Volume 8 Issue 21

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VOLUME 8 No. 21

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

TOURIST DIED OF

HEART ATTACK Website: www.suntci.com

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Autopsy ruled out death from the mystery sickness in Grace Bay

BY HAYDEN BOYCE PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The male visitor to the Turks and Caicos Islands who was found dead in his hotel room at the Grace Bay Club, died of a heart attack and not as a result of the mysterious sickness that has affected at least a dozen hotels in Grace Bay, on the island of Providenciales.

Reliable sources told The SUN that visitor, whose name has been given as Steve Ware, suffered from “acute myocardial infarction” or a heart attack.

“His death had absolutely nothing to do with the virus that has affected several persons on the island. He has 70% left artery blocked and 80% right artery blocked and there were some blood clots. They did not find sign of diarrhea, and Mrs. Ware never saw him vomiting.” said the official who asked that their name to be with-held because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Ware and his wife were in the Turks and Caicos Islands celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. His death coincided with a mysterious illness, characterized by diarrhea and vomiting, that has sickened scores of hotel employees and visitors to this high-end tourist destination.

Government officials said at least 12 hotels have been affected by the sickness which was first reported about a week ago.

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BIG GUNS HERE FOR JAGS McCARTNEY RELAYS

Sprint prodigy and Carifta 200m champion Delano Williams (right) and bronze medalist in Carifta 4X100 Turks and Caicos team Angelo Garland (second left) are greeted by President of the Turks and Caicos Amateur Athletic Association (TCAAA) Edith Skippings (second right) and Director of the Sports Commission Alvin Parker, shortly after they arrived in the island on Thursday, May 24. Both athletes will highlight the JAGS McCartney Relays scheduled for Grand Turk Saturday, May 26. The meeting, which is held in honour of sole national hero, James Alexander George Smith McCartney, will feature a number of other clubs, including Tigers from Providenciales. The meet will see primary schools, high schools and clubs taking part. It is staged in conjunction with the TCAA and the Commonwealth Games Association, which is headed locally by Rita Gardiner. The meeting was scheduled to commence at 8:00 a.m. with an Opening Ceremony and Parents Cheerleading Competition.

Winners from all Relay categories will be awarded trophies and prizes and the winner of the overall Open Relay will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000.00.

OSWALD SKIPPINGS MAY RUN FOR PDM LEADER - PG8

KAREN DELANCY AND SHARLENE CARTWRIGHT- ROBINSON RESIGN FROM FORUM - PG 9

Misael Eligio Castillo

Stanford Forbes

TWO TEENS CHARGED WITH MURDER STORY ON PAGE 7

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Tourist died of heart attack ...Contd

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Officials from Government, tourism, hotel and health sectors have gone into a state of high alert, embarking on massive public awareness and public relations campaigns to ensure tourists and visitors alike that the Turks and Caicos Islands is still a safe destination, despite an “increase in diarrhoea and vomiting in some resorts on Providenciales”.

“The (Tourist and Caicos Islands) Tourist Board would like to reassure travelers that the TCI remains a safe place to visit,” said a release from Neil Smith, spokesman from the office of British Governor Ric Todd.

Smith added that public health professionals are working with hoteliers to gather data on the number of cases and to determine if there is any common cause.

“Samples have already been sent to a laboratory for investigation in the US and results are currently awaited.

As a precaution, refresher hygiene training courses for all hotel staff are being arranged,” Smith said. “Those persons experiencing diarrhoea, abdominal pain or vomiting should report to their nearest health care facility. The health surveillance team may also need to interview any person experiencing such signs and symptoms in order to help pinpoint the source of the outbreak. Information will be kept confidential; however, updates on the

number of cases will be released as soon as they are confirmed.”

The Government spokesman said the Ministry of Health, Environmental Health Department, TCI Health Surveillance Team, Hotel Association and Tourist Board are committed to working closely together to address this situation and to ensure that there is little or no disruption to people, guests and to business locally and overseas.

“Public health teams are assessing, identifying and reporting on the situation utilizing Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) and Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) guidelines. Their top priority is to protect the public as well as the tourism industry from any further illness by containing any outbreak,” Smith’s release added.

Meantime, the Ministry of Health and Education encourage the general public to practice healthy hygienic measures at all times such as frequent hand washing, especially when preparing meals, before eating and after using the toilet.

Since the outbreak, Grace Bay Club, resort whose guests have included a US vice-president, worldfamous actors singers, novelists and billionaires, has temporarily suspended new reservations because of a mysterious illness that has irritated about a dozen other resorts in this

upscale Caribbean tourist destination.

Officials from Grace Bay, this country’s first luxury resort, said they will not take any new reservations until June 1, 2012.

Mark Durliat, Chief Operating Officer, confirmed that some of their hotel guests have complained of diarrhoea and flu-like symptoms that also affected about a dozen other resorts in this country’s tourist belt, Grace Bay, which has won several coveted international awards, including the world’s best beach.

“Grace Bay Club’s primary concern is to ensure guests’ health and safety, and a full sanitization of Grace Bay Club is now fully underway to circumvent further symptoms,” Durliat said.

“In order to fully ensure all guests safety, Grace Bay Club has chosen to no longer accept new reservations as of Wednesday May 23rd for 7 days , and a few on-property amenities will be reduced to ensure the property is fully sanitized. Currently, Grace Bay Club is providing hand sanitizers throughout the resort to all guests and staff, and all public spaces, kitchens, restaurants, plumbing systems and guestrooms are being thoroughly sanitized with bleach according to the safety standards of the Department of Environmental Health.

Grace Bay Resorts values every guest experience and offers its fullest attention and assistance to address concerns immediately and effectively,” he added.

Durliat added that Grace Bay Club is providing medical assistance to affected guests, alerting current and future guests of the situation and offering them the option to adjust existing reservations without penalty.

“Once all guests depart the resort, a more extensive, full-property sanitization will take place,” he said, adding that the resort will be accepting room reservations on June 1, 2012.

Government health officials are working with the private sector and taking a proactive approach to the situation to determine the exact cause of the sickness, characterized by diarrhea and vomiting, that has affected many of the high-end resorts in this British Overseas Territory located 500 miles from Miami.

Grace Bay Club, which rates can go as high as US$5,000 per night, and which sits on 11 acres of prime beach front, is the resort that first lured jetsetters to Turks and Caicos Islands.

Its guests have included Barbadian singing sensation Rihanna, Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett, former US Vice President Al Gore, NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, actress Gabrielle Union, American songbird Alicia Keyes, superstar actor Denzil Washington, the legendary Stevie Wonder, best-selling novelist John Grisham, American Chef and television celebrity Beau McMillan, Russian tennis star and former world number one tennis player Maria Sharapova and many others.

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LOCAL LOCAL LOCALNEWS NEWS

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AUGUST 5TH20TH, - AUGUST 12TH, 2011 JANUARY 13TH -25TH JANUARY 2012 TURKS&&&CAICOS CAICOSSUN SUN FEBRUARY 17TH - FEBRUARY 24TH, MAY - JUNE 1ST, 2012 2012 TURKS TURKS CAICOS SUN AUGUST 5TH - AUGUST 12TH, 2011

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SACRIFICING EDUCATION ON THE ALTAR OF LAW AND ORDER order that elections can take In 1991 when C. Washington place this year, I have no Misick became Chief Minister problem with that. However, of our country, he was offered it is the underlying numbers a development package by the that give me pause and a British government that reason to be concerned. As is included the building of a captioned above, I would prison. Mr. Misick asked that concentrate on the stark instead of allocating those disparity between education funds to prison building, if it and law enforcement. could be reassigned to the I understand from the building of the Community PS/Finance that the reduction College. in allocation for scholarships He was told no! the money has been reduced to $2.65M was earmarked for that purpose, this year because there are 70 and if you want to make use of or so returning students that those funds, that was what it was no provision needed to be going to be spent on. Mr. Misick made for. But when I looked then advocated for the prison to at the outturn of $3.823M for be built in Middle Caicos for a last year, something is number reasons in particular. definitely wrong with that The first one being that it would ROYAL ROBINSON picture. create some employment CONTRIBUTER What was not said, was opportunities in that island, the how many scholarships use of agriculture as a rehabilitative exercise would be beneficial and would be available to be given to students wanting seeing that it would be isolated from regular to study abroad on government sanctioned programmes. While it is clearly laudable that, if community activities, it would act as a deterrent.

The British put nix to those proposals and said programmes can be offered at the community that the prison would be built in Grand Turk and College, that overseas funding should not be made available land must be found on which to erect it. It available. If it is the express intention to build was their “British taxpayers’ money”, so it was a take capacity at home, I am all for that once it does not it or leave it scenario. We know what happened. take away from the beneficial experience of a proper Johnston Construction built the prison in Grant Turk education.

However, when you look at the subvention for and the rest was history!

The same mentality that obtained in the 1990s the Community College this year, you would see that can still be seen today, and they are using our money there is a reduction of some $200K. That does not that we raised to carry out their agenda. Now that is reflect the stated pronouncement or policy decision. the galling part. Even though they are responsible for If it clearly the view that there should be more home preparing the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands grown educational attainment, then there must be a to relieve themselves of the yoke of colonialism, they commensurate uptick in the subvention to reflect continue to pay scant regard to that responsibility. such a policy.

The numbers then reflect that in addition to Their focus is on law and order and the social, economical and educational advancement of the staffing and other costs of the Education Department, people over whom they lord just go out the window. there is just $4.25M allocated for ongoing education Let us examine things in the light of the recently and training. The law and order component of the “debated” budget for 2012/13. It can be said that I budget paints a different picture. First of all for SIPT have taken a fool’s comfort in the number that there and civil recovery there is $13.4M and added to that will be a projected surplus of some $3.7M. Since that close to another $1M for the conversion of the is a significant “millstone”, that had to be met in former Myrtle Rigby Health Complex into additional

EDITORIAL CARTOON

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 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.

court rooms to accommodate the impending trials of those persons that have had their sufficiency hearings and must attend at the Supreme Court on charges that include conspiracy and money laundering. Those amounts in and of themselves represent THREE times that for education. So you can see what the priority of the British continues to be with respect to Turks and Caicos islanders.

They see no problem in underfunding education or the social safety nets that would bolster the selfworth of the people of this country. Their response then, as it is now is to build bigger prison systems to take care of those persons that have fallen by the wayside because they were not given adequate opportunities to avail themselves to a proper education that would take them off the streets and into meaningful and beneficial occupational pursuits!

The British over the years have abdicated their responsibility to our country. They have failed in their oversight over time, and when the proverbial mess hits the fan, then, their reaction is to yank the chains of control, take absolute change and then do really nothing to alleviate the situation. On the one hand, they have said they have put in place systems that should work. However, instead of allowing that to happen, they put in another layer to insulate and isolate themselves from the people that they are responsible for.

If you tell a child that the fire is hot and will burn him and every time he goes near the flame you pull him back, he will never know what the real effects are. Sometimes you have to allow him to get burn so that he can of his own volition put in mitigating measures to protect him from getting burn again in the future.

So what we can see from the 2012/13 budget is that it reflects the priorities of our British masters rather than what is required by the rank and file Turks and Caicos Islander. As flawed as the Consultative Forum might be, many of their members spoke to these inconsistencies. But like everything else, Todd will grin, smile and say in spite of what you who are feeling it say, I know best for you and would act accordingly and sign into law whatever Appropriations Bill that he sees fit so to do!

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

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Commercial banks take on share of TCInvest loan book

First Caribbean Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and Scotiabank will each take on a share of the TCInvest loan book in a deal that will net around $11m for the TCI taxpayer, according to a Government statement.

The press release said that a better deal for taxpayers and lower payments for loan holders are the main benefits of the Turks and Caicos Island Government’s decision to restructure TCInvest The 240 loans in the deal will potentially save loan holders thousands of dollars thanks to the lower rates of interest offered by the private banks rather than those of the former statutory body.

TCInvest charge an interest rate of between 6.5% and 12% on loans. The new bank rates for the same loans will be charged at rates between 4.75% and 9%.

Someone with a $100,000 mortgage will be at least $200 a month better off under their new terms

at the banks. Over a typical 20 year loan term this would save the mortgage holder in the region of $50,000.

TCIG has negotiated terms with the three banks that mean the banks will pay up to 50% of all the associated fees of transferring mortgages, for example, such as legal fees and loan processing charges. TCIG will waive any stamp duty, penalties and fund any residual costs associated with transferring the loans. Those individuals with more than one loan will be offered the opportunity to consolidate their loans into one arrangement to secure better terms. The Banks will begin the process of contacting these clients in the very near future.

There are also 85 non-performing loans, with a face value of $6m; TCIG is currently looking at two options to address this portion of the portfolio and negotiations are still being concluded.

Two teenagers charged in Quinn’s death

Two men accused in the murder of 34 year-old British national Anthony Quinn appeared in the Providenciales Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, May 23, to have their first appearance.

The men have been identified as Stanford Forbes Jr., 18, of Leeward Highway in Providenciales and Misael Castillo, 19, of Long Bay, also in Providenciales. In addition to the murder charged, the two accused hoodlums were slapped with robbery charges.

Quinn’s body was found close to the beach at the bottom of Technology Drive near, Heaving Down Rock in the long Bay area on the morning of Sunday, May 13, after he was reported missing.

Quinn, who worked as a quantity surveyor for local firm, Projectech, at the time of his death, was found some distance from his vehicle.

The two are to have their sufficiency hearing on July 6, in the capital Grand Turk, so as to

Queen’s birthday & Jubilee celebrations confirmed

Turks and Caicos Islands events to mark the Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Birthday have been announced by His Excellency Governor Ric Todd.

The TCI events will run in conjunction with celebrations both in other UK Overseas Territories and in Commonwealth nations around the world.

Anthony Quinn

determine whether or not there is enough evidence against them to move the case forward. Until that time, the men have been remanded in custody at Her Majesty’s Prison on Grand Turk.

Man jailed for causing death by dangerous driving Twenty-one-year old Robert Bart, of Grand Turk was sent to prison for 12 months after pleading guilty to causing the deaths of two friends by dangerous driving.

Bart was sentenced after appearing before the Supreme Court in Providenciales.

Bart was the driver of a black Jaguar X-type car that lost control and

The money raised from this process will be used by the Government to pay off TCInvest’s debt with the Caribbean Development Bank, European Investment Bank and National Insurance Board, which is guaranteed by the Government. This will allow TCIG to enter into negotiations in 2016 regarding refinancing its remaining national debt in a stronger position.

“This announcement emphasises why Government had to take action over TCInvest,” said Patrick Boyle, Chief Executive, TCI Government. “Due to the unclear way that TCInvest historically issued its loans in the first place, we simply had no clear idea what our financial liabilities would be."

“We have taken this affirmative action, therefore, to create the best possible deal in the circumstances for the taxpayer, and one that reduces significantly the monthly bills for those holding these loans.”

crashed in North Ridge, Lighthouse Road, Grand Turk, on January 12 2009.

Passengers Brandon Harris, who was 19 at the time, and Lea Lewis Astwood Jr, who was 20, were both killed in the crash.

All three were students at the Grand Turk Community College.

The TCI events are: • Saturday 2 June – Queen’s Birthday Parade, Providenciales.

The Parade will take place at the Downtown Ball Park behind the Gus Lightbourne Sports Centre. There will be displays from local schools and youth groups starting around 4:00pm, and the main parade will commence at 5.00pm with music provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police band. The Governor will be present for the Parade and will be taking the salute from the uniformed services on parade.

• Monday 4 June – With the participation of a number of uniformed services, local schools and youth organisations and music supplied by the police band the parade will commence at 5:00pm at the Parade Ground, North Back Salina, Grand Turk.

• Tuesday 5 June – Diamond Jubilee Beacon Lighting and Beach Party, Grand Turk. Events will be held at Governor’s Beach, Grand Turk commencing at 3:00 pm. The Culture Commission is leading on organising social events and activities through the afternoon, and the police band will be providing musical entertainment. The Beacon will be constructed by local Scouts and will be lit at dusk.

Commenting on the planned events the Governor said: “The parade on 2 June is the first official commemoration of the Queen’s Birthday on Providenciales for a number of years.

“I very much hope that it will attract a good audience, including our tourist visitors who will have an opportunity to see some local culture at first hand.

“The addition of a beach party and beacon lighting on Grand Turk on the 5 June is an additional opportunity for the community to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, and is planned to be a fun, family centred, afternoon and evening.”

The public is reminded that both Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 June 2012 are designated as public holidays.

The 4 June replaces the public holiday originally planned for 11 June.

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TURKS & CAICOS SUN MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

Oswald Skippings may run for PDM leadership

BY HAYDEN BOYCE Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Veteran politician Oswald Skippings is being encouraged by members of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) to run for the leadership post when the party’s convention is held in a few weeks.

Well-placed sources within the PDM told The SUN that there has been a “ground swell of support” among the party’s membership and its NGC, for “Skip”, as he is affectionately known, to lead the party.

The PDM source said: “Skip is one of the most dynamic and influential politicians, not only in the PDM but in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Nobody can dispute that. Not even the PNPs. Right now this country needs someone who can take on the Brits and the PDM needs a strong leader who can motivate, influence and galvanise its supporters. A lot of us believe that Skip is the best person that can lead the party to victory at this time and that is why we are calling on him to run for leader of our

Oswald Skippings

great party.”

Up to press time, efforts to reach Skippings were unsuccessful, as he was said to be attending the swearing-in ceremony for the new Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in Nassau, The Bahamas with

a PDM delegation.

Skippings, who is in his late 50s, became the youngest Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands (at age 25) after the country’s first Chief Minister James Alexander George Smith (JAGS) McCartney died on May 9, 1980 at the age of 34.

Skippings became the youngest member of a Caribbean government ever when he was first elected to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) legislature in 1976 at the age of 22. He later became the youngest leader of a Caribbean government ever when he became Chief Minister in 1980 at the age of 26. He was Chief Minister of the TCI between June and November 1980 and again between March 1988 and April 1991.

Skippings retired from politics just prior to the 2007 elections and has since headed the Firm Foundations Ministries International in Grand Turk.

In his previous efforts to lead the PDM, he was defeated by Floyd Seymour and then by Doug Parnell.

Taylor, who is also a former Chief Minister, is presently leader of the PDM.

Police to scale back station break probe

It appears that the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police hierarchy will scale down its probe into the stealing of a large sum of cash,

guns and other items from its former Old Airport Road location in Providenciales about a year ago, as their investigations have failed to

point to the culpability of anyone so far.

The break-in, took place on July 6, of last year (2011), about two to three weeks after the police had abandoned the mold-infested condemned building and relocated to the Five Cays and Chalk Sound Police Stations, where they planned to remain until a centrally-located building was found.

After their departure, the police used the Old Airport Road facility as a temporary holding area for evidence that would be used in court cases. This included money, guns, drugs and other evidentiary materials, but the police reconsidered this after the unfortunate incident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Brad Sullivan said that even though the police would scale back its investigation, it would was in no mood to let the crime die a natural death, as he still believed that someone could still be brought to book for the brazen robbery.

“We had a break-in at the holding station, and investigations into the matter has failed to lead to any information, but it is one that would continually be on our books and we will continue to seek information,” Deputy Commissioner Sullivan told The SUN. A news release that was issued following the incident noted that on 30 May, Commissioner of Police,

Colin Farquar ordered police personnel to relocate to 5 Cays and to Chalk Sound Police Stations pending new accommodations elsewhere, since the main station had been condemned some 16 years earlier and, there were no immediate plans for renovations of the crumbling building.

The release said Commissioner Farquar ordered all exhibits moved to the secure facilities at Chalk Sound, but there was a question of where to relocate a very large freezer full of illegal lobsters.

Though the release disclosed that Commissioner Farquar had ordered security of the building pending the movement of exhibits, no security mechanisms were in place leading up to the time of the robbery.

“The RTCI Police acknowledge that two pistols, 14 rounds of ammunition, and a sum of money (amount being without pending investigation) were taken. Other exhibits were not touched, including drugs and other money,” the release said at the time.

The police, in an earlier report, stated that the thieves gained entry to the building by forcing open a door which had been secured upon the closing of the building in early June.

Once inside the building the culprits forced their way into a locked property room where it is believed that they removed the items.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

Karen Delancey and Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson resign from Forum Karen Delancey has resigned from the Turks and Caicos Islands Consultative Forum as of May 21st, saying that she will return to elective politics.

Another Consultative Forum member Sharlene CartwrightRobinson, who will be contesting the next election as an At-Large candidate, has also resigned.

In a press release, Delancey stated: “I am proud of my service to the Turks and Caicos Islands as member of the Consultative Forum during very difficult times; however it had always been my intentions to return to elective politics. I shall therefore be seeking the nomination of my party, the PNP (Progressive National Party), as a candidate for my constituency of The Bight and I look forward to again representing the people of that constituency and of the Turks and Caicos as a member of the House of Assembly.”

Cartwright-Robinson, who was one of the most outspoken members of the Forum, is an attorney and a

Karen Delancey

Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson

northern director in the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship, a youth director for the Turks and Caicos Islands Baptist Union of Churches and a former lecturer at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College.

Last Friday, Governor Ric Todd says members of the Advisory Council and Consultative Forum who are planning to stand for elected office in the Turks and Caicos Islands

cannot remain members of those representative bodies.

Todd said although UK Ministers have not yet decided whether elections will or will not take place in 2012, the Interim Administration is taking all possible measures to ensure that the country is ready should they be called.

He said it is clear that many people with ambitions for holding

public office are now looking forward to elections, adding that being a member of either the Council or Forum comes with very high expectations of appropriate transparent behaviour.”

However, the Governor stressed that membership of the Forum or Council does not constitute a political office, nor should it.

“Indeed, it is important that no one in either the Council or Forum should use their position as a platform to promote their own political ambition,” he said, adding that he wrote to the members of the Council and the Forum to remind them that any member of the Council or Forum who expresses an intention to run for election must stand down.

The Governor said any member of the Council or Forum who makes such an expression and does not resign from office, will be removed in line with Schedule 2, paragraphs 1(4) and (5), and paragraphs 9(6) and (7) of The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009.

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Lobster season was good one

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

The extended lobster season paid off somewhat for fishermen as the Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources (DECR) is reporting a spike in catches of lobster over the just-concluded season of the 2010/2011 in comparison to 2010/2011.

Acting Director of the Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources (DECR) Henry Wilson, revealed that statistics suggested that the just-concluded adjusted season paid off somewhat.

Wilson said that in the early stages of the season, which opens on August 1 each year, the catches were good, but as the season wore on, the daily catches plummeted sharply, triggering concerns among fishermen that an extension could be needed beyond the closing March date.

“I can say the lobster (2010/2011) season was a good season when it first opened. However, I think that at the end of the day, the catch wasn’t as good as it was supposed to be. And that’s the reason why they petitioned the government for an extra month,” Wilson said.

David Brooks, Deputy Chief Conservation Officer at the DECR said that the Fisheries Advisory Committee figured that since it appeared that lobsters were still breeding in August - when the seasons opens – it would be

good to delay the opening of the seasons until September, which he said was granted by Government.

“The season opens up in August, but this year the Fisheries Advisory Committee asked to delay the opening of the season for a month because they felt that in August the lobsters were still breeding. They felt like, if you open it up in September you would get a better catch. They gave an extra month because fishermen complained that a month was taken from them (in the 2010/2011 season) and they would like to have that month back, and they were given the month back.

“And it did prove productive; in September they did get a better catch and they were also catching bigger lobsters. But while the overall catch was better that the previous season, it was not much greater, they just caught a few more pounds over the season before,” Brooks said.

He revealed also that the lobster season would return to its regular period – opens on August 1 and closes at the end of March.

In the meantime, Statistics released by Kathy Baier-Lockhart, the Scientific Officer in the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, showed improvements in catches during the 2011/2012 season over the 2010/2011 season, even though the improved number was little below eight thousand pounds.

The total catch over the 2010/2011 season was 515,551.5 pounds, while

the total catch for the 2011/2012 season was 594,314.5.

There was no August 2011/2012 record to match against the 2010/2011 season, since the start of the justconcluded season began in September.

In August of the 2010/2011 season, a total of 145,355 pounds of spiny lobster were caught.

Pitting the monthly catches over the two periods, Lockhart pointed out that records showed that except for March, 2011/2012 was a better overall season. The total catch in September 2010/2011 season was 59.934.5 in comparison to the just-concluded season when the catch was 200,048.5; in October 2010/2011, the total catch was 76,467.5, while the catch this year was 116,465. November 2010/2011 netted 51,893.5 pounds in comparison to 78,639 this past season.

For December the total catch in 2010/2011 was 45,002, in comparison to 48,989 pounds this past season. The comparative January figures over both periods showed that the 2010/2011 season yielded 44.469 pounds, while the 2011/2012 season fetched 47,538.5. Figures showed that February 2010/2011 season resulted in 35,169 pounds, while this past year saw 41,589.5 pounds of lobsters being caught.

The comparative figures for March showed that over the 2010/2011 season, 57,261 pounds were caught, while over the 2011/2012 season 37,826.5 pounds landed, while in the

extended season of April, 23,218.5 pounds were caught.

Lockart pointed out that between 2006 and 2008; Spiny lobster landing fluctuated from a high of 984,176.5 pounds to a low of 353.030 pounds, following the hurricane season.

However, she said they were able to recuperate as shown in the latest statistics.

The average catch per boat over the two latest periods also showed that the 2011/2013 was a better season. In September 2010/2011, the CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort) was 111.0, while over the 2011/2012 season, the figure was 157.0. October of the previous year yielded 104.5 compared with 157.0 in 2011/2012. In November of the 2010/2011, the catch was 107.7 compared with 117.5 at the end of the 2011/2012.

In December of 2010/2011 the average CPUE was 93.2 in comparison to 108.1 at the end of the 2011/2012 season. The number for January 2010/2011 was 85.7, in comparison to 105.6 at the end of the 2011/2012 season.

The CPUE in February of the 2010/2011 season was 88.6., compared with 90.2 at the end of the 2011/2012 season. However, the month of March saw the 2010/2011 season outperforming its recently concluded counterpart, 97.5 to 94.8.

The August 2010/2011 stood at 146.2, while the April figure of the just-ended season was 87.6 pounds.

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MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

e eleven ludicrous obstacles For many years and under various administrations, businesses and individuals have been complaining about the very cumbersome steps it can take to obtain certain documents or approvals from Government departments in Grand Turk.

Some of these problems are the result of a lack of computerization of records, particularly in the Land Registry and the Companies Registry.

Several administrations have in fact listened to the complaints and consequently have retained many expensive consultants and sent local staff on familiarization or training trips overseas to countries such as the Cayman Islands, which have successfully adopted computerization.

Yet there are never any results, just continual promises that computerization is under way and will shortly be implemented.

It is hard to convince investors that this is a country which is serious about assisting businesses, when one considers the procedures incurred and expenses that accrue to a business or person not resident in Grand Turk in obtaining certain documents.

While the example below refers to Providenciales, the problem is at least equal or worse from the other islands. We refer to these procedures as “The Eleven Ludicrous Obstacles”. They are: 1. Obtain and fill in application form.

2. Issue cheque to TCIG. 3. Pay agent to take package to Providenciales airport.

4. Pay airline to carry package to Grand Turk.

5. Pay agent in Grand Turk to pick up package from airline and take to relevant government office.

6. Government office issues a payment voucher.

7. Agent takes the payment voucher to the Treasury, pays, returns with receipt to the government office.

8. Government office issues relevant document.

BY BILL MCCOLLUM AND ANDREW NEWLANDS SUN CONTRIBUTORS

9. Agent takes the document and puts in a package and takes that package to Grand Turk airport.

10. Pay airline to take document to Providenciales.

11. Pay agent in Providenciales to go to the airport, pick up the package and return it to the applicant.

Any administration that was serious about helping the remaining businesses in TCI survive would eliminate the Eleven Ludicrous Obstacles and reduce them to: 1. Deposit funds via credit or debit card on Government web site.

2. Fill in application form online.

3. Print off relevant document on own printer (e.g. copy of land register).

We believe the administration could increase revenue, even charging less than they do now, because the number of applications would increase significantly using this simple system. Set up costs would soon be recovered and this small step would send a signal that the administration is actually interested in reducing cumbersome bureaucratic burdens on job-creating businesses.

This administration presently is not welcoming to

inward investment. As an example, very recently an overseas group approached the administration with a view to setting up a medical tourism business.

They encountered such a lack of real assistance that they, like many others before them, simply went back to the airport after 48 hours and flew out to St Lucia where they are now negotiating with one of our competing jurisdictions.

We are not surprised; it recently took 6 weeks to get a simple business licence issued. Work permit approvals take months, depriving the administration of critical revenue and delaying new business operations.

There is no PRC program for Pure Investor Category in place therefore business or property investors cannot get long term residential status with the result, guess what, they are not investing.

Most of these potential investors or long term residents are not the slightest bit interested in voting and this administration has created a smokescreen of wanting to increase the number of persons with “islander status” instead of implementing a workable investor PRC program. This should be put in place immediately.

A simple PRC program, perhaps for fixed periods of 10 or 15 years, can create immediate dividends by way of real estate sales, increasing population and an expanding economy to the benefit of everyone, not least the current administration. Unless serious measures are taken right away, the economic nightmare of depopulation will, like a great river, just keep rolling along. It will be interesting to see how soon the results of the recent census are released by this administration.

A previous elected administration sat on the results of a census for well over two years as the numbers were somewhat inconvenient.

Page 12

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

How Government plans to make up its $200.6 million revenue budget

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

If Government is to meet is projected $200.6 million revenue target for the 2012/2013 fiscal year, there has to be optimum performances by its main contributors, such as import duty, customs processing, the hotel industry, real estate and work permit collection.

The estimates of expenditure which was released by Government and tabled in the Consultative Forum on Monday, May 21, will be banking on strong performances by those and other avenues to reach its target of a balance budget at the end of March 2013.

Import Duty, which Government said continued to be its largest revenuegenerator, raked in 47.8 million at the end of the 2011/2012 fiscal year. As a result, it has been encouraged to hoist the projected collection to $51.7, which represented $3.9 million or eight percent increased.

Government said that the increase in collection could in part be predicated on the decision to abandon the use of imperial gallons when calculating customs duty on gasoline and instead applying the US gallon. Tax on alcohol also proved to be a cash cow for Government in the last fiscal year.

Last year, Customs Processing

Fees yielded $14 million, but this year Government was looking to collect $18.5 million, an increase $4.5 million or about 27 percent. The increased projection was, in part, based on the assessment that all importers – even the ones that had previous concession agreements with Government - would now have to pay full customs processing fees.

Accommodation Tax from the Hospitality Industry was also a strong revenue-earner for the Interim Administration over the past year, totaling $33.1 million. And so, for this fiscal year, the revenue collection is projected to jump by $3.8 million more, which represents a 12 percent increase.

Government said that it was expecting a 10 percent increase in activity in that sector and a two percent compliance and enforcement.

According to Government, despite a small decrease in arrivals during March this year, arrivals in the two months prior performed “quite well”, resulting in better performance over the corresponding period last year. At the end of the first quarter, $11.2 million was collected, which represents a 22 percent increased over the same period of 2011, which was $9.1.

Stamp Duty, according to the Administration, surpassed its expectations last year, with $14.9

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million as against a budgetary target of $8.9 million. As such, the budget for Stamp Duty this year is set at $15.5 million, which represents an increase of $.6 million or a four percent increase.

Work permit fell below Government projection last year. The budget was $15.2 million, but total collection over the period stood at $10.2 million. This, the Interim Administration said, was due to the delayed implementation of a 35 percent increased fees, that was budgeted to come on stream the first quarter of the last fiscal year. The fees were eventually implemented on December 5, last year, reflecting a three-month collection for 2011/2012.

However, despite the challenge, Government said it was now looking to collect $14 million or a 35 percent increase in fees. Bearing in mind also that the Labour Department has been rebranded to name the Employment Services Unit, Government said it was expecting greater compliance.

Fuel tax, which came on stream in the last fiscal year and was branded as a capital programme, now falls under the recurrent revenue umbrella, and last year it collected $6.4 million, but this year, will be looking to rake in $7.3million.

From airport monetary activities, Government aims to collect substantially reduced sum at the end of this financial year, having assumed responsibility of the Aviation Fire Services, now being responsible for salaries and operating expenses.

Last year a total of $8.8 million was transferred from the TCIAA to

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Government, but this is due to the added responsibility, TCIG would only expect $3.2million for this financial year. The Airport Fire Services previously cost Government $4million annually.

Similar to the Airports Authority, the Ports Authority is also required to remit excess revenues to Government, and at the end of the current fiscal year, the Administration is looking to collect $1.7 million against $0.9, which it collected last year. A series of fees, increases and expenditure reductions should yield the projected funds, according to Government.

Other areas that Government was aiming to collect revenues are from the Financial Services Commission $2.8million; Telecommunications Licences and Communication Tax $3million each (Telecommunication Licences and Communication Tax stood at $2.5 million and $2.9million at the end of the 2011/2012 fiscal year); EU Grant $5 million; Bank Services Tax ($1.5 million)and Insurance Premiums Tax($1.0million; Business Licence Renewal Fees ($3.25 million) Business licence Application Fees $.25 million; Sand Mining - $1.5 million; SIPT/ Civil Recovery Income - $9 million; Vehicle Licences - $2.8 million; Drivers Licences -$0.5million; Seaport Departure Tax - $1.4 million; Overtime Cost Recovered – $1.2 million; Sale of Water – $1.0 million; Contributions to Special Scholarships, which are mandated contributions from developers based on development agreements - $0.5 million; and Migrant Health Processing Fees - $1.0 million.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

to change and contribute to policies and be a part of the decision making process.

The rights to vote was adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, and it recognizes the integral role that transparent and open elections play in ensuring the fundamental right to participatory government. The Universal Declaration of Human Issue #12 WITH LILLIAN BOYCE Rights in Article 21 states: Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his/her “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not country, directly or through freely simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.”chosen representatives.

Louis L'Amour If the right to vote no longer exists, While I was writing this week’s one large stumbling block. From (as it is now in our Turks and Caicos), edition of the Stepping Stones, I feedback that she received, she the country would no longer survive as received a visit from a friend of mine, understood that we were not registering a democratic country; and just imagine who is a pastor. I paused to spend to vote and was already out-numbered how much worse it can become, if we are just experiencing the relatively early time chatting with her because she is in that regard. a dear friend of many years, and she Well, I want to join forces with the stages now.

When you do not vote, you give had a lot to say about what was many who have appealed to us to go away your right to influence the happening in our country, while we and register. One of the most critical government of the day.

More remained silent and seemingly ways individuals can influence importantly, not voting takes away the governmental decision-making is contented. "will of the majority” that governs any Among other things, she inquired through voting.

After my friend left my office, I country. about general elections in the Turks and The apathy that many feel is due to Caicos, wondering out loud if there decided to try and offer some were going to be any such event this information to you via Stepping Stones the belief that sometimes voting makes year. While she felt that elections would this week, and to encourage all of you no difference. That though we may elect not be held, she said men are going to to register, so that whenever election is different people, the same old policies continue, especially the spirit of the travail before God this time, when they announced we can cast our votes.

While I do agree it is not the easiest policy and politics. However, voting realize the thing that they fear most has process, and yes, for many it may be makes a difference. Especially today, come to pass.

She said, “I am not ready yet to lose costly, I must say that it is so important with such a wide array of urgent issues my country to another language and to vote, that I hope we understand that that must be taken care of after the next this is not the time.” She said, she and make the sacrifice to pay for general election. These issues include believes that God is telling her to pay whatever documents are needed to Vat, health and education and so many attention to the elections. She said the complete the process, such as birth men of the Turks and Caicos Islands certificates.

For many years, and in many should step forward now and she alluded to unity, instead of separatist, countries persons have fought for the right to vote. The right to decide the partisan loyalties.

However, in her opinion we had persons best suited and trusted to rule,

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Page 13

LOCAL NEWS others.

One vote puts us one step closer to an independent Turks and Caicos; and I feel it is extremely important for everyone to exercise this vital constitutional right.

In many countries around the world, people vote to choose their leaders and also to decide public issues that affect them as a people. People also vote to make decisions in groups such as juries, labor unions, corporations, and business meetings.

Voting is the primary way to exhibit good citizenship and civil responsibility.

Voting in free elections is a right that should not be taken lightly. Millions of people in the USA and around the world have fought for the right to vote.

Voting is a patriotic act and everyone should participate.

The future of the Turks and Caicos is in the hands of the voter, so make your way to the nearest Elections Office, find out what needs to be done in order to be added to the voters list and do everything you must.

Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor to King Henry VIII of England coined the Latin phrase, "Qui tacet consentit".

Translated, this means “Silence means consent”. Simply put, the idea here is that if you don't disagree, you automatically agree. Keeping quiet is the same as giving permission. Silence did not save Sir Thomas More, who lost his head. Must we lose our fugitive heads here in the Turks and Caicos before we speak out? Have a voice, have a say. Vote.

Page14 14 Page

LOCAL NEWS

NOTICE OF SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION

Scotiabank (Turks & Caicos) Ltd. of Cherokee Road, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands hereby gives notice of its intention to sell by Public Auction the following properties pursuant to its power of sale as registered Chargee under the Registered Land Ordinance of the Turks and Caicos Islands: 1.

Parcel 61109/4 Long Bay Hills Providenciales, comprising of a single storey residence containing two bedrooms one bathroom, a kitchen, living and dining room.

Registered Proprietor: Rickandro Samarl Lightbourne 2.

Parcel 60900/226 - Leeward Going Through Providenciales, comprising of a single storey residence containing three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living and dining room, and external deck.

Registered Proprietor: Oscar Keith Talbot and Florinda Louise Talbot 3.

Parcel 10308/42 Central, Grand Turk, comprising of a two storey residence with a single one bedroom one bathroom guest unit located on the ground floor. The upper floor comprises of two bedrooms with two large walk in closets, one bathroom and a laundry closet.

Registered Proprietor: Kendle Berdette Williams and Tanya Doreen Cox 4.

Parcel 60906/100/K1, Leeward Going Through Providenciales, comprising of a two storey three bedroom, two bathroom condominium providing two ensuite bedrooms to the ground floor with open plan living room, dining room and kitchen, complete with enclosed private deck. The second floor is accessed by an access ladder and provides the third dormer style bedroom.

Registered Proprietor: Nicholas Anthony Raymakers and Indhira Beatriz Castillo Hiraldo 5.

Parcel 10104/42, North East Suburbs, Grand Turk, comprising of a single storey residence containing four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, living and dining room, and utility closet.

Registered Proprietor: Lorraine Marcella Elizabeth-Ann Kenlock-Bovell and Weston Edward Livingston Bovell 6.

Parcel 60811/23 The Bight & Thomas Stubbs Providenciales, comprising of a single storey residence containing three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living and dining room.

Registered Proprietor: Oleta Louise Robinson 7.

Parcel 60604/17 Norway and Five Cays Providenciales, comprising of a single storey residence containing four bedrooms, two and a half baths, a kitchen, living and dining room. The house provides good elevation giving excellent views towards the ocean.

Registered Proprietor: Timothy Moriah Nash and Delores Oleta Rigby Nash 8.

Parcel 10409/96 East Suburbs Grand Turk, comprising of a single storey residence containing three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, living and dining room.

Registered Proprietor: Vanessa Denise Forbes 9.

Parcel 60503/123 Blue Hills & Stamers Run Providenciales, comprising of a single storey residence containing four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living and dining room with exterior patio.

Registered Proprietor: Vylma Patricia Scriven 10.

Parcel 60505/228 Blue Hills & Stamers Run Providenciales, comprising of a single storey residential building with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open plan living, dining and kitchen area.

Registered Proprietor: Angela Sharonna Jennings 11.

Parcel 60900/170 Leeward Going Through Providenciales, comprising of a single storey residential building with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, living and dining room. There is a two car garage, fencing and an entrance gate to the front of the property.

Registered Proprietor: Floyd Lyndon Ingham and Cherrie Romayne Ingham 12.

Parcel 60907/229/K9 Leeward Going Through, Providenciales, comprising of a two bedroom, two and a half bath townhouse at the Provo Golf Club with a kitchen, living and dining area. The property benefits the view of the first tee and comes with half price golf membership and access to a pool which is shared between 9 units.

Registered Proprietor: Simon Richard Padgett and Lisa Jane Cusack The auction will be held at the offices of Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Limited, Grace Bay Branch, Providenciales at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday the 1st day of June 2012 A reserve price will be fixed on all parcels. A deposit of 10% is due immediately upon all accepted bids.

Terms and Conditions of Sale by Auction are available by request from Scotiabank Collections Manager (649) 946-4750.

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012 TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

TURKS & CAICOS SUN MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

Annual Fools Regatta this June

For 22 years local residents of the Turks and Caicos have enjoyed the sailing races of the annual Fools Regatta. The event is put on each year by the Turks and Caicos Sailing Association.

The Club’s mandate is to promote the sport of sailing throughout the TCI. Their focus the past two years has been on TCI youth.

The TCI Sailing Association educated 100's of kids through their Learn-to-Sail and Learn-toRace programs.

This year’s Fools Regatta will be held Saturday June 16th at the Provo Kid’s Park in the Bight. The event will feature several boat races for adults and kids. There will also be a local sloop race, made up of sailors who have built and designed their own sail boat.

While the races are at sea, on land there will be tons of fun and games for the family. You can participate in the annual tug-a-war competition, be a part of the raft race, or stop by the Islandcom booth for games and giveaways.

In April of '90, the cruising fraternity on Provo decided to run a fun race at Sapodilla Bay. As all of the competitors were on Tris or Cats and the race was in early April, the original organizers dubbed the event the "April Fools Multihull Regatta".

Beluga and Minx, still plying these waters, were part of the first race.

In '92 the Regatta moved to Grace Bay and was opened to any vessel on Island that wanted to race to Pine Cay and back.

Beach Cats were introduced with the Flying Redmonds ruling the adrenalin roost.

'93 was a breakout year, with huge turnout and the introduction of the first Caicos Sloop (James Dean Sr and the newly launched Eagle 2). The Regatta had entered its corporate sponsorship phase and, for better or worse, the small beach BBQs were a thing of the past.

Ralph Wilcke and friends ran an annual Caicos Sloop Regatta on Grace Bay in the mid 80's, and on many occasions had as many as 14 boats on the start line. Ralph had even refinished a James Dean hull, dubbed the "Brenda Sue", that he raced in South Caicos.

From this point onward, the April Fools Regatta picked up

the mantle from Ralph and Co, and in addition to the "come one, come all" philosophy regarding type of sailing craft, they focused on promotion of the Caicos Sloop. On consecutive years from the late 90's, there were at least eight Caicos Sloops on the start line vying for large purses and bragging rights.

Because of both the difficulty in finding time during high season and the unpredictable nature of April weather, in '97 the Regatta committee decided run a late Spring/early Summer event.

In '97, the newly minted "Fools Regatta" was run on the Saturday before Fathers Day, and that has been our general date and name ever since.

The Hobie Waves were first featured in the Fools Regatta in '98. In fact, formation of the Provo Sailing Club was a result of assembling the Waves at that '98 Regatta.

The Sailing Club has been the home of almost every Regatta since '98 and we have recently hosted from our new home in the Kids' Park.

The 2012 Regatta, generously sponsored by Islandcom for the 3rd consecutive year, will benefit the Kids' programs and showcase our young talent.

This year will mark the introduction of 12 Laser Picos to the fleet. In short order, these new dinghies have proven to be the ideal platform for training our Juniors.

But even with the introduction of new boats, all of the old benchmarks remain.

Caicos Sloops will contest the Tom Lightbourn Trophy in both "A" and "B" classes. Hobie Cats will zip around the course in the Resort Challenge and other races.

The Bent Prop Award and cases of Bambarra will be up for grabs (by some of the longer-inthe-tooth competitors).

Provo Primary's Steel Drum Band will play, Ms Higgs will serve her Crab 'N Rice, TCIFA will handle the bar and some of the original multihulls that raced 22 years ago in Sapodilla Bay will take a turn around the buoys.

Join the Provo Sailing Club on Saturday, June 16th at the Kids' Park in the Bight to help celebrate the 22nd year of this timeless Summer Festival.

Festivities kick off at 11 am with the first kids races and the big boats take off at around noon.

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

Page 15

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

LOCAL NEWS

Governor Todd and Carlos Simons exchange words over statements by Lillian Missick Queen’s Counsel Carlos Simons wrote to Governor Ric Todd to complain about statements which head of the Consultative Forum Lillian Missick made, but the Governor said eh didn’t see any problem with what she said.In a letter to the Governor, Simons wrote the following:

have said about these matters. That is mischievous. In the circumstance I believe I am entitled to a retraction and an apology, and so are Dr. Ewing and the PNP. I await your response when you have had a chance to discuss this letter with the Chair.”

Governor Todd responded to Simons with the following letter:

“Last Friday 18 May you issued a press release and wrote letters to members of the Advisory Council (AC) and Consultative Forum (CF) reminding them that their membership of these bodies “does not constitute political office” and that they should not “use their position as a platform to promote their own political ambition.”

You specifically drew attention to the relevant paragraphs of the Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009 to the Rules of the AC and CF and you explained that members who wished to, or expressed an intention to run for election should stand down.”

“Your reminder that membership of these bodies does not constitute political office and that members should not use their position as a platform to promote their own political ambition, must if it is to make sense, apply equally to members who do not wish to or have expressed no intention to run for election. Otherwise a member who has no present intention to run, but later changes his mind, or a member whose “own political

Dear Mr. Simons.

Thank you for your letter of 22 May. Queen’s Counsel Carlos Simons

Governor Ric Todd

ambition” is to promote others would be free to flout the Rules.”

“Such is the case with the Opening Statement made by the Chair of the CF at yesterday’s meeting. For the purpose of this letter, I will paraphrase only the reference in which she denigrated “the intelligence and integrity” of “many local politicians” who she says hurl “belligerent, self-promoting and plainly feckless rhetoric about firing British officials, taking our country back, rolling back legislation and declaring independence.” There are other equally brazen rule-breaking, politically oriented comments in the Statement which I would invite you to read for yourself.”

“It is a matter for you as to whether, in

light of your recent reminder of the Rules, the Chair should be asked to resign. So far as I am concerned her references to “firing British officials” and “rolling back legislation” could only have been references to me. And her reference to “declaring independence” could only have been a reference to me and Dr. Ewing. That must be the case as we are the only local politicians who have spoken out on these issues in recent weeks.”

“So she has used her position to single out the Progressive National Party and our potential leaders for criticism on hot-button political issues upon which the next general election might well be decided. That is unfair. She has also caricatured and misrepresented what I

Everyone on TCI is entitled to hold and express opinions and debate issues, including “hot button political” ones.

I do not think that anything that the Chair said at the session of the Consultative Forum on 21 May contravened either the Constitutional Order setting up the Consultative Forum nor its rules of procedure. As I have set out, membership of the Advisory Council and the Consultative Forum is incompatible with being a candidate for elected office. It is not, and never has been, incompatible with holding and expressing opinions. Mrs Misick is not, unlike Mrs CartwrightRobinson and Mrs Delancy a declared candidate for elected political office.

If you wish to challenge, disagree with or object to any comments made by the Chair of the Consultative Forum you are of course free to do so.”

SNAP Centre a magnet for burglary

BY VIVIAN TYSON SUN SENIOR EDITOR

Teacher for the Marion Williams Special Needs Association of Providenciales (SNAP) Centre, Paulette Simmons is calling for more secure measures at the facility, which she said up until recently was being plagued by burglars, who made off with critical items.

When The SUN visited the location, strong evidence from the last burglary was present, in the form of a broken window to the back of the building through which the criminals apparently gained entry.

Simmons said among the items stolen from the many raids that the crooks carried out on the building in the last year and a half were

computers, fans, pot sets, bed linens and food and school supplies.

She said that in order to make the building unattractive to criminals, the management of the facility had decided to store away items used during school hours, at the end of every school day, this she said had assisted in the reduction of the criminal activities at the facility.

“In the past year and a half we had burglaries off and on. But it has decreased now, because when they come in they have seen fewer things now because I have everything in storage and we bring them out on a daily basis as we work. We would bring our stuff in as we come in and we would store them away when we finished with them at the end of the day,” she revealed.

There is obviously easy access to the facility,

as thieves cut a huge hole through the perimeter fence at the back of the building, and from the looks of things, there is no criminal monitoring system in place at the property, and according to Simmons, once the burglars realized this, they broke into the special needs facility at will.

“The building does need some level of protection. I received promises from individuals who said they would come and fix the broken window that the burglars use to access the building, but that person has not reached as yet.

The Kiwanis Club also promised to assist, they told us that someone would come soon and do some work here for us. I am sure they will deliver on their promise,” Simmons revealed.

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

LOCAL NEWS

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

Clement Howell teacher accused of desecrating Haitian Flag

GRHIT – Group of Reflection of Haitians Immigrants in TCI – have been working overtime to diffuse tension from what some described as an ugly incident on their Flag Day, on Friday, May 18, when it was alleged that a teacher at the Clement Howell High School snatched a bunch of flags from students and tossed them into a garbage receptacle.

But while some Haitians were willing to allow this latest incident to pass, others were not so quick to dismiss it, rather calling on the Department of Education as well as the Human Rights Commission to investigate the incident, claiming that a teacher of all persons should be tolerant of other people’s culture and even imparting it to their students instead of trying to trample on it.

Students who told The SUN that they were witnesses to the incident said they were afraid to go on record out of concern for retribution, a sentiment also shared by GRHIT, who held a news conference outside the school on Monday, May 21, after meeting with members of the school’s hierarchy.

A group of students, this newspaper understands, were on the school compound draped in their Haitian Flags in observance of Flag Day. Haitian Flag Day Celebration is a calendar event held to uplift the patriotism and pride of all Haitians by showcasing the richness of the Haitian culture while commemorating the 209th anniversary of the Flag of the First Black Republic of the World.

GHRIT members holding a news conference outside the Clement Howell High School.

It is not clear whether or not they were disturbing a class, but it appeared that the students’ exuberance was allegedly too much for the teacher, who seized the flags and threw them into the garbage bins, triggering outrage amongst the group, who accused the teacher of desecrating one of Haiti’s national symbols.

The angry students then reported the matter to influential Haitian leaders in the community, including GRHIT members who visited the school to hold the meeting.

“We were told of an incident on Saturday, where some students said a teacher took away their flags and threw them into a garbage drum. We are not here to be in an argument with anyone,

we’re just here to find out if what the children said was true, even though a whole lot of them said that they witnessed what went on.

“We were told that by the teacher involved that the incident was not the way that the students said it went, so we are doing our investigation because it is time for us to get together as one instead of trying to tear each other down,” said Ronald Gardiner, an executive member of GRHIT. Gardiner added: “They told us that the vice principal (the teacher alleged to have been the centre of the controversy) did not take any flag from the students, but some of the students appeared to be shock from the incident, some of them still trembling, so we know that

something that was not good took place.

But we know that it is time now to be united and to get together.”

However, Gardiner felt that Haitians have been singled out in the Turks and Caicos Islands for discrimination, since other nations represented here were allowed to observe national events without objections, but felt that Haitians’ efforts were systematically stymied when they tried to do the same.

“Whenever other nations try to do something, everything is done perfectly and nobody has any problem with it, but when it comes to the Haitian People, it seems that there is some kind of discrimination somewhere. So I say again, let us work together, discrimination is going to carry us nowhere, let us work together for a better Turks and Caicos Islands,” Gardiner said.

For his part, Donald Metellus, who is also a member of GHRIT and a leading voice on Haitian matters in the TCI, also called for calm in the matter.

“Haitian Flag Day means a lot to us.

It is a day when our heroes fought and gained victory and to give us freedom.

We celebrate it on the 18th of May, every year.

Another Haitian representative at the news conference, Hudson Vixamar, elicited: “If TC Islanders were to be in Haiti for anything I think Haiti would gladly receive them and appreciate their flag, and never let their flag touch the ground or never grab the flag. Unity is what we need.

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LOCAL NEWS

Joe Grant Cay land to be sold by Government to pay off Bank charge

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

The Interim Government has announced that it is putting up for sale one parcel of land at Joe Grant Cay. According to a Government Press release, Sothebys has been instructed to act for TCIG on the sale, and will shortly be placing parcel 30101/25, a 200 acre parcel of land at Joe Grant Cay, on the market for sale.

The parcel was successfully recovered last year for the Government following a claim by the Civil Recovery team. In June 2011, TCIG successfully recovered over 700 acres of land on Joe Grant Cay, following legal proceedings brought against the Star Platinum companies, controlled by Dr Cem Kinay.

Those proceedings had been issued following the identification by the Commission of Inquiry of the acquisition of Joe Grant Cay by the Star Platinum companies from TCIG as possibly corrupt.

The press release stated: “Having recovered the land, TCIG's preferred option has been not to sell any of the land at Joe Grant Cay, leaving the land in the ownershjp of the Crown for the benefit of the people of the TCI. However, the Star Platinum companies borrowed $2m from a bank, Temple Mortgage Fund Limited, and granted Temple a charge or mortgage over one of the Joe Grant Cay parcels, Parcel 30101/25, as security for the loan, which had been taken out to help fund the purchase of the land. The Star Platinum companies then defaulted on paying back the loan to Temple, leaving Temple with the right to sell the Parcel in order to get their money back.”

The statement continued: “When TCIG recovered the land last year under the Court's Order,

it also had to take the land subject to the charge in favour of Temple over parcel 30101/25. TCIG does not have the substantial amount of money necessary to pay off the charge in favour of Temple.

The amount owing to Temple is $2m together with significant interest which is continuing to accrue.

Since it has not been paid, Temple has the right to sell Parcel 30101/25 in order to try and get back the money it is owed. It has told TCIG that it will seek to sell the parcel at auction unless it is repaid.”

The press release said that in these circumstances,TCIG has “reluctantly concluded that it has no choice but to sell the parcel of land charged to Temple in order to pay off what is owing to Temple”; and that a “controlled sale by TCIG after proper marketing of the land is likely to realise significantly more” for the parcel than if sold by Temple at auction.

The Interim Government said it is hoped that, by arranging a controlled sale with proper marketing, Parcel 30101/25 will sell for more than Temple is owed.

“Any money over and above what Temple is owed which is raised by the sale will go to TCIG. It is likely that proper marketing of the Parcel both in the TCI and internationally, finding a buyer and obtaining the best price may take some time. TCIG will consider selling other parcels on Joe Grant Cay to a buyer if to do so would result in a significantly higher price being achieved for Parcel 30101/25 than if it sells only that parcel. That will depend on whether a potential buyer wishes to acquire other parcels of land on Joe Grant Cay and will pay more to do so. Until the Parcel has been properly

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marketed over a period of time, TCIG intends to keep all options on the sale open,” the statement said.

The judgment obtained by TCIG last summer confirmed that the transaction by which the Star Platinum companies obtained Joe Grant Cay from the Government was tainted by corruption, and that the transfer should be set aside. In the judgment, which was handed down by the Court on 14 June 2011, Mr Justice Martin found, in relation to a payment of $500,000 made by Dr Kinay to Michael Misick on 9 January 2007, "there to be a very strong probability that the money was paid as a bribe in order to ensure that the Defendant companies obtained the benefit of the proposed development".

The Judge also found: "The grant of development rights, the sale of the hotel land at a gross undervalue, and the lease of the other land at substantially less than the market value were all made at the instigation of Michael Misick. The values were approved by Cabinet as the result of the suppression of evidence of what was at the very least a respectable alternative opinion (from the Government’s own valuer) as to the true values.

No satisfactory explanation has been put forward for not reporting Mr Hoza’s valuations to cabinet; or for the payment of $500,000 to Michael Misick.

Not only did the Defendants get the development; they got it cheaply.

There is a very strong probability that Michael Misick with the help of McAllister Hanchell secured the grant of these benefits to the Defendants as a result of this inducement."

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LOCAL NEWS

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

History-making Sonia Bien-Aime elected to CFU executive

At the Caribbean Football Union's (CFU) 35th member associations compete in the CONCACAF Ordinary Congress in Budapest, Hungary - region.

At present, the organisation has yet to give Sonia Bien-Aime, the Turks & Caicos Islands any member a specific role and responsibility.

Football Association's General Secretary makes history once more, as she is the first woman to Nevertheless, in the interim, the CFU Executive be been elected to an executive position with the Committee will be meeting over the next day or so to discuss the way forward. Mrs Bien-Amie said: organization!

"This is a wonderful opportunity that I have been This news follows on the heels of her granted.

I am enormously humbled to have been appointment in January, where in which BienAime was appointed to the Organising Committee elected to serve as an executive committee member for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup by FIFA's for the CFU. It is indeed an honor.

An appointment of this significance to serve on President Joseph S. Blatter. What is more, in one of the highest levels of Caribbean football is December 2011 the TCIFA Secretary General was appointed to the Caribbean Football Union an incredible for me, the TCIFA and the Turks & Finance Task Force, a position in which she was Caicos Islands as a country. This is indeed a great charged with the preparation of Advice that would opportunity for me; being the first female from any allow for continuity of the Union, in addition to a Caribbean Football Association to serve on a FIFA Organizing Committee and now the Caribbean more optimum means of functioning.

Football Union."

The Caribbean Football Union is the nominal "This appointment is indeed validation and governing body for association football in the recognition for my work and tireless contribution Caribbean. to the TCIFA and development of football in the It represents 30 FIFA member nations, as well as five (5) territories that are not affiliated to FIFA. Turks & Caicos. For this, I am truly grateful.

It will be my privilege to serve with a The union was established in January 1978 and its

Sonia Bien-Aime distinguished panel that endeavors to make an incredible impact football in the Caribbean region, and football in general: the world’s greatest sport," added the General Secretary.

Members appointed to the CFU Executive Committee President Gordon Derrick of Antigua and Barbuda; 1st Vice President Cheney Joseph of Grenada; 2nd Vice President Larry Mussenden of Bermuda; 3rd Vice President Lyndon Cooper of St Lucia; 4th Vice President Canover Watson of Cayman; Executive Members: Sonia Bien-Aime of TCI, Hillaren Frederick of USVI, Anthony Johnson of Kitts and Maurice Victoire of Martinique.

HIS/TELEHEALTH ADMINISTRATOR Interhealth Canada have a vacancy for the above position commencement date 1 Sept 2012. The responsibilities of the position are as follows:• Analyse and resolve HIS/PACS/RIS and Telehealth problems logged by users (by phone, email and fault logs) or route them onwards as necessary (e.g. 3rd party support companies), ensuring that normal service is restored to users within minimum timescale.

• To proactively monitor and support HIS infrastructure including servers, backups, database and Telehealth equipment.

• Assist in identifying potential problems, design, and implement changes to prevent these from occurring.

• Assist in the release of HIS/LIS/RIS/PACS specific server and application software upgrades and patches.

• To provide advice and guidance to employees on the use of IT systems and services.

• To carry out testing of hardware and software proposed for use within IHC TCI, with particular attention to supportability.

• To participate in in-service training schemes to ensure knowledge is dissipated within the team and co-ordinate calls requiring second line support with other members of the support team or external suppliers • To undertake continuing professional development through research and attendance at events e.g. training courses/seminars, and participate in continuing dialogue with colleagues to maintain knowledge of latest developments, products and emerging technologies, suggesting where they may be used to improve services, and disseminating such knowledge to users where required.

• Assist in production of KPI’s, statistics and reports from the various hospital information systems.

• To ensure users gain maximum benefit from IT systems by ensuring that installed equipment is working to its optimum performance. To ensure that installed equipment conforms to current legislation regarding health etc.

• To identify equipment within the organisation that would benefit from being replaced.

• To facilitate in-house training sessions with users on all IT systems and to highlight to the IM&T manager individuals that may require further training. To inform users, as required, of the requirement of the IT security policies and data protection and to notify the IM&T Manager when these policies have been breached.

• Implements and manages technical documentation for all systems including but not limited to system architecture, server configuration, HIS systems LIS systems and Telehealth.

• Implements and manages DR (Disaster Recovery) and BC (Business Continuity) solutions for all technical systems at both hardware and software level.

Performs other professional duties as may be assigned within his/her scope and ability.

Required Academic degree; industry-specific qualification or Technical level in computer, business or quantitative field such as: Computer Science, Business, Operations, Mathematics or Education Desired Certified Teacher\ • A minimum of 5 years teacher/training experience.

Experience of teaching/training within a healthcare environment.

TC Islanders with suitable qualifications and experience are encouraged to apply. The salary range is circa U$33,000 dependant on qualifications and experience. The closing date is 8th June 2012 and applicants are requested to email CVs including a contact number and email to pnicholson@interhealthcanada.tc

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LOCAL NEWS

BY PATRINA MOORE-PIERRE SUN STAFF WRITER

After over eight months of preparation the GSAT exam is here! Students can look forward to all their hard work paying off- the extra studies in the evenings and weekends, mock exams and so on. Students and parents will now be able to look forward to a free, fun-filled summer, happy results and graduation.

But before we can move on, we have to make the last, final preparations. So here we go!

The night before GSAT gather all materials needed in advance (sharp pencils, pens, ruler, eraser, and a healthy packed lunch.).

And remember to get a good night’s sleep before the exam. Nothing will make you do worse on a test than pulling an all-nighter. You may be tempted to stay up all night and cram in as much as is possible, but by all means, get some sleep the night before. When it comes to testing time, you won't be able to recall all the info you learned because your brain will be functioning in survival mode.

Get to the examination center 30 minutes early, give yourself plenty of time to relax and get to your exam room.

Be skeptical of those chattering on about terms you have never heard of before. This particular time can stress students out the most, especially when others seem to know more about the subject.

When you enter the exam room, sit and make yourself comfortable. Read through the entire exam and organize your time. Do the questions you know first!

On science and math exams, show your working! Teachers are often willing to give you part marks for your effort if you are on the right path.

For English or other subjects that demand a lot of writing use your time wisely! Use scrap paper to map out your answer. Make sure you actually answer the question, don’t ramble.

GRADE SIX ACHEIVEMENT TEST (GSAT) 2012 TIMETABLE DATE May 29, 2012

SUBJECT Mathematics 1 BREAK Mathematics2 BREAK English Language 2

TIME 9:00 – 10:40 10:40-10:40 11:10-12:50 12:50-1:20 1:20-3:00

May 30, 2012

English Language 1 BREAK General Paper

9:00-10:40 10:40-11:10 11:10-12:50

May 31, 2012

Science 1 BREAK Science 2

9:00-10:10 10:10-10:40 10:40-12:20

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MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

Melanie Smith hosts successful Mother’s Day event at Occasions Ballroom As a Mary Kay consultant our mission is to bring light into the lives of aspiring women and we do this in many tangible ways in the spirit of caring, sharing, living the positive values.

The event “I Am My Mother's Daughter”, was a celebration to honor women in our circle which allows women to celebrate the special bond between all women which serves to renew the mind, body, and soul. It also presents a prime opportunity for Mothers and Daughters to connect and enjoy each other company.

In loving memory of our Mother Kathleen A. Johnson, it serves to celebrate women of worth, women of purpose, priceless women, women chosen for the blessing, far above rubies, vessels for the master, fearfully and wonderfully made.

When all was said and done, our celebration was one that was heartfelt, enjoyable and most of all a cherished time with family & friends.

Each of us famous or infamous is a role model for somebody, and if we aren't we should behave as though we are, because you can be sure someone is watching and taking deliberate and diligent notes.

The event included items such as praise and worship, mother/daughter tribute, great breakfast, laughter, tears, reflections, and thanksgiving.

Guest speaker for the event was Minister Karen Higgs who delivered powerful words of wisdom to Mothers/Daughters reminding us that we have a piggy bank full of promises.

Mother/Daughter: Reflections, speakers: Selina Wright and Owenta James. It was hard not to stop the tears from falling from these inspirational speakers voicing that God will make a way where there seems to be no way!

There was definitely a sweet sweet spirit in the place.

I would like to say special thanks to moderator, Mrs. Judy Knowles who filled our hearts with songs of praise, my daughter Vadijah Johnson, Mother/daughter tribute: The Prayer by Leyshan Grant & Laquida Mayham, our full room of attendees, and certainly Mrs. Lillian Boyce and her team at Occasions Ballroom and Carambola Restaurant.

A wide cross section of persons came out to support the event

Organizer Melanie Smith

Women came out with their children and grand-children to celebrate the day

Participants enjoy the presentations

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MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

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MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

LIFESTYLE

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s bride not your usual billionaire’s wife Just as we thought Facebook CEO and newly minted billionaire Mark Zuckerberg was on top of the world, he surprised even his friends by marrying his college sweetheart, 27-year-old Priscilla Chan, just after he led the company to one of the biggest IPOs in tech history.

Zuckerberg has been in the spotlight ever since Facebook went big and his life story was even portrayed on the big screen in the movie, “The Social Network.” But who is his new billionaire bride?

The couple met in 2003, long before Zuckerberg made a name for himself with his billion-dollar idea. According to The New Yorker, they were both in line for the bathroom at a party hosted by Zuckerberg’s fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi. “He was this nerdy guy who was just Priscilla Chan became Mrs Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday when they wed at their home in Palo Alto a little bit out there,” Chan told The New Yorker. “I remember he had these beer to attend medical school at the University the ceremony for months but kept it a glasses that said ‘pound include beer dot of California, San Francisco. secret.

H.’ It’s a tag for C++. It’s like college She graduated from UCSF on May “Everybody was shocked,” an humor but with a nerdy, computer- 14, the same day Zuckerberg turned 28 anonymous guest told the Associated science appeal.’” and just five days before Facebook’s Press.

Chan, a Chinese-American from blockbuster IPO. Zuckerberg designed the ring, which Braintree, Mass., graduated from According to Forbes, Zuckerberg featured “a very simple ruby,” the guest Harvard in 2007 with a degree in biology, attended the graduation ceremony, said. according to the Daily Beast. Before that, checking in via Facebook at the Yerba Chan wore a traditional white dress she graduated as valedictorian of Quincy Buena Center for the arts, and wrote, by designer Claire Pettibone. According High School in Massachusetts in 2003.

“I’m so proud of you, Dr. Chan :).” to People Magazine, the “Sky Between Chan began work at The Harker The couple used her graduation party the Branches” gown was “an ivory laserSchool, a prestigious San Jose grade as a decoy for their wedding. According cut floral dress adorned with matte school, in the summer of 2007, teaching to the Associated Press, 100 guests sequins lined in silk. The gown featured fourth and fifth grade science classes. She gathered at the couple’s home in Palo subtle cutouts in the overlay, plus an described her role on her Facebook page Alto, Calif., to celebrate Chan’s illusion jewel neckline, sheer back and as “Hanging out with the little ones and graduation. chapel-length train. The dress retails for trying to explain how the world works.”

But what they got was a surprise $4,700.”

She left The Harker School in 2008 wedding. The couple had been planning Although the ceremony coincided

with Facebook going public, the Associated Press states that Zuckerberg and Chan planned the wedding around her graduation, not the IPO. No word on if the couple signed a prenuptial agreement, but Chan did require they both sign contracts before she moved in with Zuckerberg in 2010, according to The Daily Beast, which said she is fluent in English, Spanish and Cantonese and encouraged Zuckerberg to learn Mandarin.

Chan may have also influenced Facebook’s decision to include an option to become an organ donor by signing up on the site. Along with Sheryl Sandberg’s dedication to the cause, which she described to ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, Zuckerberg also cited his soon-to-be-wife as inspiration for the addition.

“Our dinner conversations are often about Facebook and kids, and the kids that [Priscilla's] meeting,” Zuckerberg told ABC News’ Robin Roberts. “She’ll see them getting sicker, then, all of a sudden, an organ becomes available, and she comes home and her face is all lit up because someone’s life is going to be better because of this.”

The couple adopted a Hungarian sheepdog they named Beast in 2011. And of course, the pup has his own Facebook page.

Her husband is now worth an estimated $20.3 billion, according to Morningstar IPO analyst Jim Krapfel.

But with a medical degree, fluency in three languages and the fact that she met Zuckerberg before Facebook earned him billions, it seems Priscilla Chan is not your average billionaire bride.

Protocol Problem: France's new First Lady is not married to the President Valerie Trierweiler, France's new first lady, has covered French politics as a journalist for more than 20 years. So she likely anticipated how being the first unmarried French first lady to occupy the Elysee Palace -- and one who plans to continue to work -might mean new uncharted territory, and how the press might respond.

What the twice married and twice divorced mother of three likely didn't expect, however, was just how much a protocol conundrum her relationship with the newly minted French president, Francois Hollande, would create.

Concerns about just how she will travel to places such as the Vatican or Saudi Arabia – a conservative society where unmarried couples living together isn't accepted – have already begun to arise at the French foreign ministry, according to several reports. And just how she will be addressed at official palace functions is also presenting some unique yet thorny issues.

Would "Madame Valerie Trierweiler, companion of the president" or "Madame Valerie TrierweilerHollande, the president's spouse" be appropriate?

Trierweiler said she didn't expect her unmarried status to pose problems, telling an interviewer recently that she's "not sure it will come up all that much."

"Frankly, it really is not an aspect that bothers me," she told the daily Le Figaro. "This question of marriage is above all a part of our private life.

Not everyone in France agrees.

"It is going to be very complicated," French journalist and writer Philippe Labro told the BBC.

Labro, a longtime colleague of Trierweiler's, gave her a job as political interviewer on the TV channel Direct8. "She will have to balance quite a lot," he said.

A French foreign ministry official quoted in Canada's National Post said most countries to which a French president travels are happy to accommodate his wishes and in the 21st century, being unmarried does not pose a major problem.

"If we tell them 'treat this person as the president's wife,' then they will do so," said the official, who'd asked not be named.

Trierweiler and Hollande have been together since 2005, when Hollande's relationship with fellow Socialist Segolene Royal, who ran for president but lost to Nicolas Sarkozy, publicly ended. The couple is currently living in an apartment in Paris's 15th arrondissement but is expected to move into the Elysee Palace for security reasons. They have apparently ruled out getting married purely for diplomatic reasons, according to several French media reports.

From Modest Means to the Elysee Palace Trierweiler was born to modest means in a housing project in Angers, in western France. Her father lost his leg at the age of 12 while playing with an unexploded World War II shell in 1944. She grew up one of six brothers and sisters.

She eventually moved to Paris to study political science at the Sorbonne, ultimately rising to become a top reporter at Paris Match, a well-known French weekly.

Socialist Party candidate for the presidential election Francois Hollande and his companion Valerie Trierweiler

She met Francois Hollande in the late 1990s, and a few years later their friendship deepened while he was a state politician and she covered politics inside the corridors of the National Assembly.

"We both loved politics, and we both loved to have a laugh," she told a French newspaper recently.

Trierweiler says the extraordinary changes in her life seem unreal.

"It's a bit like I am the subject of one of my own dispatches," she said recently. "You know that film in which a person in the audience enters the screen and becomes part of the film. It's like that."

Despite the fairy tale veneer, Trierweiler is no stranger to the media - or to controversy.

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Payphone I'm at a payphone trying to call home All of my change I spent on you Where have the times gone, baby it's all wrong Where are the plans we made for two?

Yeah, I, I know it's hard to remember, The people we used to be...

It's even harder to picture, That you're not here next to me.

You say it's too late to make it, But is it too late to try?

And in our time that you wasted All of our bridges burned down I've wasted my nights, You turned out the lights Now I'm paralyzed, Still stuck in that time, When we called it love, But even the sun sets in paradise I'm at a payphone trying to call home All of my change I spent on you Where have the times gone, baby it's all wrong Where are the plans we made for two?

I gave you my love to borrow, But you just gave it away.

You can't expect me to be fine, I don't expect you to care I know I've said it before, But all of our bridges burned down I've wasted my nights, You turned out the lights Now I'm paralyzed, Still stuck in that time, When we called it love, But even the sun sets in paradise

I'm at a payphone trying to call home All of my change I spent on you Where have the times gone, baby it's all wrong Where are the plans we made for two?

If "Happy Ever Afters" did exist, I would still be holding you like this All those fairy tales are full of it All those fairy tales are full of it.

One more love song, I'll be sick.

One more stupid love song, I'll be sick Now I'm at a payphone [Wiz Khalifa]

If "Happy Ever Afters" did exist, I would still be holding you like this All those fairy tales are full of it All those fairy tales are full of it.

One more love song, I'll be sick.

One more stupid love song, I'll be sick Oh, you turned your back on tomorrow 'Cause you forgot yesterday.

I'll be out spending all this money While you're sitting round wondering Why it wasn't you who came up from nothing, Made it from the bottom Now when you see me I'm stunting, And all of my cars start with a push of a button

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

Maroon 5 (feat. Wiz Khalifa)

Telling me the chances I blew up Or whatever you call it, Switch the number to my phone So you never could call it, Don't need my name on my show, You can tell it I'm ballin.

Swish, what a shame could have got picked Had a really good game but you missed your last shot So you talk about who you see at the top Or what you could have saw but sad to say it's over for.

Phantom pulled up valet open doors Wiz like go away, got what you was looking for Now it's me who they want, so you can go and take that with you.

I'm at a payphone trying to call home All of my change I spent on you Where have the times gone, baby it's all wrong Where are the plans we made for two?

If "Happy Ever Afters" did exist, I would still be holding you like this All those fairy tales are full of it All those fairy tales are full of it.

One more love song, I'll be sick.

One more stupid love song, I'll be sick Now I'm at a payphone...

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ENTERTAINMENT

Rihanna ranked fourth on Forbes most powerful celebrity list NEW YORK, USA, – Barbados’ megastar Rihanna has money, fame, talent and killer looks. Now she can add power to her attributes, according to Forbes magazine, which recently ranked her fourth in their annual list of the 100 most powerful celebrities in the world.

The Forbes list is not governed strictly by the bottom line (not THAT “bottom line” – had that been the case, Ri-Ri would have left all the competition far behind), but includes a “Social Rank” among the criteria.

This includes TV/radio presence and levels of press and social media attention, all used in formulating the listing, which aims to reflect the level of influence a celebrity has in the entertainment industry.

With her millions of followers on Twitter and Facebook, Rihanna came in second in the Social Rank category.

Add earnings of US$52million in the last year, and it’s no surprise that Rihanna made such a stunning debut on the Forbes 100 list.

Further explaining the “You Da One” songstress’ position on the list, Forbes said: “The Barbados-born diva lands on our list for the first time thanks to hits including ‘We Found Love’ and ‘Talk That Talk,’ as well as endorsements with the likes of Vito

Rihanna

Coco and Nivea.

“Her fragrance Reb’l Fleur adds millions more to her coffers, as does her heavy touring schedule that included over 85 shows in the past 12 months.

“With over 53 million Facebook fans, she is second only to Eminem,” the magazine added.

Jennifer Lopez took the numberone slot, unseating Lady Gaga who took top honours last year but fell to number-five in the 2012 rankings.

Gaga’s visibility and earnings were lower in the last 12 months because she

Elton John cancels Vegas shows on doctors' orders Sir Elton John has pulled out of three performances of his current Las Vegas residency, after being taken to hospital with a respiratory infection.

The singer was admitted to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre on Wednesday, but released the same day.

Doctors have advised the 65-year-old star against working while he completes a course of antibiotics.

The remaining 11 concerts of his Million Dollar Piano residency at Caesars Palace take place in October.

"Elton developed a serious respiratory infection last weekend while performing at The Colosseum on Sunday, May 20," said a statement by his publicist, Fran Curtis.

"This week the condition worsened, even with medication and rest, resulting in Elton being hospitalised."

The statement added that the singer underwent "extensive tests" and was recommended to take "complete rest" for "approximately seven days... to cure his respiratory infection and prevent any damage".

Sir Elton added his own apologies: "All I can say to the fans is 'sorry I can't be with you'."

"I love performing the show and I will be thrilled when we return to the Colosseum in October to complete the 11 concerts."

Sir Elton was previously forced to cancel two concerts in February, after he came down with food poisoning.

The singer, whose hits include Your Song and Candle in the Wind, began his three-year headlining stint in Las Vegas in September last year.

The singer is expected to perform at The Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace on 4 June, before embarking on a tour of Europe in June and July.

He returns to the United States and Canada for a series of concerts in September, before completing the Las Vegas residency.

wasn't touring, having wrapped her Monster Ball in May of last year and only recently launching her latest road show.

Explaining Lopez's position on the list, Forbes wrote, "'American Idol” gave her a platform to promote her music and turn her image around. It didn't hurt that she also split from her husband, Marc Anthony. Suddenly a single mother, Lopez lapped up the media attention and scored lucrative endorsement deals with companies like L'Oreal and Gillette. She now has a line of clothing at Kohl's, a top-selling fragrance and she was able to secure a nice bump — to $20 million — on her' Idol' salary for a second season. With 6.6 million followers on Twitter and 12 million fans on Facebook, she's also proved a master of social media."

Oprah Winfrey held on to the #2 spot on the list and was its top earner ($165 million) despite a tough year that saw her syndicated talk show come to a planned end after 25 years and her OWN cable network struggle in the ratings.

Justin Bieber also held onto the #3 position he debuted in last year. The "Boyfriend" pop star earned an impressive $55 million in the last 12 months and garnered top 10 rankings elsewhere across the board, coming in

at #3 in the Social Rank and #4 in the TV/Radio Rank.

Numbers six, seven, eight, nine and ten were bagged by Britney Spears, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg, respectively.

The list and the various artists' rankings in the categories used to determine their placement has already become a source of debate. For example, Lopez is #1 despite not ranking in the top 10 in any of the categories, while both Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber earned top 10 placement in all of them except the Money Rank, the top tier of which is dominated by multimedia moguls like Winfrey, Spielberg, Simon Cowell (#18), Dr. Dre (#26), Howard Stern (#30) and Michael Bay (#35).

And then there's Adele, who despite having the top-selling album in six years, three #1 singles, six Grammy wins and mountains of positive press, ranks at only #24, behind Glenn Beck (#23) and Jennifer Aniston (#22).

Notable entries besides Rihanna include Taylor Swift at #11, Beyoncé at #16, Jay-Z at #38, Kristen Stewart at #43 and Kanye West at #45. Further down the power rankings are Lil Wayne (#69), Skrillex (#92) and Zooey Deschanel (#96).

Bee Gees co-founder Robin Gibb dies at 62 Robin Gibb, one of the three Bee Gees whose falsetto harmonies powered such hits as "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever" and defined the flashy disco era died last Sunday, his representative said. He was 62.

Gibb's family announced in a statement that "Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery," Gibb's representative Doug Wright said.

"The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time," it said.

The band of Gibb brothers was famed for the influential 1977 "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack that became one of the fastestselling albums of all time with its innovative fusion of harmony and pulsing dance floor rhythms.

The album remains a turning point in popular music history, ending the hard rock era and ushering in a time when dance music ruled supreme.

"Saturday Night Fever" -- actually a compilation album featuring the Bee Gees but including songs by other performers -represented the pinnacle of Gibb's career, but he enjoyed more than 40 years of prominence as a Bee Gee, as a solo artist, and as a songwriter and producer for other artists.

Gibb was for decades a familiar figure on the pop stage, starting out in the 1960s when the Bee Gees were seen as talented Beatles copycats. They sounded so much like the Beatles at first that there were strong rumors that the Bee Gees' singles were really the Beatles performing under another name.

Many late-'60s bands were quickly forgotten, but the Bee Gees transformed

themselves into an enduring A-List powerhouse with the almost unbelievable, and certainly unexpected, success of the song "Stayin' Alive" and others from the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack. The movie it accompanied also catapulted the young John Travolta to cinematic stardom.

The Bee Gees went on to sell more than 200 million records and had a long string of successful singles, clearing their way to induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There are more than 6,000 cover versions of their songs -- a substantial testament to their continued popularity.

The name Bee Gees was short for Brothers Gibb. They consisted of Barry Gibb, the eldest, and twins Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb, who died of intestinal and cardiac problems in 2003.

The brothers' three-part harmonies became their musical signature, particularly in the disco phase, when Barry's matchless falsetto often dominated, and they were renowned for their wide-ranging songwriting and producing skills.

The Gibbs were born in England on the Isle of Man, an island in the Irish Sea, but moved to Australia with their parents in 1958 when they were still young and began their musical career there. They had been born into a musical family, with a father who was a drummer and bandleader and a mother who liked to sing.

After several hits in Australia, their career started to really take off when they returned to England in 1967 and linked up with promoter Robert Stigwood.

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HIGHLIGHTS Gonsalves to seek fourth mandate in 2015’ • British police say murder suspects flee to the Caribbean

Dominican Republic elects new President The election of Danilo Medina as president of the Dominican Republic signals a continuation of the policies that many experts say have helped the country grow during the past eight years.

Medina hails from the same centrist party as outgoing President Leonel Fernandez. His election suggests a public content with the way things are going on the island.

Medina's vice president will be Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez, Leonel Fernandez's wife and outgoing first lady.

Former President Hipolito Mejia, Medina's closest challenger, conceded Tuesday evening. He said the election results had been manipulated, pledged to push for reforms as the leader of the opposition and called on Dominicans to unite.

In an interview with CNN en Español, Medina said his top priority was to make sure opportunities are made available to all Dominicans.

He said he would work to create opportunity for young people.

"I want to build a middle-class society. That is my main goal -- to have a population that is able to go shopping, to have the capacity to consume," he said.

Danilo Medina

Medina said he wants to "create a society of inclusion that promotes opportunities for all."

"This is a country that has created a lot of wealth in recent years. My job is to make sure that wealth trickles down," he said.

It is an ambitious goal for a country that has seen some growth, but a number of ingrained obstacles.

"The Dominican Republic is one

Forecasters predict 9 to 15 storms this hurricane season MIAMI - U.S. forecasters predicted Thursday that this year's Atlantic hurricane season would produce a normal number of about nine to 15 tropical storms.

As many as four to eight of those storms could strengthen into hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's initial outlook for the six-month storm season that officially begins June 1. One to three of those could become major hurricanes with top winds of 111 mph or higher.

The weather phenomenon known as El Nino, which warms Pacific waters near the equator and increases wind shear over the Atlantic, may develop by the late summer or early fall and help suppress storm development, forecasters said.

This season got an early start when Tropical Storm Alberto formed Saturday off the coast of South Carolina. Alberto dissipated Tuesday over the Atlantic.

Forecasters name tropical storms when their top winds reach 39 mph; hurricanes have maximum winds of at least 74 mph. The next named storm will be named Beryl.

No major hurricane has made a U.S. landfall in the last six years, since

Hurricane Wilma cut across South Florida in 2005. Federal officials used Thursday's prediction to remind coastal areas about the importance of emergency preparedness.

August will mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew's catastrophic landfall in South Florida as a Category 5 storm. The season that spawned Andrew started late and produced a total of just six named storms.

"Although this outlook suggests a less active season compared to recent years, the bottom line here is to prepare," said Robert Detrick, NOAA assistant administrator in the agency's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. "It takes just one major landfalling hurricane to make for a bad season."

The seasonal average is 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

The 2011 hurricane season, one of the busiest on record with 19 named storms, produced Irene, one of the costliest storms in U.S. history.

Hurricane season ends Nov. 30, and the peak period for hurricane activity runs from August through October.

the country's that before the economic downfall had high rates of growth," said Johanna Mendelson Forman, a senior associate for the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

But challenges include high costs of energy on the island, and the difficulties of sharing an island with the more fragile Haiti, she said. Health issues in Haiti, like a cholera outbreak, can easily cross the border in the Dominican Republic.

Overall, the country had a good eight years under Fernandez, and one can expect to see the investments he made continue under Medina, Mendelson Forman said.

Medina has been by Fernandez's side for quite a while, and "he knows where all the ghosts are buried," which can be a good thing, she said.

Medina is the first of eight children, and has a long history in politics in the Dominican Republic.

He was elected to Congress in 1986, 1990 and 1994. During that final term, he was elected president of the Dominican House.

He served as the spokesman for his political party and was a member of the

Latin American Parliament.

Medina was secretary of state twice, both under the leadership of Fernandez.

As president, Medina said he would focus on education, too.

On the campaign trail, he promised to spend 4% of GDP on education, and said he intends to see that through. A key to lifting people out of poverty, and the country as a whole, he said, is to have an educated workforce.

Although he said his country will continue to have a close relationship to Hugo Chavez, whose country provides oil, he sees Brazil's recent success as the path to emulate.

People are "expecting significant changes," he said.

He also addressed the issue of drug legalization, saying it does not matter whether Latin America legalizes or not.

For legalization to have any impact, the conversation has to happen in the United States, where the demand is, not in Latin America where the supply is, he said.

"The problem of narcotrafficking is the market. If you limit the market, the drug trafficking falls."

Former Antigua PM Lester Bird advised to step aside ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A prominent regional political analyst has advocated term limits for prime ministers and has advised the veteran leader of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) Lester Bird to step down.

“I am in full support of a leader who is in Mr Bird’s age group setting off on a different political adventure that is not in government,” said Peter Wickham, the Barbados-based political analyst who heads the Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES).

With the ALP preparing to select candidates based on a polling system, the 74year-old opposition leader’s name is sure to be included. Bird has already indicated that he would run in the poll constitutionally due in Leader of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) Lester Bird 2014, if it is the people’s will.

Wickham has nevertheless expressed the view that the former prime minister, who led the party to victory in the 1994 and 2000 general elections, is not helping the party by seeking office again.

“I really don’t think it is good for the Antigua Labour Party and I really don’t think it is good for him to be pursuing office at that stage,” Wickham cautioned.

Concerns over Bird’s health are widespread. The former Antigua and Barbuda prime minister hardly stands in Parliament and is known to have had back surgery.

At a recent Labour Day rally, he told party supporters that his ill health was due to the flu.

While acknowledging that “no political constituency will ever reject him once he keeps on coming,” Wickham has urged the veteran politician to “make a decision within himself that he has had enough.”

Meanwhile, the CADRES head holds the view that “a leader in the Caribbean that has served two terms has essentially done his time”.

“I am in full support of term limits on leadership,” Wickham said.

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CARIBBEAN NEWS

Modest economic growth for Caribbean region in 2012 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries recorded mixed economic growth last year as they continued to grapple with the fallout from the global economic and financial crisis.

But the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is projecting economic growth of between one and 1.5 per cent in 2012.

The CDB in its annual review of the regional countries said that the growth ranged from a downturn in countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to marginal growth in CARICOM countries like Barbados, St. Lucia and the British Virgin Islands.

But the CDB, which is the region’s premier development banking institution, said The Bahamas, Belize Dominica, Jamaica and Grenada all recorded “stronger than marginal growth” while only Haiti and Guyana had economic growth in excess of five per cent in 2011.

The CDB, which is holding its annual board of governors meeting here, said that emerging and developing economies have been the key drivers of the global economic recovery, as advanced economies, the region’s main trading partners, have continued to struggle with “lingering

weakness in financial, labour and housing markets”.

It said the recovery in the bank’s borrowing member states in the region “has therefore lagged behind” and that preliminary estimates indicate that 12 of the 18 countries registered expansion in real output during the year.

Among the 12, growth was marginal in Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and St. Lucia, but stronger in The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica and Montserrat; while Guyana and Haiti both achieved growth rates above five per cent.

Of the countries recording contractions in their economies, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago -, the downturn in Trinidad and Tobago deepened, but the declines in the other four were moderate relative to previous years.

The CDB said that the fledgling recovery was mainly underpinned by moderate increases in tourism or – in the case of less tourism dependent, more commodity-based member countries – improvements in agriculture and mining, as well as related manufacturing activities.

It said that for some borrowing member states, construction and quarrying also contributed positively to growth.

“The general recovery in economic output and implementation of policy reforms mostly resulted in improved fiscal performances.

This notwithstanding, many BMCs (borrowing member countries) confronted stubbornly high debt ratios that, together with sustained high unemployment rates and weak indicators of financial sector activity and stability, showed the lingering impact of the recession.”

The CDB said there were also preexisting structural vulnerabilities, including susceptibility to natural disasters and concentration on a narrow range of goods and services such as tourism and commodity exports as well as BMCs’ failure to implement critical policy reforms in the past.

“Furthermore, adverse global developments during the year, including the persistent macroeconomic weakness in advanced economies and resurgent international commodity prices, weighed heavily on balance of payments,” it added.

The regional development bank said that international developments will continue to shape regional outurns in

Grenada Opposition Leader calls for police inquiry of senior ministers transaction ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada– town of Gouyave – days after Opposition Leader Dr Keith he first made the claim in the Mitchell has called on the police island’s parliament. white-colllar crime squad to The opposition leader said investigate what he suggested is Grenadian law has been a suspicious Saudi Arabian broken in the alleged money money transfer to an un-named transaction and he demanding “top government minister.” the Financial Intelligence Unit On Sunday, while Prime (FIU) of the Royal Grenada Minister Tillman Thomas was Police Force begin inquiries, in the east of the island holding while at the same time casting a rally to thank supporters for doubt on their independence. their solidarity as he fought off “The money came from a bruising, opposition-led, noSaudi Arabia to the Republic confidence challenge, Mitchell Bank. The FIU is supposed to was on the west coast telling a be an independent body but Grenada’s Opposition Leader political meeting that Thomas they are politicians in there, Dr Keith Mitchell knows which of his ministers the former prime minister told was involved in the alleged scandal. supporters.

Mitchell claimed he has solid evidence that “But we are giving them a challenge. Show 150,000 US dollars was wired from Saudi your independence. Deal with … persons who Arabia into a senior minister’s bank account. have accepted that he has received that money “I have solid information in my hands of a because that is against the law of the land.” very top top government minister who has Among the functions of the Police FIU, collected in his own bank account US 150,000 which was set up in 2003, are analysis and dollars,” Mitchell said. investigation of “matters arising from He said a cheque for 100,000 EC dollars of suspicious transaction reports, money the money was paid to another individual he laundering, terrorist financing and other described as “a close political friend’’ of the financial crimes’’, NDC. So far, there has been no official response “More than that and the prime minister from the government or the police. knows exactly who that person is, the person While the NNP was meeting in Gouyave, wrote an EC 100,000 thousand cheque to a the embattled Grenadian leader held what he close political friend in the party and when he called a confidence rally in the rural St was asked what was that money for he said it Andrew’s riding on Sunday to celebrate his was legal fees,” Mitchell told a rally of his New survival of a no confidence vote in the island’s National Party (NNP) in the west coast fishing parliament last week.

2012, with prospects for the region closely mirroring the global outlook.

“The recovery in regional tourism is therefore expected to remain slow, in line with expectations for global demand, while no material pick-up in foreign direct investment is anticipated, reducing the likelihood of a boost to the balance of payments and, indirectly, to construction and other real sector activity.

“Consequently, most BMCs are projected to grow modestly, by 1-2.5 per cent in 2012. While dampening growth prospects in commodity-based BMCs, the projected moderation in global commodity prices should have a positive impact on the balance of payments by reducing import values, which should in turn help to ease domestic … pressures within BMCs. But the CDB said that the context framing regional prospects over the short to medium term remains one of limited fiscal space, structural weaknesses in the financial sector and an uncertain global outlook, with additional downside risks related to the region’s vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change impacts.

“Going forward, this context will continue to drive BMCs’ policy imperatives of reinvigorating growth and building resilience to exogenous shocks,” the bank said

British police say murder suspects flee to the Caribbean NOTTINGHAM, England – Police say that three suspects in last weekend’s murder of a man have fled the country for the Caribbean.

The authorities have declined to identify the Caribbean countries where the suspects, in the murder of Malakai McKenzie, 19, may have fled to, but said they have arrested 11 people as part of the inquiry, called Operation Habitat, adding that the three on the them have also been charged with McKenzie’s murder.

“Despite the 11 arrests, three known suspects have fled the UK, and they are in the Caribbean,” said prosecutor Graham Huston at a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court.

“We know where they are, but inquires are under way. Those inquiries are in their infancy.”

Police have so far charged Ijah Lavelle-Moore, 20, Malcolm Vaughan Francis, 18, and Cameron Cashin, 20, with murder and firearm offences in McKenzie’s death.

Lavelle-Moore and Francis appeared at the Crown Court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. Cashin appeared via video link before a packed courtroom, prosecutors said.

The court has set a provisional trial date for November 26.

McKenzie died after he was shot outside the Hubb pub, in Sherwood, Nottingham, in the early hours on Saturday.

“The investigation continues. We are actively seeking a number of potential suspects, including those mentioned in that part of the world,” a police spokesman said

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Gonsalves to seek fourth mandate in 2015’ TAIPEI, Taiwan – Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has told Vincentians in Taiwan he intends to seek a fourth term in office and lead the ruling Unity Labour Party (ULP) into the next general election, due in 2015.

“There’s no vacancy in the ULP whether in terms of its leadership or prime ministership,” he told the 40member Vincentian community of mostly students.

“Now I am not going to live forever. And the truth is this, you have a run of three consecutive five-year term, it is not a bad run,” said 65-yearold Gonsalves, who has been prime minister since 2001.

Only Sir James Mitchell has been prime minister of the multi-island nation longer, with four successive terms from 1984 to 2000.

Despite a health scare just as he was travelling to the Middle East in late April and his own repeated statements that he would not seek reelection, Gonsalves suggested that the ULP had determined he should stand again.

Gonsalves fell ill late April in Barbados en route to Kuwait and Qatar, and was treated in Bridgetown for an abscess. But even as the surgical wound continues to heal, the

St. Vincent Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves

Vincentian leader has continued a hectic schedule, including visiting Taipei for Sunday’s second-term inauguration of President Ma Yingjeou, to be followed by a trip to London.

He said he had indicated to the party that he did want to contest elections as leader of the ULP again, repeating this several times since the ULP was returned to office for a third consecutive term in December 2010.

But he said the party’s central executive committee had determined

Leading credit agency says Caribbean debt increases NEW YORK – The Wall Street based international credit agency says Caribbean debt is increasing in light of the global economic crisis.

“In its latest report, “Caribbean Debt Is On The Rise,” Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said economic growth and foreign direct investment in the region have slowed, while the fiscal and debt profile of many countries have deteriorated.

“Compounding the economic decline and sluggish recovery are structural weaknesses, including lower national savings rates than those of other emerging market countries, persistent current account deficits, and a high reliance on external financing,” said Kelli Bissett, Standard & Poor’s credit analyst.

She said these factors increase the Caribbean nations’ vulnerability to external financial and economic shocks.

Standard & Poor’s rated Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Curacao, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

At the same time, the ratings agency said Latin America and Caribbean economies continue to expand, despite uncertainties in the global economy climate.

It, however, said Caribbean growth continues to lag Latin America’s because it is still recovering from the 2008-2009 recession.

“In our view, this is because of the Caribbean’s dependence on US and European tourism, high debt burden, and limited flexibility to adopt a stimulative monetary policy,” said Lisa M. Schineller, a Standard & Poor’s credit analyst.

She predicted that the Caribbean’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will rise to 1.8 per cent and 2.0 percent in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

“sometime in January or February” that Gonsalves would lead the ULP into elections a fourth time. The decision was made for him when he was half-hour late for a meeting with party elders, he said.

Gonsalves recounted what party chairman Edwin Snagg told him in a conversation when he arrived for the meeting: “The members have been noting that over the past year you have been talking a lot of foolishness about not leading the party in 2015. And we discussed this question here and the unanimous view of the Central Executive is that you must stop talking that foolishness and that we would wish you to lead us into the election in 2015,” Gonsalves said in recalling Snagg’s comments.

“God’s willing, I shall do so (lead the ULP into the 2015 election). So that is really the position,” he said Saturday.

But Gonsalves said that the ULP — formed in 1994 from a merger of the Labour Party and Gonsalves’ Movement for National Unity — has leadership options.

He mentioned Cecil “Ces” McKie, who contested and won elections for the first time in 2010. Gonsalves said that McKie, who was doing an

“excellent” job as minister for tourism.

He also named Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar, Culture Minister Frederick Stephenson, and Senators Elvis Charles and David Browne — who both tasted defeat in 2010.

“We have a lot of young people who are coming along,” Gonsalves said, adding that La Celia Prince, the Vincentian ambassador to Washington, “is more a public servant”.

Of his son Camillo, who is envoy to the United Nations, Gonsalves said: “I don’t know whether he is interested in active politics.

“I am told that he may be interested but the point about it is this: you have to come home and be there on the ground. He is doing excellent work and everybody has acknowledged that at the United Nations. So that there are possible successors.”

But the prime minister said Vincentians should be concerned about what is happening in the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), the party Mitchell founded, now headed

by Arnhim Eustace, who has led the party to three consecutive defeats.

“Arnhim Eustace is two years older than me and he acts much older than two years,” Gonsalves said.

Barbadians against state funds for cash-strapped airline BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Tax payers are not in agreement with recent proposals for the Barbados government to inject funds into the cash-strapped REDjet airline, according to an opinion poll.

The NATION newspaper said that the poll, conducted by the Caribbean Development Research Services Inc (CADRES) last weekend, indicated that the majority of respondents were not opposed to having the grounded carrier back in the skies, but they believed it should not be at the expense of taxpayers.

Of the 1 080 people surveyed, 39.4 per cent said they thought that more could be done for REDjet, compared to 35.3 per cent who felt enough had been done already. The remaining 25.3 per cent were non-committal.

However, when asked if Government should provide financial assistance to REDjet, most, or 42.1 per cent, responded: “No”, the NATION reported.

Billed as a low-cost, no-frills carrier initially offering fares as low as US$9.99, the privately-owned airline was forced to cease operations in March, but suggested that it was

expecting state assistance to continue operations and blamed “subsidised” competitors for its troubles.

“REDjet is hopeful that we will be given a small part of the state assistance others receive, as it will allow us to get our recently approved and exciting new routes established and profitable. Once this happens our shareholders and staff will do their utmost to see that there is no return to high fares and business as usual”, the company said in a statement then.

But last month, a director at the airline, Ralph “Bizzy” Williams said he was doubtful that the airline would return to the skies.

Trinidad and Tobago has already announced that it had revoked the licences granted to the carrier, following the lad of the Barbados government.

Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Richard Skerrit said last month that while he could not “speak to the issue of subsidies” and REDjet’s request to the Barbados government, “all I would say is that REDjet was a wakeup call for us in terms of what’s possible”.

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HIGHLIGHTS

• US ranks No 1 in wealth, not in happiness • Putin's support sliding in Russia • Phony 'dying bride' ordered to repay

victims

Delta Airline buys oil refinery to get control of fuel costs Delta Air Lines said it had agreed to buy a refinery near Philadelphia from ConocoPhillips to offset the risk of higher jet fuel prices. Delta said that it would spend $150 million to acquire the Trainer refinery, which has been shuttered for six months, after receiving $30 million from the state of Pennsylvania as part of a deal to support job creation.

The airline said it would spend $100 million more to refurbish the plant to increase its output of jet fuel.

Richard H. Anderson, Delta’s chief executive, said the investment was a modest one, equivalent to the list price of a new wide-body plane like a Boeing 777. The company estimated that it would reduce its annual fuel expense by $300 million, once the refinery was refurbished and operating again.

To achieve similar fuel savings, Delta would have to buy 60 newgeneration narrow-body planes like the Boeing 737, a capital investment that would total $2.5 billion, according to a regulatory filing.

Delta said it had also struck a three-year agreement with BP to supply crude oil to the refinery.

As part of the deal, the details of which were not released, Delta said it

would exchange gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products produced at the refinery for jet fuel from other sources like BP and Phillips 66.

Combined with the jet fuel produced at Trainer, Delta said these deals would provide 80 percent of its fuel needs in the United States. The purchase “is an innovative approach to managing our largest expense,” Mr. Anderson said in a statement.

The jet fuel bill at Delta, as at other airlines, soared in recent years as prices for crude oil increased. On average, fuel accounts for about a third of an airline’s operating costs, a share that has been rising for much of the last decade.

The International Air Transport Association estimates that the global airline industry’s fuel bill will grow by $40 billion this year, from about $177 billion in 2011.

These rising fuel costs have forced painful restructurings for airlines in recent years, helping to push many of them into bankruptcy and spurring consolidations across the industry. The airlines have set up elaborate hedging strategies to try to counter the rising fuel costs. But the hedges backfired when crude oil prices rose or fell in unexpected ways. Buying a refinery will not erase Delta’s fuel bill. The

airline will still need to buy crude oil at world market prices. But in justifying the purchase, Delta said the cost of manufacturing jet fuel had risen more rapidly than crude oil costs. It also said that demand for jet fuel and diesel, both by-products of the refining process, had been rising steadily in recent years, while demand for gasoline was falling, adding to the pressure on jet fuel prices.

Last year, Delta spent $12 billion on fuel, about $3 billion more than the previous year, as oil prices rebounded from their postrecession lows. Fuel make up 40 percent of Delta’s costs.

The company said it expected the acquisition of the refinery to be completed in the first half of 2012. The airline said changes to the plant’s infrastructure were to be completed by the end of the third quarter, when jet fuel production would begin. Delta estimated that its fuel savings this year would be more than $100 million.

Analysts have been puzzled by Delta’s interest in the refinery, a notoriously difficult business that is chronically unprofitable. Despite the skepticism from oil specialists, investors seem to support Delta’s unusual approach. The company’s shares have gained more than 10

Rivals claim run-off places in Egypt elections The Muslim Brotherhood's candidate for Egyptian president, Mohammed Mursi, is likely to face former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq in a run-off vote, according to partial election results.

More than 11,000 out of 13,000 polling stations have declared results, in the first election since strongman Hosni Mubarak was overthrown last year.

Early counts put Mr Mursi on about 26% and Mr Shafiq at roughly 24%.

Partial results are subject to recounts and final results are due on 29 May. The nationalist Hamdin Sabbahi, a fiery opponent of the Mubarak regime who became the choice of many of those supporting the revolution, looks to be in third place.

He has taken a big lead in Alexandria, Egypt's second city, the city's electoral authorities have announced.

Campaigners for Islamist candidate Mr Mursi, standing for the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, told reporters they were confident that he had won the most votes.

"I think we are on the verge of a new era.

We trusted God, we trusted in the people, we trusted in our party," prominent Brotherhood figure Essam el-Erian told a news conference

late on Thursday.

No candidate appeared close to reaching the 50% threshold necessary for an outright victory.

Partial counts suggested Mr Shafiq would be Mr Mursi's rival in a run-off.

The two candidates are seen as representing very different strands of Eygptian society.

Mr Shafiq, who served briefly as Mr Mubarak's prime minister, is regarded by many as a creature of the old secular regime.

Analysts say he drew his support from people fearful of an Islamist takeover, and those exhausted by the upheavals of the past 16 months.

Mr Mursi represents a popular strand of political Islam that was excluded from the political process for many years under Mr Mubarak.

Independent Islamist candidate Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh was in fourth, and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa was in fifth place, according to most counts.

About 50 million people were eligible to vote in the polls, in which 13 candidates are vying for the presidency.

It was the country's first freely contested presidential election in its history, and observers said it had been conducted peacefully.

percent since the beginning of April as word of its interest in the refinery started to spread.

The Trainer refinery is on the Delaware River, midway between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Del. It has a crude oil capacity of 185,000 barrels a day, and processes mainly light, low-sulfur crude oil.

Trainer has historically been geared to the gasoline market in the Northeast. But as consumption dropped and light crude oil costs rose faster than other types of crude oil, Conoco’s plant has struggled.

Two refineries in the Philadelphia region — the Trainer refinery and Sunoco’s Marcus Hook — and one in the Virgin Islands, accounting for half of the East Coast’s refining capacity, have shut down since September.

Delta said Trainer’s jet fuel output would be 32 percent of the total daily capacity, up from its current 14 percent. Its gasoline production will drop to 43 percent, from 52 percent today, Delta said.

To assuage concerns that an airline has never owned or run a refinery, Delta said the plant would be led by executives with refining experience, including Jeffrey Warmann, who ran Murphy Oil’s refinery in Meraux, La.

UN atomic agency reports higher enrichment at Iranian nuke site The U.N. atomic agency has found evidence at an underground bunker in Iran that could mean the country has moved closer to producing the uranium threshold needed to arm nuclear missiles, diplomats said Friday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has found traces of uranium enriched up to 27 percent at Iran's Fordo enrichment plant, the diplomats told The Associated Press.

That is still substantially below the 90-percent level needed to make the fissile core of nuclear arms. But it is above Iran's highest-known enrichment grade, which is close to 20 percent, and which already can be turned into weapons-grade material much more quickly than the Islamic Republic's main stockpile, which can only be used for fuel at around 3.5 percent.

The diplomats -- who demanded anonymity because their information is privileged -- said the find did not necessarily mean that Iran was covertly raising its enrichment threshold toward weapons-grade level. They said one likely explanation was that the centrifuges that produce enriched uranium initially over-enriched at the start as technicians adjusted their output -- an assessment shared by nonproliferation expert David Albright.

Albright, whose Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security looks for signs of proliferation, said a new configuration for the cascades set up in tandem at Fordo means they tend to "overshoot 20 percent" at start up.

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WORLD NEWS

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

Obama leads Romney in Florida, Ohio and Virginia President Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney in Florida, Ohio and Virginia, according to new polls of the key 2012 swing states, although Obama's advantage has narrowed in recent months.

Obama leads Romney 48 percent to 44 percent in both Florida and Virginia, according to three new NBC News/Marist polls. In Ohio, the president has a 6-point advantage over Romney, leading his Republican rival 48 percent to 42 percent among registered voters in the state. (The polls have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.)

Despite the good news, there are signs of danger for the Obama campaign. In March, the same polls found Obama with a 12-point lead over Romney in Ohio and a 17-point lead in Virginia. In January, the poll had Obama besting Romney by 8 points in

U.S. President Barack Obama

Mitt Romney

Florida.

A few key findings benefit Obama.

A majority of voters in all three states believe the "worst is behind us" when it comes to the economy, according to the polls—though less than 40 percent of voters think the economy will get better

over the next year. Meanwhile, 57 percent of voters in Ohio and Virginia and 56 percent in Florida think Obama "inherited" the struggling economy—a finding that could test Romney's argument that Obama's policies made things worse for the country.

Yet Obama and Romney are statistically tied in all three states when it comes to the question of which candidate would best handle the economy. A plurality of voters in these states believe Romney is the best candidate to handle the national debt.

While Romney's numbers are on the rebound, the polls found one key hurdle for the presumptive Republican nominee: His favorability numbers continue to lag behind Obama's.

In Ohio and Virginia, Obama holds a 10-point advantage or more over Romney when it comes to the percentage of voters who hold a "favorable" impression of the candidate. In Florida, the margin is narrower, but voters are still statistically split on how they view Romney: 45 percent hold a favorable view, compared to 43 percent who hold an unfavorable one.

UN Sees 12.7 percent of Putin's support sliding youth out of work globally in Russia, crisis ahead The U.N. labor office says it expects 12.7 percent of youth globally to be unemployed in 2012 and the rate to remain "at the same high level" at least four more years.

The International Labor Organization says nearly 75 million of those aged 15 to 24 are unemployed worldwide, up more than 4 million from 2007.

Geneva-based U.N. agency said in a report Tuesday that the youth unemployment rate, which stood at 12.6 percent in 2011, has "remained close to its crisis peak in 2009" at the height of the global financial crisis.

But the agency says the rate masks another 6.4 million youth who have effectively given up finding work because of the economic woes, and factoring in those youth would push the 2011 rate up to 13.6 percent.

Phony 'dying bride' ordered to repay victims NEW YORK- A New York bride who faked having terminal cancer to swindle well-wishers into funding her dream wedding and honeymoon to the Caribbean on Wednesday was ordered to repay more than $13,000 (8,200 pounds) to her victims, prosecutors said.

Jessica Vega, 25, pleaded guilty last month to fraud and forgery charges for deceiving people in the Hudson Valley area of New York into thinking she had only a few months to live, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said. Moved by her tale, individuals and businesses donated thousands of dollars to pay for her wedding in May 2010 and her honeymoon in Aruba.

Her scheme unravelled after her husband, Michael O'Connell, contacted the Times Herald-Record in Orange County to say his bride had faked her illness. He was not charged, and the couple have since divorced, although the Times Herald-Record reported he was there to pick her up from jail on Wednesday.

"To prey on people's emotions by pretending to have a terminal illness is unconscionable," Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said in a statement.

"I am pleased that the community members, who felt so compelled to generously help a neighbour in need, will be given back their hard-earned money."

Besides repaying $13,368.48 to her victims, Vega was sentenced to time already served in jail, must do 300 hours of community service and serve five years on probation. She spent eight weeks in jail before her release on Wednesday.

MOSCOW - Support for President Vladimir Putin is sliding across Russia, and pressure for change is so widespread that a political crisis including violent clashes with protesters appears highly likely, a respected think-tank said on Thursday.

Putin was elected comfortably to a third, six-year term as president in March, despite huge urban protests last winter against alleged election fraud and the monopoly on power that he and his United Russia party enjoy.

But the Centre for Strategic Research, which drafted a reform plan for Putin's first term as president and Russian President Vladimir Putin predicted the anti-Putin rallies, said most of those who voted for Putin had done so for lack of a viable alternative.

The protests have largely been driven by an expanding middle class that feels increasingly unrepresented.

"The middle class of the largest cities is de facto lost for the authorities," CSR said in a new report, based on research with 52 focus groups across Russia representing a cross-section of society.

It said continuing clashes were a sign that more radical protesters were now setting the pace along with hawks in the government, and that the worst-case scenario was also the likeliest.

"Our research shows that the crisis has become irreversible. regardless of the scenarios of its further development," it said. "Maintaining political stability, let alone a return to the pre-crisis status quo, is no longer possible ...

"At this stage we view the probability of such a scenario as high because the escalation of violence has already started. As it spreads, the return of the protests to a peaceful course is becoming less and less likely."

CSR also said it expected Russia's rulers to emphasize a hawkish, antiWestern foreign policy as the "most substantial anchor that can prevent a further slide in public support".

The report, entitled "Society and authorities at a time of political crisis", had been eagerly awaited by a political elite whose members are starting to position themselves for a post-Putin era.

The research said that, although the Moscow protesters had focused on political reform while the rest of the country was more concerned with healthcare, housing, utilities and education, the demand for change was a unifying factor.

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MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

WORLD NEWS

Hillary Clinton scolds Pakistan for sentencing doctor who helped find bin Laden Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday sharply criticized Pakistan for its "unjust and unwarranted" treatment of Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi, sentenced to prison for 33 years on treason charges for his pivotal role in helping to hunt down Osama bin Laden.

"The United States does not believe there is any basis for holding Dr. Afridi.

We regret both the fact that he was convicted and the severity of his sentence," Clinton said as she met with Foreign Minister of New Zealand Murray McCully.

"His help, after all, was instrumental in taking down one of the world's most notorious murderers. That was clearly in Pakistan's interests as well as ours and the rest of the world," she said.

The doctor, 48, was reportedly sentenced to 33 years in prison and fined 320,000 Pakistani rupees, equivalent to about $3,477, by a tribal court.

Afridi had been accused of running

a fake hepatitis B vaccination program, collecting DNA samples reportedly used by U.S. intelligence officers to track bin Laden to Abbottabad, where Navy SEALs killed him in a raid on his compound last year.

"This action by Dr Afridi to help bring about the end of the reign of terror designed and executed by bin Ladin was not in any way a betrayal of Pakistan. And we have made that very well known and we will continue to press it with the Government of Pakistan," Clinton said. "We are raising it and we will continue to do so because we think that his treatment is unjust and unwarranted."

The White House echoed Clinton's remarks, saying it saw "no basis" for his detention. "I think it's an important point that any assistance rendered by anyone in the effort to bring Osama bin Laden to justice was assistance not against Pakistan, but against al-Qaida and against Osama bin Laden,"

US soldier and two Chinese charged with smuggling guns to China A member of the U.S. National Guard and two Chinese citizens have been charged with smuggling multiple shipments of firearms from New York City to China, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Joseph Debose, 29, a staff sergeant with a unit of the U.S. Special Forces National Guard, was arrested Sunday in a sting operation by federal agents in North Carolina, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn. At the time of his arrest, he was carrying a .45 caliber pistol and 12 other firearms he intended to send illegally overseas, prosecutors said.

Debose worked with two Chinese men, Zhifu Lin and Lilan Li, to run a "pipeline of illegal firearms from the United States to China," U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

The scheme came to light when local law enforcement officials in China seized a package containing firearms concealed in speaker casings, the complaint said. The weapons, whose serial numbers had been defaced, had been sent from Queens, New York, and were later traced back to Debose, according to the complaint.

Debose, a North Carolina resident, is scheduled to appear Wednesday before a federal judge in Raleigh, North Carolina, for a hearing on whether he will be removed to Brooklyn to face a complaint accusing him of illegal gun dealing and aiding in the export of firearms to China. A lawyer for Debose declined to comment.

Lin and Li have both been charged with illegally exporting firearms. Lin was arraigned Thursday in Brooklyn federal court. Li, who was arraigned May 2, previously pleaded not guilty. Lawyers for both men could not be reached for comment.

All three men face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One. In retaliation for the sentence, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to cut aid to Pakistan by $33 million—$1 million per year of his sentence—Agence France-Presse reported.The panel voted 30-0 for the reduction, a rare show of bipartisan anger at Pakistan. Relations between Washington and Islamabad frayed badly after the May 2011 Navy SEALs raid inside Pakistan that killed bin Laden. They worsened amid repeated American drone strikes to kill militants in Pakistan. And in November, Pakistan shut ground supply routes to NATO-led forces in Afghanistan after an American attack killed 24 Pakistani troops.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, a Democrat and champion of U.S.Pakistan engagement, warned Islamabad that the sentencing could

hamper cooperation by stoking American anger that bin Laden was able to hide out so long in the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad.

"Americans will have great difficulty knowing that one year after the United States found and killed the most notorious terrorist in modern history hiding on Pakistani soil, the most visible action being taken to find out how he came to be in Pakistan is the conviction in a Pakistani court of the physician who helped the United States identify Osama bin Laden," Kerry said in a statement.

"The irony is, the only person being punished is the person who helped the United States achieve justice for the murder of thousands of Americans. I believe in the importance of the US-Pakistan strategic relationship, but realities like these make that effort more difficult," Kerry warned.

US ranks No 1 in wealth, not in happiness Americans make more money and are slightly more satisfied with their lives, on average, than people in other countries, but here’s the catch: We live slightly shorter lives.

Those are among the findings of an updated study of well-being released Tuesday by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which promotes economic and social satisfaction.

The OECD’s Better Life Index was launched in 2011 as a more nuanced way to gauge wellbeing in its 34 member countries, which include the United States. Besides the usual data points, such as income and education, the Better Life Index looks at things like work-life balance and life satisfaction.

In the updated version released Tuesday, the U.S. ranks well in several traditional and nontraditional areas, especially income, compared with the other 33 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Average earnings in the U.S. are higher than in many other member countries, although the OECD notes that the gap between rich and poor is relatively high. The U.S. rankes No. 1 in average household wealth, at $102,000. Only Switzerland comes close, with average

household wealth of about $95,000.

The U.S. also gets high marks for housing.

That ranking looks not just at the quality of housing – including rooms per person and access to indoor plumbing – but also relative cost. On average, Americans spend about 20 percent of their disposable income on housing, a little bit less than the 22 percent average, the index finds.

The United States also ranks above average in life satisfaction, with 76 percent of people reporting having more positive than negative experiences in an average day. That compares to 72 percent overall in the 34 countries.

But plenty of countries report higher levels of life satisfaction, including Denmark, Norway and Switzerland.

It might not be a surprise that we do less well in terms of work-life balance. People in most countries report a better balance between career and personal lives than we achieve, with Denmark, Belgium and Spain leading the way.

Mexico, Turkey and Japan rank lower than the U.S. In addition, the OECD reports that the average life expectancy in the United States is just under 79 years, lower than the OECD average of 80 years.

Colin Powell won’t say whether he will endorse Obama for re-election WASHINGTON -- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is declining to renew the endorsement he gave Barack Obama four years ago, when he called Obama "a transformational figure."

Pressed in a network interview to say whether he's backing Obama, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff demurred Tuesday.

Powell told NBC's "Today" show, "I always keep my powder dry, as they say in the military."

He credited Obama with stabilizing the financial system and "fixing the auto industry" but says he should have spent more time on the economy.

However, he said he would have closed the Guantanamo Bay detention center. "I would have

closed that rapidly. He tried. He was stopped by Congress," said Powell.

Powell called Mitt Romney a viable candidate and said he's "still listening" to Republican proposals. Powell, who served under President George W. Bush, also said "I don't want to throw my weight behind someone" at this point in the campaign.

"The beautiful part of being a private citizen is you can decide when you want to throw your weight, if you want to throw your weight. I'm still listening to what the Republicans are saying they're going to do to fix the fiscal problems we have, to get the economy moving," said Powell.

"And i think I owe that to the Republican Party."

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WORLD NEWS

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

Suspect held in case of New York boy missing since 1979 A New Jersey man was in custody on Thursday in the 1979 disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz from his New York City neighborhood, a case that drew national attention to the plight of missing children, authorities said.

A law enforcement source said the suspect is Pedro Hernandez of New Jersey. Police in Camden, New Jersey, say he was picked up there on Wednesday night while visiting relatives.

The break in the case came one month after the FBI and New York City Police conducted a four-day excavation of a basement on the block in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood where Patz lived and was last seen. At the time, police said no obvious human remains were found and it remained a missing person case.

"An individual now in custody has made statements to NYPD detectives The missing poster for then 6-year-old Etan Patz implicating himself in the disappearance and death of Etan Patz a videotaped interview with police to 33 years ago," New York Police strangling Patz, wrapping his body in Commissioner Raymond Kelly said in a bag and putting it in a box. He said a statement. he left the box in Manhattan but it was Kelly said police would provide gone when he revisited that spot at a more information later in the day. later date. He recently led investigators The New York Times, citing an to the location. unidentified law enforcement official, The Times said Hernandez, who reported Hernandez confessed during has been a suspect in the past, worked

Egypt Court Gives 12 Christians Life Sentences An Egyptian court sentenced 12 Christians to life in prison and acquitted eight Muslims in a case set off by religious tensions in the country's south.

The Christians were found guilty of sowing public strife, the possession of illegal weapons and shooting dead two Muslims in April of last year in Minya province, about 220 kilometers (135 miles) south of Cairo.

The religious tension in Minya spilled over into violence last year when a Muslim microbus driver, angered by a speed bump outside a wealthy Christian man's villa, got into a scuffle with security guards who beat him.

After returning to his village of Abu Qurqas that evening, he rounded up the villagers who then gathered outside an ultraconservative Islamist group's main office there to protest his beating. According to rights researcher Ishak Ibrahim, the Christians nearby thought they were going to be attacked and shot from their rooftops down at the crowd, killing two and wounding two others.

For several days after, angry villagers torched dozens of Christian homes and stores.

The eight Muslims on trial in the same case had been charged with possession of illegal weapons and burning down the Christianowned homes and stores after the shooting.

"The fact that the Muslims were acquitted means that the attorney general's investigation from the beginning was faulty and unfair because there was evidence to prove these men had burned Christian property," Ibrahim said.

The State Security Court, whose rulings cannot be appealed, handed down its sentence on Monday. The ruling military council is the only entity with the power to request a retrial.

Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's estimated 80 million people, complain that the courts and police often turn a blind eye to discrimination or violence against them. Some fear the surge of ultraconservative Islamists to power after Hosni Mubarak's overthrow last year could further curtail their rights.

in a corner grocery store near the Patz home.

He has since moved to Maple Shade, New Jersey, just outside of Camden, where neighbors on Thursday described him as a quiet man who showed no outward signs of a darker past.

"The family was never a problem.

He cut the grass. He shoveled snow.

He didn't bother anybody," said Dan Wollick, 72, a retired garbage truck driver who lives downstairs from Hernandez, his wife and daughter in a two-story, brown duplex that backs up to a playground.

His statements to police come within days of the anniversary of Patz's disappearance - a milestone in this case and other criminal investigations that has prompted people to come forward with information, real or imagined.

Investigators looking at Hernandez's story remain skeptical, said authorities familiar with the case.

Although the boy was formally declared dead in 2001, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance reopened the case in 2010 and investigators tore apart the basement in April looking for clothing and human remains after a cadaver-sniffing dog sensed something at the site.

On May 25, 1979, Patz's parents allowed the boy to make his first unaccompanied trip to the bus stop two blocks away. They never saw him again.

Patz was one of the first missing children in the United States to have his photograph printed on milk cartons, and his case helped fuel an intense national outreach campaign for missing children in the 1980s.

Long targeted as a suspect in the case was Jose Antonio Ramos, a friend of Patz's babysitter who was later convicted of child molestation in a separate case in Pennsylvania. He is due to be released from prison in November.

In a 2004 civil suit Patz's parents brought against Ramos, a New York judge found him responsible for the boy's death, a charge he denied.

Patz family members last month asked the media to respect their privacy as the days-long dig was under way just 100 yards from the home where they still live.

Authorities tore through the floor of a workshop used by a handyman, Othniel Miller, now 75, who had paid the boy to help him with chores. Miller was questioned by police but was not charged with a crime.

DSK Files suit against hotel maid who accused him of sexual assault On the day he might well have been sworn in as the new president of France, former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn instead filed a million-dollar countersuit against the New York City hotel maid whose accusation of attempted rape one year ago cost him his job and derailed his political aspirations.

In court papers filed in the Bronx, Strauss-Kahn said he suffered "grievous harm" to his personal and professional reputation, "emotional distress" and financial hardship because of what he called Nafissatou Diallo's "malicious and wanton false accusation." The defamation claim asks for $1 million in damages.

On May 14, 2011, Diallo accused Strauss-Kahn of trying to sexually assault her inside room 2806 at the Sofitel in Times Square. Strauss-Kahn was indicted by a grand jury on May 19.

Criminal charges were formally dismissed in August after prosecutors came to question Diallo's credibility. By then, however, Strauss-Kahn had resigned as head of the IMF and was no longer the front runner to be the Socialist Party's candidate for president. Polls had shown him defeating incumbent president Nicolas

Sarkozy in the general election. The man who ultimately won the Socialist Party's nod, Francois Hollande, beat Sarkozy and was sworn in as president earlier today.

"Ms. Diallo's conduct," StraussKahn's lawsuit said, "was so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized society."

Strauss-Kahn's attorney William W. Taylor III said in a statement that the suit "should come as no surprise."

"She is directly responsible for his being arrested, imprisoned, and subjected to extraordinary pain, anguish and expense," said Taylor.

"Her conduct is not without consequence for her and he is not required to simply endure what she did and her effort to profit for herself without fighting back."

Diallo had earlier filed her own suit against Strauss-Kahn, for what she called a "violent and sadistic" attack.

The suit alleges that Strauss-Kahn ""intentionally, brutally and violently sexually assaulted Ms Diallo and in the process, humiliated, degraded, violated and robbed Ms Diallo of her dignity as a woman."

TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

Page 39

HIGHLIGHTS

Warren Buffett eyes more newspapers READ ON PAGE 40

Facebook investors could recoup losses in court Retail investors with dreams of instant wealth who bought Facebook shares on opening day may have been disappointed, but they could still wind up with a windfall if lawyers seeking class-action status for lawsuits against the company and its IPO underwriters get their way.

A pair of lawsuits filed in New York and California allege that retail investors were harmed when material information about the company's finances weren't disclosed to them.

Experts in securities law have said whether or not plaintiffs will be able to recoup their trading floor losses in a courtroom will depend on the fine print of securities regulations. What Facebook and its underwriters, including primary underwriter Morgan Stanley, which declined to comment on the suits, knew, and when and to whom they provided information, are the issues on which both lawyers and regulators are focusing.

It sounds like this is where that

case is going to be one of the battlefields," said David Buckner, a partner at law firm Grossman Roth P.A., whose expertise is in class action suits and securities litigation. "Who has an obligation to speak to who — that's something that will end up being important."

Following a Congressional hearing on Tuesday, Securities and Exchange Commission chair Mary Schapiro said, "I think there is a lot of reason to have confidence in our

UK economy shrank more than thought The UK economy shrank by 0.3% in the first three months of the year, more than previously thought, revised figures have shown.

Last month's initial estimate from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a contraction of 0.2%.

The downward revision was due to a bigger contraction in construction output than previously estimated.

Over the last year and a half, the economy has fluctuated between quarters of growth and contraction.

In the final three months of last year, the economy also shrank by 0.3%, meaning the UK is back in recession.

There are concerns that the UK economy will shrink again in the second quarter of the year - the governor of the Bank of the England Mervyn King has warned that the Queen's Diamond Jubilee could reduce output.

Following the revised figures, shadow chancellor Ed Balls described Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne as "complacent and out of touch".

"It's now clear that this is a recession made in Downing Street by this government's failed policies," he said.

"Despite all the problems in the euro area, France,

Germany and the eurozone as a whole have so far avoided recession and only exports to other countries stopped us going into recession a year ago. The result is that Britain is now in a weaker position if things get worse in the eurozone in the coming months."

The revised figures for the first quarter showed that output in the construction industry fell by 4.8% compared with the initial estimate of 3%.

An increase in government spending of 1.6% - the biggest rise since the first quarter of 2008 - went some way to offsetting this contraction. This was driven largely by spending on health and defence.

The figures also showed unchanged growth in the service sector of 0.1%, while household spending increased by the same amount.

Compared with the previous year as opposed to the previous quarter, growth fell by 0.1%, the first annual drop since the final three months of 2009.

The first quarter's growth figure will be revised again next month.

When the first estimate of the GDP figures was released last month, a number of commentators expressed surprise at the data, and some still argue that the latest figure does not accurately reflect the performance of the UK economy.

markets and in the integrity of how they operate, but there are issues that we need to look at specifically with respect to Facebook."

Facebook did warn would-be investors of potential challenges to its revenue stream triggered by an increase in mobile users and Facebook's still-poor ability to monetize its mobile base. In an uncharacteristic amendment to its S.E.C. filing just over a week before its IPO, the company warned that these factors had the ability to hurt profits.

Investors who feel burned and are pursuing legal action contend that the company's cautionary statements weren't specific enough, that Facebook knew that this issue was having more of a negative impact than it let on in the filing, and it tipped its hand only to its underwriters and a handful of analysts.

"The real issue is how adequate a warning was the May 9 registration statement language," said Merritt B. Fox, law professor at Columbia University. "Without knowing the facts, it's hard to know if what the analysts were doing was simply interpreting information that was in the May 9 statement or whether they had additional information to suggest that things were worse."

The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sources saying Facebook executives contacted nearly two dozen analysts following that amendment and let them ask questions about it.

The lawsuits assert that this communication amounted to material information which Facebook, which has said it will defend itself "vigorously," was legally obligated to share with all investors.

"It wasn't the prospect" of future losses, said David Rosenfeld, an attorney at Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, a law firm representing plaintiffs in a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Wednesday.

"They already knew… and they told their underwriters," he said.

Typical CEO made $9.6M last year NEW YORK — Profits at big U.S. companies broke records last year, and so did pay for CEOs. The head of a typical public company made $9.6 million in 2011, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from Equilar, an executive pay research firm.

That was up more than 6 percent from the previous year, and is the second year in a row of increases. The figure is also the highest since the AP began tracking executive compensation in 2006.

Companies trimmed cash bonuses but handed out more in stock awards. For shareholder activists who have long decried CEO pay as exorbitant, that was a victory of sorts.

That's because the stock awards are being tied more often to company performance. In those instances, CEOs can't cash in the shares right away: They have to meet goals first, like boosting profit to a certain level.

The idea is to motivate CEOs to make sure a company

does well and to tie their fortunes to the company's for the long term. For too long, activists say, CEOs have been richly rewarded no matter how a company has fared — "pay for pulse," as some critics call it.

To be sure, the companies' motives are pragmatic. The corporate world is under a brighter, more uncomfortable spotlight than it was a few years ago, before the financial crisis struck in the fall of 2008.

Last year, a law gave shareholders the right to vote on whether they approve of the CEO's pay. The vote is nonbinding, but companies are keen to avoid an embarrassing "no."

"I think the boards were more easily shamed than we thought they were," says Stephen Davis, a shareholder expert at Yale University, referring to boards of directors, which set executive pay.

In the past year, he says, "Shareholders found their voice."

The typical CEO got stock awards worth $3.6 million in 2011, up 11 percent from the year before. Cash bonuses fell about 7 percent, to $2 million.

The value of stock options, as determined by the company, climbed 6 percent to a median $1.7 million.

Options usually give the CEO the right to buy shares in the future at the price they're trading at when the options are granted, so they're worth something only if the shares go up.

CEOs managed to sell more, and squeeze more profit from each sale, despite problems ranging from a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating to an economic slowdown in China and Europe's neverending debt crisis.

The typical American worker would have to labor for 244 years to make what the typical boss of a big public company makes in one. The median pay for U.S. workers was about $39,300 last year. That was up 1 percent from the year before, not enough to keep pace with inflation.

The Porse Pajun

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TURKS AND CAICOS SUN

BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

OECD says Europe debt could derail global recovery NEW YORK -- Europe's sovereign debt crisis risks derailing the global economic recovery, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warned.

The OECD issued the warning as it also cut its economic outlook for the eurozone this year. It now forecasts a decline of 0.1% in the 17-nation block that uses the common currency; it previously had expected growth of 0.2%. It also cut its forecast for 2013 growth, to 0.9% from 1.4%.

The OECD was particularly concerned that problems with sovereign debt in Europe have become a significant threat to growth around the world.

"The crisis in the eurozone remains the single biggest downside risk facing the global outlook," said Pier Carlo Padoan, chief economist for the OECD. The global economic recovery remains fragile and extremely uneven across different regions, according to the OECD, a multinational research body.

Growth in emerging economies, which have been the engine of the global recovery, has slowed, the OECD said, while growth in more developed economies is likely to remain modest.

Overall growth for the developed economies that make up the OECD is now forecast at only 1.6%, down from

the 1.8% forecast in 2011.

The eurozone didn't grow at all in the first quarter, as both it and the broader 27-nation European Union teetered on the edge of recession.

Eleven European nations have already suffered declines in their gross domestic product for two or more consecutive quarters, the common definition of a recession.

The outlook was brighter for the U.S. The OECD forecast 2.4% growth for 2012, up from the 2.0% it forecast last fall. The U.S. achieved 1.7% growth last year.

Fears about the eurozone debt crisis have heated up in recent weeks, after Greek voters denied the ruling

coalition enough votes to form a new government. That's thrown austerity measures approved as part of a European bailout of Greek debt into doubt, and raised the risks Greece could leave the eurozone.

But while sovereign debt gets much of the attention from political and economic leaders, high levels of consumer and business debt are also putting a cap on worldwide growth.

"This is a global crisis which is largely a debt crisis," said Padoan. "It is a result of excessive debt accumulation in both the private and public sectors. One can not safely say we're out of the crisis until debt comes down to more manageable levels."

Argentina faces deficit for first time in years Argentina is on track to end 2012 with a primary budget deficit for the first time since the country started recovering from its sovereign debt default a decade ago, government data suggest.

If government spending keeps the pace it has set so far this year, the primary balance will be pushed into the red by January. That would threaten funds needed for the welfare programs and subsidies that lie at the heart of President Cristina Fernandez's popularity.

This would come at a time of economic growth constrained by global sluggishness.

The alarm sounded on Wednesday when the Economy Ministry said April's primary budget surplus was 1.06 billion pesos ($237 million), down 46 percent from the surplus posted in the same month last year.

"At this pace the government is likely to show a primary deficit this year," said Boris Segura, who analyses the South American country for Nomura Securities in New York.

That would be a black eye for Fernandez, who won re-election in October promising to deepen the policy model forged by her late husband and predecessor as president Nestor Kirchner. Her government shows no sign of reining in the spending.

Under the Kirchner/Fernandez administrations, starting in 2003, the state has tightened its grip on the economy. China-like growth rates have been powered by strong soy export revenues that in turn fueled internal demand and industrial production.

Argentina is the world's No. 1 exporter of soymeal, used as animal feed at a time of soaring demand from China, whose emerging middle class has acquired a taste for beef steak. But global high soy demand will not save Argentina from a 2012 primary deficit if state spending doesn't ease, said Buenos Aires-based independent economist Maximiliano Castillo.

"If the primary spending dynamic does not change, Argentina will probably end this year with a primary deficit," he said.

Argentina is also the world's top supplier of soyoil, used for cooking and in the booming international biofuels sector.

Unpredictable government policies such as import and foreign exchange curbs have hurt confidence in Latin America's No. 3 economy, reducing foreign investment in the key agricultural sector at a time of stiffening global headwinds.

Growth is slowing due to fallout from Europe's financial mess and slackening demand from No. 1 trade partner Brazil, whose economy is also slowing.

Fernandez's budget forecasts economic growth of 5.1 percent in full-year 2012.

That is far above rates expected for the United States and Europe but well down from 8.9 percent growth Argentina clocked in 2011. Fernandez's popularity has slipped along with the economy, prompting her to put the breaks on promised transportation and energy subsidy cuts.

The primary budget balance shows government savings before debts are paid. It is an important indicator of fiscal health in Argentina, which has been virtually shut out of global credit markets since the 2002 default.

A primary deficit would likely extend the pummeling the country's international debt has been subjected to in recent months while import curbs and increasingly tight foreign exchange controls have hurt confidence.

State income that depends on economic growth, such as tax revenues and social security contributions, have been growing far slower than expenditures over the last year.

Warren Buffett eyes more newspapers Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc is eyeing more newspapers, according to a memo posted on Jim Romenesko's media website.

The Oracle of Omaha wrote in a memo to Berkshire Hathaway's publishers and editors that "Berkshire will probably purchase more papers in the next few years," according to the website.

Buffett's company announced on May 17 that it would buy the majority of Media General Inc's papers for $142 million in cash and that it would form a new subsidiary called BH Media Group.

In the memo, Buffett said, "we will favor towns and cities with a strong sense of community, comparable to the 26 in which we will soon operate."

Buffett reassured editors and publishers he would not push any political agenda: "I have some strong political views, but Berkshire owns the paper — I don't. And Berkshire will always be non-political."

Buffett's love of newspapers is well-known though he is choosy about where he sends his affections. He favors small and medium-sized newspapers in thriving towns rather than big city metros.

Indeed, Berkshire snapped up 63 daily and weekly newspapers of Media General but left behind the troubled Tampa Tribune and its related properties.

"I believe newspapers that intensively cover their communities will have a good future," he wrote in the memo.

Berkshire already owns the Buffalo News, the Omaha WorldHerald Co and a stake in the Washington Post Co.The conglomerate also reportedly holds a small stake in the recently reorganized newspaper chain Lee Enterprises.

Buffett is making a bet on an industry that is dogged by plummeting advertising revenue and readers who are getting their news in digital formats instead of paper and ink.

His appetite for more newspapers comes amid reports that the Newhouse family's Advance Publications plans on cutting the frequency of the New Orleans Times-Picayune and is forming a separate company for its Louisiana papers.

The Tribune Co is also expected to emerge from bankruptcy soon and could sell off its newspapers, according to a report published earlier this week.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

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LOCAL NEWS

MVP Garbriel Diotte

The victorious Grasshoppers Team

Grasshoppers crowned champions

The Under 14 Boys Sailrock League finished last week as the Grasshoppers were deservedly crowned champions.

They had dominated the league winning nine of their twelve games and amassing a 13-point lead over their nearest rivals, the Eagles. The final day of play saw the champions record two comfortable victories (6-2) over the Golden retrievers and (6-0) the Tigers.

Jackson Pierre scored six of his team goals with the others coming from Idlin Beloni (2), Gabriel Diotte (2) and Jameslee Louis (2). Jeffty Desvales scored both goals for the Retrievers. In the remaining games the Tigers edged out the Eagles by a 2-1 margin. Kensley george scored

twice for the Tigers and Rodrigo Vasquez found the back of the net for the Eagles.

However, the Eagles made sure they ended the season on a positive note as they defeated the Retrievers 1-0 courtesy of Brtschama Jean-Louis.

Following the day’s games trophies were handed out to the teams. Runners Up were Eagles. Team MVPs: Tigers – Cole Nickson; Golden Retrievers – Ras Diamond; Grasshoppers –Jameslee Louis; and Eagles – Marvin Joseph.

The top goalscorer position saw a tie between Gabriel Diotte / Jackson Pierre. Most Improved – Lucas De Boer and League MVP – Gabriel Diotte.

Technical Director Matthew Green thanked all the coaches, players, parents and sponsors who

Green Dragons on course for Sailrock U11 Boys soccer title

The Under 11 Boys Sailrock League has just one round of games left to play and it seems that the Green Dragons are likely to become champions.

The Yellow Strikers are in second place and will need to win all of their remaining tjhree games and hope the Dragons slip up.

The Strikers won all three of their games at the weekend to keep the pressure on the league leaders. They opened with a 2-1 win over the Orange All Stars who had taken the lead through Jordan McGregor. However AJ Ausgustine scored twice to give the Strikers a much needed win.

The Strikers then beat the league leaders (Dragons) 3-1 with goals coming from Sebastien Turbyfield, Westen Fenelon and Javed Shearer.

Naryan Kalliecharan scored for the Dragons but the Strikers deserved the win and finished off with a third victory overcoming the Purple Pirates 1-0 through Fenelon. The remaining games saw a lot of goals being scored.

The Purple Pirates beat the Red Devils 4-0 as Shadown St. John scored two goals and Scnheider Lightbourne and Jerry Felisma added the others for the Pirates.

Jamie Grey, Javuaghn Jackson and Justin Christopher

support the league. He added “this is one of most important leagues we have in the TCIFA. The boys at this age are at a crucial stage in their development and it is vital that they are given an opportunity to compete against each other on a regular basis.

“We will soon be starting a 9-a-side league which will use a bigger playing area to help them graduate to 11-a-side football in the summer when they play against visiting teams from the USA ”.

Head Coach Oliver was equally enthusiastic about the development of the Under 14 Boys. “they are improving rapidly but they still need to be tested at a higher level, thankfully the association is doing all it can to ensure the boys can progress by providing them with competitive games on a regular basis”.

scored in the All Stars win against the Red Devils, who found the back of the net through Joovens Joseph. Grey and Christopher scored again as the All Stars defeated the Marlins 2-0. Shadawn St. John secured his position as top goal scorer as he scored for the Pirates in their 1-1 draw with the Dragons who had led through Zarek Swann’s early strike. Second place will be hotly contested as the All Stars, Devils and Strikers are all capable of claiming that position, but who knows if the Dragons slip up on the final day one of them could take the title from under their noses.

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LOCAL NEWS SPORTS LOCAL

MAY 25TH - JUNE 1ST, 2012

Mermaids remain unbeaten in women’s soccer

The Captain Marvin’s Women’s Beach Soccer league finished its fourth week of competition as the Mermaids made it four straight wins in a row as they defeated the Blue Marlins in a tense period of extra time.

The Mermaids had to work hard to remain undefeated and they were pushed all the way by the Marlins. The scores were close throughout the game with no team managing more than a one goal lead. However, Yarileny De La Cruz scored during extra-time to ensure that her team will now make the championship final.

Kadine Delphin scored four goals for the Mermaids, with Griet Vanbrabant and De la Cruz scoring the others. Sarah Cenary posed a constant threat for the Marlins and scored four goals herself with Amelie Speer also finding the back of the net but it was not be enough on the day.

However, the Marlins picked up a bonus point for having lost in extra time and this

point may prove to be valuable when the final positions are determined in two weeks time.

The Great White Sharks have yet to win this season but they gave the Purple Pirates a closely fought game as they lost 6-9. The White Sharks created more chances than they have of late and hit the post on four occasions but the Pirates finishing was more composed with Christina Hinds scoring five and Janice Fernandez and Yarielca De La Cruz scoring two each.

Simone Smith (2), Gaya Smith (2), Jessica lange and Jachelle Gardner scored for the Sharks who were physically stronger than their opponents, but it was the Pirates who were more proficient in front of goal.

The Pirates find themselves in third place and will hope to defeat the Marlins in their next fixture so they can make sure they finish runners up in the group stages and claim the second spot in the overall championship final.

TURKS & CAICOS SUN

Northern Star, AFC National lead in men’s beach soccer The TCIFA Men’s Beach Soccer league started last week as defending champions Northern Star got off to a good start with a 12-6 win against AFC Academy. In the second game AFC National scored a last minute goal to defeat Conch Shack 6-5.

Northern Star began promisingly and raced ahead to a 4-0 lead. AFC Academy soon fought back to within one goal after the second period (5-4). Despite having a man sent off Northern Star’s experience allowed them to soak up pressure and score quickly on the break as they dominated the final period and finished off comfortable winners.

It was an all round team effort for Northern Star as almost every player contributed with a goal or an assist. Jon Flanagan and Matt Green each scored a hat trick, Colin Stirling and Richard Long scored twice and Stephen Wilson also found the back of the net. Harry Turbyfield also made his impact felt as he pulled off several key saves and set up three of his teams goals.

AFC Academy , whose players lack Beach Soccer experience will no doubt improve as the season goes on. Herby Magny was always a danger and helped himself to a hat trick. Anell Super (2) and Robert Daimiar were the other scorers for the Academy team.

The second game was very closely fought with both teams exchanging the lead. AFC National went ahead (2-0) but Conch Shack fought back to take a 4-3 lead going into the final period. The game was very evenly balanced and it seemed that extra time was approaching before Events Jean latched on to a loose ball to score a last minute winner. Jean scored four goals to lead the goal scoring charts after Week 1 with Fred Dorvil also scoring for AFC National.

Jean Guerrier (2), Robert Waccener, Chris Reid and Jocelyn were the goal scorers for last years Runners Up. Technical Director Matthew Green was pleased with the start of the league.

“The games were very exciting with lots of great goals being scored. All four teams are capable of winning the league and it will be intersting to see which teams can adapt to the different style of play that is required for Beach Soccer.

“Northern Star have a lot of older players on the team so what they lack in fitness they make up for in experience. Both the AFC teams have a lot of talented young players and Conch Shack have a good blend of young and old so it promises to e a very competitive and exciting league”.

The league will also give players an opportunity to impress Green as the association plans to compete internationally. “Obviously we are looking to see how the players perform as we plan to create national Beach Soccer teams in the near future. Our association is keen to develop the sport further knowing we have a good chance of beating some of the bigger countries in the region”

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HIGHLIGHTS

"I want to repeat what I did in Beijing," he said, adding: "If I'm in great shape, no one will beat me in London, that's for sure." - Usain Bolt

READ MORE BELOW

Usain Bolt says no one will beat him at the London Olympics OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Sprint superstar Usain Bolt transformed the world of athletics with a stunning set of world record-setting performances at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Jamaican went on to better his double sprint records at the Berlin worlds a year later, but insisted yesterday that he would be ready to deliver more "great things" at this summer's London Games.

It's the Olympics, I'm going there to do great things," said Bolt, who opened his season on home soil earlier this month with a 9.82sec over 100m and kicks off his European season here

on Friday.

"I want to repeat what I did in Beijing," he said, adding: "If I'm in great shape, no one will beat me in London, that's for sure."

Bolt, who lost his world 100m title to compatriot Yohan Blake in Daegu last year after false starting in the final, added: "I'm working hard, things are coming together smoothly.

"I'm trying to stay focused and I know I'll get there. I expect to run fast, that's the expectation I have of myself.

I definitely want to continue the start of my season.

"I'm working with my coach

(Glenn Mills) on my transition and technique, ironing out a few problems.

"I'm definitely on the good path, the right track. I've been injury free and I'm looking to doing extremely well at the Olympics."

That said, Bolt insisted that setting world record times were not as important as claiming gold.

"You can't say," he answered when asked what time he expected to win the 100m. "You never know what the temperature will be, you never know what will happen on the day.

"I'll run as fast as possible to get across the line first. I'm not really

Tino Best looking to make most of latest opportunity NOTTINGHAM, England – Fiery fast bowler Tino Best says he will be looking utilise his knowledge of English conditions once called upon in the three-Test series against England.

The 30-year-old was a late call-up to the touring party here after rookie speedster Shannon Gabriel was ruled out of the squad with a back injury.

“What I have to do, and what I am fully aware of is how to put that knowledge to work,” Best said.

“I’m a hard worker and I’m really delighted to get this opportunity.”

The Barbadian made his international debut nine years ago but has so far only played 14 Test matches and 12 One-Day Internationals in a disjointed career.

Following a successful first class season for Barbados, he was called up to the One-Day International squad to face Australia but did not play a single match.

Only Monday, he was named in a 13-man West Indies A squad to face India A but was quickly called up to the senior team once Gabriel was forced out.

“I’m very happy to be recalled to the Test squad for the series in England.

I’ve been waiting for my opportunity to represent the West Indies again and this is another chance to wear the ‘Baggy Maroon’,” he said.

“I’m fit and feeling quite ready. I’ve been training and working hard, looking forward to this.

“I was in the team earlier this year when we played against Australia and I gained a lot of knowledge from being in the group. I felt I fitted in quite well and I have a good idea of the work ethic and what will be required of me.”

Tino Best

worried about the time."

Bolt stressed that he had been forced to take stock after his stunning false-start in Daegu last July, which left fans shell-shocked as one of the world's most recognisable sporting figures was led off the track.

"One thing I learnt about my false start in Daegu is that I definitely need to be myself," he said.

"I went through the season doing bad starts, but it came together in Daegu. I was anxious because I was doing so well and I lost focus.

"In the 200m, I went right back to being me and there was no problem.

I'm over that because I know why I false started. It won't be a factor."

Bolt welcomed Blake's rise to prominence, saying it was "good for the sport", explaining that the lack of race-offs between the duo was due to a number of factors such as varying fitness levels, agents' demands and building up suspense over the season.

"You can never be worried about one person. I know what I've got to do to be champion. I'm happy where I'm at.

"When everyone's fit and ready, the showdown will be much better and much fairer.

"The fact is that we can't hide, we will race this season!"

Bolt added that he and his Jamaican teammates were ready to face up against their traditional US rivals led by the likes of Tyson Gay, Wallace Spearmon and Walter Dix. "We're just keeping it up," he said of the sprint rivalry between the two nations.

"It's been back and forth but Jamaica's on top now. So we'll try and keep it that way. They've got to work really hard."

West Indies fined for slow over rate LONDON, England — Captain Darren Sammy has been fined 80 per cent of this match fee as punishment for West Indies' slow over-rate during the Lord's Test which finished Monday.

His players were also hit with 40 per cent fines after match referee Roshan Mahanama adjudged the Caribbean side to be four overs short of its target, when "time allowances were taken into consideration".

If Sammy is found guilty again within the next 12 months, he will be slapped with a onematch suspension.

"In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount," the International Cricket Council statement said.

West Indies lost the opening Test at Lord's by five wickets, an hour before tea on the final day.

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HIGHLIGHTS The Lakers have a host of players who will become free agents July 1. Point guard Ramon Sessions is also expected to become one by declining a one-year, $4.55-million player option next month. Matt Barnes is not expected back....

READ STORY BELOW

Some big questions about Lakers' future Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol were in the Lakers' training facility on the same day, possibly for the last time.

They arrived several hours apart for their exit interviews Wednesday and then stepped into the sunshine afterward, though nothing looked overly bright about the Lakers' future.

"There will be some change," said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, the sting still fresh from another ouster in the Western Conference semifinals. "When you lose before you think you should have lost, you have to open up all opportunities.

"We get graded on the success of the team. That's how it is in this franchise….We're disappointed. We Lakers teammates Pau Gasol, left, and Andrew Bynum walk off the court following the Lakers' loss to thought going into the season, and even the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday. Gasol up until a week ago, that we were one of hasn't received any assurances from the team that he'll be back next season. three or four or five teams that could million left on his contract. "I think Kupchak added that the team could be contend for a championship."

Instead, the Lakers failed to get out management still has to talk to ownership successful if it didn't pull off anything. to see what direction this thing will be "If we were just able to bring back the of the month of May, again. going next year." players that were on the team this year and On the same day Kupchak reaffirmed The Lakers have a host of players have a full training camp, I think we'd be the Lakers would pick up a $16.1-million team option on Bynum next season, it who will become free agents July 1. Point in a position to be one of those five or six became more obvious that Gasol would guard Ramon Sessions is also expected to teams to contend," he said. "It's not like be the team's main trade chip. He become one by declining a one-year, we don't have a group that's talented." underperformed this season, averaging $4.55-million player option next month.

Kupchak said the Lakers would try to only 12.5 points in the playoffs, and Matt Barnes is not expected back. Jordan improve their position in next month's couldn't get any firm answers from Hill and Devin Ebanks probably will find draft but didn't think they could trade into only limited interest in the free-agent the first round. They currently hold only Kupchak in his exit meeting.

"I wish I could have clarification, but market. the 60th pick, the final one in the second Despite saying the Lakers would round. they can't give it to me right now," said Gasol, who has two years and $38.3 pursue trades more aggressively, Kupchak said Mike Brown "did a

fine job," though Brown was critical of his first season as the Lakers' coach. "I feel like I could have done a lot better," he said.

Gasol said Wednesday that the Lakers went with too many isolation plays down the stretch in important games. Brown countered by citing an overall lack of practice time in the lockout-shortened season.

"We wouldn't have practiced that much more because we have an old, veteran team…but I know there were a lot of things that I felt rushed on that I kind of did on the fly based on the lack of time," Brown said.

In the meantime, Bynum says he will be back next season … he thinks.

"I don't expect to hear my name as a possible trade, but I think anything can happen," he said. "Obviously, I want to be a Laker…."

Despite one-sided playoff exits the last two seasons, Bynum believed the Lakers could be title contenders with the current roster.

"This group definitely can win," he said. "Obviously, we had different players when we won championships and guys were younger, but I think this team is capable."

He shrugged off trade rumors that pop up almost continually involving him.

"I've been traded a lot," he said jokingly.

"I try to see the good in it. It just means you have some value somewhere."

James and Durant headline AllNBA selections Most Valuable Player LeBron James of the Miami Heat and top scorer Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder headlined the list of players selected for the All-NBA team, the league said on Thursday.

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers joined James and Durant on the first team.

James, who has won three of the last four league MVP awards, earned first team honors for a fifth consecutive season and sixth overall since entering the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2003.

The eight-time All-Star ranked third in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.1 per game in the 2011-12 season, and paced the Heat in assists, with an average of 6.2 per game.

LeBron James of the Miami Heat and top scorer Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant gained All-NBA first team selection for a third time after leading the league in scoring (28 points per game) for a third straight year. He scored at least 40 points four times, including a career-high 51 against the Denver Nuggets.

Magic center Howard, who led the league in rebounding with a career-high average of 14.5 per game and also in field goal percentage (.573), won All-NBA first team honors for a fifth consecutive season.

Bryant was chosen for the seventh consecutive season and 10th time in his career while fellow guard

Paul, who paced the league in steals with an average of 2.53 per game, gained the honor for a second time.

The second team consisted of San Antonio's Tony Parker, Oklahoma's Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota's Kevin Love and Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Third team members were Miami's Dwyane Wade, Boston's Rajon Rondo, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki.

The teams were selected by a panel of 120 journalists in the United States and Canada.

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