seen global tuna stocks crash, leading some Western nations to call for a ban on catching endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Japan consumes three-quarters of the global catch of bluefin, a highly prized sushi ingredient known in Japan as "kuro maguro" (black tuna) and dubbed by sushi connoisseurs the "black diamond" because of its scarcity.

"You know, good things like this are appreciated in the whole world," said 22-year-old male customer Hirotaka Higurashi when asked about the overfishing issue. "There is nothing we can do about it.

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US Spaceplane spying on China

Business & Technology

America's classified X-37B spaceplane is probably spying on China, according to a report in Spaceflight magazine.

The unpiloted vehicle was launched into orbit by the US Air Force in March last year and has yet to return to Earth.

The Pentagon has steadfastly refused to discuss its mission but amateur space trackers have noted how its path around the globe is nearly identical to China's spacelab, Tiangong-1.

There is wide speculation that the X-37B is eavesdropping on the laboratory.

"Space-to-space surveillance is a whole new ball game made possible by a finessed group of sensors and sensor suites, which we think the X-37B may be using to maintain a close watch on China's nascent space station," said Spaceflight editor Dr David Baker.

The X-37B, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), looks like

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Is the Air Force's Secret Robot Space Plane Spying on China?

a mini space shuttle and can glide back down through the atmosphere to land

on a runway, just like Nasa's re-usable manned spaceplane used to do before

its retirement last July.

Built by Boeing, the Air Force's robotic craft is about 9m long and has a payload bay volume similar to that of a small van. But what goes in the payload bay, the USAF will not discuss.

The current mission was launched on an Atlas rocket and put into a low orbit, a little over 300km up, with an inclination of 42.79 degrees with respect to the equator - an unusual profile for a US military mission which would normally go into an orbit that circles the poles.

The X-37B's flight has since been followed from the ground by a dedicated group of optical tracking specialists in the US and Europe, intrigued by what the vehicle may be doing.

These individuals have watched how closely its orbit matches that of Tiangong.

The spacelab, which China expects to man with astronauts in 2012, was launched in September with an inclination of 42.78 degrees, and to a very similar altitude as the OTV.

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JANUARY 6TH - JANUARY 13TH, 2012

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TCIFA Gen Sec Sonia Bien-Aime appointed to FIFA U20 World Cup Organising Committee Sonia Bien-Aime, The Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association’s General Secretary has been appointed to the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup by FIFA’s President Joseph S. Blatter.

This news follows on the heels of her most recent appointment to the Caribbean Football Union Finance Task Force in December 2011, where in which she was charged with the preparation of Advice that would allow for continuity of the Union, in addition to a more optimum means of functioning.

The Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will be responsible for organising the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in compliance with the provisions of the regulations applicable to this competition, the List of Requirements and the Organising Association Agreement.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to have been selected to serve on the Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-20 Sonia Bien-Aime Women’s World Cup. An appointment “ This is indeed a great opportunity for me; not of this magnitude to serve on the world stage of only am I coming from one of the smaller countries football is incredible for me, the TCIFA and the of FIFA’s members, but also being the first female Turks & Caicos Islands as a country,” Bien-Aime from any Caribbean Football Association to serve said in response to her appointment. on a FIFA Standing Committee.”

“This is indeed validation and recognition for my work and tireless contribution to the TCIFA and development of football in the Turks & Caicos. For this, I am truly grateful. It will be my privilege to serve with a distinguished panel that endeavors to make an incredible impact on Women’s football.

“For me, there is no doubt that this appointment serves as a great start to the New Year and has sparked new energy within me, and an even greater love and appreciation for football: the worlds greatest sport,” she added.

Other members appointed to the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup include: Chairman - David Chung, Oceania Football Confederation President, Deputy Chairman – Senes Erzik, UEFA 1st Vice President and Honorary President Turkish FA, Bangladesh’s Mahfuza Akther. Members are Mozambique’s Palmira Francisco, former USA national team player, April Heinrichs, Coach for South Africa’s Senior Women’s National Team, Fran Hilton-Smith, New Zealand’s Shelley McMeeken, Italy’s Marina Sbardella, Colombia’s Celina Sierra, Germany’s head of women’s soccer, Heike Ullrich, China PR, Xue Li. Advisors to the committee are former Japanese football player, Kozo Tashima and Canada’s IOC Member, Walter Sieber.

Page 42

West Indies Players union lands US$2million award against WICB

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Regional players seem set for a tidy payday after the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) announced on Tuesday that it had won its latest arbitration with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Dinanath Ramnarine, executive president of the regional players' union, disclosed that the WICB will have to pay in the vicinity of US$2 million for a breach of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The breach pertains to both WICB

and WIPA deciding on match conditions and the number of matches played by the players.

"I hope that after this costly ruling for the WICB, they agree to negotiate matters with WIPA in the best interest of West Indies cricket because there are many more matters to be dealt with," said Ramnarine at a news conference on Tuesday.

"This is the 10th arbitration that WIPA has won, as compared to WICB's zero."

Senior Counsel Jairam Seenath, the

Johnson says Bolt can break 400metre record KINGSTON, Jamaica — Former American star Michael Johnson reckons Jamaican Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt can break his 400-metre world record.

Bolt, the 100m and 200m world-record holder, has indicated that he would like to add the 4x400m to his 100m, 200m and 4x100m schedule at the 2012 Olympics in London.

But his coach Glen Mills reacted by saying that Bolt would have to run the 400m and finish in one of the top spots at Jamaica's Olympic trials in June in order to qualify outright for the mile-relay team.

There are no plans in place for Bolt to run the 400m at the trials and the decision to include him would rest with the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).

"He was a 400m runner before he was a 100m and 200m runner," Johnson told ESPN. "He has always been great as a 200m runner, but he was a good 400m runner when he was very young."

"He has the build to be a great 400m runner and he certainly has the speed. Without a doubt, I think if he chose to make the switch at some point in his career and decided he was going to train for the 400m, I am certain he would break the world record and probably run under 43 seconds and become the first person to run 42 seconds," Johnson added.

"I've heard all types of rumours, whether he is going to run 400m or 4x400m relay. I think obviously he's the best sprinter in the world, he's the best there has ever been. He is an incredible athlete and I think he will be focused and ready to go next year to defend his titles at 100m and 200m, which he has said he wants to do and (Jamaica) have the best 4x100m relay in the world at this point.

"Beyond that, anything else is just speculation and I think we will just have to wait to see if he decides to do anything else. But I think he is in a great position to repeat (2008) and I wouldn't put my money on anyone else but him for 100m and 200m," said Johnson, who is the holder of the 400-metre record in 43.18 seconds.

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arbitrator in the case, said in his judgement that the provisions of the CBA and the MOU should "not be trifled with since a breach of them may cause serious (and sometimes irreparable) damage".

"The damages flowing from such a breach is a natural and foreseeable consequence — pacta sunt servanda (contracts are to be kept)," he said.

The CBA and MOU required both parties to discuss and agree to the annual schedule for regional and international matches, the number of games, dates,

location/venues, travel and accommodation.

The award included US$728,000 representing loss of earnings by the players for the regional four-day tournament; 40 per cent of the gross receipts for an additional T20 match two years ago between West Indies and South Africa and the Caribbean T20 in July 2010; US$100,000 for a loss of sponsorship opportunity for WIPA, as well as WIPA's legal costs.

The WICB is expected to appeal the outcome of the decision.

'Conspiracy to get rid of Gayle and Sarwan'

West Indies Players Association chief Dinanath Ramnarine believes there is a conspiracy afoot to marginalise Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Daren Ganga because of their strong alignment with the controversial players' union.

Gayle has been shut out of the West Indies side because of an ongoing feud with the regional board while Sarwan and Ganga were surprisingly excluded from their national squads for next month's Caribbean Twenty20 Championship.

"I am seeing a movement to get rid of these strong thinkers," Ramnarine said Friday.

"Ganga's resignation as captain of the T&T team is unfortunate and there is more to it than is being said.

I will speak about this more at a later date."

Gayle has not played for the West Indies since

the World Cup in March, after criticising the West Indies Cricket Board over a number of issues. He has since been mandated by the Board to apologise before being considered for selection again but has refused.

Ganga, who led Trinidad and Tobago for several seasons, quit as captain following the Super50 Series in Guyana and was this week left out of the 14-man side for the CT20. No room was found for Sarwan either in Guyana's squad, with selectors contending they were unsure about his fitness status.

"I think the decisions are coming from a higher authority," Ramnarine said.

They have a plan to get rid of these guys by a certain time, he added.

West Indies batsman Darren Bravo and Sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste were named the Trinidad & Tobago Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.

The 22-year-old Bravo was one of the most consistent batsmen for the West Indies in the past year, earning the top men's performance award.

He gathered 949 runs at an average of 49.94 in 20 innings from 10 matches, scoring three hundreds and three half-centuries.

His 195 against Bangladesh at the Sher-eBangla Stadium last month was his maiden Test hundred and his highest score for the year, and he followed up with two hundreds in successive Tests against India.

Bravo also scored 511 runs at 30.05 in 20 innings from 21 One-day Internationals, and supported with 90 runs at an average of 30.00 from three innings in the same number of Twenty20 Internationals.

The 25-year-old Baptiste grabbed a bronze medal in the women's 100 metres at this year's World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, clocking 10.98 seconds to finish behind American winner Carmelita Jeter and Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown.

She became the first female sprinter from the twin-island republic to earn a medal at a global championship, which also helped her to earn the Best Sport Darren Bravo Performance award.

Baptiste was also part of the T&T 4x100m women's relay team which finished fourth at the World Championships, earning them the Team Performance-of-the-Year award.

The other big winner of the night was West Indies Women's off-spinner Anisa Mohammed.

She claimed awards for the Best Breakthrough Performance, Most Consistent Performer and Record-breaking Performance of the Year.

Mohammed was the most successful bowler in Women's One-day Internationals last year, claiming 37 scalps at an average of 7.05 which bore testimony to her consistent performances.

She also grabbed 10 wickets at 12.30 apiece in seven T20Is this year.

Darren Bravo voted T&T Sportsman of the Year

FIFA targets informers to help fight match-fixing JANUARY 6TH -JANUARY- 13TH, 2012

ZURICH —FIFA is working with informers inside organized crime syndicates to help protect the World Cup from match-fixing and betting plots.

FIFA’s security director Chris Eaton outlined an increasingly aggressive strategy on Thursday as football’s world governing body seeks to stop international matches being fixed for tens of millions of dollars in profit.

“What we’re doing now is developing sources both in criminal organizations and football that will advise us,” Eaton said in an interview published by FIFA’s website.

“We are creating a hostile environment for match-fixers to make them realize we will expose them, name them, and make them subject to investigation somewhere in the world.”

FIFA’s pro-active plan to get information from inside crime syndicates is a direct response to its

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208 national member bodies being targeted to help fixing plots.

“The infiltration of serious criminals into our associations and football generally is the most pressing issue,” Eaton said.

From the fixing scandals and allegations which have emerged since the 2010 World Cup, FIFA believes crime gangs have received inside help from football officials to organize international matches and select corrupt referees.

FIFA will open a whistleblowers’ hotline next month offering rewards and amnesties if players, referees and officials provide detailed information about their involvement or offers to help fix matches.

The three-month campaign comes before qualifying for the 2014 World Cup intensifies this year.

Eaton said he believes FIFA’s showpiece tournament is most at risk during the 832 scheduled qualifiers

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FIFA’s security director Chris Eaton

involving teams which are unlikely to reach the finals in Brazil.

His team to combat fixing conspiracies includes specialist investigators in Kuala Lumpur, Colombia and Jordan, with a global coordinator based in Britain.

“This is about international— transcontinental in fact—organized crime,” Eaton said. “We see the footprints of Singaporean criminals throughout Europe, Africa and Central America.”

The Australian former detective acknowledged that his “small department” will rely on “detailed partnerships” with law enforcement agencies worldwide.

However, Eaton dismissed suggestions that football and world sports would benefit from creating an anti-corruption body organized on lines similar to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

“I don’t believe we need a WADA. WADA is designed to deal with cheats who ‘cheat to win.’ We’re talking about criminals who ‘corrupt to lose,”’ he said.

“What we need is an independent investigative ability across sports. You certainly need a match-fixing code.”

Pujols deal completed; worth $240M over 10 years NEW YORK - Albert Pujols officially joined the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday when Major League Baseball and the players' association confirmed the terms of the first baseman's 10-year contract and agreed its guaranteed value is $240 million.

The deal was reached four weeks earlier on the final day of the winter meetings and took nearly a month to complete. There are three separate agreements.

The team and Pujols will enter a 10year, personal-services agreement following the playing contract's expiration or Pujols' retirement, whichever is later, a deal that will pay $1 million annually. But because it is contingent on Pujols actually working for the team, it is not considered Albert Pujols guaranteed money for the purposes of baseball's luxury tax.

High-payroll teams such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are likely to examine that structure closely and may emulate it in future agreements.

There also is a marketing agreement that will pay Pujols for milestone accomplishments. The player will receive $3 million for 3,000 hits and $7 million for a record 763rd home run. He currently has 2,073 hits and 763 home runs.

Including all three agreements, Pujols could make up to $265.75 million over 20 years. That includes $875,000 in possible award bonuses each year for accomplishments such as Most Valuable Player, World Series and league championship series MVP, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, and making the AllStar team.

Like C.J. Wilson's $77.5 million, five-year contract, which also was agreed to Dec. 8, Pujols' deal is heavily backloaded. His 2012 salary will be $12 million, down from the $16 million he made last year in the option year of his contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pujols salary increases to $16 million in 2013 and $23 million in 2014, then rises $1 million annually until he makes $30 million in 2021, when he will be 41.

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WORLD SPORTS

Aussie tourists to dominate London Olympic Games

Andy Murray hires Ivan Lendl as new coach Ivan Lendl

LONDON —Andy Murray hired eighttime Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl as his coach Saturday in a bid to finally win a major title.

The fourth-ranked Scot will begin working with the Czech-born Lendl as he prepares for the Australian Open, which starts Jan. 16.

“It was important to me that any new person joining my team was able to add fresh insight,” Murray said in a statement.

“Ivan’s impact on the game is unquestionable and he brings experience and knowledge that few others have, particularly in major tournaments. I look forward to working with him going forward.”

The 24-year-old Murray spent all of last season ranked in the top four but still ended it without a first Grand Slam title.

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Andy,” Lendl said. “He is a unique talent and I look forward to trying to help him reach his goals.”

Murray reached the Australian Open final and the semifinals of the other three Grand Slams last season. He has lost in two other major finals—the 2010 Australian Open and 2008 U.S. Open.

Murray’s manager, “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller, hopes that “having a champion like Lendl join his team will help him achieve his ultimate ambitions.”

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More Australians are expected to fly to the UK to watch the Olympics than any other country, according to a report.

Flight comparison website Skyscanner has released its Travel Trends Report for 2012, which anticipates Australians will arrive on British soil in droves in time for the Opening Ceremony.

The website found an 85.9 per cent increase in flight searches from Australia to Britain between 2009 and 2011.

This is the sixth largest increase in the world.

But when the dates are limited to the London Olympic period, Australia had the highest number of searches for flights to the UK, followed by Italy and the United States.

"Given the sporting success of Australia and our American cousins, their interest is no real surprise," the report said.

Travel editor and consultant James Ellis compiled the report and analysed Skyscanner search data generated by the website's 15 million users over the past two years to come up with the figures.

Mr Ellis attributed the big jump to the publicity generated during the Royal Wedding early last year and the particular interest Commonwealth countries showed in the event.

The report also found the Brits were reciprocating this feeling.

Australia was also experiencing a resurgence as a popular destination among British travellers.

There has been an increase of 23 per cent among Britons searching for flights to Australia and Mr Ellis named it a "fast rising exotic location".

He suggests the revived interest is most likely the result of a series of successful advertising campaigns (most notably the Best Job in the World campaign), as well as a partnership with key carriers including Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

Tiger Woods' ex-wife has demolished her luxury $12 million Florida mansion to create her dream home.

Elin Nordegren, 32, called in a team to tear down the six bedroom waterfront home in Florida.

The Swedish blonde had snapped up the 9,000 sq ft waterfront property in exclusive Palm Beach after striking a reported $100 million divorce deal.

She told town planners in North Palm Beach the property wasn't big enough for her and her family and has called in architects to design a new property.

The blonde ex-nanny has two children, four-year-old daughter Sam and two-year-old Charlie, with her former husband, is staying in a rented home while work is completed.

Workers have been asked to sign a confidentiality agreement and not reveal details of the work, according to celebrity website TMZ.com.

Nordegren divorced Woods in 2010 after it emerged that he had bedded a string of women during their five year marriage.

Her ex has yet to move into his home $54.5m that has been built in Jupiter and has remained at their former home in Orlando, Florida.

His number one mistress Rachel Uchitel, 36, is now married and expecting her first child with businessman Matt Hahn, 26.

Nordegren recently found love again with billionaire Jamie Dingman, whom she started dating in July.

Top 5 countries expected to visit London during the Olympics: 1. Australia 2. Italy 3. USA 4. Spain 5. Germany

TIGER WOODS' EX-WIFE ELIN NORDEGREN BULLDOZES $12M FLORIDA MANSION TO MAKE WAY FOR HER DREAM HOME

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